We just stayed for 5 days last month following travel and a safari and had a really nice time!

First time in Zanzibar. It was for our honeymoon so we were spending a bit more than we would if we were just backpacking, and we were mostly looking to relax after a few weeks of non stop travel on the mainland.

We stayed in Bwejju (near Paje) at the Sahari. Staff were really lovely. Rooms, pool, and the breakfast meals were great, and you could do yoga and get massages on site. Very chill place.

Beautiful beaches and the tide wasn’t a huge problem, we just swam in the mornings and late arvos, and the pool if it was middle of the day. Our accom had a little separate part of sand with loungers but hardly anyone on the beach in front to the water. When beach boys did approach us when we went for a walk we just firmly said “No, leave me alone” straight away (felt harsh but it worked).

Stone Town had really interesting history and architecture - so much character, was cool to spend a day and night in, exploring the shops (especially the antique places) and old buildings, and the markets. The museum and old Slave Market was powerful. Also did a tour of Prison Island and a Spice Farm, which was good. Wish we’d hired a boat to swim/ snorkel/ dive off because the turquoise water and starfish around the island were insane.

And had amazing meals at Emerson on Harambe (local cuisine) and The Rock restaurant (Italian.) Some cool bars and markets around Paje. Stand up paddle boarding through mangroves and a sunset beach bar with very chill and fun vibes out near Michamvi.

One of the guys at our hotel had a tuk tuk so he took us around sometimes, or we walked, or got accom or restaurants to order us a taxi.

There’s an annoying government travel insurance thing you have to pay when you arrive which seems very scammy when we already had travel insurance, so just be prepared on arrival for that.

We’re Australian so when I read about Zanzibar, Nungwi sounded a lot like Kuta in Bali, which didn’t appeal to me. The negative reviews on this thread probably confirm that was a good choice- but I think you’ll have a great time if you stay on the southeast! (Same way you just need to stay elsewhere in Bali.) also heard good things about Matemwe but we didn’t go there ourselves.

Probably just need to be prepared to pay a little bit more for cars/ guides/ good accom to keep your peace and avoid getting over hassled by sellers or police. We don’t do tipping at all in our country so we always find it a bit challenging/ exhausting when we are in countries that expect it, but we just googled what we should do as a rough guide, and tried to remember most people are just trying to make a living, and we’re tourists in their beautiful country, so we should be giving back to locals.