Arya Boutique Resort in Zanzibar City

Profiting from a war crisis – Disgraceful behavior! I am appalled by this hotel’s conduct. Our reservation for 4 people stay was booked for March 5th – March 12th, 2026. Due to the military conflict and the official closure of Dubai’s airspace, it was physically impossible and unsafe to travel. Despite this being a clear case of force majeure involving global safety risks, the hotel:Ignored us entirely: We sent multiple emails, but the hotel didn't bother to reply even once. In a time of regional crisis, they treated their guests as non-existent. Blocked the refund: *********** confirmed they were willing to help, but the hotel flatly refused to authorize a refund or even a voucher, choosing to keep our money for a service they knew we couldn't use. Total lack of ethics: While other businesses showed solidarity during these dangerous times, this hotel chose greed over human safety. Avoid this place at all costs. If you value your money and expect even a shred of professional communication during an emergency, look elsewhere!!!

The resort is not owning any private beach but cooperating with very close walking distance lodge for free sunbeds. This aspect, linked to a very poor service, tidiness and customer care, makes Arya absolutely over expensive and over promising in his presentation.

We recently stayed at the Arya boutique hotel in Zanzibar, and unfortunately, we were extremely disappointed with our experience. Although it seemed wonderful on the internet. We are a family of 4. * Hotel advertised as boutique hotel, but did not feel like it, it felt like we are staying in someone’s property. Due to the level of service. * Poor first impression due to disinterested staff not wearing uniforms and didn’t help with the luggage. As any hotel staff would. * during the day you would find the cleaner sitting always at the reception seating area. We’re you can sit and have a coffee. * there was no kettle in the room for coffee and tea, instead at the reception area, where you needed to pay for espresso, (tea was free). * The driver who picked us up from the airport, changed the root during the trip to hotel & said he wants to pick up his wife on the way & took us to a very condensed area, I was frightened to be honest, especially that the streets in Zanzibar didn’t have lights. And picked this lady who sat with us in the car. * Poorly designed rooms with no functional storage and no AC in kids' room. The room was a mess bcz our stuff was lying around both rooms. The bathroom sink area had no space to put our stuff. So it didn’t feel relaxing in the room at all. * When we arrived the bathroom bin wasn’t empty. And the shower head and handle had rust. * No direct access to the beach, no beach view, you have to cross a street full of supermarket and other store workers to go to a small beach area with no Wi-Fi. Which is very important when on holiday. If we needed internet we had to go back to stay in the room. * The eating area was very small and depressing. Although the responsible staff there was very nice. And he customized a breakfast for us. * Poorly maintained pool area with guests leaving garbage and cigarette packets on ground. Hotel staff would not pick up towels of other guests , even when I called him to, I removed the towels myself and removed the cigarette packets , and it stayed thr on the table till the next day. Together with pizza plates that we ordered from another restaurant. Stayed there and was never picked up. * We also had a negative experience on an organized excursion, which didn’t deliver at of its promise and included unhygienic restaurant. On a positive note, after complaining we were compensated with another excursion the day after and a lunch at a good normal restaurant. And the owner apologized. Yet still we wasted a full day with the disappointing first trip, which left the kids very upset and us as well. * Overall, we felt that the hotel did not offer good value for money and the level of service was very poor. * In contrast, we had a much better experience at the nearby Mvuvi boutique hotel restaurant, which had a nice atmosphere, very nice and professional workers and good food. In conclusion, we would not recommend staying at this boutique hotel in Zanzibar. We expected a relaxing and pa

I have to agree with the review of RE. This is a small boutique resort, which appears wonderful on the internet but the reality is very different. It felt to me like the property has fallen into a state of disrepair: - the generator did not work; - the pool area was untidy - beer bottles and ash trays were not cleared up and were left by the pool over an afternoon and whole night in spite of several staff being on site. The cushions on the deck chairs were dirty as they are permanently left out and some were torn as they had perished due to exposure to the elements; - the pool needs resurfacing and has been “patched up” in several places; - the hotel restaurant seems to have closed. There is a beach bar across the road with a space for hotel guests, however it does not have wifi and there is limited hotel staff on-site, which meant that I was disturbed by hawkers several times trying to sell me their wares. There is no shortage of staff on the property, and while they are well meaning they seem to sit around as they are not being managed or supervised hands on. In spite of the above: - The breakfast is good - The rooms are clean, albeit basic. After a lengthy power cut I concluded that this hotel was not for me. Therefore I decided to check out early. I politely advised the staff that I was unhappy and wanted to check out and requested a refund for the nights I did not use. I was offered a 50% refund which I accepted and never contested. What I did not appreciate was that in finalising my refund, the staff handed me a mobile device on which they asked me to fill in my email address in a WhatsApp conversation they were having with the owner. While I was doing that messages from the owner came up to say that she will not tolerate me being rude or difficult and to tell them to tell me if I am I will get no refund. I did not raise this at the time as I did not want to inflame the situation, however I found this extremely offensive and unprofessional as I had been polite and factual in every interaction with the staff. Furthermore, there was no attempt by the hotel to own the issues I raised.