FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Maldives Luxury Resort (Combined) 2013/2014
Old Jun 13, 2014 | 12:56 pm
  #116  
theLuxuryTravelExpert
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
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Originally Posted by Big_Foot
Cheval Blanc just raised prices by 30% comparing to last year.
Kind of excessive if you ask me.
We were sold on going there, but not so sure anymore...

If you can recommend the newest, cleanest, no kids, seaplane access
if possible resort, what would it be?

A pool water villa is our preference. I don't dive, I just want great views,
sunrises and sunsets. Ideally would like to avoid resorts popular
with some loud tourists from well known destinations...

I'm looking at Niyama or Baros, maybe COMO, but not sure...
I'm not sold on Water World architecture style and bare feet thing,
so no Gili Lankanfushi for us. Maybe O&O? Didn't look into it.
One resort that is very high on my Bucket list (not visited yet) is the new Como Resort (not Cocoa Island but Maalifushi). Photos look stunning, especially of the pool villas, and initial reviews are great. I think it may fit the profile of the resort you are looking for.

O&O is great, and highly recommanded.

Pros:
-The island (large to Maldivian standards) is the epitome of paradise. There are no words to describe to beauty of the 12 white beaches, the coconut grooves, the blue lagoons. It will be love at first sight guaranteed. And you get bikes to get around.
-The staff is extremely friendly (kudos to all of them!) and is there to serve and pamper you. Service at this hotel was second to none. Simply the best ever. I read on Tripadvisor before we visited the resort that some people were disappointed in the service at the resort and the attitude of the staff, but either they must have been staying at another resort or the hotel must have changed it staff training, because the staff and service was BRILLIANT.
-The room : we stayed in an over water on the west side of the island. The villa was very large and very tastefully decorated (asian style villa). Bed was heavenly soft. In room technology was superb! While the hotel is not new, the villa still felt very modern and updated.
-Breakfast buffet is superb. Name it and you can have it at breakfast. Truly, the most impressive and delicious breakfast that I ever saw (and I have seen a lot of them already . Breakfast is served until 11 am. That is great, but for European tourists, like us, having to deal with a 5 hour jetlag, that was a little troublesome in the beginning. It would have been nice if they would have extended the breakfast buffet with 30 or 60 minutes for the European clientele (to adapt better to the jetlag).
-The food is delicious and on pair with the best restaurants worldwide. They have 4 restaurants on site (Japanese, Arabian, chef’s Garden, and the main restaurant), and also offer many buffet nights, so you will not get bored gastronomically, even if you stay at the resort for 1 or 2 weeks. Only restaurant (the Japanese one) requires a more formal dress code, but the others were more relaxed (which I found great). The Wednesday evening barbeque on the beach is not to be missed (albeit expensive at 250 USD per person) !
-Between 4 and 5 pm, the hotel offers complimentary tea near the main pool. In fact, it is more of a complimentary buffet, with pancakes, scones, amuse bouches, fruits, cakes, and so on. That was just such an awesome feature (never experienced this at a hotel before, although I stayed at their sister hotels in Mauritius and Cape Town before). So, if you have late breakfast, no need to have lunch, as you will be able to still your afternoon hunger with this tea buffet.
-Do not miss the happy hour (2 coctails for the price of one) at Fanditha bar
-De not miss a treatment at the spa (which has a wonderful layout)

Things to know :
-The island is largely man-made (the original island was largely extended). You can not really “see” it at first. The vegetation is very tropical and does feel very natural, as are the beaches and the lagoons. Nevertheless, when you go the beach at the Beach Club, which is the most stunning one with powdery white sand (and an incredible blue lagoon), than you can feel the difference with the other 11 beaches where the sand is little more rough (or less powdery) to walk on. But this may not put you off : the island’s beauty is beyond words and even (much) nicer than some of the authentic Maldevian islands. And definitely the most beautiful one compared to the other resorts in the Maldives that we have visited before (Gili and Naladhu)
-While the water villas are tremendously impressive, their outside decks do not offer any privacy at all, especially during daylight. Your neighbours will see you as well as the (few) people on the beaches as you are exposed to them. So, if outdoor privacy is a must for you, then do not book a water villa but a beach villa (where outdoor privacy is guaranteed).
-The resort is not cheap, but you know that when you book here. Having said that, it is a little more expensive than the other top resorts in the Maldives we stayed at (Naladu, Gili). A 3 course meal (without win and without taxes) at the restaurants will be around 130 USD per person, so try to book a halfboard package. The most important thing is that, while it is not cheap, it is worth the investment as you will experience a brilliant, top-notch holiday.
-“The hotel is lacking a house reef” is one of the many comments made. I do not share this opinions. Granted, there a more beautiful house reefs in the Maldives. But about 100 meters in front of the beach club, there is gorgeous reef with plenty of underwater life (you can reach that reef, either swimming or taking a pedalo). In addition, at night, there were always stingrays and sharks in the waters surrounding our overwater villa.
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