I thought I would treat myself and my husband to some luxury and relaxation at Melia Zanzibar after reaching the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro and camping with the Maasai warriors. I am so glad we did, from the moment we arrived at Melia Zanzibar to the moment that we left, the service from the staff was nothing but exceptional.
The resort itself was beautiful and modern with stunning views overlooking the Indian ocean.
Melia Zanzibar
Situated in a beautiful part of the island known as ‘Spice Island’, is the all-inclusive luxury resort of Melia Zanzibar. It is a large complex with beautiful gardens, private jetty with breathtaking views, two infinitely pools and a private beach. The resort is also ringed by a natural coral reef, making bathing and relaxing a safe experience.
There are 5 restaurants and 4 bars, so you will not run out of culinary experience options during your stay. The main restaurant (spice restaurant) has a different themed menu every night that is accompanied by its own entertainment. Make sure though if you are eating at one of the other restaurants you make a reservation.
The Melia Swimming Pools
I am a big fan of infinity swimming pools and the resort has two that guests can use. They also have suites available with private pools. You have the main pool and the gym pool both offering breathtaking views of the ocean.
The main infinity pool is large with lots of sun lounge chairs and adjoining bar and restaurant to the side. You would not have a problem laying by the pool all day relaxing while being served cocktails and food by the friendly staff.
The spa and gym pool is a lot smaller. I personally didn’t use the gym or spa but I did hop in the pool to take in the views.
About the Room
We had a lovely room with a partial sea view and a small balcony but to be honest you could see most of the ocean from our balcony. The room was incredibly spacious, light, modern, containing everything you would need with a comfortable four-poster bed. You were given fresh sheets and towels every day, as well as romantic towel and flower sculptures placed on your bed every day.
The bathroom also was very spacious with two washbasins, a bath and two separate showers. One of the showers was outside in the middle of the bathroom. It was so nice to shower outside and look up at the moon and feel like you were with nature.
The Jetty Restaurant
There is a saying ‘Room with a View’, well this is definitely ‘A Restaurant with a View’. At the end of the beautifully built jetty that stretches out a couple of hundred metres out into the ocean is a bar and tapas restaurant bar called Jetty Restaurant. It is one of the most photographed landmarks at the Melia Zanzibar and you can see why, especially with the coral reef beneath it.
You can have pre, after dinner drinks and dinner here, depending on your mood. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to have dinner here but I understand that the tapas menu is a really delicious and has many surprises.
Private Beach, Gabi Beach
If you really want white sand between your toes, while sipping cocktails and taking in the serenity, the hotel has a private beach Gabi Beach. It is only a couple of kilometres away and golf carts run regularly between the hotel and Gabi beach.
Here you will find a place to eat, drink, relax on sun loungers, go on a local boat, paddle in the water, play beach games and watch the locals go by.
How to get there & Location
The resort is situated on the north-east coast of the island in Kiwengwa, also known as the “Spice Island”. There are two main ways that you can arrive on the island, by plane and by boat.
The closest international airport is Kisauni, Zanzibar Town and is about 90 minutes to the Melia Resort by private transfer. It is not easy getting to the resort and I suggest booking your transfer in advance with the resort.
By boat, you can get the fast ferry from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar, which runs 4 times a day. The ferry terminal is in Malindi, right at the heart of Stone Town. If you are on a tight budget the ferry is considered the most convenient way to travel to Zanzibar.
Top Tips for staying at Melia Zanzibar
- Book a half day or day snorkelling tour from the Diving/Snorkelling office at the hotel to Mnemba Island. It is so beautiful and worth doing especially when the water is calm and clear.
- Take a day trip with an experienced guide to Stone Town Zanzibar and learn about the interesting history of slavery to the birthplace of Freddie Mercury
- There is nowhere really that you can venture outside the resort. The best option is to book full board with drinks
- Catch the golf cart to the beach and when the tide goes out walk back to the hotel along the shoreline. You can watch the locals collecting shells in the water and take in the stunning views.
Additional Information about the Melia
Price Range: Expensive
Wifi: Included in the price
Breakfast: An international hot buffet breakfast. Lots of options to choose from.
Drinks: You can pay an additional fee for unlimited drinks and cocktails.
You can check for more information, rates and availability, here
If you enjoy staying in luxurious accommodations you might be interested in Hip Hideouts. Looking for adventure in West Africa then how about Sierra Leone?
Have you been to Zanzibar before Or stayed in a Melia resort before? Should I add any tips for staying?
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Disclaimer: All views are my own and based on my own experience and I paid to stay at the Melia resort.
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Of everything I like that picture with the traditional Zanzibar woman walking on the coast! So picturesque! The hotel looks cool, esp the infinity pool looks so stunning! A candle light dinner in the Jetty restaurant would be so romantic!!!
I loved watching the local go about their everyday living. It was one of my highlights of the trip.
This is PARADISE! I debated for a long time between Zanzibar and Maldives for our honeymoon. Thank you for the tips on it too!
I highly recommend Zanzibar to some colleague’s of mine and they loved it when they went.
Wow, wow, wow! This is seriously paradise. That gym and spa infinity pool is serious pool goals but I honestly can’t get over how clear ALL the water is, especially the view of the Jetty! Definitely adding Zanzibar to my list.
The whole island is just beautiful, I would not hesitate going back in a heart beat 🙂
Oh my word – what an amazing treat! I don’t think I’ve ever stayed anywhere as beautiful as this! And the jetty restaurant! How on earth is that guy riding a bike on sand though!? #skills
This place was really pretty and child-friendly, I could of laid by the pool all day 🙂
Zanzibar is SO high on my list and reading this just makes me want to book it now! Your photos are stunning! The hotel looks like a great place to stay in such a beautiful location.
