Ratings based on 69 Verified Reviews
4.6 Room cleanliness
4.3 Service & staff
4.2 Room comfort
4.2 Hotel condition
Expedia Verified Reviews
by A verified traveler
Avoid room number 1 at any cost!!
Posted 16 Feb 2021 on HotelsGenerally, my stay was great with EXCEPTIONAL of the bed. What I saw in the picture when booking is not what I got. I was given room number 1 which is the decker bed where you need to climb a steep stair and I found it very risky. At least they should ask a guest in advance if someone is capable of climbing those stairs regularly.
I commend the two receptionists, they are very kind and helpful.
Comment from Hotel Management
16 Feb 2021 by Team Paradise and Wilderness, Hotel Management
We are sorry you felt uncomfortable because of the room furnishing: our hotel's structure reflects the typical Stone Town houses architecture and its unique atmosphere. Our staff is always there to help and there is always a solution if you let us know the issue. Thank you for choosing us, we hope that you will keep the best reminescences of your stay in Stone Town.
by A verified traveler
SHABA very good area..
Posted 6 Jan 2021 on HotelsTHE HOTEL IS HANDLED BUT ONE GIRL..PRICILLA who IS VERY NICE AND ACCOMMODATING THE OTHER GIRL IS NOT...
but when I tried to book 3 more nights, tha tnight that might be booked but she could give me the other 2 fllowings nights ....she made me wait for the owner's response but never came back to me...the next day I went personally very early to the hotel...She was on leave and was the other girl..who said it was fully booked even the next 2 following nights that I was tld I could be confirmed... not very responsible --make sure to make booking through hotels.com
there was a confusion doing the booking through hotels.com....I wanted to confirm using the 2 nights rewards not used at Kiponda... was rejected the booking...but nevertheless I was charged for 2nights... that Priscilla wasnt aware.... she charged me 2 USD for the 2nights instead if accepting a cash deal whcih had been cheaper.
by A verified traveler
Shaba dabba do
Posted 14 Dec 2020 on HotelsGood hotel lovely decor and some interesting rooms and in a central location . Hard to access with a taxi but not far from main street. Priscilla was the star , thoughtful attentive and hard working this lady made the place worthwhile and special . Overall decent budget one night stay location
Comment from Hotel Management
14 Jan 2021 by Team Paradise and Wilderness, Hotel Management
Thank you very much for your review, we are happy you had a good time here with us. Our staff will be happy to read your comment! Looking forward to see you again!
by A verified traveler
Posted 4 Aug 2020 on Hotels
Comment from Hotel Management
14 Aug 2020 by Bert, Hotel Management
Thank you for staying in Shaba Boutique Hotel, hope to see you soon back
by A verified traveler
Posted 3 Aug 2020 on Hotels
Comment from Hotel Management
14 Aug 2020 by Bert, Hotel Management
Thanks to staying in Shaba boutique hotel, direct in the old town centre next to Hilton Doubletree and Park Hyatt, but then for a more cosy and friendly price!
by A verified traveler
Posted 27 Jul 2020 on Hotels
Excellent stay
Comment from Hotel Management
29 Jul 2020 by Shaba Boutique Hotel, Hotel Management
Thank you for leaving us this review! It was a pleasure to have you with us.
by A verified traveler
very nice place
Posted 27 Jul 2020 on HotelsGreat location and a very pleasant hotel - recently renovated. I enjoyed my two nights there
Comment from Hotel Management
28 Jul 2020 by Shaba Boutique Hotel, Hotel Management
Thank you so much for your kind words, we are happy to read that you enjoyed your stay with us. We hope to see you again!
by A verified traveler
Posted 1 Mar 2020
The building was interesting, but the hotel had two problems. The first issue was the tourist tax. Although Expedia explicitly says on their webpage that the tourist tax is included in the final price charged to us, they insisted that I pay the tourist tax.
They told me that “many people complained” about the tax and they couldn’t communicate with Expedia” through emails or phone calls. So they have been making everyone pay the taxes despite Expedia had already collected the taxes.
I told the guy at the reception when I checked in that I paid all the taxes, then the next day another woman came to ask me for the taxes, and yet again. I had to talk with her for 30 minutes until I found the Expedia chat function and the Expedia staff clarified that I didn’t have to pay. It seemed like the boss was making them insist on paying the taxes.
Another issue is that they have the dining space in their garden, which is a good idea in theory, but in reality, there were five or six mosquitoes buzzing around me while I was having breakfast. I got five mosquito bites in fifteen minutes. They might need to move their breakfast location elsewhere indoors or upstairs to avoid this problem. The second day, I went with a piece of cloth to cover up my legs and a jacket to cover my arms, despite the humidity. The swarm of mosquitoes still bit my hand.
Comment from Hotel Management
2 Mar 2020 by Guest Relations Manager, Hotel Management
Hi, we are sorry about the tourist tax issue, but since you placed an "anonymous review" we can't see your Booking data. Will you be so kind as to answer us here with your Booking reference, so we can double-check what happened? Thanks in advance for your help.
by A verified traveler
Posted 27 Feb 2020 on Hotels
Overall good...upon arrival I was asked to pay a dollar tax when though I booked through hotels.com... The wifi was very poor on the 1st level of the building..ie my room
Comment from Hotel Management
27 Feb 2020 by Bert S. (owner), Hotel Management
Dear Michael,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback. We are pleased to know that your experience with us was a good one. About the tax paid directly to the hotel, that is the touristic tax regulated by the Tanzania government. About wifi, we will work on it in order to give a better service.
We hope that you got home safely and we hope to see you again in the near future.
by A verified traveler
Posted 29 Dec 2019
There is no refrigerator in the room. Safety box usage is also charged.
Comment from Hotel Management
17 Jan 2020 by Guest Relations Manager, Hotel Management
No, there's no refrigerator in the room, but if you needed some things to be refrigerated (medicines, for example), you could have asked our staff. They would have placed it in the Hotel refrigerator.
Thanks for choosing us for your stay!
