Me and my husband stayed at Maruhubi Beach Villas in February 2011 for 4 days. So this review is long overdue but it has to be done!! But we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and it was absolutely brilliant! I am sorry for the experience of the reviewer from Paris, but I have to disagree because Juma was an EXCELLENT HOST and he totally went out of his way to make our stay as pleasurable as possible. He organised us tours (spice tour, snorkeling, stone town tour- had a private guide) and always made sure he got us the best deals for trips and taxis. Even made sure we know what is too much to pay for souveniers etc - and believe me this information is very handy when you are bargaining with the locals.We also would not have had enough time to explore everything ( a week off work - so very sad!) so it was great to have someone local that is willing to help you out and we DEFINITELY HAD AN AMAZING TIME in the 4 days.

We initially booked the room for the whole week but wanted to explore the north of Zanzibar before heading back to the UK. Juma had no problem in letting us only stay the 4 days and let us use the internet to find a place up north; even contacted a couple of places to get us the best deal since we had nothing booked and it was a last minute decision by me and my husband. We did find a place and he organised us the taxi which we shared with another couple who we met at the villa and they also could only sing Juma's praises!

We had room nr 1 and the views were awesome. They were revamping the garden but this did not matter since we could see the potential in it becoming a much greener place with lotsa plants and grass to lie on next to the pool (which by the way was nice to swim in especially at night when it was still very hot). Our rooms were cleaned daily and we had fresh towels daily. You had aircon in your room which was very good and you needed it that time of the year!

The restuarant food was very basic (had lovely, friendly waiters) and breakfast had fresh fruit every day; however you had the option of spending your day in stone town and then you have a great choice of restuarants. They had a selection of wines and beers (local ones as well!) and it was nice to sit outside at the "back" of your room (you had a back door from your room leading to your own little veranda) watching the views and reading a book.

Maruhubi villas had the atmosphere; friendly faces, was clean and gave you the luxury of a hot shower at night and a true feel of Zanzibar!

I would definitely want to go back and I am sure Maruhubi villas would have grown into even a more beautiful place to put your feet up, sipping on a glass of wine and watching the sun set over the ocean.

Well done Juma - I hope the owner knows what a gem you are!

C&D

We have just left Maruhubi Beach Resort and have a wonderful few days. We very much wished we could have stayed longer, and will be back in the future. Maruhubi is very conveniently located for Stone Town, but feels like a peaceful haven away from the city. Juma the manager is a wonderful host who made us feel very at home and individually cared for, particularly following some stressful experiences in Dar. The accommodation is lovely too. There is much to do in Zanzibar and we'll be back basing ourselves at Maruhubi. We were there during low season, which made us feel extra-special at Maruhubi, though of course the weather is not as ideal as in other months. Thanks Juma and team for facilitating a very relaxing and pleasant stay.

This hotel does a great job making guests feel welcome. Great pool on the ocean (open 24 hours) a plus for great night and morning swims. Great service when you request anything and the manager really wants to make you feel comfortable (he's even willing to let you use the office for internet). Food was good, rooms comfortable (and air conditioned - a must in the humid temperatures). The beds were enormous and comfortable and at least 3 of the rooms overlooking the ocean have multiple beds in each of the rooms. The property seemed safe (patrolled by security guards). Although the beach access is not one of Zanzibar's most picturesque beaches (those are east) it was very nice. The hotel is a little way from stone town and a cab will need to be arranged (they will help you with that) and you must bargain the price aggressively.

Overall what this hotel lacks, the management and staff are more than willing to try to make up.

NEVER try to stay in this hotel unless you turn up on the day and they have accomodation. The rooms are very nice and they have a good loation and facilities but is totally let down but the unreliable way it is run by the manager, Juma.
We booked 3 rooms for one night during a very busy period in Zanzibar (music festival) and when we arrived we were told by Juma that they had had a prioblem 2 days ago and our rooms were unusable. They tried to send us somewhere else (the manager in the other hotel said he'd got a phone call 5 minutes before we arrived to see if he had rooms), which was twice the distance from Stone town and the rooms were not what we booked and were like a youth hostel so we said that we wouldn't stay there.
Back to the Marahubi who didn't do anything to find us somewhere. It was our taxi driver who found us another hotel, 3 hours later,, but it cost us $340 dollars instead of $225 for the night.

I'm almost 7 months pregnant and we were travelling with my 12 year old son and my husband's mother, who is partially sighted. The incompetence at the Marahubi ruined our little holiday and I would strongly advise anyone thinking of staying there to STAY AWAY.
By the way, the Ocean View where we did stay was very nice- no pool but access to a very nice beach