Breezes Beach Club & Spa, Zanzibar

Popular with couples and families from Europe, Breezes Beach Club & Spa has a laid-back, beachy, semi-romantic ambience with plenty of modestly elegant touches. Decor is consistent throughout the hotel, with suspended brass lanterns adding an Arabesque look to rooms and common spaces alongside dark-wood furniture with muted gold and neutral-toned upholstery. The large lobby is made up of multiple open-air rooms with Makuti roofs, interconnected by long covered passageways. Multiple seating areas feature locally handmade wooden furniture situated in clusters under still more suspended brass lanterns. The grounds are green and full of well-manicured gardens with tropical plants and trees, cut through by paved pathways. All of the hotel's eight bars and restaurants are lined up neatly along the white sand beach, which can shrink considerably during high tide. 

The hotel is located on the southeastern coast of Zanzibar, a one-hour drive from the Zanzibar International Airport in Kisauni. It's located on the southeast road, which doesn't get a lot of traffic, and there's not much of interest within reasonable walking distance, so guests will need to rely on taxis, rental cars, or bicycles to get around. The town of Bwejuu is a five-minute drive south of the hotel. It's near the national forest and the zoo, and it's a 20-minute drive to the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre. 

The hotel offers three categories of lodging: Standard Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, and Suites. Standard and Deluxe Rooms are the same size and are more or less identical. However, Standard Rooms are located away from the beach and have garden views, while Deluxe Rooms occupy the ground floor of bungalows and are close to the sea. Suites, housed on upper bungalow floors, have large and partially shaded balconies with lounge chairs along with separate dressing areas. 

Room decor integrates lots of medium and dark woods alongside neutral tones of gold, beige, and siena. Glass-topped coffee tables with encased displays of the island's famous spices are a nice local touch. Mosquito nets hang on frames suspended over the bed, a whimsical approach to a practical feature. All units are air-conditioned and come with safes, electric kettles, mini-fridges, and futon-style sofas that can double as single beds. However, they lack TVs and while there's Wi-Fi throughout the property for a fee, the service is slow and spotty. Bathrooms are large and have marble countertops with built-in sinks, roomy walk-in showers, and partitioned toilet areas. Hairdryers and basic toiletries are provided. 

For many travelers, the hotel's highlight is the Frangipani Spa, a beautifully decorated space with a long marble whirlpool tub and a number of treatment rooms, including spaces for couples' massages. There's also a small tented area for beach massages. The plain, freeform swimming pool pales in comparison, but it's large and a pleasant enough spot to relax on cushioned lounge chairs. The hotel's gorgeous white-sand beach is a better option to cool off when the tide is low, and offers plenty of shaded lounge chairs and beachside snack and drink services. There are also on-site shops selling everything from beachwear to high-quality handicrafts, jewelry, and home decor.

The fitness center is a little cramped, with older weight and cardio machines. There's also a well-maintained tennis court and an on-site dive center where a chalkboard lists marine life that has been spotted that day. The resort offers plenty of organized activities and water sports for guests, including cycling, kite surfing, sailing, kayaking, and snorkeling. A kids' club with supervised activities is available in July, August, and December.

The resort has eight different dining options for guests, including the Chai Room, which offers coffee, tea, and cake in a hutlike space with long padded benches upholstered with colorful patterned fabric. The Dhow Pool Bar is an outdoor thatched space right on the sand with a casual vibe and sandy floors, while the open-air Safari Bar is a touch more sophisticated, but with similar thatched roofs and open breezes throughout. The Baraza Bar has a similar architecture but with more of a Middle Eastern vibe, including purple cushioned seating and the option to kick back with a cigar or a hookah loaded with flavored sheesha tobacco. 

The ultra-romantic Tides Restaurant offers private dining for two guests, either in a private enclosed gazebo with intricately carved wooden screens or right on the beach under the shade of a woven leaf overhanging. Lunch is served at the Breakers Grill, which has an open grill for catch of the day fish and barbecue items and a tandoor oven. The Sultan's Table is arguably the most atmospheric of the restaurants, with Indian and Swahili cuisine. The restaurant offers ocean views from a regal, wooden latticed space featuring gold and red decor and hanging lanterns. The Salama Dining Room is open for all three meals and serves rich buffets with a huge variety of options. Breakfast is included with room rates, and half- and full-board options are available.