Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa

Zanzibar – East Coast – North

A good quality large resort with excellent facilities; an ideal Hideaway for families.

Overview

Bluebay Beach Resort and Spa is set on a secluded 25 acre plot near Kiwengwa on the East coast of Zanzibar Island. It takes approximately 45 minutes to reach from Stone Town along tarmac road all the way.

Bluebay is a very large property, especially by Zanzibar standards, and has loads of features to keep both adults and children amused.

Accommodation

Bluebay Beach Resort is a large property and has over 80 rooms in total. The vast majority are ‘Superior Rooms’. All rooms consist of a spacious bedroom, separate dressing room, en suite bathroom and either a veranda or balcony. All rooms enjoy ocean views.
Superior Rooms

All rooms are tastefully decorated using traditional Zanzibar furniture to include large four poster beds with mosquito nets, a writing bureau, coffee table and easy chairs. Split level air conditioners, ceiling fans, satellite TV’s, mini-bars, hair dryers and telephones add a touch of luxury to each room whilst the presence of smoke detectors and fire alarms are a sign of commitment to the safety and well-being of guests.
Sultan Rooms

Bluebay has two flagship rooms. They are perfectly located on the very edge of the Indian Ocean, only a few meters from the brilliant white sandy beach.
The two Sultan Rooms are also attended by Butlers, dressed in flowing traditional Swahili robes, whose sole aim is to ensure that your every need is met and surpassed.

Facilities

Bluebay Beach Resort and Spa has a wealth of features made possible by its size which, although not to everyone’s ‘cup of tea’, make it a good choice for those not wishing to be idle.
Facilities include:

* An open air discotheque.
* A fully equipped fitness centre.
* A Spa facility.
* Flood lit tennis courts.
* A wide screen TV viewing facility.
* Guest safes.
* A large fresh water swimming pool with adjoining open-air Jacuzzi.
* Children’s paddling pool.
* A children’s club (on demand).
* A dive centre.
* A water sports centre.
* Snooker room.
* A fully equipped conference room.

Bluebay beach resort also offers a variety of dining options. The ‘Makuti Restaurant’ is the main place, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is nicely located providing views out over the swimming pool and to the ocean beyond.

Additionally there is ‘The Beach Bar and Restaurant’ which is set down on the edge of the beach – as you may have guessed. Food here varies from seafood dishes to fresh pizzas baked in a wood burning oven. It is also a nice alternative to the ‘Pool Bar’, and provides an excellent setting to enjoy both daytime and evenings alike.

Other activities

The Bluebay also has a full Spa facility which it claims to be the ‘most fantastic Spa in East Africa’.

The truth is its actually quite good, spas are not really my thing but this one is nicely built out of natural materials overlooking the ocean, with palm trees and exotic flowers growing up through the wooden decking.

All the products used are natural and grown locally and, in many cases prepared in front of you.

As with many properties in this area there is a strong focus on diving and snorkeling. However this particular property can offer many ‘on-land’ activities without having to leave the hotel. This makes the property a good choice for families and active types.
It is also possible to hire a Jeep to explore the island. The roads here are good tarmac and largely very quiet with the exception of the odd bit of livestock wandering around.

Environment and local community

At Bluebay Beach Resort, measures taken to support the environment include:

• All rooms are fitted with modern energy saving devices.
• A waste recycling plant.
• The landscaping has been done using indigenous trees and plants to attract the varied birds of the island.
• All solid roof areas are designed to allow the collection of rain water that is treated and used to supplement other water supplies.

Zanziplanet reviews

This is one of the larger properties on the island and therefore represents a trade of facilities vs. intimacy. The rooms are well spread out but at peak times communal areas can become busy. Stay here if you (or somebody in your party) are easily bored or unlikely to venture out of the confines of the hotel. An Ideal for families or large parties.