Abuso Inn

(12 rooms) PO Box 465, Zanzibar; Ø 024 2235886; m 0777 425565. Newly opened in early 2005, this convenient small hotel in the busy Shangani quarter offers a selection of large, bright en-suite rooms with wooden floors, AC, fans, nets, hot water and attractive traditional Zanzibarifurnishings. One of the best deals in this range.
US$50/65/75 sgl/dbl/tpl.

Baghani House Hotel

(8 rooms) PO Box 609,
Zanzibar; 024 2235654; 2233030; baghani@zanzinet.com.

In the Shangani area, almost next door to the Dhow Palace Hotel, this is a friendly place, immaculately kept, with just 8 rooms – all simple but with a pleasant décor, TV,AC and big, clean, spacious bathrooms. Rates include full b/fast served in a small open-air courtyard (there's no restaurant) and – a nice touch – afternoon tea. US$40/45–60 sgl/dbl.

Clove Hotel

(8 rooms) PO Box 1117, Zanzibar; 0777 484567; clovehotel@zanlink.com; www.zanzibar.nl.

This old stalwart, which stands about halfway along Hurumzi St, had become rather rundown prior to being bought, renovated and reopened by a new Dutch owner-manager in 2004. En-suite rooms are small but stylishly decorated with a large dbl bed, fan and netting. The residents-only rooftop bar offers a great view over the town, and the hotel is very close to the waterfront. US$35/50 sgl/dbl. Coco de Mer Hotel (13 rooms) PO Box 2363, Zanzibar; 024 2230852; 0777 433550; cocodemer_znz@yahoo.com. In Shangani, off Kenyatta Rd, this is a straightforward but clean and friendly place with en-suite rooms set around a very pleasant airy courtyard, decorated with potted plants. The rooms downstairs are a bit dark, but those upstairs are bright and cheerful. The restaurant does tasty good-value food. A good choice in this range. The ground-floor bar is one of the few bespoke drinking holes in Stone Town, and it serves a variety of snacks and sandwiches.
US$35 sgl; US$50 dbl; US$60 tpl.

Hotel International

(21 rooms) PO Box 3784, Zanzibar; 024 2233182; 2236248;
hotelinter@zanlink.com; www.zanzibar.net/hotelinternational.

In the Ukatani area, this hotel is a large old house, built around a central roofed courtyard. Although the rooms are all spacious and well-equipped (AC and completely selfcontained with a bathroom, dining area, fridge, satellite TV and video), they all seem a bit dilapidated and uncared-for, which makes the hotel rather soulless and uninspiring. Additionally, rooms on the lower floors have no view, so are worth avoiding, while the upstairs rooms are better, although the very steep stairs might put some people off going up further than they need to. Credit cards are accepted, and the hotel has an efficient bureau de change. At the front is a shady café serving pizzas for US$3, local dishes for US$3.50 and other meals from US$4, and upstairs is a restaurant serving meals around US$7.50.
US$45/60/80 sgl/dbl/tpl.

Hotel Marine

(24 rooms) PO Box 4063, Zanzibar; 024 2232088/2233055, 0777 411102; 233082; hotelmarine@zanlink.com; www.zanzibar.co.tz.

This hotel is in a large old renovated house overlooking the roundabout on Mizingani Rd, near the port gates. Inside, a grand staircase winds around an inner courtyard to the rooms on two upper floors, but the potential has been totally wasted, with threadbare purple carpets and dark-brown paint on the walls making the whole place very gloomy. The rooms are all en-suite, and fair quality, furnished with Zanzibar beds, but they feel a bit rundown and assumed essentials such as fridge and TV make things cramped. Bathrooms are tiny (having a shower without falling down the loo is tricky) and feel rather overpriced. On the plus side, the staff are great, and free transfers to/from the port or airport are available.
US$40/50/60 sgl/dbl/tpl.

Shangani Hotel

PO Box 4222, Zanzibar; /024
2236363; 024 2233688; 0777 411703; shanganihotel@hotmail.com; www.shanganihotel.com.

On busy Kenyatta Rd, near the old post office, this hotel is an adequate choice in the middle range. The en-suite rooms have AC, fridge, telephone and satellite TV. B/fast and other meals are taken in the rooftop restaurant. A good internet café is attached. US$50/65 sgl/dbl.