We had booked 7 nights and 2 rooms at Hotel Jen (Shangri-La) and arrived at the hotel at appx 5:30 PM and one of the 2 rooms was still not done and we had to wait for 30 mins before it was ready. This wasn't too pleasing.

Secondly, before our arrival at Male, we were asked if we'd like to book a Gala Dinner for new Year and to respond quick as tables were running out. I confirmed with an affirmative and the overall costs were about 250 USD for the family. What was not however communicated to me during the mail exchange was that there are 10 lucky draws happening where guests are being gifted complimentary 2 night holidays at Shangri-La hotels across the chain.

At the Gala dinner my first immediate observation was that there were so many empty tables and there would have been only 12 or so tables occupied. Due to the rain, we had our 'Gala Dinner' in a restaurant where there were only 2 occupied tables. Extremely underwhelming for a New Year's eve... the purpose we we were there.!!

Finally, I realized that we were not included in the lucky draws (we were 5 of us) due to some error by the hotel. When I got that to the attention of the staff, they immediately apologized and said that they will reverse the $ 250 charge. Could or should this not have been a proactive gesture from the hotel itself. This totally destroyed the experience of the New Year Eve and we left the roof-top with a very bad taste and bid adeu to 2018 in our rooms.!!

At Check-out, the reverse of charges were not reflecting and I had to remind them again about it and it took time from them to figure it out.! Not good...

Had I was more aware of this, I could have made arrangements at a resort for New Year's.

Honestly, I expected better from such a reputed chain..