The Luxury Hotel in Arusha
One more deep breath before the Serengeti? Between coffee plants and Mount Meru, our travel advisors personally show you how the luxury hotel in Arusha frames your safari best. Your suitespot booking includes breakfast for two, a room upgrade subject to availability, hotel credit and VIP service – over €500 in value.
Your guide to the luxury hotel in Arusha
Gran Meliá Arusha · UzunguniAmong the luxury hotels in Arusha, Tanzania, our pick is Gran Meliá Arusha, set among coffee and tea plants on the edge of town. Couples have breakfast on their own balcony facing Meru or the gardens, food lovers book Yellow Chilli, the Indian restaurant by Sanjeev Kapoor, and anyone shaking off the dust of the tracks lies by the heated pool next to the spa. If you are comparing the best hotels in Arusha, there is also a club level with butler service.At no extra cost: booking through suitespot costs the same as booking direct with the hotel – the benefits come on top, free of charge.
Between plantations and volcano: life at the luxury hotel in Arusha
A hotel in a plantation garden: Since September 2019, Gran Meliá Arusha has welcomed guests on landscaped coffee and tea grounds at the edge of Arusha, developed by Meliá with owner Albwardy Investment. All 171 rooms and suites have a balcony, facing Mount Meru or the gardens depending on location.
RedLevel: For a supplement you stay in a hotel within the hotel, with private check-in, the RedLevel Lounge and butler service.
What it means for you: Kilimanjaro International Airport is about 45 minutes by car, Arusha Airport with its flights into the parks about 20 minutes. After a long journey you are in your room quickly, and on departure day it is straight to the plane.
Our tip: the first and the last night
Book the hotel as bookends around your safari, one night before and one after. That way the trip begins and ends with pool, spa and a quiet evening; we are happy to coordinate the transfers.
Pool, spa & wellness below Mount Meru: recovery at a 5-star hotel in Arusha after the safari
The pool: The heated outdoor pool at Gran Meliá Arusha lies next to the spa, with views across the gardens to Meru. After days in an open game vehicle, this is where the safari settles in.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
Spa & Wellness Centre: The menu covers detox and anti-stress therapies as well as treatments in the Tanzanian tradition. There is a hair salon too.
Our tip: use the spa credit
Through suitespot you receive a 50 US dollar spa credit. In the RedLevel suites, stays of at least two nights add another 100 US dollars, though not together with promotions.
Dining at the luxury hotel in Arusha: Yellow Chilli and breakfast at Saba Saba
Yellow Chilli: The Indian signature restaurant at Gran Meliá Arusha is the work of celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor and opens for dinner. After days of packed lunches in the bush, a curry night here makes a welcome change.
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
Saba Saba: This is where the day begins. Breakfast for two is included daily through suitespot, together with a 50 US dollar food and beverage credit.
Our tip: dinner before the early start
Reserve at Yellow Chilli for the evening before your safari. You eat at leisure and are still in bed early when the driver is waiting at dawn.
Where to stay in Arusha: on the green edge of town, a calm base for your 5-star hotel in Arusha
Edge of town: Gran Meliá Arusha lies on Simeon Road, away from the bustle of the center and surrounded by the former plantations. Greenery replaces city noise, and Meru stands on the horizon.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
Into safari country: Arusha National Park on the slopes of Meru is on your doorstep, and Tarangire and Lake Manyara are a few hours away overland. Choose a 5-star hotel in Arusha as your base and you also set out from here to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
Our travel advisors' insider tip
Plan a free day in Arusha National Park before the big safari begins. Giraffes, colobus monkeys and the view of Meru make a fine prelude.
The luxury hotel in Arusha: what a night costs, with breakfast, spa credit and points
A night at Gran Meliá Arusha starts at 316 €. There is no minimum stay; every suitespot extra counts from the very first night. Open dates around your safari show up in the hotel list further down.
| Luxury hotel | From | suitespot benefits from | suitespot score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arusha, at the foot of Mount Meru | |||
| Gran Meliá Arusha | 316 € | 1st night | ★ 4.8/5 |
At no extra cost through suitespot: Breakfast for two at Saba Saba every morning, a 50 US dollar food and beverage credit and 50 US dollars for the spa. In the Red Level Junior Suite, the Red Level Grand Suite and the Red Level Presidential Suite, stays of two nights or more add 100 US dollars for the spa, not combinable with promotions. The upgrade at booking and flexible arrival and departure times depend on availability.
Points: Regular points and status benefits are part of the package, since our bookings run at the hotel's own rate.
Arusha through the year: From June to October the wildlife gathers at the water holes, in January and February the wildebeest calves are born in the southern Serengeti, and in the green season the land blooms while the parks grow quiet. A 5-star hotel in Arusha makes the right start in every season.
How long to stay: One night before and one after the safari, two if Arusha National Park or a spa day joins the plan.
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Frequently asked questions about luxury hotels in Arusha
What will one night in the luxury hotel in Arusha cost?
Gran Meliá Arusha starts at 316 €. Through suitespot, breakfast for two and 50 US dollars each for the restaurant and the spa are already included.
Can I earn points at Gran Meliá Arusha?
Yes, regular points and status benefits are part of the suitespot extras, because we book at the hotel's direct rate.
Does the hotel have a pool?
Yes, a heated outdoor pool next to the spa, with views of the gardens and Mount Meru.
What is RedLevel?
A hotel within the hotel for a supplement: private check-in, the RedLevel Lounge and butler service.
How far are the airports?
Kilimanjaro International Airport is about 45 minutes by car, Arusha Airport about 20 minutes.
Who is behind Yellow Chilli?
The Indian celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor; the restaurant serves his concept at dinner.
Do all rooms have a balcony?
Yes, all 171 rooms and suites, facing Mount Meru or the gardens depending on location.
Does the hotel work before or after a safari?
For both. The airports are close, and the roads toward Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti start in Arusha.
When is a 5-star hotel in Arusha worth it?
All year: dry season for wildlife at the water holes, calving season in the southern Serengeti and a green season with quiet parks.
Which is the best hotel in Arusha for couples?
For couples we recommend Gran Meliá Arusha: a balcony facing Meru, an evening at Yellow Chilli and an afternoon by the heated pool.
