Riu Palace Zanzibar

We are reluctantly ending our vacation here at the Riu Palace. Second time for us at this hotel chain, excellent service, smiling and very kind staff. Beach below the hotel. Long and with a turquoise sea. There are several Maasai and beach boys, but I did not find them as intrusive as others have written. There is the possibility to rent canoes, paddleboards, and jet skis (perhaps this is the aspect that excited me the least) There is a bit of noise because of precisely The jet skis, but the beach is long enough for the noise to disperse a bit No corals and few fish, but there are several starfish offshore There are 4 restaurants, of which the main one is a buffet, everything very good, fresh, and a huge selection It is not adults-only, there are even small children, but given the presence of 3 pools, the beach, and the space above the beach, you don't perceive any confusion Little entertainment, or rather only in the evening, but not annoying Spacious and well-soundproofed rooms and no mosquitoes present The The park they created to reach the beach is very well-kept and beautiful: there are baobabs, frangipani trees, and other species Some cataloged as in botanical parks. We did not use either the excursion service or diving, having moved for two days to Mafia Island; the rest of the vacation we relaxed here. Truly a great place managed very well

🌊⭐ An Unforgettable Experience! ⭐🌊 It was absolutely amazing! 😍 We had so much fun, laughed a lot, and enjoyed every moment out on the water. The atmosphere was fantastic, the team was super friendly, and the whole experience was just perfect. 🥳🚤 You can really tell that they do their job with passion! We would definitely do it again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for fun, action, and good vibes. An absolute highlight and definitely worth 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you for such an incredible experience! 💙🌴

We have already been to a Riu Palace Hotel for the 6th time. Unfortunately, this is not the best one. It is a very beautiful facility, with modern and large clean rooms. Unfortunately, the rooms do not have an alcohol bar like the other Riu Palaces; here, only ELITE GUESTS have that. You feel like a second-class guest. Class. ELITE have their own restaurant, bar, beach, etc. No Palace had that!!! Food was okay but not exciting, partly cold, not very varied! The service staff was very friendly and in a good mood; Dhahira was very nice, but so were many others in the main restaurant! As Riu Palace fans, we have to say Riu Palace Santa Maria was the absolute best for us so far! Great variety of food!! Duck, sushi every day, Serrano ham and smoked salmon (they were very stingy with this here), and there were even various pâtés as spreads, which I have never had in hotels before.

The best hotel ever, I travel with my family but this hotel exceeds my expectations especially intertainment Roni and Juma really amazing staffs around the hotel, would like to return next time 5star hotel!!!

We were given an ‘upgrade’ from a seaview to a garden with swim up pool which was an insult! It was dark and shaded- far from my requested view and sunny room request! Room only accessible by golf cart ( the property owns 2 golf carts!) Service was slow and disinterested, property is dated in need of attention

We arrived on July 6th and were immediately greeted with an incredibly warm welcome. The rooms were absolutely amazing, offering plenty of great amenities. There is never a dull moment here, with endless activities to choose from—whether you want to grab a drink at the bar, lounge by the pool, or relax on the beach. What truly sets this hotel apart, though, is the staff. They are helpful, engaging, and genuinely fun to talk to. A special shoutout to Roni, the aqua gym instructor! He had so many brilliant ideas for pool games and brought fantastic, friendly energy to our trip. I highly recommend staying here!

We had the most incredible honeymoon at Riu Palace Zanzibar! From the moment we arrived, everything exceeded our expectations. Our beach villa was absolutely beautiful, with stunning views and the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. The pools were fantastic, the beaches were pristine, and there were plenty of places to relax and soak up the paradise surroundings. The food was exceptional—there was an amazing variety of delicious options, and every meal came with a breathtaking view. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, providing outstanding service throughout our stay and always making us feel special. The nightly entertainment was so much fun and added the perfect finishing touch to each day. We couldn't have asked for a better honeymoon destination and have made memories that will last a lifetime. We highly recommend Riu Palace Zanzibar to anyone looking for a luxurious, relaxing, and unforgettable holiday!

