One of Folly’s Best! Zanzibar is a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom beachfront retreat. This recently renovated property features a large sun deck and walkway directly down to the sandy beach. Located near the section of beach called ‘the washout’ you can spend your days surfing the waves. Catch breathtaking sunrises just steps from your bed in the morning. Take a short bike or golf cart ride to reach local restaurants and beach shops on Center Street.
The spacious unit is part of an elevated duplex. The unit features two living rooms, one of which has floor-to-ceiling windows that slide open to fully connect with the outside deck. The kitchen also features fully opening windows to feel the ocean breeze while you prepare your favorite meal. The modern kitchen provides full standard appliances as well as a dishwasher to add ease. There are three bedrooms to sleep 6 guests comfortably. The master bedroom has a king bed and ensuite wet room style bathroom. There is a bunk bed with a slide for little ones to enjoy. The third bedroom has a double bed and ensuite half bathroom. Zanzibar has a Smart TV as well as WIFI. Under the home is a shared outdoor lounge area for the duplex. There is also a shared washer/dryer under the home.
Zanzibar does allow up to 2 dogs. There is parking for 2 cars. This is an elevated building with stairs. All photos are current and accurately depict the property. Please book with confidence. This property is licensed by the city of Folly Beach as a vacation rental - License Number: LIC055200
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“MILLION DOLLAR “views from this ocean front Folly Beach original cottage !
Folly Beach
“MILLION DOLLAR “views from this ocean front Folly Beach original cottage !
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Folly Beach
Located in Folly Beach, this holiday home is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Folly Island Beaches and Waterfront Park, while USS Yorktown and Patriots Point are popular area attractions. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park or TD Arena.
Medical University of South Carolina - 18 min drive - 21.7 km
College of Charleston - 19 min drive - 22.0 km
Patriots Point - 26 min drive - 32.5 km
Getting around
Charleston Station - 31 min drive
Charleston, SC (CHS-Charleston Intl.) - 46 min drive
Restaurants
Rita's Seaside Grille - 4 min drive
Tides Folly Beach - 4 min drive
Dead Low Coffee - 4 min drive
Circle K - 4 min drive
LoLo's - 6 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Zanzibar ~ retreat steps from the sand pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Zanzibar ~ retreat steps from the sand?
As of 12 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Zanzibar ~ retreat steps from the sand on 13 July 2026 start from AU$1,903, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Zanzibar ~ retreat steps from the sand?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Zanzibar ~ retreat steps from the sand?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Zanzibar ~ retreat steps from the sand?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Zanzibar ~ retreat steps from the sand located?
Situated on the beach, this holiday home is within 2 miles (3 km) of Folly Island Beaches, Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve and Folly Beach Fishing Pier. Center Street and Folly River Park are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Perfect location! Right on the beach Pets friendlyComfortable, stylish deco , no complain!Maybe just missing a washer /dryer for longer stay, I stayed 2 weeks.LOVED IT!
Christine S.
Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted you loved the location and our pet-friendly policy. Thank you for staying with us!
Spacious comfortable place with great kitchen and lounging areas.
Margaret S.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Oct 2025
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the spacious and comfortable accommodations, as well as the kitchen and lounging areas. We look forward to hosting you again.
Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we're glad to hear you enjoyed your time with us. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to make your next visit even more enjoyable.
Loved the house and location. Highly recommend to others coming to the area.
Verified traveller
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Feb 2025
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay and found the house and location to be great. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your positive experience. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
Location was amazing with mere steps to the beach. This end of Folly island isnt nearly as busy which is precisely what I wanted. The deck and clam shell chair were so comfy. The only complaint I have is the luxury kitchen with amazing view…it was SO nice I never went out to eat. Top of the line appliances and amazing view..cant be topped.
Deborah B.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Sept 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the location and comfort. We're glad the quieter end of Folly suited you. We'll pass along your feedback about the kitchen; we're delighted it met your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back!
Everything was wonderful except for an electrical issue that was worrisome. Also was surprised to be sharing the yard and our dogs area with the other tenant
Great location amazing view. The only thing is the air conditioning will only cool to 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. Otherwise it’s a food place
Gene T.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 27 June 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate you highlighting the great location and amazing view. Regarding the air conditioning, we will look into adjusting the system to provide a more comfortable cooling experience for our guests. We value your input and will use it to improve our services. We hope you'll visit us again soon.
