The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

4.0 star property
Beachfront hotel with full-service spa and free breakfast

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

On the beach, sun-loungers, beach umbrellas, beach towels
Outdoor pool, pool loungers
Standard Bungalow | Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar, in-room safe, blackout curtains
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine
Food court
The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar blends upscale comfort with a laid-back island vibe. Guests enjoy beachfront breakfast buffets, poolside sun loungers, and attentive staff. Amenities include spa treatments (facials to manicures) and free WiFi throughout the property.
VIP Access

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Spa
  • Pool
  • Room service
  • 24/7 front desk
The current price is ฿5,518
฿6,725 total
includes taxes & fees
7 Nov - 8 Nov

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Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 5 of 5 rooms

Standard Bungalow

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Ceiling fan
Blackout curtains
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
Separate bedroom
Bidet
Hairdryer
  • 33 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Luxury Villa, 2 Bedrooms, Private Pool

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Separate dining area
Separate sitting area
Private plunge pool
Air conditioning
Ceiling fan
Blackout curtains
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
  • 200 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Luxury Villa, 1 Bedroom, Sea View

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Separate dining area
Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Ceiling fan
Blackout curtains
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
Separate bedroom
  • 140 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

Family Villa, Multiple Beds

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Separate dining area
Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Ceiling fan
Blackout curtains
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
Separate bedroom
  • 140 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Single Beds

Standard Twin Room

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Ceiling fan
Blackout curtains
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Bidet
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds
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About the area

Map
Dongwe Beach, Pingwe, Dongwe

What's nearby

  • Dongwe Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Pingwe Beach - 4 min drive - 4.9 km
  • Bwejuu Beach - 5 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Michamvi Kae Beach - 10 min drive - 9.7 km
  • Paje Beach - 11 min drive - 11.2 km

Getting around

  • Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.) - 59 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mapacha - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Shanga Paje - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Kiddo’s Rooftop Restaurant - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Zanzibarista - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Corner, Cafe And Bbq - ‬8 min drive

About this property

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

Upscale hotel
You can look forward to a free breakfast buffet, a terrace and a garden at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location, sunloungers and scuba diving. Indulge in a facial, a manicure/pedicure and a body scrub at the on-site spa. The on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stay connected with free WiFi in public areas, and guests can find other amenities, such as a library and dry cleaning/laundry services.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • An outdoor pool, along with sunloungers
  • Free self-parking
  • A round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge), concierge services and a front desk safe
  • Massage treatment rooms, beach umbrellas and barbecues
  • Guest reviews give top marks for the helpful staff
Room features
All guest rooms at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar have perks, such as air conditioning, as well as amenities, such as safes and minibars.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Bathrooms with bidets and free toiletries
  • Balconies or patios, electric kettles and ceiling fans

Similar properties

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 24-hour return airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 10 AM
  • 2 bars/lounges
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Full-service spa
  • Library
  • Outdoor pool
  • Scuba diving

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Separate bedroom
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels
  • Beach umbrellas
  • Garden
  • On the beach
  • Pool loungers
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Body scrubs
  • Facials
  • In-room massages
  • Manicures/pedicures
  • Spa open daily
  • Treatment room

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Mosquito nets

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Egyptian cotton sheets

Bathroom

  • Bidet
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 15

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 50

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The property charges 3 per cent for credit card payments
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
The credit card used to book the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo identification, and other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 80.00 per night.
Cots (infant beds) are not available

Payment types at the property

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 5.00 per person, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 60 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 5)
  • Late check-out fee: USD 50 (subject to availability)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 80.00 per night
  • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 3 per cent

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

Property is also known as

Dongwe Beach Bungalows Hotel Bwejuu
Dongwe Beach Bungalows Hotel
The Sands Zanzibar Dongwe
The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar Hotel
The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar Dongwe
The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar Hotel Dongwe

Frequently asked questions

Does The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

How much does it cost to stay at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar?

As of 2 Nov 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar on 7 Nov 2025 start from ฿5,518.4, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM. Late checkout is available for USD 50 (subject to availability).

Does The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of USD 60 per vehicle applies.

Where is The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar located?

