The Z Hotel

Arriving at the Z Hotel means walking straight off Nungwi Beach into a tropical garden that runs down to the sand. The hotel sits on Zanzibar's northern coast, where the white beach has drawn divers and snorkellers for years and Mnemba Atoll, known for its turtles, lies a short boat ride offshore. Rooms come in five types. The Z Suite takes the entire rooftop level, with two terraces and fold-back doors opening the interior to the outside air. Ocean Front Cottages stand apart from the main building, two floors each, with a private terrace set directly above the shoreline. Rooftop Suites carry double-height beamed ceilings and wrap-around terraces facing the Indian Ocean. Sea View Rooms, on the first and second floors, catch the coastline and, on a clear day, the Tanga Mountains across the water; Garden View Rooms open onto the pool and gardens through floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Guests dive and fish from the property's own dive centre, or work out in the gym between excursions. Three venues handle food and drink: Cinnamon, Sexy Fish and the rooftop bar, Rooftops. A spa rounds out the grounds. Wi-Fi and cable television reach every room, a detail that matters more here than it sounds.