Our family LOVED the location, being right on the beach! The view was amazing! They had about everything we would need. There’s a super cool play structure for the kids in the backyard—fun! The house is great, especially the new addition! The remainder of the house is pretty eclectic, some TLC needed but really a great place.
Angela H.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Mar 2025
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We're delighted to hear that your family enjoyed the location and the amenities of the property, including the amazing view and the fun play structure. We appreciate your feedback about the eclectic nature of the house and the areas that could use some TLC. Your insights will help us continue improving the property to provide an even better experience for future guests. We're glad you had a great time and hope to welcome you back soon.
While we had some hickups like not knowing how the range top operated and couldnt stream TV and the air went out the last day we still give it 5 stars because it has everything you could ask for and a beautiful kitchen. Also great beach watching all the surfers was great entertainment. And of course pet friendly!!!!
william m.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Nov 2024
Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that you overall enjoyed your stay. We will look into the issues you encountered, such as the range top and the air conditioning, to ensure a better experience for future guests. We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful kitchen and the beach views. We're also glad that our pet-friendly policy was a plus for your vacation. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
We loved this house and location. We understood that it was a duplex but did not realize we would share the same porch and access to the beach. Luckily our neighbors were a very nice older couple with a dog that our liked.
Laurie T.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Oct 2024
Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the location and that your neighbors were a pleasant addition to your stay. As a duplex property, the shared porch and beach access are part of the unique charm, but we understand that it may not be ideal for all guests. We aim to provide clear information about the property details to set accurate expectations. Your review will help us improve our communication and ensure future guests are well-informed. Thank you again for your valuable input.
This place is incredible! We have stayed in beach front condos on Folly for past vacations-the location of Zanzibar makes them look far away! No need to pack a cooler or snacks! We had a maintenance issue when we arrive-no internet-but Robin from the rental agency arrived quickly and did not leave until it was resolved. This was our 1st stay at Zanzibar but certainly will not be our last!
Cary F.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Oct 2024
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable stay at Zanzibar and that our team was able to promptly address the maintenance issue you encountered. Your feedback is invaluable as it helps us continue to improve the experience for our guests. We look forward to welcoming you back for future vacations and providing the exceptional service you've come to expect from us.
Verified
8/10 Good
Candace
3 Apr 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, communication
The property overall was great, the location right on the beach was perfect. The playground area was run down and rusted. I wish there were more basic amenities, like dishwashing detergent and more towels. We were a family of 7 and had to reuse towels all week, even with the main bathroom getting soaking wet because there wasn't a shower curtain. The other shower didn't have a shower head at all. Needs updates but otherwise it was a good house.
Candace
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025
Response from Author on 3 Apr 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on your stay. We appreciate your honest assessment, as it helps us identify areas for improvement. While we're glad to hear the property and location were great overall, we regret the inconveniences you experienced with the playground, lack of basic amenities, and issues with the bathrooms. Your comments will be carefully reviewed, and we will work to address these concerns to enhance the guest experience. We hope you were still able to enjoy your family vacation, and we thank you for your feedback.
We needed a really quick local getaway (from GVL, SC) and wanted to come “home” to Charleston, but wanted to be away from the bustle and just watch nature and surfers. We got just that from Zanzibar. Absolutely charming and comfortable space just a few feet from the sand to watch the waves crash during the day and the clear constellation-filled sky at night. The kitchen and master bath were gorgeous with creature comforts that made us feel super cozy. Our dogs LOVED the house as they could watch the ocean and the birds easily without much of an obstructed view. Thank you for having us! Also, Joe of Cups Saloon down the street was amazing if you’re looking for really delicious food with a creative international twist!
Gina M.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Nov 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're thrilled to hear that you and your furry friends had a wonderful stay at Zanzibar and enjoyed the serene ocean views and cozy amenities. It's great that you were able to unwind and take in the natural beauty of the area. We're grateful for your feedback and hope to welcome you back to Zanzibar in the future!
