JAZ Elite Aurora Beach

We have just returned from Jaz Elite Aurora, and honestly, it is difficult to put into words how special this place is. This is luxury, but not the loud, showy kind of luxury. It is quiet, gentle luxury that you notice in every little detail. If you want to be made to feel like a princess or a king, this is the place to go. The hotel is relatively new, modern, beautifully designed, spacious and spotlessly clean. The rooms are large and comfortable, with Egyptian cotton bed linen and towels, and housekeeping comes twice a day, which was such a lovely and unexpected touch. And then there is the food. Absolutely incredible. The choice is amazing, everything is delicious, and the presentation often feels more like a Michelin-starred restaurant than a hotel buffet. Food was genuinely one of the highlights of our stay. But what takes this hotel from excellent to truly exceptional is the people. Every single member of staff made us feel genuinely welcome and cared for. They constantly checked that everything was okay, asked whether there was anything they could do to make our stay better, and always did it with a smile. Nothing felt forced or rehearsed. By our second day, people already knew our names. A very special mention has to go to the entertainment team: Magdalena, Jackeline, Luccy, Buddy and Justin. We travelled with our little girl, and each of them connected with her in a different way. They played with her, included her in activities, walked around the hotel with her and made her feel so special. The biggest thank you goes to Magdalena and Jackeline, who were like big sisters to her. One day Magdalena even sat on the beach building a sandcastle with her. These may sound like small things, but as parents, they mean everything. A very special mention also has to go to Hasan at the bar. His attention to detail was incredible. Before long, he knew our favourite drinks at different times of the day and would start preparing them as soon as he saw us walking towards the bar! But it wasn't simply about remembering what we liked. Every drink was prepared with so much care and heart, tailored to each person's preferences and even decorated differently depending on the guest and the drink. That level of personal attention is exactly what makes this hotel feel so special. The hotel also has its own water park and gym, which adds even more to the experience. And one thing you absolutely should not miss is cocktails on the jetty at sunset. It is magical and was one of those moments we will remember for a long time. Another lovely touch was being invited for cocktails with the management team. It was not a formal or impersonal event. We had great conversations, wonderful cocktails, and every member of the management team came over to speak with us. They were professional, friendly and genuinely interested in our experience. It says a lot about the culture of the hotel and how much they care about their guests. Perhaps the best way to explain how this place made us feel is this: on our last day, our daughter cried because she didn't want to go home. She has never done that before. When we were leaving, members of the entertainment team came to reception especially to hug us and wish us a safe journey. It was incredibly touching because it didn't feel like part of their job. It felt genuine. We left feeling not simply looked after, but loved. Jaz Elite Aurora is a beautiful hotel, but beautiful hotels can be found in many places. What is much harder to find is a hotel with this much heart. Hidden luxury, wonderful food, beautiful surroundings and truly extraordinary people. You will struggle to find another place quite like this. We would return in a heartbeat.

We’ve just returned from our honeymoon at JAZ Elite Aurora and honestly couldn’t fault it! The hotel is absolutely beautiful, everything is kept so perfect and the food is great, such a variety at both lunchtimes and evenings as well as so many restaurant options. We ate in all the restaurants during our 12 night stay and never had an issue booking and never had a bad meal. The rooms are lovely and well-kept, so spacious and modern. We had a swim up room that had been specially decorated for our arrival which was a lovely touch. The grounds are so well-kept too. I know it’s a new hotel but there is always people working on gardening, cleaning etc to make sure the hotel is kept to its 5* standard. But what really made our holiday was the staff. Every single person we came across was so friendly, welcoming and helpful. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and everyone always had a smile on their face. You can really tell how much effort goes into making sure guests have the best possible stay. The lifeguards from the second pool made our honeymoon so special, doing a lovely set up on the beach for our last day. This really was a highlight of our holiday. All of the entertainment team were fantastic and there is so much to do at the hotel, and all the team were so lovely and really made an effort to get to know us which we loved. A special mention also to Magdalena from the entertainment team, who was absolutely brilliant and made our holiday even more special. She is so lovely, full of energy and amazing at what she does with the kids club. Also, a big shout-out to the cocktail barman, Issa and Islam who were fantastic! We loved spending our evenings at the upstairs cocktail bar. The jetty bar is also an amazing part of the hotel with gorgeous cocktails. It's the little things and the people that make a holiday, and the staff here really do go above and beyond. They are a credit to the hotel and deserve so much recognition. We've made the most amazing memories and would 100% recommend JAZ Elite Aurora to anyone thinking of visiting Zanzibar. We hope to come back one day! ❤️

One of the most beautiful hotels we have stayed at. We loved the architecture, the interior design and the pool area. There is so much attention to detail in the surroundings, and the friendly staff made us feel very welcome throughout our stay. There are, however, a few areas where the experience could be improved. Our minibar was never replenished and was completely empty on one occasion. We raised this with reception twice, which is disappointing for a five-star hotel. We would also have appreciated a better wine selection and more care in the preparation of cocktails. These are an important part of the dining and holiday experience, especially in such a beautiful setting. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. With a few improvements and more consistent attention to service details, this hotel could be truly exceptional.

