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Most importantly – Does the hotel and room do what it’s supposed to do?
Yes. The Pongwe Beach Hotel delivers what their name promises: Pongwe Beach. Whilst we have seen many beaches around the world, this is one of the most beautiful beaches that we have found.
The Pongwe Beach Hotel is a mid-range hotel which offers a taste of the famed Zanzibar magic at affordable prices.
Pongwe Beach as sunrise
How did we rate the experience before we stepped into the room?
The hotel is easy to find but be prepared for a bumpy, mini safari from when you leave the main road and drive up to the reception. Check in was easy and we were guided through the main hut and along to the beach to our room in a smooth and efficient manner.
Does it cover the basic needs?
Inspiring breakfast view
Breakfast – The onsite restaurant provides a buffet style service, which meets needs but without providing anything spectacular.
Comfy bed – Check
Decent towels – Check
Fridge – no
Good pillows – check
Parking – check
Safe – no in-room safe but a safe deposit box is available at reception
Large, open bathroom
Shower with decent water pressure – good but not amazing
Wifi – OK wifi
What makes your stay feel special?
The perfect view
The hotel is for beach lovers as it is based on the beach. Unless you are sleeping or eating, the sand is between your toes and the waves are gently massaging your ears. Staff are friendly and helpful and are happy to help assist you with arranging scuba diving trips or giving you advice on local activities, but the main event is the beach.
Does the hotel and room make sense?
The 4-poster bed
The rooms are semi-detached villas that cover the basic needs including a mosquito net over the 4-poster bed. The rooms are a little bare and cold but they are only there for sleeping as you you’ll be spending almost every minute of your stay outside.
Our veranda
The small veranda with day beds was a nice way to chill out in the late afternoon before you head inside to get ready for the evening.
Hotel food?
The hotel restaurant offers an a la carte menu on the evenings, which provides good, wholesome and value for money food. You have to make your choice before a certain time in the evening and let reception know so that it is available for that evening. Whilst not spectacular, it offers tasty, healthy food and does a good job catering for allergies and children.
Best extras included?
It’s hammock time!
The hotel comes into its’ own on the beach. There are plenty of sun loungers for guests as well as hammocks and other lounging options to ensure a relaxing day.
The infinity pool at Pongwe Beach Hotel
Bikes and canoes are available for rental to cater for the adventurous kind and a picture perfect infinity pool for those who like the look of the ocean but don’t want to risk an encounter with a fish.
Biggest issue?
The Pongwe Beach Hotel doesn’t have the facilities and shiny finishing touches that some of its 5-star counterparts do (as expected). The rooms are a little cold and dated and the reception is a little underwhelming but, compared to the prices of those 5-star counterparts, it does every bit of a good job delivering on what’s most important.
Overall impression
The soft, powdery sand
The Pongwe Beach Hotel is a Mecca for beach lovers looking for a reasonably priced hotel where they can spend all day relaxing on golden powder-like sand and listening to gentle crashing of the waves of the Indian Ocean.
Thank you to the Pongwe Beach Hotel for hosting us at their beautiful hotel, however all our opinions our honest and our own.
Last modified: 27th February 2017
