If you are planning to take a trip to Zanzibar and are wondering how much you could spend to make the most of your experience and make it unforgettable, you have come to the right place: we try to provide some information and advice on how you can make the most of your vacation in this spectacular destination, without making you give up anything and with the best possible value for money.
Here are some tips on how to save money without big sacrifices or second thoughts!
How much does it cost to go to Zanzibar: average prices for a full trip
Off the coast of Tanzania lies a marvelous and spectacular island that is an ideal vacation destination for many people with the most diverse tastes: in fact, this location is truly magical and promising, both for those who, for example, want to take an enchanting and relaxing trip (in which the crystal clear sea and wonderful beaches are the mainstay) and for those who want to immerse themselves in the full scope of the local culture, from the point of view of gastronomy, tourist attractions, and the rich and prosperous atmosphere that is breathed here.
Of course, the fact that Zanzibar is a highly sought-after place might suggest exorbitant costs for a vacation here, and this may be true if certain conditions are met: for example, coming here in the high season, and not wanting to give anything up might be high cost compared to choosing somewhat more modest options and services.
However, with the right tricks you can still have a great vacation without missing anything and without necessarily having to spend a fortune: the secret lies simply in knowing how to choose the right operator or the right agency that will allow you to find the options best suited to your needs, discarding those extra services or additional activities that would greatly increase the cost but, in fact, are not entirely in our interest.
Precisely because, as it is easy to guess, the services can be the most varied and the factors that influence in the cost of a trip are many, one cannot make too accurate predictions regarding the price of a complete vacation: one must also consider that a low season can be a positive point for not overspending, but it could have disadvantages (fewer activities offered, fewer or lower quality of services, etc.).
Generally speaking, if you want to find a fair compromise, it is advisable to choose the mid-season, which allows for a greater variety of choices, at slightly higher costs than the low season but clearly more affordable than the high season.
We can say that including the flight but excluding extras (guided excursions or safaris) the average cost of a mid-season trip is about 1,000 euros per person, a cost that, as mentioned, varies depending on a different number of factors.
How much does it cost to go to Zanzibar in December, Christmas and February
We mentioned the importance of the time of year and thus the tourist season in which one chooses to go, especially as a matter of cost: a low season will definitely cost less because the offer in terms of activities and services is less.
But if we wanted to go to Zanzibar in specific periods, how should we go about it? What would be the cost, for example, to go in December, at Christmas time or in February?
The Christmas period is certainly quite sought after, not only because it corresponds with the vacation season for a large proportion of people, but also because in Zanzibar from mid-December until mid-March (just as happens with the period from June to October) there is the so-called dry season, an ideal period because the heat is not excessive but very pleasant and there is not a high risk of rainfall. During this period, the cost of travel tends to go up compared to other times of the year, while February is the right month if you prefer a period that is less crowded with tourists but still enjoyable in terms of the sun, the sea, and the activities that you can do (one among them, for example, snorkeling).
In the December period the cost of the vacation could range from 1,500 euros to 2,000 euros, while in the January and February period it could be around 1,000 or 1,500 euros depending on the activities, extra services and type of accommodation.
Luxury housing or not
Precisely with regard to lodging some considerations need to be made, because not all tourists have the same preferences and needs in that while some prefer to opt for a relaxing vacation in toto (and will therefore opt for luxury lodging), for others it is better to focus on other things, perhaps involving activities and not so much the type of room.
It is clear and understandable that a luxury accommodation, equipped with every possible and imaginable amenity, will certainly cost more than a standard and not particularly amenity-rich room, but for some tourists (especially the more adventurous ones, mostly interested in Tanzanian safaris and excursions) the accommodation is not the most important aspect.
How much does it cost to eat in Zanzibar
Another important point concerns food: those who prefer to taste real local food may have an advantage over those who do not want to break away from personal traditions and prefer to stick to Italian food. In fact, a lunch or dinner at a local restaurant can be much cheaper than at a restaurant offering Italian or international food: in the latter case it is even possible to spend more than 50 euros per meal, while in the former option the cost can even be around 10-12 euros for a full meal, tasting real local delicacies.
How long is the journey and where to start
The length of the trip depends on many factors, including the type of flight you prefer, whether there is a stopover or more than one (or if there are no stopovers), the point of arrival, and, of course, also the point of departure.
To reach Zanzibar you can choose different ways: for example, you can choose to leave from Italy with direct charter flights, departing from major Italian cities such as Rome, Milan and Verona, or with scheduled flights from companies such as Turkish Airline and Emirates. If you want to save money, it is advisable to avoid this option, and instead choose a flight that makes a stopover in Tanzania: once you land here, you take the ferry that takes you to your destination with only 3 hours of sailing.
In terms of duration, on average a direct flight lasts about 8 hours, while a scheduled flight with a stopover lasts approximately 13 hours, with some slight variation depending on whether you depart from Rome, Milan or Verona.
