The second part of my Zanzibar trip was spent by the beach at the the Breezes Beach Club & Spa, a family owned and managed resort situated at a pristine tidal beach on Bwejuu, the south-east coast of Zanzibar – a traditionally Muslim island off the coast of Tanzania. The Hotel is part of the Zanzibar Collection – a group of Zanzibar’s most sought-after beach hotels including the Baraza Resort and Spa, The Palms, and The Zawadi Hotel.
The Hotel
It was a hot afternoon when we arrived to Breezes from Stone Town. What impressed me was the high level of security at the main gate. All cars had to be registered before arrival; otherwise they would have to wait outside or get entry approval from in-house guests. The beach side was also heavily guarded as I later came to find out, which made me feel very safe and relaxed.
As soon as we set foot in the reception area, we were welcomed with warm “jambos” , cold towels and drinks by smiling staff and the lovely French manager Cha. While walking to our room, it was impossible to ignore the sense of calm, luxury and tranquility this place offers. And to our delight there was a bottle of sparkling wine waiting for us in our room to kick of our stay in style, and we couldn’t wait to run down and enjoy it by the shimmering crystal blue sea or the pool which lured us from our windows.
How to get there
The hotel is about an hour and fifteen minutes drive from the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, and the hotel is happy to organize airport transfers for USD 70. I was however already in Stone Town and had privately organized transport with our local tour guide.
The room
We stayed in a modern suite on the top floor of a bungalow with balcony access and a spacious terrace for sunbathing or star gazing. The modern layout and style featured traditional Zanzibari décor elements. Needless to say it offered all the installations which you would expect in a 5 star hotel including super WiFi connection, fridge, electronic safe box, hair dyer, electric kettle and last but not least a perfectly functioning a/c to keep us cool and comfy in the Zanzibar heat.
The bed was big and as comfortable as can be. The quality and cleanliness of the bed is on the top of my priority list for each hotel I visit, and I can assure you that this was a perfect bed with soft fluffy pillows – just the way I like them!
The concept of Breezes Club & Spa is to offer a quiet and tranquil atmosphere to the guests, and for this reason TVs are not a feature in their rooms, and I was happily at peace with that. If you however like to live in the virtual world, Breezes offers a dedicated TV lounge not too far from the rooms.
Food and drinks
Dinner times were the highlights for us. The chef, Mr. Gayan, made dinnertime a super delicious experience. Whether we chose the a la carte menu or the buffet, the presentation was beautiful. Each evening we were surprised with themed nights of unexpected flavours and entertainment sessions by live bands and dancers. On spice night, a kind chef invited me to the live cooking station where he showed me how to make naan bread in the tandoori oven – an experience that I really enjoyed.
Dinner time is an elegant but also relaxed affair, the dress code for gentlemen at the hotel is long trousers during dinner and smart casual for ladies. I never had lunch at the hotel since I was always out and about, but the buffet breakfast was something I really cherished. A buffet with freshly brewed coffee or tea, it also featured hot and cold classic offerings including fresh fruits, pancakes, danish pastries, eggs benedict etc.
TIP: For a bit of extra romance and intimacy, I would recommend booking dinner for two at the private beach front dining table at the ‘Tides’ – a dinner section for two that offers complete privacy.
Leisure activities
Although the hotel was nearly full, it never felt too busy or noisy. There are lots of loungers available by the pool area or the ocean. Perfect for a relaxing nap or a lazy read by the beach.
The hotel buildings are situated in a perfectly maintained garden with lots of awesome settings ideal for photography, which is one of my favourite activities, including a beautiful pool and a swing which I loved.
There are three bars to choose from. I preferred the beach bar by the pool where you can be barefoot in the sand, enjoy the view of the ocean and take a dip in the pool right next to you any time you wish. Breezes also have their own professional water sports and dive center where you can try out some water sports and beach games.
It is also easy to book tours in the area, including tours to Stone town, at the front desk. The Frangipani Spa with its unique offer of several services performed by skilled therapists from Thailand and Bali is what makes Breezes stand out as an amazing opportunity to relieve you of your stress, offering you complete relaxation of body and mind in a beautiful and sophisticated setting. Gutted that I never got to try the sultan’s bath by the spa, so this will be first on my list when I get back. On our last night at Breezes we spent a few hours at the shisha lounge – the lounge is super stylish with Moroccan/ Arabic inspired decor, cushions and lanterns.
In a nutshell
Its easy to see why TripAdvisor voted this resort as one of the top 5 hotels in Tanzania.
3 days is not enough for a stay at Breezes as you can see from the rich offer of leisure activities. I would recommend Breezes for couples, families or even a beach wedding!
For bookings and updates on accommodation costs check out > https://breezes-zanzibar.com
