Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa
Last verified July 2026. Value is the weakest mark at 8.5. No resort can pay to change a score. See the full Palmprint file
Dining, pools and the beach
Dining & bars
Official and package sources identify Makuti Restaurant, Bahari Grill, Trattoria, The Wok, Bludeli Terrace Cafe and Palms Pool Bar.
Pools & waterplay
Package source states two pools at Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa, with access to additional pools at sister property Sultan Sands.
The beach itself
Official sources describe a white-sand east-coast Zanzibar beach; east-coast tides can make swimming conditions vary by tide.
- Caveat: Water conditions vary through the year
Counts come from the resort's own published information; the scores are ours, from the Palmprint file below.
Who fits where at Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa
All 4 categories, from the resort's own accommodations pages. The figures are the comparison: how many the room takes, against the most this property puts in any one key. Where a category carries no figures, the resort does not publish an occupancy for it, which at villa tier usually means it is set when you book.
| Suite | Occupancy | Size | Bedrooms | Aspect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suite with Plunge Pool | Sleeps 3 | 969 ft²90 m² | 1 bedroom | Tropical gardenprivate pool |
| Sultan Suite | Sleeps 3 | 969 ft²90 m² | 1 bedroom | Ocean |
| Deluxe Garden Room | Sleeps 3 | Not published | 1 bedroom | Tropical garden |
| Deluxe Ocean View Room | Sleeps 3 | Not published | 1 bedroom | Ocean |
Occupancy is the maximum published occupancy including rollaways, not comfortable occupancy. Categories and occupancy change with renovations, and connecting rooms are usually request-only, so confirm when you book.
= sleeps 2 of 3 max
Before you book
Seven things the research turned up about Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa that the brochure does not say.
Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa is a strong Zanzibar beach-resort fit, but all-inclusive should be treated as a package/meal-plan choice rather than assumed for every booking.
Kiwengwa’s east-coast setting is beautiful and quiet, but tides can affect swimming.
The resort works especially well for travelers who want beachfront gardens, friendly service and relaxed dining over nightlife.
Hidden tips
Confirm the exact meal plan and included drinks before booking; guest feedback is positive on all-inclusive value but less specific on premium-brand coverage.
Things guests wish they had known
All-inclusive is available and well-liked by guests, but the exact inclusions should be confirmed by meal plan.
Kiwengwa is a relaxed east-coast beach area where tides can strongly affect swimming.
Bluebay shares a long beach and some facility context with sister property Sultan Sands.
Most loved
4 themes- Kiwengwa beachfront and gardens
- Friendly staff
- Buffet and food variety
- Relaxed, quiet atmosphere
Most complained about
3 themes- Tidal beach conditions
- All-inclusive drink range
- Some room or facility age
Reddit Zanzibar hotel discussion supports Kiwengwa as a quieter resort area with good dining options; property-specific Reddit detail for Bluebay is limited.
The rate, and where to check it
Our tracker samples real rates for a two-adult, 7-night stay on a rotating schedule, so the number below is a checked price with a date on it, not a teaser. The channels underneath price the same stay; a few minutes across them is routinely worth a night's rate.
Per-person figures assume two sharing. This resort prices room-only by default; the all-inclusive plan is a paid add-on, so add it when you book.
Where else to look
- Resort website (opens in a new tab)
- Booking.com (opens in a new tab)
- Expedia (opens in a new tab)
- Tripadvisor reviews (opens in a new tab)
Same stay on every channel. Book wherever it comes out cheapest, whether or not we earn on it. Some of these are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
We check this rate on a rotating schedule. Leave an email and we'll flag a real drop, not a countdown timer.
Jun to Oct
Temperature barely moves here across the year, so rain is the whole decision: the wet months run Mar to May.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 90 degrees Fahrenheit | 91 degrees Fahrenheit | 91 degrees Fahrenheit | 88 degrees Fahrenheit | 86 degrees Fahrenheit | 84 degrees Fahrenheit | 84 degrees Fahrenheit | 84 degrees Fahrenheit | 86 degrees Fahrenheit | 88 degrees Fahrenheit | 90 degrees Fahrenheit | 90 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Rain days | 5 days | 4 days | 9 days | 15 days | 10 days | 4 days | 3 days | 3 days | 3 days | 5 days | 8 days | 7 days |
| Verdict | Fine | Fine | Wet | Wet | Wet | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Wet | Wet |
Getting there
Finding Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa
- Nearest airport
- ZNZ · Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
- Address
- Kiwengwa Beach Kiwengwa Pwani TZ, Kiwengwa 73111, Tanzania
- Phone
- +255 774 413 321
The ride from ZNZ is not in your rate.
Book it before you land and the ride is settled. The alternative is a taxi rank at the end of a long flight.
- The fare
- Fixed when you book. No meter, no surge, no cash at the kerb.
- If you're late
- The driver tracks your flight and waits. Delays don't cost you the ride.
- On arrival
- Your name on a board in arrivals, past customs, before the taxi rank.
