Nurai Island — Local services in Nourai Island

This place is truly a little slice of heaven! We had an amazing experience at Nurai! Everything was perfect, from welcome centre to the staff, service and amenities. I was particularly impressed by the staff and their manners, smiles all over, everyone was super helpful, knowledgeable, and most importantly, POLITE! (Something many 5 star places lack)

The beach villa made us feel like we were in our own little country, with the big private pool and beach. It has a huge living space and everything was very clean. My only comment about the villa was that the doors to the villa had a slight issue were there's a small gap at the top (when fully closed that possibly allowed a few insects to enter (we found a couple of cockroaches inside) but they might've entered while we were going in and out of the villa, and since I'm not totally sure, I cannot really blame the gap in the door. But I would've liked to see a little more attention to these details, especially for the cost of the stay!

The quality of the food on Nurai was not up to par with what is expected of such a place, At Dust, the quesadillas were bland and almost flavourless and the portion was tiny, the chicken fajita was pretty good though. The service at Dust as with all over the island was perfect, Abbas and the chef both came to us to ask for our input on the food, to which we were happy to provide. At the breakfast buffet, we tried most of the stuff there, while they had a wide variety of choices, they were a little underwhelming taste wise, I think they should reconsider their menu choices or at least fix the recipes, especially for the items that are served hot. The veal bacon was very gamey and chewy, the chicken sausages did not taste very good either, the quality of the cold cuts was not great and most of them were dried out, not sure if that's because they were left out for too long, reused from the previous day, or just bad quality. You should consider putting sharper knives around the fruits, as some of them were uncut/ unpeeled and the restaurant knives are very difficult to use for cutting fruits, especially ones with thicker skin. I liked that waffles, crepes and pancakes are on demand as they'll always be fresh, and they tasted very good. They have all kinds of eggs (scrambled, omelette, Benedict, etc.) on demand as well but you may wanna ask for extra salt as some may find them under salted (but that's subjective).

This point may not be of interest to everyone but the AC in the villa was phenomenal, so when you are coming back from a hot day at the beach/ pool, you'll be easily able to relax and cool down in the room.

Shisha lovers! you can order a shisha right tc your villa and enjoy it from your pool! It was amazing, and lasted very long! Mahmoud was super nice and set us up with a great shisha, brought everything inside and prepared it for us.

The luxury was out of this world, all the beaches and seating areas around the island were super clean and the sand was as soft as butter. The water is extremely clear, it's pretty much see through! Even after checking out you can enjoy the pool and beaches all around (just not the private villa ones) until closing time!

I highly recommend Nurai for anyone that would like to go for an escape that feels like they travelled to a different country without actually having to go anywhere that far. Some may find it a little pricey, and that would be more than fair, but I can assure you that it'll be worth every penny (even if it was...

Birthday getaway

Positives: -the staff are friendly and generally respond quickly to requests. Stephan was available via WhatsApp in advance to prepare a surprise for my husband’s milestone birthday and, Islam, the manager on duty checked in frequently in case of anything we needed. -fantastic bathrooms in the villas, beach views and twin pools -quickly delivered a microwave for baby food -kids pool toys provided -main pool and all beaches are clean and picturesque. Staff even lowered volume of music at the main pool for our sleeping baby -kids water park was AMAZING. Ours were too young to enjoy it but mom and dad had fun 😂 -kids club was also really nice. Reminds me of backyards back home and was a real treat. -Overall landscaping and grounds very nicely designed and maintained. Loads of birds, crickets, etc - felt like a real escape. -easy to walk 15 minutes from our villa to restaurants and main pool. -staff driving buggies were very careful of our little ones on the path -we were allowed to bring our baby food/snacks for the children on island which are things easier for us. Large fridge/freezer in the villa was great for the two nights we stayed.

Drawbacks: -the welcome center looks like a construction site (and has for years). It also does not have adequate space for those arriving and departing, leading to a bit of frustration during busy times. -some of our baby items were dropped in the water at the dock when we arrived at Nurai Island, another item was set down on dirty ground which was meant to remain clean for our baby. -food options didn’t make sense: two poolside mains and a few drinks cost X and frankly weren’t great quality or large portions, however a heavy dinner with several dishes at Dusk cost half as much and was much better quality. -A flashing light on backs of TVs caused us and our youngest to have disrupted sleep -loud AC was also disruptive -shelves were hung in a spot in the villa where one could easily walk into it, plus one shelf is coming off the wall (unsafe). -No stock of bowls, cutlery, a knife to cut fruit etc for kids (we have 2 under two) etc -the villa was plain, no art or color anywhere -food just ok except for Dusk -no baby change stations in restaurant bathrooms -entry to villa surrounded by very thorny shrubs which is not ideal for small children -not all staff are aware of services available. I asked one receptionist about arranging access for guests with disabilities (my mother who generally uses a wheelchair or scooter and can’t get on/off their regular ferry) and was told they don’t offer any special accommodation. I asked Islam, to be sure as my mother will visit soon and it turns out that they do offer a ramp to get on/off the ferry for those like my mother. It is strange that frontline staff at a luxury resort wouldn’t have these details.

We will definitely return for a day pass with the kids and extended family. We are glad to have had the experience of staying on Nurai Island and our family had a lovely time overall. A few items stated above could make it better, and considering how expensive it is I’m surprised by some of the drawbacks. Definitely worth experiencing if you...

My visit to Nurai island with high expectations for a memorable and enjoyable stay. While the island itself is undeniably stunning, I was disappointed by the hotel service, which unfortunately did not live up to my expectations.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with a warm welcome, but unfortunately, that initial enthusiasm soon waned. The service throughout my stay was consistently lackluster, leaving me feeling frustrated and undervalued as a guest. Basic requests, such as housekeeping and room service, were often delayed or completely overlooked. This resulted in a constant battle to have my needs met, which took away from the relaxation and enjoyment I had hoped for.

Another aspect that fell short was the lack of attention to detail. The cleanliness of my room was subpar, and it seemed as though it hadn't been thoroughly maintained prior to my arrival. Furthermore, the overall responsiveness of the staff was disappointing, as they often seemed indifferent and uninterested in addressing any concerns or ensuring guest satisfaction.

Despite these disappointments, I must acknowledge the natural beauty of Nurai island. The tropical paradise it offers truly provides a blissful escape from everyday life. The beaches, with their pristine white sand and crystal-clear waters, are truly breathtaking. The lush greenery and stunning sunsets only added to the magic of this place. However, it is important to note that the hotel service plays a vital role in creating a complete and enjoyable experience for guests.

While Nurai island's ambiance and natural wonders exceeded my expectations, the lackluster hotel service overshadowed the overall experience. For those considering a visit, I recommend managing your expectations regarding the hotel service and focusing on the island's natural beauty instead. Hopefully, the management will take these concerns into account and work towards improving the level of service provided, enhancing the overall experience for future guests.

With proper attention to detail and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, I believe Nurai island has the potential to become an exceptional destination that truly matches its idyllic...