We were here for our Anniversary and it was maybe the best destination we could’ve think of. The staff is sweet and has good service. About the entertainment, every evening there will be a show. At the end you’ll see DJ Kassim. He is the best! Fantastic music and a lovely evening to end!!

The Hotel was very Great! One of the best vacations I ever had! Food: Amazing! Service: Amazing! Staff: The Most friendly I have ever Seen! Roni (Entertainment Team) is the best

Thank you very much for your stay Main thanks to Roni the man at the pool and host is such a special, smart and kind person. You deserve it.❤️ The hotel is excellent and the service is excellent. Everyone is everyone. The food is excellent. One thing I would change is the crows that are everywhere.Overall, a highly recommended place.

The Entertainment team is outstanding and consistently delivers an exceptional experience. The Entertainment Manager, Mr. Yussuph, is excellent, and the Assistant Entertainment Manager, Mr. Jackson, is equally dedicated and professional. In particular, the General Managers, Mr. Hamad and Mr. Olivier, are truly exceptional leaders whose commitment and support are greatly appreciated. Overall, every department provides fantastic service. Mr. Ajith deserves special recognition for alway welcoming us with a warm smile whenever we meet, creating a positive and friendly atmosphere. I would also like to recognize the Reception team, especially Sandun and Caroline, for their professionalism, kindness, and excellent hospitality. Thank you to the entire team for your outstanding service and dedication. Keep up the excellent work!

Our stay at Riu Palace Zanzibar was absolutely unforgettable and exceeded all our expectations! The hotel itself is truly stunning. The rooms are beautiful, spacious, impeccably clean, and decorated with authentic local touches that create a unique atmosphere. The villas and the entire hotel grounds are exceptionally well maintained and incredibly picturesque. The food was outstanding throughout our stay. There was a wonderful variety of dishes, everything was fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. Every meal felt like a special experience. We were also amazed by the entertainment program. There was always something interesting, fun, and engaging for both adults and children. A very special thank you goes to Roni! The Swahili lessons he organized became one of the highlights of our vacation. Our children absolutely loved them, and honestly, so did we! Roni’s energy, kindness, enthusiasm, and ability to make learning fun created unforgettable memories for our whole family. What impressed us the most was the exceptional level of service. Every member of the staff was friendly, professional, and genuinely cared about making our stay perfect. The management team has clearly created a wonderful atmosphere where guests feel truly welcomed and valued. Thank you to everyone at Riu Palace Zanzibar for giving our family such beautiful memories. We will cherish this experience for a very long time and sincerely hope to return one day!

Thanks bar team for the good service🙏🙏 delicious coctails😘😘😘🙌*. Hopefully we will back soon🫠. Special thanks to Harith Noah, Erasto,wiston witness,dhahira dario, Matheo,paul,abdalah,Michael at elite beach, Norah and Kelvin bar supervisor. 🫶

All the staff are extremely professional, kind, and friendly. The gardeners do an outstanding job, and everything is always beautifully maintained. Entertainment kassim is so frendly Everything here is excellent. We travel a lot, and we have never been welcomed with such warmth, kindness, and professionalism as we were here. This is a truly wonderful country, and we will definitely come back. Thank you very much for everything!

Thank you so much the hotel and stuff who’s was cary and kind🥰. Mostly thanks Roni,Regina,Diana, mr.Baobab. This was my best trip ever

KASSIM ,JUMA,DIANA ,FRANCIS ARE THE BEST TNX SO MUCH THEY MAKE OUR HOLIDAY PERFECT khadıja ,kalahara all stuff are the best

We booked this hotel for our honeymoon and also our first time in Zanzibar. What an amazing place! The staff are all so friendly the food was great it was just in general really good. We have been to all inclusive hotels in different countries but this one tops them all. Shout out to Roni really friendly lovely to chat to just an all round lovely guy, top bloke!

