Originally Posted by libuser

Here is my short review, currently at the PH about the check out on the 25th(here for 3 weeks):
1. Beach is pretty good but the beach at the Conrad is considerably better as its on a lagoon, way better pics there
2. The menu is varied but I can tell that the chef that is Thai heavily changed the menu to his taste - pizza with shrimp, and octopus(pizza is bland and equivalent to California Pizza), and tiramisu that does not have mascarpone, savoiardi, rum, coffee, Marsala, but having strawberry compote, heavy cream, strawberry jam, etc. Like I love tiramisu but their tiramisu does not have a single ingredient of the tiramisu, in any case, a lot of items on the menu are so totally wrong its laughable. Don't get me started on the tuna poke, it is nothing like what you would get in HI. Not complaining, its good quality ingredients and tasty but just not how it should be prepared.
3. 50% Americans(all of the Americans that I have talked to redeemed points), 20% Russians(none of the Russians that I talked to redeemed points), rest are from other countries
4. Amazing GM, goes around and talks to folks. He definitely runs a tight ship.
5. The corals are 99% dead. Sadly the corals are very similar to the JW(was there last year) and about the same with Conrad. The only exception is that for some reason I saw 5x more animals at the Conrad(I was there last year) vs here. I am thinking that it is because they feed all of the sea life at the Conrad daily in addition to the Muraka, plus a ton of new coral that they plat at the Conrad. With that said the snorkeling is pretty sad, the tour where they take you to another reef is no different. My previous comment still stands, coral reefs in other parts of the world are better vs what you would see here - South America, Caribbean, etc.
6. Did not try the new KOI restaurant but did try their weekly seafood buffet, it was good and would recommend it. Just have a big appetite for lobsters. The Maldivian lobster albeit small is very tasty!
7. I got the pool island villa and would totally recommend upgrading to it. The pool is large and definitely used it a ton.
8. The two pools are super awesome. We went to both and had a blast.
9. Customer Service and service around the hotel were absolutely phenomenal. By day 2 everyone was addressing us by name and we would get what we usually order every night - staff would remember drinks, favorite desserts etc.
10. Spa is very affordable vs Conrad/JW. Prices are on par with what one would find in DC/NYC. Treatments are just as good.
11. Nobody that I talked to was on any AI plan, because they are super expensive. I can't wrap my head around those plans, only worth it if one drinks a ton. Other than that its not really worth it(due to all of the limits)
12. Only one family with kids, and frankly not kid friendly. Nothing for kids heve vs what I saw at JW or Conrad last year. Not saying to come here without kids but I would not return here if I come back with my little one. I would definitely go to Conrad since they have a full playground(same with JW).
13. I found a lot of employees from all over the world not just South India, Russian girl at the BBQ place, German GM, a few white folks(British) at the diving center, a bunch of Philippinos, so not that heavy indian as someone else mentioned upthread.