We recently stayed at Central Rasfushi in the Maldives and unfortunately, this was one of the worst and most disappointing holidays we’ve ever experienced – especially considering the total cost of over $11,000.
🛏️ The Room – Not Worthy of 5 Stars
The room was extremely basic and poorly maintained for a supposed luxury resort.
• In 7 days, the bedsheets were never changed.
• The shower drained poorly, creating a bad smell.
• We had to request fresh sheets, cleaning, and shower gel refills multiple times with no response – except finally on the last day.
• The balcony net was broken, wooden boards were coming apart, and nails were sticking out, making it unsafe.
• The walkways were unstable, with warped planks that made walking dangerous.
• Our room (#364) was located 15 minutes on foot from the island’s main areas, and no transportation was provided – even during heavy rain. Staff watched us walk soaked in the rain without offering assistance or a buggy.
🎣 Activities – A Complete Tourist Trap
We booked three excursions for $500, and all of them were poorly organized and not worth the money:
• Shark Snorkeling:
While we did see sharks, the place was overcrowded with 10 boats, and other tourists pushed and touched us in the water. It was chaotic and not well managed at all.
• Manta Rays:
This was a scam. We were taken out to deep open ocean with dangerous waves – my partner had to return to the boat for safety.
Although we were told there was a 50% chance of seeing mantas, the guide later admitted that in 30-meter-deep waters, chances were very low for snorkeling. No refund, discount, or future credit was offered after this failed trip.
• Fishing Trip:
This was the worst. I’ve been fishing for 20 years and have never experienced something like this.
We were taken to a so-called “fishing spot” near the Malé garbage disposal area, where we stayed for 3 hours without seeing a single fish.
I had specifically asked that if no fish were biting, we could switch to handline fishing – but that was ignored. I paid $1,050 for 4 hours of absolutely nothing, no effort to make it worthwhile, and no customer care.
🍽️ Restaurant Discrimination?
At the Italian restaurant, we arrived without a reservation and politely asked for a table. Staff member Amber spoke rudely to us and said we needed a booking, even though six tables were empty.
The next day, we returned to the same restaurant — and this time, no one asked for a reservation, and everyone was allowed in freely.
We were left wondering: were we treated this way because we’re young (23 years old)? Or because we’re French? We were always respectful and kind throughout the stay.
✅ The Few Positives
We want to thank Mama at the restaurant, the team at Ocean Buffet, and especially Babu, whose hospitality stood out. Also, the ladies at the spa provided excellent service.
⸻
🚨 Conclusion
There is a serious lack of hospitality culture at this resort. For a 5-star destination in the Maldives, we expected so much more.
We suggest that the management:
• Conduct staff training in basic hospitality and customer care.
• Offer compensation or discounts when activities fail.
• Improve room maintenance and daily cleaning.
• Add shuttle services across the island, especially during bad weather.
• Stop overselling overpriced, under-delivered excursions.
As residents of Dubai and professionals in the hospitality industry ourselves, we know what true service looks like. This was by far the worst and most expensive experience we’ve had, despite traveling across the world.
We sincerely hope the management takes this feedback seriously and makes changes for...
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