A Bright and Airy Retreat off the East Coast of Africa

Tue Mar 25 2025 16:16:30 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Ghaywardtravels

We stayed between February and March,a 10 night stay(wish we had done the 14 nights) We booked the suites with the private plunge pool where we stayed for a few days. It felt very claustrophobic outside with plants hanging into the patio/pool area. The room was a decent size compared to the " ordinary " rooms. One thing I couldn't understand is why the swing lounger inside blocked the view of the tv from the bed... We were originally upgraded to the royal suite,but for personal reasons my wife decided to go for the pool room. After a few days she realised the error of her ways,and Esther (front office manager) was able to get us back to the royal suite. What an asset Esther is to the hotel! Always smiling ,always helpfully,nothing was too much trouble! If your budget allows, book the Royal suite, wow! What a room, and what a balcony, complete with hot tub,sun loungers and furniture. Looking straight out to the sea. 99.9% of staff were very helpful and friendly, the odd one not so much. Our favourite barman was Dixon at the beach bar,lovely, friendly, professional man, if you wanted a breezy sunrise,he was the only one who got the colour right. There is next to nothing to do in Pongwe,which didn't bother us at all,and the tide goes out for hundreds of meters. Restaurant was ok. Not a fan of having to queue for cooked meats though. The biggest downside of dining was the hit and miss drink service. Many times we would have finished our meal before drinks arrived. The lady who cleaned our room was always smiling,always did us some towel art and put the hot tub on. All in all,brilliant staff and a fantastic room. And once again thank you so much Esther!!

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Sat Mar 22 2025 08:02:14 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by kentlisa

We came to Toa after a six day safari in Kenya and Tanzania. The arrival process was dealt with quickly and we were shown to our room by the amazing Lucas. Lucas was really helpful, polite and very quick to sort out any issues. I asked to change the room we had been allocated and even though the hotel was fairly full, I was shown some other rooms to choose from. Lucas took initiative and liaised with the brilliant front of house manager, Ester to ensure we were happy. I was really impressed by this approach as we had a pre paid booking so the hotel did not stand to gain by our changing rooms but they did it so we felt happy. We had a night flight home and as they didn't have anyone coming in to our room that day, Ester let us keep the room without charge. A small gesture that went a very long way. The staff make this hotel what it is and one hopes this is recognized by the owners. Toa was exceptionally clean and every member of staff worked hard to ensure people were getting the most out of their holiday. The food we had here has to be the best food we have ever had in a hotel, huge choices and the quality of lobster, beef fillet and giant prawns was incredible. Some reviews had mentioned beach sellers, we did not find them a problem, you can have a chat and if you say you are not interested in buying you were not pursued. The beach is good to walk on and there are a few other restaurants in the area if you want a change. Taxis are easy to arrange if you want to go to other areas of the island, the roads are not bad, perhaps due to the proliferation of speed bumps. They felt safe. We visited beaches in the north and south and took the trip to Stone Town, booked through the hotel. It was good to see the livelier areas and return to the peaceful area around Pongwe. I have no hesitation in recommending this hotel.

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Fri Mar 21 2025 10:24:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by AEA71

We spent a wonderful three weeks at the Toa Hotel and Spa in Zanzibar. If it were possible to rate hotels higher than 5 Star, then from our many international experiences this one would be included. Under the excellent management of Mr. Eric Mugenya, we experienced a layback atmosphere throughout our stay supported by very friendly and efficient personnel everywhere, from the front desk to catering and housekeeping. A wide range of food was attractively presented under the guidance of the international chef, who was there to answer any questions on the varied cuisine. Although the hotel is smaller than many others, the design and garden/ beach/swimming pool layout indicated an atmosphere of spaciousness. We had a beautifully furnished luxury garden room which was located approx. 30 metres from both the private beach and the swimming pool. Surprising to us that the general trend of reserving sunbeds was not so noticeable at this hotel, as the beach offered ample comfortable beds with shades. However, due to the very flat beach (one of the flattest we have seen in our travels), those who like swimming in the sea must be prepared to walk a good 80-100 mtrs out before a suitable depth can be reached when the tide is out. Certainly for those who want a quiet, superior hotel on the west coast of Zanzibar then Toa is the one.

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Wed Mar 19 2025 02:39:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Charles F

Wonderful stuff, helpful, fun always pleasant. Stunning location if you want a private and somewhat remote all inclusive getaway. The rooms are lovely with modern amenities. Three meals a day are included and we ate out fill of fresh fruit and fresh seafood.

Tue Mar 18 2025 05:29:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Val B

We spent 10 days here in February with friends and cannot praise the staff highly enough. On arrival we were told that both parties had been upgraded to royal suites - wow! Fabulous suite with sunbeds, parasol, table and chairs as well as our very own jacuzzi (emptied, cleaned and refilled daily) on our verandah. Lovely lady called every night to turn down beds and arrange mosquito nets for us. Food was exceptional with lots of choice. Very happy staff who always went out of their way to help in any way they could. Every birthday was celebrated with a glorious procession of staff singing and presenting a delicious birthday cake to the lucky recipient. Special shout out to manageress Esther for everything.