The Palms Zanzibar
Scored once the reviews arrive: we count 61 so far, below the 100 we want before publishing a Palmprint. Everything below is researched and verified; only the score is waiting.
Dining, pools and the beach
Dining & bars
The Palms has one intimate restaurant; guests may also access sister-property facilities subject to resort rules.
Pools & waterplay
Expedia lists indoor and outdoor pools; each villa has its own private plunge pool.
The beach itself
White-sand Bwejuu/Dongwe east-coast setting. The beach is beautiful, but Zanzibar east-coast tides can limit all-day swimming.
- Caveat: Water conditions vary through the year
- Caveat: Entry depth varies along the shore
Counts come from the resort's own published information; the scores are ours, from the Palmprint file below.
Who fits where at The Palms Zanzibar
All 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luxury Villa | Not published | 1,507 ft²140 m² | 1 bedroom | Indian Oceanprivate pool · 2 baths |
| One Bedroom Villa With Private Plunge Pool | Not published | Not published | 1 bedroom | Ocean or gardenprivate pool |
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 0 of 0 max
The dining, in outline
Counts and cuisines from the resort's own pages. We have not verified this property restaurant by restaurant yet, so we are not going to print a list that says nothing.
- Places to eat
- 1
Zanzibari, Local spices, International, Seafood
The Palms has one intimate restaurant; guests may also access sister-property facilities subject to resort rules.
Before you book
Ten things the research turned up about The Palms Zanzibar that the brochure does not say.
The Palms Zanzibar is a very small all-inclusive retreat with only seven villas.
This is best for couples, honeymoons and quiet luxury, not nightlife or high-energy resort programming.
The beach is beautiful, but east-coast Zanzibar tides affect when swimming is easiest.
Spa, diving and some water sports should be treated as extra unless confirmed by a specific package.
Hidden tips
Choose The Palms for privacy and service rather than variety; travelers wanting many restaurants may prefer a larger Zanzibar Collection property.
Check tide timing before planning long beach-swim days.
Use sister-property access as a bonus, but do not assume every facility or restaurant is automatically included without confirming.
Things guests wish they had known
The resort is intentionally tiny and quiet.
Beach swimming depends on tides more than many Caribbean travelers expect.
The best value comes from wanting privacy, not from wanting a large all-inclusive resort footprint.
Most loved
4 themes- Privacy and quiet
- Large villas with plunge pools
- Service
- Food quality
Most complained about
4 themes- High price
- Limited nightlife
- Limited restaurant variety
- East-coast tides
Reddit discussion recommends The Palms as an exclusive, private, villa-style Zanzibar option, particularly for honeymoon or romantic stays.
Reddit discussion also notes that east-coast Zanzibar tides can be strong and that travelers prioritizing all-day swimming may prefer the north coast.
The rate, and where to check it
A checked price with a date on it, not a teaser. Here is the stay we price.
Taxes and fees vary by channel, so compare the final screen, not the first one.
Same rate you would pay yourself, booked for you. Prefer to do it yourself? Book on the resort's own site (opens in a new tab).
Independent reviews
We earn nothing on these links. How we are paid is set out here.
Not a cheaper rate
We are not going to undercut the big engines and we are not going to pretend to. Three things you get instead.
- The room
- The category worth paying for, not the cheapest one that sleeps you.
- The plan
- What it covers on your dates, and what it does not.
- The rate
- Agency rates that never reach the public page.
This is booking help by email, not a concierge service. Once your reservation is confirmed the resort looks after your stay, the way it would if you had booked yourself. Bookings are placed through an ARC and IATA accredited host agency. The resort pays the commission out of a rate it has already set, so booking this way costs you nothing extra and does not get you a worse rate.
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 The Palms Zanzibar
- Nearest airport
- ZNZ · Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
- Address
- Bwejuu Beach South East Coast Paje Michamvi Road Dongwe, Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Phone
- +254 733 777172
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
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)Room intelligence
- Best Value Room
- Luxury VillaWith only seven villas, value is less about category choice and more about rate, season and included extras.
- Quietest Building
- Any villaThe seven-villa layout and quiet retreat positioning make the whole property quiet; exact villa-by-villa differences were not verified.
- Best Room Category
- Luxury VillaThere is effectively one core product: an oversized private villa with plunge pool, terrace, living space and ocean-facing setting.
In the plan, or on the bill
Where the line sits at The Palms Zanzibar, item by item, with what we checked it against.
| What you'd expect to pay for | Status |
|---|---|
| Premium & à la carte diningOfficial and booking sources position The Palms as all-inclusive; Expedia confirms breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. | Included |
| Top-shelf liquorAll-inclusive meals and drinks are supported, but premium bottle rules were not verified.Per the resort, not yet verified | Partly included |
| Room serviceBooking.com lists room service, but no source confirmed unlimited included room service. | Partly included |
| Wi-FiExpedia lists free Wi-Fi. | Included |
| Non-motorized water sportsWater-sport facilities are available nearby or through sister facilities; exact all-inclusive coverage was not verified.Per the resort, not yet verified | Partly included |
| Spa treatmentsBooking.com states snorkeling, windsurfing and diving are available at a charge and Sanctuary Spa treatments are available; fact sheet indicates massage and treatments are payable locally. | Costs extra |
| Airport transfersAirport transfers are not part of the all-inclusive rate; the resort or your agent arranges them at a published fee of about USD 75 per vehicle each way. | 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 The Palms Zanzibar
What decides whether a resort works with children in tow, answered from what the resort publishes rather than from the brochure.
- Beach for young swimmers
- Entry varies along the beach
- Is the beach at The Palms Zanzibar good for young children?
- Swimmability varies by season, and the entry varies along the shore.
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.
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