I recommend another friend to Zanzibar and they came back and told me that it was the best holiday that they have ever had. I loved the place it was so beautiful and the people were super friendly.
It is truly a paradise. One of my favorite places I visited. The beaches a are so secluded and serene. Your pictures are very refreshing on my memory. Zanzibar is true amalgamation of history and nature.
I loved the place to and it has been a while since I was there. I would love to go back though 🙂 I hope you had a great time when you were there too.
The Melia Zanzibar looks like the perfect place to stay in Zanzibar. The infinity pool and the views from the infinity pool are unreal, so much colour! The Jetty, looking out to the ocean, makes a perfect picture! It’s good to know there is a gym in the hotel although I never end up going, it makes me feel better thinking I will use the gym!
I always have good intentions when it comes to gyms to but it does not happen 🙂 I figure you get exercise when you are in the pool 🙂
Wow! This looks like a beautiful resort. If I see one more white sand beach today, I will end up booking a beach vacation 🙂 (we haven’t had one in years). Are there any good snorkelling locations here?
Zanzibar does have beautiful white beaches. The snorkelling is in my tips, they have a center that you book it through the resort.
A paradise indeed, Zanzibar hasn’t been on my bucketlis yet, but thanks to you it founds it way to it!
I recommend Zanzibar to follow colleague and they loved it. The beaches are just beautiful.
Oh wow this looks amazing! That white sand oh my. I’m such a beach babe but even I could be tempted by the infinity pools.
This is such a beautiful place and the beaches are stunning. The sand is so very white 🙂
Wow, I must say that this is truly a paradise. I like how peaceful this place is with only a sea breeze that makes some noise. I am always a big fan of secluded place like this one. The restaurant with a view is really romantic. I like how they come up with this idea. The room is as well clean and spacious. I haven’t heard about this place before and this left me in awe. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Thank you very much, it is truly a beautiful resort and I would not hesitate to go back there in a hurry.
The pool of the Melia resort looks exotic. Also I loved the blue waters surrounding the island. Private Gabi Beach is so attractive and I suppose best for couples.
There were a few families on the beach as the kids can run around on the sand. I loved the Jetty it was a cool pool place to hang out on.
Ok seriously, this looks like absolute paradise! Who need to leave the resort when it looks like this. I´ve wanted to go to Zanzibar for quite some time, I´ll certainly have to check this place out whenever I make my way there.
Zanzibar is so pretty, I recommend to some friends and they went and loved it also. The sandy beaches are just so white.
The Melia Zanzibar looks fantastic – we’ve been to Tanzania but never to Zanzibar. Visiting Stone Island must be fascinating. I love the view from your balcony of the ocean
Zanzibar was much prettier than I thought it was going to be. The beaches were so white and the people were, friendly and nice.
I neeeed a vacation like this! Can’t wait to go to Zanzibar one day! Amazing post & hotel btw!
Zanzibar is such a beautiful place to visit. If you ever get the chance to go, I would highly recommoned it.
What a gorgeous place to stay! Quite a treat indeed, especially those views out to the ocean. I’d love to visit Zanzibar. The jetty restaurant looks gorgeous, and I’d be definitely booking a diving or snorkelling trip without a doubt!
I didn’t want to go home it was so nice. The snorkelling and diving is out to an island and wow the views from there are amazing. Can I go back now too
I want to go to Tanzania soooo much. I am wanderlusting over that infinity pool right now wondering if I can fit in a trip here before or after my 9 months in Asia!
Zanzibar has beautiful white beaches… If you can afford it, some of the suites have they’re own private infinitely pools.
OMG Zanzibar looks AMAZING! I would love to stay here and just float around in the pools all day looking at that view! Also, that jetty restaurant is something out of this world! I have now added this to my must visit list!
The Jetty restaurant was amazing, it was wonderful sitting out there in the afternoon watching the sun go down with a drink in your hand.
The hotel looks amazing, and reading about those towel sculptures on your bed. OMG! that sounds interesting with all those waves by your side. It had to be heavenly. Thanks for sharing this experience, I would wait for a chance to visit there.
This is a beautiful resort and I loved walking around taking pictures of the place.
That Jetty Restaurant looks absolutely stunning! I would’ve loved to have seen some of the food from there! That sand looks pure white and it sounds like you visited on of the many examples of heaven on earth. Zanzibar needs to get higher on my list.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to have food on the jetty as it was booked out but I did have a drink out there with the sunset in front of me. It was total heaven for sure.
This is not what I thought Tanzania would be, but this is stunning! The view from the infinity pool is gorgeous!! And the coral reef looks unreal!
This place was beautiful, I loved taking pictures of the coral reef especially when the tired went out.
A beautiful place, a real Paradise! The sea and the sun – wow!
It was beautiful place to stay and visit 🙂
I really want to visit Zanzibar and your post and pictures totally pushed me to look into flights ASAP. The hotel you stayed at looks amazing, that’s truly paradise.
Thi place was beautiful, I loved being on that jetty taking pictures.
I love the melia chain! Their properties are always so amazing
I concur
What a great review and pictures! It looks like a dream! I love the restaurant and all of the views!
I could have stayed out on that Jetty all day long, with a cocktail in my hand 🙂
I have heard a lot about Zanzibar and wow I can see why – it looks absolutely stunning!
You definitely should go, I highly recommend it.
I’m so sad I didnt get to Zanzibar when I was in Tanzania. This resort is gorgeous, and I’d love to be on that private beach right now. The spa infinity pool looks like something out of a dream, and I already miss the sun as we head into autumn 🙁
I loved Zanzibar is such a stunning place, I couldn’t stop taking photos of it. Sorry that you never made it there but it gives you a good excuse to head back one day.