Hotel Dona Ana ★★★★

"Hotel Dona Ana Vilanculos is a delightful heritage hotel with a fascinating love story between Dona Ana and the owner that adds a unique charm to its character. We had the pleasure of staying in a superior room with a circular wall and a breathtaking view. The breakfast was enjoyable, and it’s evident that they are working on enhancing it further. The hotel boasts stunning vistas, and the vintage 1950s/1960s decor adds to its special ambiance. The combination of history, aesthetics, and warm hospitality makes Dona Ana Vilanculos a truly memorable destination."

Casa Babi ★★★★

"What an amazing place... As a group of kitesurfers, we decided to stay at Casa Babi - and it was the best decision we could have made. Gorgeous surroundings with all kinds of trees and flowers, beautiful rooms with furniture and deco from local artists, the freshest and seriously one of the tastiest foods we've eaten on our numerous around the world kite travels (we had HB), friendly staff, fantastic kite and dive instructors who'll take you on day trips you'll never forget, a wide variety of other offered activities (ie. local cooking classes the African way!) and the owners, Sabrina and Denis, who have an incredible eye for detail and always go that extra mile to make your stay truly special. Thank you to the entire Casa Babi team, we will surely be back!! :) "

Villas do Indico Eco - Resort & Spa Lodge ★★★★

"We arrived to check out hotel midday, having asked ******* to cancel our reservation in light of recent reviews, but refused by hotel. Gates closed with a sign saying ’beware of dogs’ We pushed them open and walked down a steep dilapidated track. At bottom is fully broken down airport transfer 4x4 (explains why they never answered our request about transfer) . First ‘chalet’ we see is a fully burnt-out shell and all the debris of the fire litters the site along with an extensive heap of garbage. The ‘infinity pool’ at centre of hotel is derelict - they claim six months for renovation - no renovation underway. One sad looking family of 4 are only guests at this busy time for Vilanculos. One member of staff only. Explains owner is expat in Portugal who can’t be contacted. No manager on site. The only word we can use is ‘semi-derelict’ about much of this ‘hotel’. In response to our and others’ complaints, hotel has took down its own website but the hotel’s photos remain on ******* and Trip advisor remain and totally different from how this hotel looks. Happy to substantiate our statements with all the photos we took. We won’t be staying there."

Ocean Pearl Beach Lodge ★★★

Santorini Mozambique ★★★★

"Wow, what an experience! From the moment you are collected from the airport, to leaving, Santorini make sure that this is the holiday of a lifetime. This exceeded our expectations. Our host Pedro was just wonderful, nothing was too big or too small for him, he was always happy and smiling and very knowledgeable. Samantha and Nelson were both so attentive, making sure that we could arrange activities. The private boat trip to Magaruque was a real highlight - Thomas and Domingo took such good care of us. The snorkelling was fantastic, and a private beach picnic made for such a special day. We also loved the beach within easy access, with shady spots to read whilst dipping in and out of the sea. The spa was very easy to access, with good availability for last minute massages. The sunset Dhow was also just beautiful, it was so peaceful to be floating along, looking back at the setting sun. Finally, the food! Wow, the menu was fantastic, with such fresh ingredients. The vegetable garden lunch was probably our favourite, with hanging kebabs, fresh salads and spinach rolls. We always said once in a lifetime trip, but going to Santorini just once may not be enough!"

Bahia Mar Boutique Hotel ★★★★

"Exotic, warm, boutique feel; one bar, one restaurant, intimate rather than sprawling. Garden rooms (not beachfront) were still lovely, just a short walk from reception. Allergy handling was the best of the whole trip. Staff briefed in advance, never needed repeating, and were fully flexible about dining anywhere on the property. Flags: beach access is via steep, narrow, uneven steps, so it’s not accessible for anyone with mobility or balance issues. There’s no sunset on this stretch (sunrise instead), and it’s a public beach with large sandbanks at low tide. Standout: staff warmth and genuinely excellent cocktails."

AsDunas Lodge ★★★★★

"This place is even better than all the rave reviews it has received. Let’s start with the food. I have had the good fortune to eat at excellent restaurants in many parts of the world and I cannot recall ever having such consistently creative, fresh, attractive and delicious meals as I did during our 5 day stay here. A 5 course tasting menu each night plus an amuse-bouche and not a single miss. The local chef, Jaime, draws on Italian owner Fabio’s experience to craft absolutely spectacular meals. Next the staff. To a person, they are all so friendly and helpful. I wish I could remember the names of everyone who made our stay so good, but I want to give a special word of thanks to the three people we interacted with the most — Boaventura (ever gracious, always smiling and outgoing), Filipe (who wanted to assist you in whatever way you needed it, whether it was getting up a steep sand dune at dusk, or getting you your favorite beverage) and Chelsie, the gregarious co-manager with a dry sense of humor, a quick wit and the answer to any question you might have. In addition were Celso, João, Unidécio, Jaime, the massage therapists and the housekeepers. We even had the good fortune to spend some time and have a great conversation with owner, Fabio (although his wife, Elena, was out of town.) The grounds and rooms. Most of the rooms are glamping tents with a private deck and plunge pool. A couple have solid walls. We stayed in one of the tented units and could not have been happier. We stayed comfortable in both cool and warm weather, loved the privacy afforded each room as they are spread out down sand trails among dense brush, and found our room to be very well appointed with outlets, a loaner outlet adapter, great shower and bathroom space and a very comfortable bed. From our room, we could lie in bed, look out over our pool and see the Indian Ocean with its dramatic change in appearance from low tide to high tide. Wow! The beach. The resort is set above the beach so one has to walk down a number of steps to get to it. Once there, the resort has dedicated chaises with canopies over them for its guests. The beach is a beautiful sand beach that slopes very gradually, meaning that while high tide is fairly close to shore, low tide provides lots of opportunities to walk far away from shore and explore what is ocean bottom during the high tide. Massages. You can get one daily and they are included. My wife was a huge fan of this perk. Excursions. We didn’t take any but we spoke with several other guests who did and who loved their snorkeling experiences on neighboring islands as well as their trip into town. Sunset. A walk up a somewhat steep dune to a great sunset-viewing spot is offered each evening. The staff will bring up your favorite beverage and a chair for you to sit in. I did it twice during our stay and loved it. Overall. We loved it; can you tell? Can’t wait to go back. Any caveats or drawbacks? The only one I can think of is "