House was beautiful. If you’re old though, the only chair you can get up from is the kitchen chairs. Even outside. I wanted to take an outside chair from the duplex. Other than that, we had no tv because there was a problem with direct tv access. Made us take advantage of the view more. Most important thing was sunrise access to the ocean. Perfect!!
Jan G.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Sept 2024
Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback on the limited seating options and the television issue. However, we're glad to hear that the beautiful house and the stunning ocean views made up for these minor inconveniences. Sunrise access to the ocean sounds like a wonderful experience. We hope you had an overall enjoyable stay and we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
The property was beautiful, location was fantastic. A few appliances were broken and not working. In addition the management company sent a company to fix it and the appliance worker asked if we would let them in to work on the appliances while we were packing up (which I didn't let them because I didn't feel comfortable allowing that). Also, there was a racoon in the laundry room. Lastly, we were provided incorrect door code to gain entry to the property. Two consecutive days the adjoining unit there was furniture movement around 2 am. The property was great and I would love to go to this property again that said I feel that the property management company had some miss steps.
Dan M.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Apr 2025
Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback and are sorry to hear about the issues you experienced during your stay. We strive to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for all our guests. Please know that we have addressed the concerns you raised, and we are working to resolve them. We hope you will consider staying with us again in the future, and we will do our best to ensure your next visit is exceptional.
Pros: Loved the kitchen and patio area - the round bed on the patio was a nice touch. Checkin communication from property management was great. When we reached out to property management with a concern, they responded quickly and were able to get the issue resolved within a couple hours. Air conditioning worked well. Enjoyed the location away from the ‘heavy traffic’ area. Really enjoyed the tub in the master bathroom. The downstairs area was very nice for dogs. The decor in the home was eclectic - our best description is a blend of contemporary and vintage? Cons: The home has many areas in need of maintenance - vent covers on the floor aren’t secured; door in master bedroom to patio won’t open (or we couldn’t get it to open); doors from inside the home to patio-we weren’t able to engage the lock; filtered cold water in the kitchen wasn’t working (hot water was working); bidet in master didn’t work and toilet, also in master bath, ran approximately half the time; door to master bath was very difficult to open and close. The electric to the home was out for a little more than 2 hours with the meter outside reading ‘off’ (this is the issue the management company responded to quickly and was able to resolve). The biggest drawback for us was the limited view of the beach, the home is directly on the beach but the landscaping limits the view of the water and beach.
Cathy F.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Sept 2025
Thank you for your detailed feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the kitchen, patio, and decor. We apologize for the maintenance issues and limited beach view. We're working to improve these areas. Your concerns were addressed promptly, which we appreciate. Thank you for staying with us!
Overall, our stay was great. If your top priority is proximity to the ocean this place is great. We went in the thick of summer in July. Unfortunately the house was really warm. We couldn’t get it to cool below 80 during the hottest hours of the day and the instructions are to not set the thermometer below 72 so that is the coolest it will get. The management company was very responsive and brought us 2 a/c units. We covered the windows and put all the fans on high and even with the additional units it wouldn’t cool. The property was visibly older and eclectic which I thought was so fun besides the obvious need for some repairs/upkeep.The area was quiet and is either a drive or walk to the busier part of town which was fine for us. Check in/out was a breeze. A shower doesn’t really work anywhere but the stall shower, which doesn’t have a shower head. The blue bathroom will get completely soaked (walls/floors etc) if you try to shower in there. We had 2 adults and 2 kids under 7 and were comfortable with the size/amount of beds. Kids loved the slide bunk bed. Living space was clean and there is a vacuum handy to keep floors sand free.
Mona F.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 July 2025
Thank you for your detailed feedback on your stay. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Your comments about the challenges with cooling the home during the hottest summer days are helpful for us to address. We will look into upgrading the cooling system and providing clearer guidance to guests on managing the temperature. We're glad to hear that the team was responsive in providing additional units to try and address the issue. We're happy to hear that overall you and your family enjoyed your stay and found the property charming despite the need for some maintenance. Your feedback helps us to continually improve the guest experience, and we hope you'll consider staying with us again.
Verified
4/10 Poor
Jenn P.
8 Nov 2025
Jenn P.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Nov 2025
Thanks for staying with us!
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Brianna C.
22 Sept 2025
Brianna C.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
About the host
Hosted by Folly's Best Rentals
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests