This Park Hyatt Zanzibar Review is from our recent stay, prior to a safari in Tanzania. We flew Qatar A320 Business Class from Doha to Zanzibar, and Qatar Qsuites Business Class from the U.S. to Doha.
Park Hyatt Zanzibar Hyatt PriveBenefits for TravelSort Clients
- Welcome amenity
- Priority 1 category upgrade: confirmed at booking if not a high demand period
- Complimentary full breakfast for up to 2 in-room guests
- $100 hotel credit, once during the stay.
- Priority for connecting room availability and early check-in / late check-out
Park Hyatt Zanzibar Location
The Park Hyatt Zanzibar is located by the beach on Shangani Street in Stone Town, a UNESCO heritage site. It's about a 20-30 minute drive from Zanzibar Airport, depending on traffic.
By the time of my early afternoon check-in, the day was already hot and humid, so while the open air marble lobby looked nice, I wished it was enclosed and air conditioned, especially as there was a 15 minute or so wait.
Here's our Park Hyatt Zanzibar YouTube Video Review:
Park Hyatt Zanzibar Park Deluxe Room
We booked a Park View Twin Room, and thanks to TravelSort's Hyatt Prive benefits, we enjoyed a confirmed upgrade at booking to a Park Deluxe Twin Room. While both room types have ocean views, The Park View rooms don't have balconies, while each Park Deluxe King and Park Deluxe Twin room has a private balcony to enjoy the view from.
The Park Hyatt Zanzibar opened in 2015, so rooms are still quite new looking. Park Deluxe Rooms are 538 square feet (50 square meters), with either 1 king bed or two beds.
Although described as twin beds, we were happy that each of the two beds is actually larger than a standard twin, and nearly the size of a double bed. As is typical for Park Hyatt, mattresses were on the firm side, but the mattress pad helped it seem a bit softer and more comfortable than usual. The beds are four poster canopy style, with mosquito netting to help prevent any bites while sleeping.
The bathroom is handsome although modest in size, with just one sink and vanity.
In addition to the soaking tub, there's a walk-in rain shower.
Bath products were locally made, Inaya Zanzibar coconut lime.
Park Hyatt Zanzibar Pool
The beach itself in front of the Park Hyatt Zanzibar is lively and busy, better for people watching than relaxing, and since it's a public beach, there are no hotel sun beds or loungers there. Instead, for those wanting to swim and relax, a better option are the loungers by the hotel's infinity pool, which has a view of the beach.
The infinity pool is ~60 feet long, and the pool area is open 7am-7pm daily.
The Verdict
After the initial misstep of being given the wrong room (a Park Deluxe King Room instead of the Park Deluxe Twin Room we'd confirmed) we had a good overnight stay at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar. I do recommend staying in a Park Deluxe Room on the 3rd floor, since these have a balcony with a great sea view, whereas Park View rooms have an ocean view, but no balcony.
A highlight was the pool area, where the design of the infinity pool enables you to have a good view of the lively Stone Town public beach and harbor.
The dining experience was somewhat mixed. We enjoyed the sunset from the outdoor veranda, but found there to be too many insects, including mosquitoes, to be able to continue dining outside, so we moved inside. The mezze buffet offered a nice selection, although nothing stood out in terms of flavor; my favorite item was the fresh pomelo. My son's Persian beef kebab was flavorful but very tough, so he ate less than half of it. My kingfish was much better. Room service breakfast in the morning was a bit late, and featured good yogurt and fresh passion fruit, but disappointing “granola” which was more like bad cookies that had been slightly crumbled.
If you've stayed at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar, what was your experience?
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