{"id":1734,"date":"2017-02-01T06:00:11","date_gmt":"2017-02-01T04:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/justmeneesha.com\/?p=1734"},"modified":"2021-07-06T11:01:25","modified_gmt":"2021-07-06T09:01:25","slug":"holidaying-zanzibar-whim-fancy-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justmeneesha.com\/index.php\/2017\/02\/01\/holidaying-zanzibar-whim-fancy-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Holidaying in Zanzibar on a whim and fancy \u2013 Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Holidaying in Zanzibar on a whim and fancy \u2013 Part 3<\/strong><\/h1>\n

If you\u2019ve been following my posts, you\u2019ll know that I decided to live outside of my comfort zone this holiday and travel without doing much planning.<\/p>\n

Our only requirements when we booked was that our hotel be on the beach and relatively quiet. We wanted a space away from the tourist hustle and bustle, a space that was tranquil, healing and comfortable. A space that we would enjoy spending most of our holiday at.<\/p>\n

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The jetty where you can enjoy delicious sundowners as you watch the sun set.<\/p><\/div>\n

Resort Living<\/h2>\n

While Nungwi in the north has the best beaches, we opted for the Sea Cliff Resort and Spa in Kama on the west coast of Zanzibar because it is not so busy.<\/p>\n

We were pleasantly surprised at being upgraded to a sea-facing room when we arrived. Taking in the sea from our balcony was incredible. Being an east coast woman myself, it was something special to watch a sunset over the sea.<\/p>\n

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A day bed to relax on at your leisure at the Sea Cliff Resort and Spa.<\/p><\/div>\n

Resort living for short periods is fantastic \u2013 everything is close by and convenient.<\/p>\n

Sea Cliff Resort and Spa is the only resort on the island to have a golf course. I had no intention of trying out the course but we did visit the clubhouse located on a tranquil beach and took a golf cart around the course. Breathtaking views out to sea would certainly making for a great golfing experience.<\/p>\n

However,\u00a0people at the resort, who did actually play a round of golf, said the golf course itself was not up to standard and needed a lot of work.<\/p>\n

Spa<\/h2>\n

Our resort also had a spa facility, which we visited twice. Nothing says indulgence and relaxation better than a good full body, hot stone massage. Set in a tranquil area of the property\u00a0and exuding warmth, our experience was simply out of this world.<\/p>\n

Between swimming in a chlorinated\u00a0pool or a salty sea, strolling on the beach or in the gardens and enjoying a heavenly massage, we got everything we wanted from\u00a0a relaxing holiday.<\/p>\n

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Our bedroom – cool and comfortable.<\/p><\/div>\n

All inclusive<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve never given too much thought to meals and drinks when I was on holiday. The idea has always been to spend the least amount of time at the hotel so we can get in as much sightseeing as possible. Most often\u00a0meals were eaten on the go and not in the hotel.<\/p>\n

This time, our needs had changed and we planned on spending a fair amount of time at the hotel itself.<\/p>\n

Local beers and bottled water are free on an all inclusive package.<\/p><\/div>\n

Fortunately, as we steam rolled our way through booking this trip, we opted for an \u201call inclusive” package. Essentially this means our hotel booking included\u00a0accommodation, all meals, as well as some\u00a0drinks (bottled water, soft drinks, juices as well as\u00a0local\u00a0alcohol, beer and cocktails).<\/p>\n

Three words \u2026 best move ever. As we sat poolside sipping on our second cocktail before lunch, we realised the value of being able to order any drink at any time without having to convert from dollars before ordering. And when we got peckish there was always a meal or snack being announced as if on cue.<\/p>\n

Whether you are\u00a0lunching at the clubhouse, drinking sundowners on the jetty or snacking at the pool, all food and beverages, unless stipulated, are included in the package.<\/p>\n

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The view from our balcony.<\/p><\/div>\n

We weren\u2019t forced to have\u00a0all our meals and drinks at the resort, in fact we chose not to. But the convenience, coupled with the knowledge that we didn\u2019t have to factor in food and drinks costs into our budget, was a bonus. It gave us a great deal more room to indulge in that extra spa treatment or that tanzanite ring I\u2019d been covetting.<\/p>\n

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Beach life – shades of blue.<\/p><\/div>\n

Value for money<\/h2>\n

Travel abroad for the average South African is a costly affair \u2013 especially since everything is quoted in dollars. Even in Zanzibar, where the Tanzanian Shilling is the official currency, the dollar is king.<\/p>\n

But holidaying in Zanzibar is less of a wallet-pounding experience than, say Mauritius or the Seychelles. And you get a lot more value for your rand \u2013 a soft drink costs about R14 (US$1).<\/p>\n

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Watching the sun set from the jetty.<\/p><\/div>\n

However, resort living also means less choice and forking out more\u00a0for unexpected essentials. Our electric toothbrush was on the fritz and replacement toothbrushes cost us a whopping R168 ($12).<\/p>\n

Resort living certainly isn\u2019t the only option in Zanzibar. But if you aren’t planning on leaving your hotel much and you’re looking for relaxation and comfort, then it\u2019s the logical choice. Just ensure it\u2019s \u201call inclusive\u201d.<\/p>\n

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This trip was about more than just going on holiday for me. It was about healing after a bruising tail end to 2016. It was about finding new meaning and learning to live outside of my comfort zone.<\/p>\n

As I reflect on the people I met, the food I ate, the things I learnt and the experiences had, I can only be grateful that I did.<\/p>\n

Zanzibar on a whim and fancy was the ideal\u00a0way to start 2017.<\/p>\n