Tanzania
- Language
- Swahili & English (English widely used in tourism)
- Currency
- Tanzanian shilling (TZS); USD widely accepted
- Power
- 230V, Type G (UK-style) plugs – bring an adapter
- Driving
- On the left
- Main airport
- Zanzibar / Abeid Amani Karume (ZNZ)
- Flight time
- ~16–19h+ from the US, with a connection
Who it suits
Three of the 10 categories we score in the Palmprint file for Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa; the full set is above.
What we'd book around it
Affiliate · commission at no cost to youInsurance
Storms move flights in season, and the cheapest rates are usually non-refundable.
Compare cover (opens in a new tab)Data
An eSIM for the flight and the beach; Wi-Fi is included on the resort but stops at the gate.
Get an eSIM (opens in a new tab)Kayaks & paddleboards is already in the rate. Don't pay for them twice.
How we scored Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa
10 categories, scored from official sources and read against what guests actually report. Verified 11 July 2026 under Palmprint methodology 1.0.
The six that set the score
And 4 more we track
Confidence is high across the board except adventure, where the evidence is thinner.
Open a category
Value8.5High confidence
- Service
- 8.9
- Food Quality
- 8.6
- Beachfront Setting
- 8.7
- All Inclusive Value
- 8.5
- Drink Range Tradeoff
- 7.8
Service8.9High confidence
- Bar Service
- 8.6
- Housekeeping
- 8.7
- Restaurant Service
- 8.8
- Staff Friendliness
- 9.0
Beach8.7High confidence
- Tranquility
- 8.8
- Guest Sentiment
- 8.7
- Beachfront Access
- 9.0
- White Sand Setting
- 8.9
- Tide Variability Penalty
- 7.3
Dining8.6High confidence
- Buffet Variety
- 8.7
- Guest Sentiment
- 8.8
- A La Carte Options
- 8.4
- All Inclusive Drinks
- 7.8
- Seafood And Local Flavors
- 8.6
Rooms8.5High confidence
- Room Space
- 8.6
- Cleanliness
- 8.6
- Swahili Style
- 8.4
- Age Variability
- 7.5
- Suite And Plunge Pool Options
- 8.8
Pools & Spa8.5High confidence
- Pool Count
- 8.0
- Pool Quality
- 8.5
- Guest Sentiment
- 8.5
- Sultan Sands Access
- 8.4
Romance8.6High confidence
- Spa
- 8.4
- Quiet
- 8.6
- Beachfront Setting
- 8.8
- Sultan Suite Privacy
- 8.7
- Private Dining Setting
- 8.3
Quiet8.6High confidence
- Garden Layout
- 8.6
- Low Nightlife
- 8.4
- Kiwengwa Setting
- 8.8
- Relaxed Guest Sentiment
- 8.6
Family8.4High confidence
- Kids Club
- 8.3
- Teen Feedback
- 8.3
- Beach And Pool Fit
- 8.5
- Quiet Family Setting
- 8.6
- Connecting Room Evidence
- 8.0
Adventure8.4Medium confidence
- Excursions
- 8.4
- Dive Centre
- 8.4
- Watersports
- 8.3
- Stone Town Access
- 8.0
- Fishing And Boat Trips
- 8.3
What it does best
- Beautiful Kiwengwa beachfront and tropical gardens.
- Friendly staff and strong food feedback.
- Good family and couples fit with suites, kids club, spa and watersports.
Where it costs you
- Swimming can vary by tide.
- All-inclusive drink range may not satisfy premium-liquor expectations.
- Some room and facility age comments appear across guest sources.
Everything we read on Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa
In the plan, or on the bill
Where the line sits at Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa, item by item, with what we checked it against.
| What you'd expect to pay for | Status |
|---|---|
| Premium & à la carte diningAll-inclusive dining is available, but official and package sources describe selected restaurants and meal-plan-dependent access. | Partly included |
| Top-shelf liquorGuest sources describe included cocktails and mocktails; premium imported brands are not verified as included. | Partly included |
| Wi-FiOfficial site states free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort. | Included |
| Non-motorized water sportsPackage source lists kayak, windsurfing and paddleboard as included non-motorized activities. | Included |
| Spa treatmentsOfficial site describes Oasis Spa treatments but does not list them as part of the all-inclusive plan. | Costs extra |
| Kids' clubPackage source states kids club operates 9:00-17:00. | Included |
| Airport transfersNo official airport-transfer inclusion found. | Costs extra |
Inclusions change and vary by room category and season, so confirm with the resort before booking. How we verify this
Bringing the kids to Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa
What decides whether a resort works with children in tow, answered from what the resort publishes rather than from the brochure.
- Kids' club
- Supervised program
- Does Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa have a kids' club, and from what age?
- Yes. Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa runs a supervised kids' club. Hours and age bands shift seasonally, so confirm before booking.
- Is the beach at Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa good for young children?
- Swimmability varies by season.
Tell us the trip, we'll tell you the resort
Tell us your dates, budget, home airport, and who's traveling, and we'll point you to the best-fit resorts. Free, no obligation.
Kids' club hours, teen programs and group availability all move with the season. Confirm the specifics with the resort for your dates.
Similar all-inclusives to Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa
The Palms Zanzibar
Dream of Zanzibar Resort & Spa
Compare Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa with Dream of Zanzibar Resort & Spa
The Mora Zanzibar
Scores higher overall on the same six categories.