Fonimagoodhoo — Local services in South Maalhosmadulu

A wonderful holiday on this just found Island which we would have returned to if it wasn't imminently set to close. We have been to other Islands but we felt the owners have set a standard that we were so impressed by. They have concentrated on sustainability which if you take the technical tour; you can see (the desalinisation, waste management, lack of plastic and careful use of resources) and obviously look after their staff as the loyalty is outstanding. There is a gentleness to this resort and staff work untiringly to ensure you are well looked after. We spent one week in a beach bungalow and the second in a water villa. The beach bungalow was very comfortable and the outside shower area is fun! Each bungalow is assigned its own sun lounger, which prevents the beach towel saving shenanigans sometimes witnessed. However, it also means if you wish to lounge in another area of the island, there is no sun lounger to use. Our first week was very windy; we were the windward side of the island and wished to shelter on the leeward side where the sunset bar is but although there are deck chairs and hammocks available there... but no umbrellas to shade from the relentless sun (not a moan). The second week the wind dropped and we were grateful for the breeze as we moved to a water bungalow. Although you don't need footwear and it is lovely to walk barefoot... the boards leading to the bungalows do get very hot during the day and I therefore would recommend footwear! I also would recommend this if you have diabetes anyway as there are little nut size "things" that drop from the trees and could injure a neuropathic foot. The water bungalows in theory allow you to swim from your balcony... however the water can be quite rough and there are quite a lot of rocks there, especially if your bungalow is further on the right. I didn't feel confident to do this. I did enjoy waking up early though, opening the bi folding windows and watching the sunrise from my bed and then sunbathing in bed! We paid for the premium all inclusive and were able to eat at any restaurant. The buffet restaurant always had lots of choices and is a good start to discovering the different foods available. After that we ate breakfast always at the moodhu restaurant and nearly always dinner at the Reethi grill. The premium wine list is very good and am embarrassed to say we drank all the South African Chenin Blanc! I downloaded lots of books to my kindle before leaving and read ferociously. We bought short fins (absolutely fine and less luggage space) and all in one snorkels before leaving; which I preferred but my husband felt were claustrophobic and made him more breathless and ended up buying the normal face mask and snorkel. The snorkelling especially between the sunset bar and the water bungalows is fantastic and felt very much like being in an overcrowded aquarium! 6pm head to watch the sharks and Rays being fed then back round to watch the sunset at the sunset bar; yup, clue is in the name! I did say to hubby... gets very busy ; ) Just a few name checks: Reethi Grill: Amanul and Benny ( who is impossibly handsome and no doubt melts many hearts!) and of course all the chefs. Moodhu: Hassan and Junaid. The bar next to the water bungalows: Salim Also must mention Matthew, Martin, Xayan (in the main restaurant) Nisad, Hoda, Jothish, Rahul and Janaka and Hanifa... bound to have forgotten someone but all so lovely. Dive Center: Ricky, Prince, and lovely Shaf Finally lovely Nunu too who worked with her colleagues to tempt with karaoke, disco and quiz nights. Don't miss the musician who visits weekly, his voice is divine. Can't wait to hear about the new island. Thank...

Nothing against the Islands, a beautiful place worth visiting, First choose the sunset village, Booking scam us one week prior our trip. Trying to sold us an upgrade for $100 more and sell the room we choose more expensive. Upset with Reethi Beach hotel. We had half board (breakfast and dinner) so we used to pay for the food and drinks we consumed. The first day in the main bar, the waiter already charged us for the drinks without telling us at any time that everything we spent would be paid at reception, with which they charged us for those drinks by putting it as a "tip" in the box where they collect their tips. One of the nights we won a contest in which they took us to see the dolphins and in which they did not say if it was per room or per person (who is going to take an excursion in a place like this without your partner). The room number and the answer to a question they asked were written on the lottery paper. When we checked out first, they charged us for the full cruise (Thank you that we checked the receipt) and since they didn't tell them, they claimed that the prize was not for the room but rather that it was a personal prize. In this way they make sure to charge the excursion of a complete person without appearing anywhere that was individual. More than a gift is a claim. On the other hand, they made a lot of “mistakes” with the prices of the drinks (they had a promotion of crowns at $4) and several times they tried to sneak it in for us at $8, and if you're not crazy they charge you without remorse. The last straw was when we ordered two gin and tonic each one of the times. One that you have to know in advance that the soft drink is charged separately (with its price, its rate and its % for the service. The soft drink is already a little expensive) and to top it off when they asked the two times that they came to serve if we wanted the double or single gin (which we answered single) they tried to charge us for the price of double. It is a 4* hotel in a resort in paradise but the regular room (moving pieces on the bathroom floor, broken sink, scratched mirror…) very run down for the money you pay. As a positive point, the staff is super friendly. In the restaurant, the room service and excursions were super helpful and professional, dealing with the client close and human. Check all your tickets, they look for any opportunity to charge you for things you didn't do or consume, plus taking away your drink even you didn't finish only to get more money from you. Expensive vacations worried if i...

The warm welcome at reception after the “adventurous” journey via plane and speedboat was very friendly. But what we experienced afterwards in terms of friendliness from the employees is certainly unparalleled. All the employees immediately gave us the feeling that we weren't just somewhere, but in paradise. After just a few visits to the restaurant or the various bars, the employees had our room number in mind. That was extremely cool and shows the appreciation for the guests. The food and the selection of dishes were excellent. I especially have to highlight our wedding day with candle light dinner and of course the surprise on our bed later. Thank you Reethi for the invitation. We also treated ourselves to a visit to the spa. The advice from Shivani to find out which massage was best for us was just great. Of course, performing the massage was also super relaxing. The bungalow just a few steps away from the sea. Class. We had the feeling of being welcomed into the family, but we would still like to mention two employees in particular. Madhu from the Handhu Bar and Faloo(lol, I shouldn't mention his name) from the Main Bar, Madhu always with a smile and Faloo always up for a joke. Thanks to Saha, Kokky, Shivani, Magna, Areeb, Sandeep, Faloo, Madhu and all other colleagues at the Main Bar and Main Restaurant. (Hope all names are spelled correctly, if not sorry ;-))

All in all, it was 9 days in paradise, even if the weather wasn't always good, but as one employee said, "the rain comes and goes, it doesn't matter" and that's exactly right, that's how it was. We will come back, for...