Nestled on the beach, this Dongwe hotel is within 3 mi (5 km) of Dongwe Beach, Bwejuu Beach and Pingwe Beach. Paje Beach and Michamvi Kae Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

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Reviews

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

9.6

Cleanliness

8.2

Location

9.8

Staff & service

9.2

Eco-friendliness

9.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 88 out of 118 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 26 out of 118 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 118 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 118 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 118 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cassandra

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Overall this is the perfect getaway! No distractions just the sounds of the ocean and the amazing staff! This is perfect if you want to getaway and truly relax! Options to explore are available. The pool is large and clean. The rooms get serviced twice a day. The bar was definitely my favorite spot!
Beach bar
Outside of room
Beach
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shari

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The service was excellent. Everyone was very friendly and courteous. We really enjoyed our stay here
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Absolutely stunning. Service beyond amazing. Quiet with gorgeous gardens and beach. Easy access for SCuBA diving. Incredibly friendly staff and felt completely safe with masai warriors guarding the hotel. Food was phenomenal Would absolutely go back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenny

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We really enjoyed our stay at the Sands Resort. Each suite is actually a separate bungalow with large, comfortable rooms and wonderful AC. There is an onsite restaurant that serves all day as well as a beach bar that serves snacks/meals during the daytime. It was very relaxing to be able to have all of our meals on the property. The staff were all very friendly and professional. Everything about the staff and property was wonderful. The hotel also offers excursions. The nice thing is that they are private which entailed having a driver and tours that were just for our party. However, I would not recommend doing the "swim with dolphins" excursion because there are too many other boats doing the same thing, and we didn't feel safe going in the water with so many boats moving around quickly to try to bring their passengers close to the dolphins. So, we stayed in the boat. Also, there were no life jackets available, and it was unclear how we would get in/out of the boat without a ladder or rope; the snorkel and other equipment was old, and we didn't get a chance to try the snorkel/mask before going on the water. We also did the Jozani Forest/Butterfly excursion, which was interesting to do to see the monkeys, mangroves, and butterflies, but the price the hotel charged seemed disproportionately higher than the experience merited; please note that I say this without knowing how much the hotel paid the driver to stay with us for several hours and for the forest guide.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Sehr zuvorkommendes Personal, haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt. Zimmer werden mehrmals täglich gereinigt, Essen sehr lecker und abwechslungsreich. Super für alle, die entspannen und die Ruhe genießen möchten.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Omar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This is by far the best hotel we've stayed in in a long time, probably best ever. The rooms are spacious and spotless clean. Every little detail is thought of. The beds are very comfortable and room service pass by twice a day to clean the room and for turn down. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Especially Khamis and John who went our of their way to make sure we are comfortable. Food at the restaurant was also lovely and service there amazing. Staff are constantly keeping an eye on the tables, plates are removed the second they're empty, water refilled immediately after drinking etc. Downside here was the entertainment on the Swahili night, the guys were playing more western music. The beach is very pretty, even at low tide which didn't impact our stay much. We swam 2 or 3 times in the ocean. Its not crystal clear water though, expect some sea weed. We weren't disturbed by any beach sellers like we saw on some of the other beaches. Only slight down side is that there isn't much to do nearby at night. We drove one day to Paje and that was fun.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fabulous stay at this very quiet, clean, secure resort. Very comfortable room. Staff are very attentive. Beautiful beach. Highly relaxing! Really enjoyed the Swahili buffet and music!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Enoch Fernando

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

NO ES DE 5 ⭐️ PERO SI PERSONAL LO HACE 5 🌟

EXTRAORDINARIO Simplemente así Todos sin excepción te atienden con una sonrisa, amables, acomedidos Nos la pasamos súper padrísimo los tres días que estuvimos ahí GRACIAS
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect place to relax

Our villa was super spacious, it was cleaned regularly, and it was nice to wake up in that beautiful garden. Service was very good, Mr. Ally and the team made us feel welcome and helped us with the early check out and late check out because of our flight times.
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Markzs

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Top Hotel

Schöne Anlage, europäische Standart betr.Ausstattung,Sauberkeit, Komfort Überdurchschn.freundl.Personal Sehr schöner Strand, beachbar mit lunch und genügend liegen am Schatten. Einzig Ebbe und Flut beinträchtigen das Badevergnügen keine Strandverkäufer! Insgesamt ein wunderschöner Urlaub!
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Remie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We hebben een heerlijk verblijf gehad. Het is schoon en fris, mooie tuin, direct aan zee. Huisjes zijn echt bizar groot/ruim. Het personeel is werkelijk altijd vriendelijk en correct. Een aanrader.
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Alessandro

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Il Sand beach resort è una bellissima struttura gestita con molta cura dal suo staff, sempre gentilissimo e pronto a soddisfare ogni tuo bisogno. A nostro giudizio anche la cena è sempre stata ottima, forse la colazione potrebbe essere un po’ arricchita ma nel complesso direi che si mangia molto bene. Quello che mi sento di segnalare è che il posto è molto distante dai luoghi di partenza di tutti i tour principali e quindi ogni volta è necessario fare 1 ora circa di taxi per raggiungerli. Altra annotazione importante è che, sebbene la spiaggia sia molto bella e ben curata, il mare non è assolutamente all’altezza degli standard dell’isola. In una settimana qui non abbiamo mai fatto il bagno, indipendentemente dalle maree che anche condizionano fortemente questo pezzo di costa. Insomma se come noi intendete usare il resort come base di appoggio per girare direi che è un posto magnifico, ma se l’idea è quella di restare nel resort dimenticate il mare azzurro cristallino di Zanzibar, dovrete accontentarvi decisamente. Concludo ringraziando nuovamente tutto lo staff del resort che è davvero eccellente.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Jermaine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel to stay to escape the busy hustle and bustle lifestyle. It is beautiful and quiet. Food is great. The only crtique i have is there are frequent power outages in the evening. Overall I would visit again.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Oliver

