Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar

Guests enter the aptly named Hideaway through a wrought-iron gate flanked by kasbah-style battlements, giving the resort a feel of secluded isolation. They are met at the breezy, open-sided reception area, decorated with numerous pieces of native statuary, carved paneling, and a mix of chunky, rustic, and sleek stylish furnishings. Rows of Moravian star light fixtures combine with elegant white arches to create a Arabian feel that blends tastefully with the more African decorative touches. Ten hectares of well-tended, expansive grounds brimming with colorful flowers and sculpted shrubbery slope gently down to the gorgeous blue sea. The resort layout can feel a little too sprawling, with many of the rooms set away from the public areas, though golf carts are usually on hand to transport guests -- a mix of honeymooning couples and families with kids -- around the relaxing and peaceful retreat. 

The Hideaway is sister resort to the Dream of Zanzibar, and when Dream of Zanzibar is overbooked guests sometimes get sent here instead. It may also be worth comparing rates with the nearby Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort, which requires fewer steps to reach the sand. 

The resort is set on a quiet and unspoiled stretch of white-powder beach on the northwest tip of Zanzibar island overlooking the Indian Ocean. The location feels fairly isolated, as there's nothing within walking distance, though guests can take pleasant strolls up and down the beach. Nungwi, a six-minute drive away, is one of the larger settlements on the island, with a number of dive shops, hotels, and a long swath of beach, though roads are poorly maintained and the going can be slow. The island's capital, Zanzibar City, together with its historic Stone Town district, is a little more than an hour's drive from the hotel, while Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is a 10-minute drive from Zanzibar City.

The 100 spacious suites and villas at the Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa are all decorated in a blend of colonial-style furnishings, Arabian accents, and African detailing and photographs; the effect is upscale, clean, and well thought out. Standard amenities include tea- and coffee-making facilities, mini-fridges (not always stocked), and 32- or 42-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, plus free Wi-Fi. Beds are all four-poster with mosquito netting, while bathrooms are finished in marble and mosaic with high-end toiletries and rainfall showers; some suites add whirlpool tubs. All rooms open to furnished terraces or balconies, most with sea views. Villas also feature private pools, many of which overlook the ocean.

A buffet breakfast is served in the main restaurant, Aqua, which is bright and airy and opens to a sea-view terrace -- Aqua also serves lunch and dinner buffet style, alongside live cooking stations. A la carte dining choices include a high-end Japanese restaurant, Ishi Teppanyaki, and Carnivorus & More, whose focus is exotic meats, such as ostrich and crocodile. There's also a good selection of bars, including a pool and beach bar, and a cigar and shisha lounge. Guests report the food is good enough but not outstanding. The long, infinity-edge pool (guests have complained about a few missing a few tiles here and there) overlooks the gorgeous beach (which disappears at high tide). There are stairs that lead down to the sand, and the beach bar is on the lower level; loungers and umbrellas are available on the sand in front of it at low tide. (At the Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort, in contrast, loungers and sturdier palapa-style umbrellas are up on a small platform.) 

There is also a spa with traditional hammam, hot tub, and a range of treatments and massages. The Hide & Seek Kid Club has organized activities, and there are plenty of beach activities for all. After-dinner entertainment can include African-themed performances. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.