OBLU SELECT Sangeli — Hotel in Malé Atoll

It took us 5 years to eventually get here, no it wasn’t all travel time but our first booking back in 2020 for our honeymoon was cancelled due to a certain virus!||Anyway, here we are 5 years later and it’s not quite the place we expected or how it’s advertised in the UK.||This has always been advertised as an ideal resort for honeymooners and couples but with some facilities for families, what we found was a very busy resort of mainly large family groups and a lot of children, not quite the quiet and relaxing time you may expect.||We’ll start from the beginning and give you a full overview of our experience.||Arrived at the airport after a very long travel day, we used Kuoni so they were waiting for us at arrivals and escorted us to the Oblu stand. They took our details and a photo (which I’m guessing they sent through to the resort), labelled our luggage and then escorted us to a waiting area.||There was a wait for other passengers on other airlines coming but this was expected as you can’t run a boat service for each arrival!||The 50 minute boat ride, well it was about 50 minutes which was fine but the overwhelming stench of fuel in the boat was awful, and oddly no drinks were available.||Check-in was great, Mika really helpful and advised our room wasn’t quite ready so took us to Sangs for a drink and snack. About 15 minutes later our room was ready and a short buggy tour/ride and we were there. There is a room tour video on my Youtube channel for those interested.||One Power Nap later…….||Off to dinner on our first night, we’d seen videos so kinda knew what to expect, except none of those videos showed it when it’s busy and so many of the other guests have no concept of personal space, queuing or waiting their turn, but so be it.||Buffet food with a variety of options, always something to satisfy but be warned some items seemed to cool down quickly but everything was generally replaced quickly. Tip - Try the very small sandwiches/rolls, they are very good! The kebabs cooked on demand in the outer section of the restaurant, well these were cooked…on the outside, completely raw on the inside so they were a no go.||Breakfast and lunch again always had plenty of options, including (which surprised me) pork sausages and pork bacon - The turkey bacon was the best along with the chicken sausages and bao buns, but that’s cause I love bao buns so these for breakfast were great!||If you don’t have kids then I highly recommend going over to the adults only island for lunch and/or drinks - some much quieter and try the fish and chips.||We had a meal in JustWok and JustGrill - JustWok was amazing, could have happily eaten every meal there (although you can’t unless you pay extra!) but JustGrill was JustOK which was a shame as the menu came across better than the food.||Spa - we have a 45 minute session each and this was excellent, and the prices for other options were excellent.||Sunset fishing trip - the weather played a massive part in this so only 1 person caught a fish, but thats the weather! It also had an impact on the House Reef Snorkelling tour too, quite choppy waves and a fair amount of sediment in the water, but again it’s weather.||Now the not so great things……||The weather, now I know this can’t be controlled and it does have an impact but there are things that can be. One the 2nd night there was a massive storm which lasted a few hours, our bathroom was flooded out, so at 1am I was making a safe pathway to the toilet on the floor as the tiles were soaking, but that happens. There was also a leak in the main bedroom area, so again at 1am and not wanting to have issues I placed a bath towel and the 2 bins to try and prevent the leak from spreading. This was reported the next morning and the ‘fix’ that was done….they replaced my bath towel with a bath mat and that was it.||So overall an OK resort to go to, was it worth the money we paid - No, probably about 70% of the cost if I’m honest. Would we go back, no.||Is this where it ends? Sadly not.||On the very last day, after checking out and about to board the boat there was an incident, something that could have easily been avoided and from all accounts I wasn’t the first person to have this. I slipped on the top of the deck and bounced down all the steps just as we were heading to the boat. Yes a member of staff helped me up and then we were ushered onto the boat. I assumed I had just twisted on my fall but didn’t notice until I got on the plane at the airport but I had actually sliced open the back on my leg near the ankle, I then spent 10+ hours on the plane having to readjust my seating position using cushions etc to help thinking it was the twist. It was only when we got back to Heathrow and the hotel that I discovered I had in fact bruised my lower back and had a lovely deep purple stripe across the one side.||This was reported to Kuoni who contacted Oblu several times but not much has come from that. It has taken 2 weeks for the bruising and swelling to go, and 3 weeks for my leg to start healing but it looks like I may have a scar to remember it by! We’ve been back well over a month and Oblu seem reluctant to actually provide any update as to their ‘investigation’ and how they intend to prevent it from...

Paradise Found!

What a place. Forgive me if I drift into hyperbole, but seldom do I have my expectations exceeded. From the moment we approached the island on a smooth speedboat ride, my breath was taken away by the beauty of this place. The turquoise sea, the white sand, the gently swaying palm trees - prepare to spend your holiday living in a real-life Windows screensaver!

