The Aiyana Resort & Spa

We are a family of four and had an extraordinary stay at The Aiyana in Pemba. We indulged in the luxury of Villa 30, which was charming and spectacular. The rooms were jaw-dropping, with high ceilings and top-quality amenities, including coconut-infused shower gels and shampoos. We enjoyed wonderful views out towards the spa island and open ocean. In the evenings, we watched tiny hermit crabs travel across our own slice of beach. Describing the Aiyana without resorting to superlatives is tricky. It;s clear that entire resort has been crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Every design choice, feature, and material seem to have been chosen with care. It's hard to stop taking photos. With each turn around a corner, you are greeted by breathtaking views of palm trees and the pristine beach and ocean. The service from the was friendly and professional and matched the warmth of the resort. We enjoyed eating dinner on the beach and were thrilled by the snorkeling trip to the local reef and breakfast on the sandbar (having travelled by dhow). The Ayiana is truly a slice of barefoot luxury paradise .

We booked with Aiyana early Dec - they had amazing specials on and when we checked in our upgrade got upgraded to the Ambassador Suite, complete with its own pool and sundeck, right on the beach. The owner is an artist and landscaper and as you can imagine, the gardens are pretty amazing. The unit had an upstairs room and outside bathroom. We opted for the ground floor bedroom, also with an outside bathroom and a lovely bath to soak your weary bones! The beach is quiet and clean and no "beach boys" harassing you constantly. Meals were excellent and so also the service and attention to detail. Aiyana has a lovely spa & gym, canoes, SUP's and can arrange just about any other activity on the island. It was such a blessing to stay there.

The Aiyana on Pemba Island is a fantastic hotel that impressed us on every level. The rustic and unique style blends perfectly with the island’s landscape. The grounds, gardens, and public areas (such as the bar and restaurant) are well-maintained and give a high-quality impression. The beach is stunning, and the sea is one of the most beautiful we have ever seen. Locals, especially children, often walked by the beach. They didn’t beg but kept a close eye on the items by the sunbeds. In particular, Villa 1 has had recurring issues with children entering the garden and begging for money or other items, according to an employee. The food was excellent. Breakfast was à la carte, as was dinner. The beach dinner was our favorite, and we enjoyed it three times during our ten-day stay. Unfortunately, almost every dish was prepared with coriander (without noting it on the menu) – we dislike coriander, so this was frustrating. The same applied to the breakfast juices, which were often made with ginger. However, the variety of dishes and portion sizes were more than sufficient. The cocktails at the bar are also highly recommended. However, the drinks, especially mixed drinks and wines, are quite expensive. An Aperol Spritz costs $12, and a glass of white wine starts at $12 – definitely not worth the price in our opinion. The villas are beautiful, clean, and cozy. Our villa (number 13) had a veranda where we enjoyed the sunset every day. During our stay, we had to request repairs in our villa four times. They were minor issues and were fixed quickly, but you can tell that the villas are starting to show their age. The staff were very friendly and attentive. At every encounter, we were asked the same questions: “How are you?” and “How was your day?” This happened regardless of the situation and could get annoying when answering the same questions six times on the way to dinner. Less is more here, and a simple greeting would often have sufficed. A few additional points we want to mention: • The Wi-Fi is the worst we have ever experienced while traveling. Both in the villa and the restaurant, it was extremely slow. Simple Google searches took several minutes or didn’t work at all (tested on iPhone 14/15, iPad). There is a separate Wi-Fi network by the bar, but none of the staff could provide the password. We assume it’s not much better than the other Wi-Fi. • The hotel-arranged airport transfer is also very expensive, costing $112 per person (round trip). For us, that was $224 in total. • There are two different price lists for the spa treatments. The cheaper option for a 90-minute massage is $90, while the more expensive one is $115. Note: Honeymoon guests receive a 30% discount. • The spa and gym are hidden on the left side of the grounds (from an overhead view). However, the gym is not a real gym but a small building with only a few items suitable for floor exercises. • At breakfast, dinner, and in the villa, drinking water is free and replenishe