Reef and Beach Resort

The are good and average feelings about the resort. The staff are great, especially Grace in Guest Services and Mustapha in F&B! Our arrival & check in was terrible. The barman are average and I suppose that is because they have to make these terrible cocktails all day long, using brands I really did not recognise....they also at one point were using Coconut powder mixed with water to substitute Coconut milk in some of the cocktails....yeah I know, horrible! And you get a glass of wine served in a glass that you would use to taste wine!! The food was average at best with one or two nights being quite good in the speciality restaurants - I do supose though, to be fair, that they do over 300 guests at times, so things are not as refined as a smaller resort can be and possibly food supplies not as easily availble. We had a well postioned villa at the waters edge (they call it Honeymoon Suite, strange that it has a double bunk in the entrance room - haha! ) unfortunately its pretty old and needs an upgrade, we couldn't open the patio door in the bedroom and the safe was too small for a laptop - although they did fix the door for us. There were room renovations going at the time at the pool so the noise was not great but I guess really necessary to get this place up to standard Would I go back, probably not rush back, although I am known to be a bit fussy. Its not bad but its not great so a 3.5 score - staff 5/5

An atmospheric hotel with incredible tides allowing you to see the ocean's flora and fauna up close. Friendly Maasai selling souvenirs and delicious Zanzibari delicacies served by the hotel kitchen. I was a bit skeptical because I enjoy wide, long beaches but the incredible ocean tides were something I'll always remember. The entire complex has the character of a local village and it is beautifully landscaped. I stayed in a bungalow with the ocean view located right at the entrance to the jetty. It has a veranda and a small garden with its own table, chairs and deck chairs. I was there only for a week and it was definitely too short. I already miss it just writing these words.

Had a swim up room overlooking the ocean. Lovely ! FYI - block 800 numbers have shade in the morning and sun all afternoon. Block 200 numbers are opposite, sun in the morning and shade all afternoon. The sea is so warm, tides are dramatic and the sand is soft. Beach shoes advised for the sea. Room was a good size, mosquito nets on the bed, plenty of storage, the bathroom was huge. Safe included but no fridge. Staff are lovely, shout out to Rosie, Daniel and Mr Mojito at the Mango bar. Food is plentiful, always something fresh being cooked. Could do with some covers for breads and sweet treats as there were always flies all over them. The cold water dispensers didn’t stay cold for very long. Could only get cappuccino and espressos at Jetty bar and Mangrove bar and these were extras to pay for. Hotel is relaxed, the sea changes colour all the time. Go up to the Indian restaurant to watch the sunset. Plenty of sunbeds available in different places. The grounds were clean and pretty. Pool areas clean, the natural spring water pool needs some maintenance on the stones around the edges. We saw the red colubus monkeys every day. They were great entertainment. There are quite a few cats around the hotel, but they looked healthy and were friendly. Evening entertainment at 9pm, was varied and interesting. Masai men on beach could be a bit off putting as they approached everyone who attempted to go onto the beach and in the sea off the jetty. They were friendly and were trying to earn a little money. Overall a great holiday, we did a day safari to Tanzania, also visited Salaam Cave and Jozani National Park. Travelling around can take time as some roads are very bumpy. Temperatures were around 32 each day but you could add another 10 degrees for the humidity.

Had 10 fabulous days here in March with my friend. The hotel is very well maintained and immaculately clean. Our room was beautiful and the bed was very comfortable. We opted for a sea view which I would really recommend. We found the food to be very good, fresh and lots of choice. What really makes this hotel stand out for me, however, is the staff. Every single member of the team we encountered was friendly, kind-natured and a real pleasure to talk to. They truly make you feel welcome. The whole resort has a very relaxed atmosphere and is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We had a wonderful stay and would happily return. The hotel clearly takes great pride in both its staff and the guest experience.

I would rate the resort 3.5 stars. The location, with a jetty bar on stilts is fabulous; albeit quite remote from the nearest village with facilities. Most of the staff were friendly and helpful when needed. The spring fed main pool is one of the best I've been in, warm and not chlorinated (tested for bacteria daily). The food was good, without being exceptional and the all inclusive drinks were a little restricted. There was a problem with flies in the pool bar and the main dining room, which could be remedied with a few Insectocutors. The facilities were pretty good, with pool tables and table tennis available, also a kids club. Excursions were pricey if arranged at the hotel, so we arranged ours with local guides easily and much cheaper. The on site shops had some reasonable quality items, again on the pricey side. Our main gripe was with the spa, we booked a 4 massage deal, but my wife was bruised on an aroma therapy massage and felt there was no knowledge of what a lymphatic flush massage should entail; we told the man who arranged it but didn't get a great response. I had one massage, but we didn't take the last one due to lack of confidence in what we would get. It appears to be a training and communication issue. Wifi on site is very erratic and slow, although the Jetty Bar appears to be a bit better signal. We had a nice time and will be leaving well rested. Would I recommend? Not sure.