Zanzibar is one of those wonderful holiday destinations where almost everyone can find what they’re looking for – whether it’s adrenaline activities or doing absolutely nothing all day. It’s also a place where people come to find themselves – often successfully, occasionally surprisingly.

Before all that, however, there are decisions to be made – and one of the most important of these is what kind of Zanzibar accommodation you want to stay in. As with so much else on the island – from food to fun – you’ll find that you’re spoiled for choice.

Of course, a big factor in your decision will be your budget. Zanzibar has always offered excellent value for money, but it’s also possible to spend significant amounts per night if you want to. Another key decision is whether to stay in the capital, Stone Town, or on one of Zanzibar’s incredible beaches. Many visitors opt to do both – a couple of days of culture, followed by some sand and surf.

Shops or slops?

Our natural inclination would always be to head for the beach – especially as we can always organise day trips to Stone Town for you (it’s just 55km away) if you want to experience the unique Swahili vibe.

At one end of the Zanzibar accommodation scale, you’ll find the island’s many backpacker lodges – some of which are institutions in their own right. If you enjoy the cosmopolitan vibe of meeting people from everywhere and nowhere, these are great places to hang out. Unfortunately, they’re also the sort of places where plastic bags get rustled in dorms at night, and there’s always Sven the Scandinavian snorer…

Head to the opposite end of the scale, and you’ll find some very classy hotels and resorts – perfect if you want to be waited on hand and foot, Wi-Fi and aircon, and you don’t mind the eye-watering prices.

The luxury of just being

We pitched Driftwood Beach Lodge somewhere in between, because we know that while comfort is important, the true definition of luxury is being somewhere beautiful with the person or people who mean the most to you, and getting to spend your days however you wish.

Driftwood Beach Lodge oozes rustic charm, inspired by the style and pace of life of Zanzibar. In each guest bungalow, cool white walls help with the midday heat, while local fabrics add colour. All our furniture is handmade by local craftsmen, which gives it an authentic sense of having drifted in on the ocean (just like our name) and at the same time, of having been influenced by centuries of Zanzibar style.

We’re all about the beach, but we know you don’t necessarily want to take it to bed with you. Hot showers let you wash the sand off, and the cool gardens offer another option for relation. To help you feel free and able to relax, we deliberately kept the amount of stuff in each bungalow to a minimum.

The beach cottage you always wanted

We took the approach of giving you everything you need, and nothing you don’t. So, there’s no aircon, but there are ceiling fans. (Tip: wet a kikoi and lay it over you for a siesta under the fan: as the water evaporates, it takes the heat with it).

We somehow get by without Wi-Fi, but you’ll find a flat-screen TV (because movies matter, and the big game is no smaller on holiday). We included a hairdryer, so you can look your best on Instagram and Facebook, but most of all, we made sure that nothing takes away from the experience of being on a beach in Zanzibar.

We know which Zanzibar accommodation option we’d choose, naturally, but we’re also here to help you make your own choice. To learn more about where to stay and what you’ll have to pay, call Driftwood Beach Lodge on +255 774 236 455 or click here to get in touch and learn more about the best Zanzibar accommodation of all.