Barceló Nasandhura Malé — Hotel in Malé

I have never been this frustrated with a so-called five-star hotel in the Maldives. My guest had reserved at Barceló Nasandhura a few days before arrival and specifically requested a private transfer. Two days before his arrival, I called the hotel to check what kind of vehicle would be used for the transfer, an extremely simple and reasonable question. Shockingly, no one at the hotel could give me a straight answer. I was told, “we will check and call you back”, not once, but three separate times over the course of the day. Six hours later, I was still being told the same thing. When I questioned why such a basic piece of information could not be clarified by the staff or the drivers responsible, the duty supervisor had the audacity to mock me for asking the question, saying they had never received such a request before. This is laughable, of course they haven’t, because they haven’t been in business long enough to understand what kind of high standards guests expect. I had to remind them: you are a five-star hotel, yet this is far from five-star service. If your vehicles don’t meet the requirements, I can arrange my own, but to get such an answer should not have been a battle. Finally, after that frustrating exchange, they provided me with the answer. The following day, I called again to confirm the private transfer and gave all the flight details and arrival time. The staff confirmed everything. To be extra careful, I called again on the day of arrival to double-check. Yet when my guest arrived, he found that the Barceló representative had no record of his flight details. My guest only happened to meet the rep by chance, and then had to wait almost 30 minutes outside the terminal for his transfer. The excuse given? “We knew he was coming tonight, but we didn’t know which flight he was on.” To make matters worse, during checkout my guest was not even provided with basic luggage assistance services. For a hotel advertising itself as luxury, this is beyond disappointing, it’s insulting. This is absolutely unacceptable and shows a complete lack of professionalism and attention to detail. In the Maldives, where service excellence defines our hospitality, such careless and dismissive behavior is embarrassing. Guests who choose five-star properties expect precision, respect, and seamless service, not to be treated with mockery, left waiting at the airport, and denied basic hospitality standards. Barceló Nasandhura needs to take a serious look at how it handles guest services. Right now, this is not five-star service, this...

From the moment I stepped into Barcelo Nasandhura Male, I was greeted with a warmth that felt genuine and effortless. The team at Oivaru and the Rooftop Restaurant truly redefined hospitality for me – every smile, every interaction, every thoughtful gesture came from the heart. It wasn’t just service; it was a sense of welcome that made each day brighter. What struck me most was how seamlessly the management and leadership orchestrated the day-to-day operations. It was clear to me that this hotel thrives on a culture of ownership and pride, where every team member knows their role and executes it with precision and care. This level of attention to detail is what sets Barcelo apart. A special mention must go to Mr. Akaki Ratiani, Director of F&B. His presence was nothing short of inspiring – constantly on the floor, ensuring his team had everything they needed, and even clearing tables himself when required. That kind of hands-on leadership speaks volumes about his character and the culture he nurtures within his department. During our conversations, I was deeply impressed by his vision and dedication toward Barcelo’s expansion in the Maldives. His youthful ambition, coupled with his drive to see the brand succeed, is commendable and contagious. I had come from the resorts in the Atolls and was told that there wasn’t much to do in the city. This stay at Barcelo wasn’t just about luxury or comfort – it was about feeling connected to a team of people who genuinely care about creating unforgettable experiences. Barcelo Nasandhura is not just well-managed; it’s well-loved by those who bring it to life every day.

I also truly enjoyed the exceptional culinary experience at Oivaru – Chef Marco’s creations were a highlight of my stay especially the petite desserts, cakes and variety in breads. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to meet the Chef .. please share my feedback and gratitude with the Chef!

Just to call out a few names that made a lasting impression on this trip, Akaki R. From Ovairu (Geeth, Edo, Dhiraj, Nijoo, Hunaid, Payel, Kasun, Rey) the Rooftop Team (Jeffery, Pooja) for making my evening on the Maldivian Independence Day an absolutely amazing experience. They accommodated me and acknowledged my presence even when I did not have reservations. My absolute gratitude to the Barceló. team for a fantastic experience. Adding pics of the heavenly ocean front view from my room, my room, my favourite place every morning for breakfast.

Satyra Estibeiro (Room# 910) Stay:...

Experence of booking a venue in Nasandura, so we went on their website, looked it up, and called the number for reservations of venues. On 7th July 14:09, the lady who answered and said it was the resort. And we have to call Male and gave me a number. So I called at same minute 14:09 according my call log. After asking the lady who answered. We wanted to book a venue. She replied that we had to contact them via email, and that was their policy. I explained that I needed to see if the dates we wanted were available, and then I could send an email as I won't waste my time. After a lot of convincing, she passed on to marketing the lady there, she said they to do a lot work on social media, instagram and facebook, so asked if the dates were available. She said the marketing team went for lunch and will call back took number, said. Again, they will cal. Am putting this mildly here. Never ever I felt was giving them business. I was told you are not supposed to talk, marketing people, only email. My only interest was the dates, so I waited. And in the evening when no one called. Went to their website under meetings and events filled form request a quote. Which has part where you select a date for the event. And waited, and since there was no reply today 8th July called them again. At 11:20, I asked them if i could speak to the marketing team re venues. Unfortunately, no one else knows available dates. After a long conversation, and repeatedly asked them to get in touch with a person who has this information. I asked if it was policy not to let us speak to the marketing people. She did want to answer that question. She kept reapting only email. And passed the phone to one who said marketing was busy, etc.. and email.. and put the phone hands free mode. We don't call businesses to waste our time or to make ourselves some sort amusement for the staff who has nothing to do. The venue is new, but the walls don't give services. It's the people. I won't recommend this place ever. such bad behaviour and absolutely no courtesy. Pure arrogance worst service in the whole of Maldives. We have decided to host all our events in other venues. So sad as a Maldivian, we once so proud of our service industry....