Review of Zanzibar Serena Inn, by Gemma Pitcher

The Zanzibar Serena Inn is the best five star hotel in Stone Town, a hugely elegant place on the sea front with lovely sailing boats floating past at sunset and the sound of distant mosques floating in. It's an old Arab merchant's house that's been restored by an international trust, so the style is very much mosaics, tinkling fountains, and cool shady courtyards. The rooms have all the five star trappings and have big private balconies where you can sip your orange juice, wrap yourself in those big fluffy bathrobes and gaze out to sea!

While you're in town there are various things to do, apart from just wandering around the old city, admiring the lovely stone buildings, shopping for antiques or visiting the various museums, the old cathedral or the former slave market. Try a spice tour - you get taken out to the countryside by your guide to meet the local villagers and see all the spices they grow - cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom and all the rest. Cute little kids follow you as you go, you have lunch in a local house and stuff yourself with piles of tropical fruit. On the way home you can go via the beach for a swim.