Extraordinary Africa>Tanzania>Zanzibar>The Palms
Small, seriously luxurious and very private, the Palms was one of the first boutique hotels on Zanzibar to really deliver on 5* luxury, and today it remains popular as a discreet adult hideaway.
What’s The Palms really like?
The seven private villas at the Palms set the standard for luxury on Zanzibar when they opened back in 2002. Set around the hotel pool, they’re all absolutely vast and the décor is distinctly exotic with a strong nod to Zanzibar’s Omani heritage. There’s plenty of whitewashed walls, intricately carved wood and flashes of glistening gold. As well as your bedroom there’s a sitting room, dressing room, terrace and plunge pool, plus a spare bedroom, though we think this can’t be used much as no children under 16 are permitted at the Palms. When we stayed, we felt that this was firmly an adult resort, ideal for those who want privacy and sophistication. Men dress for dinner in the evenings (a three course set meal which often includes fish caught by local fishermen), and there’s a distinctly romantic atmosphere.
What can I do at The Palms?
When we visited we spent most of the time in the plunge pool, though we did seriously enjoy being delivered afternoon tea (on a silver platter) to our private banda down beside the beach. If you really must be more active, the Palms has one of the better spas on the island, as well as access to the facilities at sister hotels Breezes and Baraza which are right next door. These include tennis courts, fitness and watersports centre, and a dive shop.
Giving back at The Palms:
You’ll notice that many of the staff at the Palms are local- often trained at the Palms-supported hotel school which gives local people lifelong skills in the hospitality industry. The Palms has helped to sponsor the local maternity clinic at Bwejuu and if you wish to contribute, we can supply you with a list of desperately needed items. Finally, within the limits of such a luxurious property, there’s been a real effort made to limit the environmental impact of the Palms, with solar-powered villas and an on-site desalination plant.
Want to know more? We’ve stayed here, so just
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