Just 50 km away from Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, lies the Blue Oyster Hotel close to the village of Jambiani on the east coast.

Blue Oyster’s 13 rooms rise around a modern courtyard. Some have sea views, while some overlook the courtyard garden. The hotel offers singles, doubles, triples and four-beds. All rooms are clean, tastefully decorated and reasonably sized. All bar one room is en suite, but even this room has a private bathroom very near.

The hotel restaurant serves breakfast daily, and dinner can be booked in advance. Food is good, locally sourced and fresh. The evening menu is predominantly fresh local fish so those not keen on seafood might have to consider other options for dinner. This should not be a problem as there are many local resorts and beach restaurants in the area. The food that is on offer is good quality and generally very well prepared as well as being good value for money.

During their stay, guests can book a massage or relax at the beach or in a hammock in the garden. The hotel has Ngalawa boat to catch fish. They can also rent equipment for snorkeling. It features a small library with literature from around the world and shop with local souvenirs.

Staff at the hotel are very friendly and knowledgeable. They are on hand to help guests to book excursions and tours and to offer advice for those travelling on to other parts of the island. The hotel is kept very clean and rooms and beds are treated for mosquitoes daily (you may have to hand your key in at reception to ensure this happens). Though the dinner service can prove a little slow this is common on Zanzibar, where staff tend to take a more relaxed approach at meal times.