Glorified Hostel
Don’t be fooled by the glossy, over-saturated, and deceptively curated photography on the website promising unparalleled luxury in an idyllic four-star resort. Upon my arrival at the AHG Hisia Nungwi Experience Hotel on 15 September 2025–after nearly 24 hours of grueling travel–my companions and I were greeted with a musty room with not a single bath towel and a completely barren minibar… not even a bottle of water to rehydrate after our journey, let alone the fully stocked spread that was promised.
Having planned to spend the vast majority of our time exploring or lounging by the water, I opted for the more economic route of sharing a “junior suite.” To our great disappointment, this room bore no resemblance to just about any standardly accepted definition of a suite. Instead, it contained two coil-spring mattresses that had long passed their expiration dates. Further, we were offered only one room key, forcing us to frustratingly choreograph room access whenever venturing out separately.
Although we’d paid approximately $3000 USD for our seven-night stay, we took no advantage of the exaggerated “amenities” at the facilities, as the state of the property was absolutely abysmal and subject to the incessant cacophony of surrounding construction paired with the blaring music of the youth hostels that surrounded the property on every side. As our stay was prepaid with an international bank transfer, I imagine we would have little–if any–legal recourse to dispute the questionably scrupulous transaction.
When commenting to the General Manager that the AGH was not a four-star resort by any delusional stretch of the imagination, his response was quite simply that the concept of “four stars” was different in Zanzibar. The nonchalant reaction to our concerns was not only unprofessional… it was absolutely infuriating.
(In the interest of fairness, the rest of the hotel staff was incredibly friendly and pleasant, and there were no other issues with the GM other than the one incident).
A few other caveats for those considering a stay here:
- There are no phones in the rooms, and therefore no way to communicate with staff outside of visiting reception.
- Some basic amenities like irons, hair dryers, and armoires/closets are non-existent.
- There is no “do not disturb” door hanger provided, so expect to be awakened by housekeeping (if you manage to sleep through the construction noise).
- Do not expect an exceptional “culinary journey” as promoted on the website. Daily breakfast will be the same selection of bland starches, with chopped fruit being the only real saving grace. You’ll also be required to choose your day’s dinner while at breakfast, which is quite frustrating for the culinarily adventurous.
- While they don’t specifically advertise a bar, it’s worth mentioning that you’ll be left to your own devices if you enjoy the occasional adult beverage while on vacation.
- During my stay, the wifi did not function.
So with all of that said… buyer beware! Do not fall for this blatantly misleading advertising. Zanzibar is indeed a lovely destination, but do yourself a favor and avoid this so-called resort at all costs.