Paje is Zanzibar's kitesurfing beach on the east coast, a young, sociable strip where the sea pulls out at low tide and the wind does the entertaining, with stays from cheap hostels to a handful of boutique and five-star hotels, good for kitesurfers, budget travellers and beach-bar nights.
Paje's five-star option, Samawa pairs a spa, a gym, a bar and a restaurant with balcony rooms, for about US$222 a night. This is the polished end of Paje, so expect resort comforts rather than the barefoot-shack vibe the beach is better known for.
A garden-set hotel a little back from the beach, The Garten Living keeps it simple: air-con rooms, a restaurant, room service and bikes for getting to the sand.
A mid-priced hotel a short walk back from Paje's kite beach, with a spa, a restaurant and family rooms. There's a garden and sun terrace, and staff can sort an airport transfer.
A mid-priced hotel with sea-view rooms and a restaurant, a short stroll from Paje beach. At about US$160 a night it's pitched above the budget guesthouses but well below Paje's top resorts.
Zula sits close to the Paje shore and leans into the water: snorkelling, diving and cycling are run from the property, alongside a restaurant and spa. Rooms are air-conditioned, with room service if you want it.
The priciest stay in Paje at about US$400 a night, Kisiwa on the Beach is a four-star resort named for its beachfront setting, with a spa, a gym, snorkelling and balcony rooms. Confirm the exact spot on the sand when you book, since Paje's tide swings are wide.
Mr Kahawa is a small, well-liked place near Paje beach that does more than beds: cooking classes, bike tours and a tour desk sit alongside the spa and restaurant. Good if you want a host who fills your days, less so if you just want to disappear.
Villa Kiota is a small bed and breakfast geared to the water: snorkelling, diving, fishing and bikes are all arranged on site, with family rooms and a garden. No restaurant or pool, so it reads more guesthouse than hotel.
A four-star mid-range hotel with a spa, a gym and balcony rooms set around a garden, a short walk from the kite beach. It's comfortable and well-equipped without tipping into the luxury pricing of Paje's beachfront resorts.
It's the social, backpacker end of Paje rather than a quiet retreat, and rooms are simple. Handy for kitesurfers and anyone who wants the beach and a cold beer without the resort price.
One of the few genuinely beachfront stays in this batch, Ndame has a private stretch of Paje sand, a restaurant and family rooms for about US$117 a night. Worth knowing: this is the east coast, so the sea walks out a long way at low tide.
