In our opinion Breezes is the best all-round option on the island, fantastic staff and service, and one of the best locations on the island, great food, extensive facilities, and excellent accommodation at very reasonable rates. With 72 rooms this is on the larger side of the hotels that we regularly recommend but the rooms are well spaced out on a very large plot with a number of dining options, so this doesn’t feel busy, and the staff are fantastic at offering a personal service.

One of the key considerations with Zanzibar accommodation is the location, the best beaches are on the east coast of Zanzibar, and Breezes doesn’t disappoint with a fabulous setting. The plot is located on the south-east coast along a pristine and untouched beach with fine sand and palm trees along the edge of the beach and dotted around the beautifully manicured gardens, this really is the picture of tropical perfection.

Facilities here include a water club, offering daily snorkelling trips to the lagoon by boat as well as kayaks, pedal boats, sailing, kite surfing and windsurfing (all payable locally). There is also a very professional PADI 5-star dive centre on the site and the large Frangipani Spa is seriously impressive and has a team of professionals from Thailand, Bali and Indonesia that offer a wide range of treatments. Further facilities include a large swimming pool and lounger area, beachfront loungers dotted among the palm trees, shopping bazaar, fitness and aerobics centre, flood-lit tennis court, satellite TV room, and dedicated excursions help and booking desk. The bar and dining options are extensive with four different bar options available including beach front dining.

The 72 rooms come in four different categories including 10 standard rooms, 40 deluxe, 20 suites, and two, two-bedroom, villa units. The rooms are arranged in individual bungalows with the deluxe rooms downstairs and the suites upstairs with the standard rooms located at the back of the property with the villas. All rooms are identical in terms of décor and size apart from the suites that are on the upper floor, which have a walk-in dressing room, larger bathroom, and a huge balcony with sun beds. They are all fully air-conditioned with en-suite bathrooms, refrigerator, personal safe, hairdryer in bathroom, tea and coffee facilities, telephone, veranda, and a full third bed functioning as a sofa.