Budget accomadation advice

Hello everyone
I am on a last minute trip to tanzania for 3 weeks...I arrive on July 20th in Dar es Salaam and need a good place to stay for the night. I am still waiting for my trusty LP Tanzania Book...so I have very little info at the moment.
Can anybody recommend a good place to stay in Dar, as well as Arusha and Zanzibar (and should i book ahead since it is the high season???)
Thank you!!! Any info would be greatly appricated

In Dar es salaam you can stay in peackok hotel.Zanzibar you can stay in Breezez Beach.Arusha Arumeru River lodge.Those mentioned hotels are very nice.And you better book the rooms before.because its now high season.here is the e-mail address you can use to get help from the Tanzanian Guide(way2gudlooking@yahoo.co.uk)He was our guide for Mountain and safari.I did kilimanjaro climb for 6days,six days safari and 4days in Zanzibar.

Hi Billie,
I hope you have budjet on accomodation in any place so I stayed Holiday hotel of which is 15us B/B and as well ARUSHA BACKPACKERs for B/B 6US then I went with Kindoroko Tours on 5days camping safari was excellent also did my rest accomotions in Zanzibar please for informations use my email shanelm@hotmail.com

Both replies above are touting for business (and at least #1 has no idea what "budget accomodation" means - Breezes is a 5* resort...), so ignore them.
In Dar there are several budget hotels in the Lybia St area (Econolodge, Jambo Inn and a third one), which are o.k., but the do get busy in high season, so try and book ahead. Have also heard good things about the Luther House near the port, but never stayed there myself. In Zanzibar, there are plenty of cheap-ish guesthouses in town (from about $10 per person), try Manch Lodge, Haven GH and Flamingo GH. While you should be able to find something in town without booking ahead, beach accomodation in Zanzibar can get very busy in July / August, so it may be a good idea to at least book sth from Stonetown.
In Arusha, the only budget place I have stayed at was the - sorry, can't remember the name - Centre House or somethinbg like that? - which is run by the Catholic diocese (but you don't have to be Catholic or even Christian to stay there). It's basc but actually quite nice and in a nice garden setting.

Thanks, stefo...
Do you know the phone numbers of any of these guesthouses in Dar so I can book ahead???
And is airport pick up avaliable or is it best to take a taxi???
Thanks again!

I stayed at the Luther house and do recommend it. SLightly more than Jambo, Safri, etc, but weel worth it IMO and in a nicer and much qwuieter areas. A single was 15-20 dollars or 15000-20000 tanz shillings (which is better). I came in May when it wasn't high seasoinm and never had problem finding a room the day of (though a few times I was in a double, 5 dollars more). I found the following website online: http://www.elct.org/ecd/lutherh.htm

OK, these numbers are from the 2002 LP, so they may not be working anymore:
+255 (0)22 for Tanzania / Dar
2120734 (Luther House)
2114293 or 2110680 (Jambo Inn)
2138101 (Safari Inn, which is the one whose name I couldn't remember)
2116048 (Jambo Inn)

I personally prefer the Lybia St area, actually, but that's a matter of taste, I guess.

Much appricated Stefo!!!

we stayed in Meru house in Arusha. it was basic but very very cheap (13,000 TS) a night for a twin room. its very central and within walking distance to the main city center (the tour operators, airlines and mkts)

in Zan we stayed in Pyramid - central and i thought full of old charm. great roof top terrance where breakie is served everyday (included with rent). think we paid 25usd a night for a twin?