---
title: "Gran Melia Aru vs Palace Hotel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Pick Palace Hotel. It leads in 3 of 4 categories. Gran Melia Aru or Palace Hotel in Arusha? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side…"
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/gran-melia-arusha-arusha-vs-palace-hotel-arusha/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-20
---

# Gran Melia Aru vs Palace Hotel

Both are in Arusha, 1.1 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hotel · ★★★★★ · Sekei
## [Gran Melia Aru](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/gran-melia-arusha-arusha/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.3 ·  Exceptional

- **Location score:** 3.8

- **Score by category:** 1 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1456802/agoda/?lang=en)

Guesthouse · Sekei
## [Palace Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/palace-hotel-arusha/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.3 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 5.4

- **Score by category:** 3 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1935043/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Palace Hotel

It leads in 3 of 4 categories. 1.1 km apart.

### Choose Gran Melia Aru if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (9.3 / 8.3)
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 171 / 83)
-   a newer or recently renovated building (2019 / 2010)

### Choose Palace Hotel if you want

-   more restaurants on the doorstep (10 / 4)
-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 83 / 171)

### Why is Gran Melia Aru better than Palace Hotel?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.3 vs 8.3) (+1.0)
2.  Has a swimming pool
3.  Newer or more recently renovated (2019 vs 2010) (+9y)
4.  Later check-out (12:00 vs 10:30) (+2h)
5.  A larger hotel with more facilities (171 vs 83 rooms) (×2.1)

### Why is Palace Hotel better than Gran Melia Aru?

1.  360 m closer to the area centre (−360 m)
2.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 49 vs 28) (+21)
3.  Offers an airport transfer
4.  5 more sights within 1 km (+5)
5.  6 more listed amenities (26 vs 20) (+6)
6.  Has 24-hour room service
7.  Earlier check-in (11:00 vs 15:00) (−4h)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Gran Melia Aru | Palace Hotel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 9.3  (+1.0) | 8.3 |
| Location | 3.8 | 5.4  (+1.6) |
| Facilities | 7.5 | 9.2  (+1.7) |
| Spa & wellness | 7.5 | 8.0  (+0.5) |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.9  (+0.5) | 8.4 |
| Guest rating | 9.3  (+1.0) | 8.3 |
| Number of reviews | 32 | 42  (+10) |
| Rank in Arusha | top 9%  (+57%) | top 66% |
| Location |
| Location score | 3.8 | 5.4  (+1.6) |
| Distance to Sekei centre | 850 m | 490 m  (−360 m) |
| To the airport | 8.0 km | 6.9 km  (−1.1 km) |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 4 | 10  (+6) |
| To the nearest food shop | 350 m  (−460 m) | 800 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 2 | 0 |
| Sights within 1 km | 1 | 6  (+5) |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★★★ | – |
| Rooms | 171 | 83 |
| Newest building or renovation | 2019  (+9y) | 2010 |
| Listed amenities | 20 | 26  (+6) |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 15:00 | 11:00  (−4h) |
| Check-out until | 12:00  (+2h) | 10:30 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Concierge | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Swimming pool | ✓ | – |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sauna | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gym | ✓ | ✓ |
| Terrace | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smoke-free | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Balcony | ✓ | ✓ |
| Minibar | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-room safe | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airport transfer | – | ✓ |
| Shuttle | – | ✓ |
| Car hire | – | ✓ |
| Laundry | – | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | – | ✓ |
| 24-hour room service | – | ✓ |
| Steam room | – | ✓ |
| Massage | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Location

1.1 km apart

Gran Melia Aru: city centre: 780 m, Arusha Airport (ARK): 8.0 km, 4 places to eat within 500 m, 1 sights within 1 km.

Palace Hotel: city centre: 410 m, Arusha Airport (ARK): 6.9 km, 10 places to eat within 500 m, 6 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Arusha

[Arusha weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/tanzania/arusha/arusha/weather)

## Gran Melia Aru or Palace Hotel: common questions

### Which is better, Gran Melia Aru or Palace Hotel?

Palace Hotel leads in 3 of 4 categories, including location, facilities, spa & wellness. Gran Melia Aru is stronger in guest rating.

### Which is cheaper, Gran Melia Aru or Palace Hotel?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Palace Hotel is closer: 490 m from the centre, against 850 m for Gran Melia Aru.

### How far apart are Gran Melia Aru and Palace Hotel?

The two hotels are 1.1 km apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [Gran Melia Aru vs Mount Meru Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/gran-melia-arusha-arusha-vs-mount-meru-hotel-arusha/)
-   [Gran Melia Aru vs Gold Crest Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/gold-crest-hotel-arusha-vs-gran-melia-arusha-arusha/)
-   [Gran Melia Aru vs The African Tulip Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/gran-melia-arusha-arusha-vs-the-african-tulip-hotel-arusha/)
-   [Gran Melia Aru vs Kibo Palace Hotel Aru](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/gran-melia-arusha-arusha-vs-kibo-palace-hotel-arusha-arusha/)

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

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Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/gran-melia-arusha-arusha-vs-palace-hotel-arusha/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/