Sensations Eco-Chic Hotel in Matemwe

The property is well maintained, as one would expect from a 5-star resort. The pool is clean, and the kitchen prepares meals clearly tailored to Western tastes, offering a 5-course à la carte lunch menu (all five courses can be ordered under the all-inclusive formula), which changes daily, and a 7-course surprise tasting menu in the evening to be shared as a couple. The resort is strongly oriented toward adult couples, although during our stay we did notice the presence of a trio (a couple with a parent). The table staff are kind, although they struggle somewhat with English. The overall atmosphere is clearly focused on relaxation. Five stars on paper, but now to the shortcomings: – 1 star for the sea. A major disappointment, especially considering how differently it is portrayed on Instagram. At high tide the beach disappears completely, and the water becomes milky and opaque due to the sandy seabed and wave motion. At low tide, the sea becomes practically unusable, with ankle-deep water stretching for hundreds of meters. Reaching swimmable water offshore is virtually impossible. (20cm water depth until deep blue line at horizon) . all surrounded by seaweed cultivation. – 1 star for the slowness of service and low level personnel training. Abandon all hope, you who enter. Extremely long waiting times between being seated and being served. On average, not less then 40 minutes — with peaks of over 50 minutes in the morning where waiting time is even worst — just to receive two eggs. I understand the concept of relaxation, but this borders on enforced fasting. Staff is friendly but not trained enough for a 5* service. – 1 star for a clear lack of class. We stayed 8 nights (not a short stay), paying the full daily rate even on the day of arrival, when due to our flight schedule we arrived at the resort after 11 p.m. and therefore did not benefit from dinner. We had informed the resort in advance and were left HALF toasted sandwich and some fruit in the room. On departure day, with checkout at 11 a.m. and airport transfer at 2 p.m., we were denied lunch, being told that the package expired at the moment the room keys were returned. If you want to be a 5-star resort, you simply do not do this — especially after charging nearly €1,000 per day. -1 star: The icing on the cake was that they made our taxi wait for an hour outside the gate without telling us it had arrived. I found out because I was starting to worry about the delay. Luckily, I had planned for a bit of a buffer. To conclude: multiple daily power outages. Only a few minutes each time, but still annoying. Overall rating: 1 star Not recommended

The resort itself is beautiful - beautifully designed, perfectly maintained, and the pool area is truly exceptional. Unfortunately, the service doesn't come anywhere close to matching the beauty of the property, and it really impacts the overall experience. From breaktast onward, the staff often seem irritated, uninterested, and simply unwilling to engage. You constantly feel like you're bothering them instead of being welcomed. The same issues continue at dinner: extremely long waits, unfriendly attitudes, and responses like "No, that's finished" when something is no longer available. For a 5-star all-inclusive resort, this level of service is completely unacceptable. Poolside service is basically nonexistent as well. At a resort of this caliber, attentive poolside drinks and service should be a given - but here, it just doesn't happen. The biggest disappointment, however, is the management. The two managers come across as very unfriendly and distant, giving the strong impression that revenue matters far more than guest experience. There's little sense of appreciation or genuine hospitality. The all-inclusive policy is especially frustrating: - Even though you book an all-inclusive package, you can't actually use it until 3 p.m. when check-in begins. If you want food or drinks before that, you have to pay extra. - On departure day, all-inclusive ends at 11 a.m., even if your flight is much later. If you want to eat or drink after 11 - without even needing a room - it costs an additional minimum $160 or even more.. - In my opinion, it's outrageous to charge fully paying all-inclusive guests extra just to have access to food and drinks for a few more hours. - And once all-inclusive ends, the change in attitude is immediate - you're no longer treated like a valued guest, but more like someone who needs to be upsold. It's condescending and very profit-driven. On top of all of that, the pricing for the rooms simply doesn't match the quality. The Superior Room is fine in terms of price-performance, but anything above that is extremely overpriced. The Deluxe category is far too expensive for what you actually get, and the villas are on an entirely different level of overpricing - totally unjustified compared to many other resorts l've stayed at. Honestly, the price tags for those rooms are a complete outrage. Overall, the price does not match the value at all. l've stayed at many 5-star all-inclusive resorts, and this one ranks the lowest in terms of service, hospitality, and value for the money. The property is gorgeous, but the management, the staff attitude, the pricing, and the overly profit-oriented policies completely ruin what could have been a great vacation.

We booked 4 nights hoping for peace, care, and a touch of luxury. Instead, we felt invisible. No manager on site. We felt hungry. Service was inconsistent, food disappointing, and solo travelers are clearly not considered here. No one checked in on us. No effort to make us feel welcome. This is not “eco-chic.” It’s a staged set with no real heart behind the curtain. We wrote a full account at: elenaandatlas.com – under “Love & Travel: Zanzibar, November 2025.” If you’re going, please read before you book.