TRANSFERS - these were really seamless. We were met after security by an Oblu representative who took our luggage, and loaded it on to the boat for us. Transfer took about 50 minutes and was pretty smooth (though boat got a bit warm due to no air-con, and no doors/windows being open). Transfer back was arranged for us and got us to the airport on time. FOOD - the buffets laid on in The Courtyard for breakfast, lunch and dinner were plentiful, varied and full of choice. If you are gluten-free, vegan, a picky child(!), you will not leave hungry! There is a fantastic Indian food station for lunch and dinner (the nan breads are cooked in a tandoor before your very eyes) and a dosa station for breakfast. There is of course the usual continental (croissants, fruit, breads, granola) and English (bacon, eggs, beans, sausages) choices, as well as some more unusual choices like frittatas and Maldivian breakfast curry! Take your full plate back to your table, and eat in front of the most stunning sea-view you will ever behold. Staff are extremely helpful, keeping you topped up with drinks, and helping your child back to their table if they have overladen their plate! The Just Wok and Just Grill restaurants on One Banyan Island were fine, nothing particularly special though in my opinion. DRINK - all drinks are provided under the all-inclusive Serenity Plan and there are many choices: around 15 cocktails, lots of soft drinks, and around 20 wines. If you can't find something you like, then I would be really surprised! To really up the ante, head to The Rock (open between 5 and 7) to drink a cocktail whilst watching the beautiful sunset. ACCOMMODATION - we hired a two-bedroom villa and it was extremely spacious. Each bedroom has its own outside en-suite bathroom - nothing more refreshing than an outdoor shower! We had our own little pool and sunloungers which was nice for some private time. Beach is just a few metres away. Room is cleaned twice a day. ACTIVITIES - this is not the island to visit if you're looking for a busy schedule of classes, demonstrations, discos, parties, and so on. Instead, its a place of peace where you can while away the hours with a good book, a cocktail and some sunbathing. That said, there are occasionally things to do like a marine biologist giving a talk in the evening, or indeed you can take boat trips to do fishing, snorkelling, dolphin watching, etc. There are lots of motorised and non-motorised watersports options too, like jetskiing, parasailing, etc. KIDS - the kids club has a nice chilled out vibe, staffed by several kind ladies, some of whom have a nursing background, which certainly came in handy when my son got a nose bleed on the second day! The staff send you regular updates via Whatsapp with photos/videos of what they're up to. No need to book, you just drop the kids off as and when you like. Activities are a mix of the usual (drawing, pool time, movies) and the not so usual (napkin origami, palm leaf crafting). Would highly recommend, my two kids had a great time. DIVING/SNORKELLING - I undertook 5 dives, was desperate to see some manta rays, but sadly they eluded me. Will definitely have to come back to have another try! I dived with lemon sharks as well as other sharks, turtles, and a whole range of cool fish like parrotfish, sweetlips, butterflyfish, surgeonfish, etc. The dive team at TGI are really helpful and experienced. Snorkelling around the island provides plenty to see, but can often be tricky at low tide, as the coral comes up quite high. Do bring aqua shoes to make it easier on yourself. SPA - wonderful, nicely air-conditioned rooms, good level of pressure during massages, very...

Our stay at OBLU Select Sangeli was nothing short of magical. From the moment we arrived to the heartfelt goodbye, the resort exceeded our expectations in every possible way. Here’s a detailed review of our experience:

PRO Warm Arrival: Our flight was among the first to land, and while waiting for other guests, the resort went above and beyond by opening a café exclusively for us, where we enjoyed a delightful breakfast. The warm reception with traditional drumming and welcome drinks set the tone for an exceptional stay. __ Smooth Transfer: The 50-minute boat transfer was remarkably smooth. Even guests with sensitive stomachs noticed little difference compared to a land bus transfer. Impeccable Cleanliness: The resort sets the highest standard for cleanliness. Staff members even remove their shoes before entering the bungalows. Outstanding Hospitality: The staff’s warmth and hospitality were the highlights of our trip. Many employees expressed genuine joy in their work, which was evident in their interactions and attention to detail. Rapid Resolution of Issues: While there were minimal issues, any concerns we raised were addressed promptly and efficiently. For instance, after reporting minor concerns in the evening, a team of staff, including supervisors, resolved everything flawlessly by the next morning. Eco-Conscious Practices: The resort’s commitment to sustainability impressed us. From using glass bottles instead of plastic to running a biogas plant and utilizing solar energy, OBLU Select Sangeli is an excellent example of eco-friendly luxury. Reliable Internet: While speeds varied between 5.2 Mbps and 17.51 Mbps, it was sufficient for essential communication. Honestly, with such a stunning environment, the internet wasn’t a priority! A Truly Unforgettable Anniversary Surprise: One of the most emotional highlights of our stay was the extraordinary effort made to help us celebrate the anniversary of my marriage proposal. I reached out to Sherif, our incredibly attentive and kind resort host, to help plan a special surprise for my wife. Not only did Sherif enthusiastically embrace the idea, but he also went above and beyond by involving nearly the entire resort team in the planning and execution. What made the experience truly remarkable was the seamless coordination and discretion. Every single staff member we encountered ensured that the surprise remained a secret from my wife. Sherif personally stayed in touch, shared ideas, and worked with the management team to craft an unforgettable celebration. From a beautifully decorated setting to heartfelt gestures, every detail was meticulously arranged. Knowing that the management gave their full support to this endeavor further underscores the resort’s commitment to creating deeply personal and memorable experiences. Despite their significant involvement, the team remained discreet, allowing us to enjoy the surprise in an intimate and authentic way. Even now, as I write these words, I’m filled with emotion recalling this moment. It was not just about the surprise but about the genuine care, effort, and dedication shown by the staff to make it so meaningful. We were truly touched by the lengths they went to, and this will forever remain one of the most treasured memories of our lives.

CONS App Issues: The resort’s app was slightly outdated, leading to minor scheduling confusion (e.g., European Night instead of Asian Night). A more user-friendly and privacy-conscious website might be a better alternative. Missing Toilet Brush: One minor detail that caught our attention was the absence of a toilet brush in the room.

Final Thoughts We believe that to receive world-class service, one must first be a respectful and gracious guest. Small gestures, such as learning a few words in the local language and treating staff with kindness, go a long way in enhancing mutual experiences. OBLU Select Sangeli has set a new standard for hospitality, and we cannot wait to return. Thank you for a vacation we will...