This hotel is amazing … our room was upgraded on arrival, we stayed in a junior suite , it was perfect. Food at each mealtime was fantastic with so much choice. The pool areas are spotless , always a sunbed with parasol available and great entertainment. But it’s the staff that make this hotel , from the guys on reception , housekeeping , ground staff/gardeners , waiting staff in dining rooms and bar staff are FABULOUS…. Always polite , helpful and friendly, All outstanding but have to mention Veronica and Catherine in Ginger Bar , their customer service is second to none. Thank you for the best , memorable holiday , would highly recommend. Lisa & Chris

Everything was super Staff, rooms, foods We spent three super days Then, Roni was amazing. Super helpfull, polite and sunny person Super recommended

Our stay at this hotel was absolutely incredible from start to finish. Everything exceeded our expectations. The staff were amazing—always friendly, attentive, and ready to help with a smile. The service was truly outstanding. From entertainment tnx for KASSIM he made our holiday perfect❤️ From restaurant tnx for hassan The food was exceptional, with a great variety of delicious dishes every day. Every meal was a pleasure. The hotel itself is beautiful, relaxing, and perfectly maintained. It truly feels like paradise. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience and will definitely come back. Thank you to the entire team for making our stay unforgettable! Highly recommended!

As always I start by saying I do not mention names of those that have been great, as there were so many at this hotel as it would be a long list, and I may forget to mention someone. But I found all the staff to be extrely helpful and friendly. But a special shout out to all the staff in bar Ginger. They were amazing, always smiling, very attentive and ensured I never ran out of drinks! To the general experience. I travelled alone, I took advantage of the free transfers offered by Riu. They were faultless, they were there when I landed (name board in the arrivals hall (fisherman Tours)), were friendly and efficient. They give you a welcome letter, which a gives contact details and the details of the return journey. On the return, they arrived at the hotel promptly. Check-in was simple, the team were very friendly and lots of smiles. I received a free room upgrade to a suite (139). The room was large, four poster bed with drapes, lots of bottled drinks to choose from (beer, Coca-cola (original and diet), Fanta, water and some other drinks. Also, a bottle of sparkiling wine in a bucket with ice. There was a message in flowers on my bed and a welcome pack which contained a water bottle and 3 bags (emblazoned Riu and diamond member) and a throw. And a turn-down service nightly. Massive balcony, and a sofa (seating area). OK the hotel itself - There are 3 hotels alongside eachother, the RIu Palace 5* (more of a boutique hotel, quiet, no real entertainment (no swim-up bar), small snack bar, 4 bars, buffet and some al a carte restaurants (book via the app). Evening entertainment very low key. So if you want chilled, this is for you. Riu Jambo 4* (which Palace guest can use) which is a lot busier, lot's going on, more bars and restaurants, a swim-up bar, entertainment during the day and the manin venue for the part nights (the party night and white party are definately worth trying). All are in walking distance, either via the beach, or a path. If you want to get to the Jambo via beach. Go right to the bottom, down the steps of the Ginger bar, turn right, 1 min walk and you'll find steps down to the beach. On the beach turn right, 3 min walk, you'll come to a volley ball area, head up and to your left and you will see the many snack area and bar (a lot more choice than at the Palace), for the rest of the bars go up the steps and turn left. Via the path - go to the bottom, walk down the steps of the main bar (Ginger), turn right and follow the path to the right and the quiet pool (Breeze). Carry on past the chill pool, and they'll be a path, follow this as winds around. At the end, turn right, go up the hill about 2 mins, keep an eye on your left and you'll see a small sign saying "Riu party". Then just follow the signs. And then the newest, the Riu Swahili 5* which I did not go to. The Palace has lovely grounds, and this hotel had a charm of it's own, a bit of a personality. Which is unusual in a way for Riu. But it had an African feel and theme, old worldy with lots of African art and lovely archways. This "personality" felt right for the hotel. The hotel is very clean, you see non-stop cleaning and painting. The hotel is spread across a wide hilly area, built on quite a steep hillside. With the reception at the top and all the bars, pools, beach and restaraunts all at the bottom (beachfront). Just a word of warning - there is a lot of walking up and down hill to get to the bars, pools, restaurants and beach. I am 51 and my legs and bag killed after 2 days. However you can ask for a buggy, or catch one of the regular ones that take you up and down. One thing I thought was good, was that all the drinks (soft drinks/beer etc.) were in bottles rather than drinks foutains/machines. The choice of drinks is really good, there is a drinks menu but if you ask for something different, I am sure they will oblige. I really enjoyed the beer (serengete), I had lots of it! Every day (a number of times times throughout the day) the bar team walk around all the pool and beach areas with trays of water, healthy dinks (like smoothies - not my thing), some cocktails which was a nice touch. In the afternood they also come around with fruit skewers which were always welcome. The team will also serve you on the beach, around the pool and just about anywhere, regularly. Smoking - Yes, sorry all you non-smokers, I smoke! You can smoke nearly everywhere, however, and quite rightly they have half and half. E.g. areas (seating/tables) where half was smoking and half-non-smoking (same principle open air or under cover). And people seemed to vape anywhere. Pool towels - next to / left of the the main pool. You will get a towel card per guest which you will need to exchange for a towel. Change the towel as often as you want. But please ensure when you are leaving give your towel back, and get a card back. As you may be charged if you do not give the towel card with the rook card when leaving. Niggles - Nothing much really. This is personal - For lunch I hate going to the restaurant, I much prefer the snak bar (Pepe's (normally at RIu's) - just before the main buffet restaurant, on your right). The Palace snack bar is extremely small and very limited selection, chicken, burgers, sausages and salad). I always went to the Riu Jambo as it is probably 3 times bigger and way more selection (as per the Palace but loads of different pizza's and more selection of hot and cold food). Oh, and the pizza and southern fried chicken at the Jambo is very tasty. Suggestions - 1. I think there should be more larger signage marking the route to the Riu Jambo. I had to search for it... And then I did get asked by a number of people if I knew where it was and how to get to it. 2. Extend the snack bar and offer more of a choice, if anything match what Riu Jambo offers, food wise. 3. Inform people/have signage/timings stating where people can get on eof the regular buggies from to get up and down the hotel. 4. Build a swim-up bar, It would be popular, as they always are. It would be used, based on the number of people that ordered drinks from the waiters whilst they were in the pool. So would I go back to the Palace, probably, yes. The simple question to ask yourself is.... Do you want chilled, quiet not many people - it's the Palace. If you want lot's of people, music, entertainment, party - it's the Jambo. To an end - Thanks to all the staff at the Riu Palace, literally all the staff as you were all amazing.