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice big villa

We did book a villa with an ocean view. And we got a very nice villa, clean and very comfortable. I would say it’s a bit of wasted money for the ocean view, because the villas are a bit behind the palm trees. But in general very beautiful and nice. Staff is very polite and friendly. Was a good experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elias

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had such a Wonderful stay at the Sands. Great service and premises!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Artur

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff at this hotel were incredibly welcoming and helpful throughout our stay. The rooms were immaculate and very comfortable. We also enjoyed the delicious dinner every night.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

antonio

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Relaxing on the beach

Quite good stay Excellent food and location on the ocean side Optimum service and very kind personnel
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Edward

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice, quiet place with a lovely beach and excellent staff. Very good food, too.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location was tranquil and just what we were looking for at the start of our Zanzibar holiday. All the staff were amazingly welcoming and friendly. The team led by Ally are a credit to the hotel. The dining experience was quite special and we very much enjoyed the fresh barbecued fish at night, especially the huge tuna that a slice and thickness of your liking was cooked there and then and served to your table….in fact the staff even do your toast for you in the morning ! Overall hotel was perfect for our family of 4 including teenagers - if staying I would recommend a rental car to explore the local area, good deals can be found on arrival at the airport, we paid $30 USD a day and rental car company collected from hotel anywhere on the island for $20 USD.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Skønt ophold

Elskede vores ophold på the Sands. De sødeste mennesker, god service, fin mad og sublim rengøring. Vær obs på, at der er tale en tidsvandsstrand, så der vil være tidspunkter på dagen, hvor der ikke kan svømmes i havet. Men hey - så er der altid poolen eller gode muligheder for at tage en bådtur ud og snorkle. Stedet har vores varmeste anbefalinger.
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nasser

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It's a great hotel, with great staff. Very simple, yet clean and well kept. No TV in the rooms which could be nice as the evenings are quiet with not much activity around the area
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a marvelous stay. Incredible beach staff went the extra mile always. We cant recommend this destination enough. 5 stars all the way.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wir hatten einen schönen Aufenthalt im The Sands Beach Resort. Die Villa war sehr großzügig und mit allem notwendigen ausgestattet. Jedoch waren die Fenster sehr undicht und nach den nächtlichen Gewittern stand häufig das Wasser im Zimmer. Außerdem funktionierte das WLAN auf dem Zimmer nicht und es kam häufig zu Stromausfällen auf der gesamten Anlage. Das Essen war gut, jedoch nicht sehr abwechslungsreich. Morgens gab es immer die gleiche, begrenzte Auswahl. Abends gab es frischen Fisch, der immer großartig geschmeckt hat. Die Strandanlage ist sehr schön und ruhig, jedoch benötigt man für das Meer aufgrund der Steine und Seeigel Badeschuhe, die man sich an der Rezeption ausleihen kann. Auch an diesem Strand wird man regelmäßig von "Beach Boys" angesprochen, jedoch deutlich weniger als an vielen anderen Stränden, wie bspw. in Paje. Das Personal ist in der Regel sehr nett und bemüht, insbesondere Head Waiter Kelvin hat uns stets sehr willkommen geheißen. Einige Putzfrauen hingegen wirkten schnell genervt, wenn sie nicht direkt ins Zimmer zur Reinigung konnten, weil wir uns noch dort aufgehalten haben. Die Lage des Resorts ist eher abgelegen und man benötigt eine Taxi um in den nächsten Ort zu gelangen. Jedoch liegen einige Sehenswürdigkeiten, wie bspw. The Rock Restaurant, Michamvi Sunset Beach, Maalum Cave und Paje in unmittelbarer Nähe.
Stayed 11 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Valton

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wunderschönes Ambiente und Service war excellent! Sehr empfehlenswert!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Philip

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a great stay at the Sands. The staff were amazing, from Mr. Ally the GM to the executive chef and the cooks like Thomas who took care of us. The food was first class - this goes for breakfast right through to dinner. Amazing food and fantastic service. The beach was beautiful, clean and safe. We could not have asked for more. Even the Masai security guards were great! We loved it. Would definitely recommend the Sands in Zanzibar. We'll be back.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023