Absolutely astonishing experience ! Everything was just PERFECT !!! A big thanks to all the staff from the hotel, starting from always smiling girls at room cleaning to restaurant stuff and reception. Special tanks to Lucas, Issa and Islam from upstairs near biliards. Your Tanzanian music recommendations will delight me for a long time and will remind me how beautiful was here. Asante sana. Hakuna matata Andrei from Romania

We spent 9 days at the Jazz Elite Aurora and were genuinely sad when it was time to leave. Getting there: The hotel is about 1 hr 40 min from the airport. We booked the transfer directly through the hotel (€100), and it worked perfectly. Part of the route is on a good, busy road, part of it is a bit bumpy. Don’t be surprised: the last stretch looks quite remote. That’s simply because the hotel is still very new and the access road probably hasn’t been fully built or paved yet. Our driver told us that guests arriving at night sometimes feel a little uneasy, as it feels like driving into the middle of nowhere. No need to worry! Arrival & architecture: We arrived at 10 am (check-in is at 2 pm) and were welcomed incredibly warmly. Our luggage was taken care of, we were invited to go straight to breakfast, and by noon our room was ready. The lobby and all common areas are open and airy, with no walls at all, built in Zanzibar style with lots of wood and natural materials. What impressed us most is how consistently sustainability is lived here: I didn’t see any plastic anywhere on the property. Even the “Do not disturb” signs are made of wood, and our packed lunches were wrapped entirely in paper. Room: A tip for booking on Expedia: there are “Ocean View” and “Sea View” rooms. Ocean View is the first row, Sea View is more like the second or third row. We had Ocean View, with an unobstructed, breathtaking view straight onto the ocean. The room is beautifully furnished, spacious, with plenty of storage (in the bathroom too) and a lovely balcony to relax on. There’s a Nespresso machine (capsules are extra, about $2); we brought our own. Tea and water are free, the minibar is charged. Housekeeping was flawless: extra amenity kits or slippers were brought right away, and every day we came back to artistic towel creations. Food & drinks: Breakfast (until about 10:30 am) is very generous: pancakes, a full English breakfast with sausages, beans and tomatoes, lots of fruit, sweets, juices and even sparkling wine. One small wish: a bit more variety, as it felt the same every day. Lunch and dinner are served in several restaurants. Our highlight was the Breezer: open-air, right by the sea, with a cool breeze and excellently mixed cocktails. In the evening, don’t miss a sundowner at the Jetty Bar out over the water! One bar is even open 24/7 (alcohol is included until midnight). Room for improvement: restaurant opening hours weren’t transparent. The TV, the app and the signs at the restaurants didn’t always match. Pools & activities: The hotel describes its pool as the largest in Zanzibar. There are four pool areas in total, including two with a bar and service at your sunbed, plus a separate water park with four slides for kids. Around midday, small snacks like melon bites were served by the pool. There’s never a dull moment: table tennis, padel, billiards, darts, aqua gym, yoga and more. The three-person entertainment team radiates charm and good vibes without ever being pushy. There’s also a spa (where you can get braids done), a gym and a dive school on site. Beach: The hotel has its own sunbeds in the sand facing the ocean, plus a beautiful swing. The beach itself is public, so you’ll meet quite a few beach vendors. That’s just part of Zanzibar: stay friendly and say clearly what you want or don’t want. Security staff are everywhere, and we felt completely safe at all times. Keep the tides in mind; otherwise, beach walks are wonderful. Horse riding can be booked just around the corner. We had organized our excursions from home, but we’d have liked a bit more information on activities you can book at the hotel. The staff: What truly makes this hotel special is its people. Whether service, housekeeping, reception, gardeners or pool guys: everyone is incredibly friendly and attentive. When your day starts with a cheerful “Jambo!”, you’re in a good mood straight away. People smile at you, ask how you’re doing, and are happy to chat. Conclusion: A beautiful, well-built hotel in a stunning location, with unforgettable sunsets and a team that puts its heart into everything. We had a wonderful time and would come back any time!