bagold

Can anyone recommend what is currently the best hotels to stay at?

We have 2 kids and looking for a resort with a tennis court (our regular daily exercise which we want to keep since we'll stay for 10 days)

I'm looking at O&O but read it may not be as good as before. I find their reservation team terrible to deal with. Poor communication, takes a long time to confirm, etc... but I know the facilities are great. Wondering if their reservation team is indicative or their service level now?

FS KH - No tennis court

FS LG - 1 tennis court but their 2 bedroom is relatively expensive since we want 2 bedrooms together. O&O I can get around $4000 for peak season whereas FS LG seems to be over $6000

Taj - No tennis court that I can find on their website.

Any other recommendations?

Kagehitokiri

vuittonsofstyle should soon be reporting whether what she heard about service improving at OORR was true.

ive always gotten the impression the duplex at OORR is single story and simply 2 neighboring villas.. grand 2BR is more expensive. FSLG's 2BR overwaters look pretty amazing, and arent as much. xracer had a report/pics. (pointed out privacy wall etc) but then thats assuming kids are older.

also seems like FS still has half off cruise - see FS promo recap thread.

too bad rania doesnt have a tennis court. just badminton. its exclusive-use thats all-inclusive including spa treatments and 3 hour yacht charter.

moien

You can try and contact.

[email protected]

He was really helpful to us. We asked him for a specific beach in O&O (we did not like the windy area) and he did it.

The level of service still surprises me. I got an appreciation letter yesterday from the GM regarding my writte opinion when leaving. They even commented a couple of aspects I wrote them about.

They also have a really good gym.

Kagehitokiri

moien, you stayed recently?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...ar-roster.html has discussion

it got bad after luible left. (although xracer found service bad ~3 months before he left.)

new GM has been there about 5 months.

moien

We returned a couple of weeks ago. New GM is doing a terrific job. Everything was above our expectations, and we expected quite a lot for what we paid. Well, everything except our Villa Host - average / poor. Fortunately it was not a big deal for us.

I did not say before but I even got the chance to see manta rays nearby, so I can skip a trip to Yap

aesla11

Another great option is the Shangri-La in the South. It will be quite different than the traditional Maldives, but in some ways, the area is more scenic. They do have tennis courts as per their website:

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/propert...lth/facilities

vuittonsofstyle

OORR's duplex is a single storey - two joined-up villas. There are also some 2-bed pool villas which are lovely.

Ex GM, Michael Payne had a traumatic time at OORR and left after, allegedly, being attacked and stabbed by staff around a year ago. I have heard about this from numerous people. Stefan Killinger joined around 11 months ago (ex FS Alexandria) together with a few other ex-Four Seasons people, including Resort Manager, Scott Lundau. Service has improved, but food is not great. Everyone doubts whether Killinger will stay. It is still an amazing resort and I would not hesitate to book it. Very good with kids.

Rania is rubbish, by the way, so no loss.

Ericka

And people were concerned about us having a few bucks stolen from our wallets at FSLG. It just goes to show you there are crazies everywhere.

Kagehitokiri

crazy stuff in late 2008 too >
http://www.maldivestourismupdate.com...eethi-rah.html

i guess this article was lagging, dated sept 24
http://www.etbmice.com/article.asp?articleid=3407

so payne was previous GM and luibile was regional? that means xracer had service issues under payne.
i guess luibile was GM further back.

rania service/food = rubbish? too bad.

vuittonsofstyle

Service was brilliant under Michael Luible, who opened OORR, but slipped under Payne, who was Luible's number 2, then took over. Now service is getting better.

Riya

This thread seems to have gone a bit quiet - but I have to book somewhere for a trip in mid March!! have stayed at Soneva Kiri and Fushi and FSKH. Hubby wants to go back to Fushi as he really likes the laid back feel and thinks FS is too glitzy.

I'd like to try somewhere different. T/A has suggested Reethi Rah or Huvafen Fushi. Reethi Rah sounds great but reviews suggest it went downhill last year - does anyone know if this is still the case? Huvafen Fushi also has its fanatics but my understanding it's that it's pretty much a party place for pretty people, which wouldn't suit us (not that we are not pretty but we are early 40's with a toddler. Say no more)

We are keen snorkellers and divers, but I am also a hotel addict so I won't sacrifice great diving at the expense of a lovely room.

Any suggestions?

vuittonsofstyle

No way are the Four Seasons Resorts glitzy! Reethi Rah is much more glitzy and Huvafen is...well...as you say, a party place.

If you like Fushi, go back. if you have not stayed at FS Kuda Huraa since its major refurb, then go there, as it's fabulous. If you like barefoot, then FS Landaa Giraavaru is appropriate and has some great beaches.

aesla11

I have been to Huvafen Fushi twice now and do not consider it a party place at all. This past time, we took our then 5 year old son. He had the time of his life. We never felt that we are being evaluated by our looks and style. You have great privacy while there, espcially if you choose to go to the beach or ocean pavillion. If you're going to the Maldives for the ease of snorkeling, this may be one of the best places and beat the FS's (by far).

Cheetah_SA

I've always liked the look of Huvafen Fushi and this is a very reassuring description. (I would hate to go to a party island in the Maldives.)

ainternational

Folks,

I'm looking for an "Aman" style experience in terms of quality of service in the Maldives. I would consider the FS after all the positive comments here but I've never visited one with service up to par with an Aman, meaning a personal butler and the likes. Can anyone recommend a resort in the Maldives with that type of service? I would prefer an over water bungalow as well if possible, but it's not a requirement...

Thanks..