The receptionist greeted us by name. I thought this very considerate. Three days before our arrival I had sent an email and the hotel had duly confirmed it. We soon found out that we were the only foreign visitors so it was not very difficult for the receptionist to remember our name.

From the airport we had taken a taxi, fixed price Tsh 10.000 (4 euros), and the driver assured us that Keys Hotel was value for money. When we saw our room we could not agree more.

It was on the first floor at the back, so no street noise. In fact our room was two rooms, newly painted and with tiled floors. The first is a sitting room with two huge armchairs, a coffee table and a desk complete with an electric kettle and complementary tea and coffee. A television with 30 channels, reception a bit ‘snowy’ but the sound was fine. One door led to the first bathroom and another door to the bedroom. It had a double bed with mosquito net, which fitted tightly round the bed and it had no holes. At night I did not hear any mosquitoes, but it’s the silent ones which carry malaria. Another door led to the second bathroom. There was hot water all day, unless the switch which is in the corridor has been switched off, so we checked this every night. The blue tap gave hot water and the red tap cold water. Just a minor thing to know.

Continental breakfast is included: fruit juice, toast, jam, butter, tea or coffee. Eggs could be ordered at an extra charge. There is also a restaurant with international dishes to choose from. Excellent service and a nice ambience. Only the coffee after the meal was a bit of a disappointment, very weak instant coffee, but we did get a big pot each.

There is a security officer at the entrance and on each floor. So that intruders cannot walk in, or steal anything. I liked the padlock on the toilet roll.

Keys Hotel is close to the centre and at walking distance from the ferries to Zanzibar.