We had a great stay at RIU Swahili Zanzibar. Special thanks to Witness for the excellent service, friendliness, and professionalism throughout our stay. He really made our experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommended! 😊

We arrived to a very warm welcome at Riu Palace. They had very kindly upgraded our room, and arranged for a bottle of bubbly to be brought to us, as it was our honeymoon. The aesthetics are beautiful - typically African and cultural. The premises were always clean/being cleaned. Every member of staff says hello "jambo" to you, whatever section of the hotel you're in. I don't think I've ever been to a resort so friendly. House cleaning do a fantastic job, whatever time of the day you leave your room, it's spotless when you come back. And fridge always full with local beer/soft drinks/water. The beach attached to the hotel is literally beautiful - powder like sand and clear Indian Ocean water. There are sellers on the beach, but you just have to get used to saying "hello, no thank you" and carry on walking. There is a large buffet restaurant, and three Al La Carte restaurants. All fantastic food, and easy to book via the app. The bar team can make any cocktail on request - great selection and we didn't feel bored of the choices, even after two weeks. Golf carts are available to take you up and down to the beach if necessary. Stunning pool area, huts with the best view of the ocean, and a smaller secret pool area of you want to be out of the crowds. The staff are constantly at your sunbeds providing drinks (and beautiful cakes and pastries served in The Ginger Bar all day.) I have stayed (and worked at) Riu Hotels across the world. This was without doubt the best. Thank you to all the staff for being so friendly and accommodating, nothing was ever any trouble. I would like to especially thank Peter, who works in the steak house and main restaurant. He really made our stay incredible ❤️