WORTH THE FLIGHT
December arrives.
Everyone starts posting snow.
And you quietly want to be barefoot.
Zanzibar.
The appeal is fairly uncomplicated: Indian Ocean water, white sand, tropical heat and a trip that can be as lazy or exploratory as you want.
But don’t reduce it to the resort.
Leave.
See Stone Town.
Eat.
Take the boat.
Let the island be more than the background behind your sunbed.
I love winter destinations that feel dramatically different from the place you left.
Cairo to tropical island qualifies.
Pack lightly.
You’ll spend most of the trip wondering why you brought shoes.
THE CURATOR SAYS: Winter is optional.
Zanzibar beaches behave differently depending on where you stay: Nungwi and Kendwa on the north coast are not the same experience as Paje and Jambiani on the east, where tides can dramatically change swimming conditions. I'd save time for Stone Town too. The best hotel depends on how you want to spend each day, not just the water in its photographs.