Why all-inclusive is a must on a tropical island

In 2011 friends of ours had a thought – let’s visit a tropical island! We had been dating for a few months by that time, and we were keen on travelling the world from the start, so we had no choice but to agree to join them. As soon as they identified a good deal, we booked our vacation. Destination: Zanzibar!

We designed some fun team t-shirts, packed our bags and arrived at the small, chaotic building the locals call the airport... much room for improvement there, especially in the airconditioning department! Zanzibar is extremely hot, mostly because of the humidity. The average temperature on the island is 28ºC and we visited the island in April, at the beginning of the monsoon season with an average of 401 mm of rain in the form of sudden showers, passing by in as little as 15 minutes. While a cloud-burst sounds like a mood-killer in many instances, especially when on vacation, it actually had a relieving effect on us, providing a quick break from the heat and humidity. It cools you down quickly and then leaves you to go ahead with your day of relaxation in the sun.

While the airport and the taxi drivers leave much room for improvement, we couldn’t find any faults at the resort we stayed at. Sea Cliff Resort & Spa is an oasis on the brim of a rural island with very little development and a lot of potential. A beautiful resort built on the cliffs bordering the turquoise waters of the Indian ocean. There is a strong Moroccan influence in the decor creating a rich, warm atmosphere and the staff, clearly part of a very friendly and hospitable nation, went out of their way to ensure that we are happy at all times. The hotel offers so many activities to keep you busy: relaxing by an infinity pool with a 180 degree view over the ocean; relaxing on the jetty 20 meters into the ocean; relaxing on the beach with an exclusive bar allowing you to only walk 10 steps to order another cocktail; relaxing at the hotel spa; canoeing on the hotel’s canoes; going for a bike ride in the area on the hotel’s bicycles; snorkeling with the hotel’s gear and eating way too much of the hotel’s incredible food!

The island also offers a variety of excursions, including boat trips to beaches in the area; dolphin watching and if you are lucky, swimming with dolphins; visiting a spice farm; searching for Red Colobus Monkeys endemic to the island; exploring the mangroves and so much more.

In spite of the incredible hotel we stayed at and the exciting excursions we were lucky enough to experience, the heat is a real factor to consider. When you walk out of the air-conditioned room, the humidity hits you as if you are walking into a wall. Being out of the ocean or swimming pool for too long gets pretty uncomfortable pretty quickly. Drinking a lot of water, icy drinks and cocktails is a good solution, but it is much easier to do if you are on an all-inclusive package. Add an amazing variety of good food to that, and I am all in!