Concierge.com's insider take:

The Arusha Coffee Lodge, located on a quiet coffee plantation five minutes' drive from the Arusha airport, caters to weary international arrivals. (Safari-bound travelers typically arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport late at night, crash at a hotel, and board a charter flight out of Arusha early the next morning.) In the guest rooms, design details—sinks that look like coffee beans suspended in amber, and toffee- and cream-colored textiles—reference the surrounding plantation. The massive soaking tubs, three-head rain showers, and private decks with outdoor fireplace will help you unwind post-flight. The only drawback is that the villas, which house the 18 guest rooms, have corrugated metal roofs; the noise from tree branches and monkeys can be unsettling at night, and the roofs mar the otherwise well-manicured look of the grounds. Still, the lodge is a soft landing after a long trip, and if you have time to spare, it's a good base for exploring the crafts markets and restaurants of Arusha. —Collen Clark