Arusha Serena Hotel

The grounds are stunning! Everything about this place was great. We went as part of a safari tour and were treated like we were the only guests there. The food was delicious - especially the breakfast. I loved the secluded atmosphere. The rooms were very well decorated and everything was spotless.||Stayed here for 2 nights on the way to Ngorongoro and Tarangire Safari Game Drives. The Hotel is really beautiful, and I spent some time looking at the flowers and garden. The room was lovely looking out over the lawn and flowers. The windows had screens so I could open them. The bed even had a net hanging over it down to the ground. Very quiet, never heard anyone else. The food was delicious, a free glass of champagne with dinner, and a small band that night. Highly recommend and thanks to the Manager, Herman Mayunga. (added some pics of the game drives!)

Our room was lovely. However, there is NOTHING to do at this hotel - no pool or other activities other than the spa. It's location is secluded so there is no option to leave and walk around to do something else - you need either a car or a driver if you leave the property. There were no chairs for us to even sit outside on the small patio outside our room.|Also, drinks are NOT included in the board package. We were charged for bottled water, even though bottled water was provided in the rooms for free. We felt very "nickel and dimed."

The staff are very welcoming, and the grounds are beautiful. There's a small store onsite with jewelry, souvenirs and a very small selection of toiletries. I had a massage and it was very good. You can use USD here as well as credit cards. If you don't want to/can't walk long distances ask for a room with a lower number. In the room there were some universal outlets, but no outlet in the bathroom on next to the bed. There wasn't a sheet, only a comforter, and there wasn't any hair conditioner. There was a ceiling a/c unit but it didn't work. Lunch is supposed to open at noon but didn't open until 12:30pm so allow for some flexability in meal planning. The website said there's a lunch buffet but it was actually a prefix menu. I sat at the same table again for dinner and the butter hadn't been changed. Speaking of dining, make sure you aren't being double charged, as that happened to me. On their website they advertise "sundowners by the lake" where you walk down to the lake to watch the sunset, but that didn't apear to happen. Instead, there's an option to sit on the lawn outside of the restaurant and order drinks from the indoor bar. While the staff were great and the grounds were beautiful, there are some areas of opportunity here.

The grounds are stunning! Everything about this place was great. Went as part of a Safari Tour and we were pampered as if we were the only guests there. Food was delicious -- especially breakfasts. Loved the secluded atmosphere. Rooms were very well appointed and everything was spotless.

SPECIAL THANKS to Johnson - the hotel guide that took us around the lake and gave us interesting interpretive talk about the wildlife. He also helped us with currency exchange at nearby bank. Thank you very much. We will be glad to come back to such excelent service.

Amboseli ended up being our favorite park in our entire Tanzania and Kenya safari. And this hotel was really great - super quaint, great location, great food, and super friendly people - we'd stay there again in a heartbeat. To be able to relax in the evening and watch the plains in front of you with the elephants in the distance and monkey's in the trees, it will leave you with memories for a lifetime.

We stayed in 6 different Serena hotels in Tanzania. Rooms are generally very good. Staff are excellent with some providing truly exceptional service. Food and drinks good. Would be nice to have some local food offerings on the menu. Only real downside after 11 nights in different Serena hotels is the coffee. They all serve the same horrible coffee; weak, tasteless American drip style dirt water. Otherwise our stay was great. We stayed in two different rooms at Arusha Serena; at start of and end of our Safari. The room at the start was much nicer, cleaner, better amenities and quieter. The room was stayed in at the end of our Safari was older, not so well maintained and very noisy all night as it was at the rear of the property.

I stayed here 1 night on the way to Ngorongoro and Tarangire. Very fancy (for me) especially the DR! The grounds were beautiful, I walked around quite a bit looking at the flowers and garden. The room was lovely looked right out onto the lawn and flowers. Windows had screens so I was able to open them. Very quiet I never heard anyone else. The food was tasty, free glass of champagne with dinner, and a little band that night. Staff so helpful and social. Thanks to CaptureAfricaTours for the arrangements!