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We stay here 2 - 4 times a year during school holidays. The executive rooms are large, have a dining area and a small kitchen with fridge/freezer, microwave oven and cooking facilities. You are allowed to bring your own food and drinks. There is free access to a big and clean swimming pool and well equipped gym. The location is great with shopping facilities and restaurants near by. The satellite TV and free WIFI worked fine during the whole stay (2 weeks). The staff is very friendly and helpful - and so is management.

The only

+ close to the ferry terminal + nice view from the window + quiet area + spacious room + good breakfast + good value for money + helpful staff + hot water + good Wi-Fi - bathroom looks old and neglected - a bit old bathroom - luke warm water - shower head to replace

I spent one night in the Chelsea Hotel to do some sightseeing in Dar and it was very good for that purpose. The hotel was a little bit dated, but otherwise completely up to the standards which I expect from a hotel. It's located not far from the clock tower, which to my understanding pinpoints the centerpoint of the city. The actual sights I went to see started further away, about 20 minutes by foot. The room was adequate in size and had good aircon. I had a twin room. I first tried sleeping in the bed further away from the aircon, but the air blew directly there, so I had to move to the bed right under the aircon unit. The hotel was located close to a busy road and the honking of the cars could be heard up to the sixth floor. However it wasn't bad. The breakfast was ok. It didn't have a very wide selection, but the items I tried were tasty and of good quality. Also the setting in the restaurant was pleasant. The only negative I have to say is the extraorbitant exchange rate. I had paid my room rate in advance, but I had to pay the city tax (1.50 USD) at the hotel. I asked to pay in Tsh and had to pay 7000 Tsh, equivalent to about 3$. My loss was only 1.50$, so it wasn't a big deal in my case, but the principle left a bad taste in my mouth. If the room rate would have been 1.50$ higher but the city tax 3500 Tsh, I would have left as a happy customer. The hotel offered airport transfer for 42000 Tsh. It was quite pricy. The fixed price at the official taxi stand at the airport was 30000 Tsh. On the way back to the airport I used a rideshare app to get my transfer, it cost Tsh 12000.

The private beach 🏖 is very beautiful and cleaned up. Hotel facilities are relatively complete, refrigerator slippers safe drying racks, etc. The scenery outside the window is very good, and there is a place to hold a party.

This place has gone down a lot. After over 20 years of staying here on different occasions this time was definitely the last time. First I enquired about vacancy via their website contact form to which I never got a response. Then getting nervous I wrote a second enquiry about availability and prices to the reservation email. Hours later I got a confirmation of the booking (which I hadn't made so far). Already on checkin they proudly presented me with ”my requested room” which wasn't the one I had asked for (they misread my email). Anyway, my request couldn't be accommodated (seaview/higher floor) so I stayed with what I was given. Very tired after about 20 hrs of travel. Then the live music started at the Thai restaurant. Meanwhile the fridge was rattling like a dala dala because there was so much ice build-up (see photo). I needed to pull out the fridge to reach the plug and while I was at it I defrosted the fridge over night. There was also a lot of noise harassment from reception area during the night. Seems to echo up the hallway. The next day they offered to shift to another room but I wasn't prepared to pack and unpack again. However, I should have (they could have given me a warning!) as the second night there was yet more live music, this time on the hotel terrace in front of my window. Full blast TV plus aircon could not drown the incredible noise until 23:00. They even slipped a paper under the door ”sorry for inconvenience”. That was two nights with hardly any chance of sleep. Asking for a late checkout (afternoon) to catch up with some much needed sleep before another 24 hrs of travel ahead just prompted very unpleasant and unprofessional communications with a nice but not very competent lady at reception. Supposedly no manager around (it's weekend?!). Then after yet another enquiry I was supposed to pay full price for a couple of hours extension, then was offered 10% discount on full rate, then was offered 80usd, then 60usd. Is this a bazaar? The lady at reception never got back at me (supposedly she phoned the room, however the phone never rang - maybe that's also not working? and why not send someone up if clearly the guest was waiting for an answer?). They need some training in communications and I can't believe there is no manager with decision making competence over the weekend?!? Zero goodwill shown after two nights of incredible party noise. It seems to be no problem to check in hours before regular checkin but there is no grace for checking out a few hours later. Not even after hotel related sleep deprivation. Now sitting in the hallway writing this review, the receptionist came with the phone....... manager wants to talk to me?!? Where was he/she during the last 24 hrs? Luckily there are many other good options in the area meanwhile but this experience leaves a very bitter taste after so many years of staying here.

The environment is beautiful, the beach is out, free parking, airport transfers are charged, which is in the suburbs. This hotel has full service facilities, including massage, fitness, swimming, karaoke, etc., and general English conversation!

We are currently staying here and have been for the last two weeks, Starting off with the positives, the room is very nice with a beautiful view and some of the staff are friendly. The food is pretty good as well! NEGATIVES: The service is outrageous, waiting over 35min every time you order a beer. 1 out of every 6 staff members has a basic grasp of English thus most of our orders have been incorrect. The staff are all at work but not working, often they crowd around their cellphones and pay no attention to any of the guests. The customer service is absolutely shocking as the staff do not care about the patrons. While a family was watching their country play sport, the staff came and put on their local football and only changed after the guest threatened to call a manager. The beach is absolute joke as well as their is loads of trash in the water. All in all, for the almost $3000 usd we've spent here, I can safely say it would be money well spent somewhere else. The staff need serious training in service and customer service.