Bandos Maldives

I am a non-picky eater, the scrambled eggs where watery, omelet overcooked, size proportions very small. Put the horrible food from breakfast to dinner (I refused to eat lunch the last day) the staff, dive shop and room was excellent. Went diving on the local reef to check our gear before leaving the island for the Aggressor II liveaboard. The reef did not disappoint. Dimitri was great Read less

Ist was a very pleasuary stay, beautiful water and Vegetation, very friedly and helpful staff. And also sufficient facilities for a 4 year old boy- and as there were other kids he also could play and talk without anyone disturbing. You should definitelly choose all in, as you don't have to think what to drink in one of the nice bars- there is planty of non-aloholic and alcoholic choice! We recomand! Read less

Despite only booking a standard room this was more than enough, and housekeeping twice a day was a lovely touch. The island itself and location was amazing and staff excellent. The place was full but you wouldn’t know it as didn’t feel packed and the food was excellent. The Beaches were white sand with turquoise sea as you would expect and the Snorkelling was best we have experienced and diving via dive school excellent. Sharks sting rays and manta rays. I would though recommend the all inclusive package if you like a drink and the huvan bay at sunset magical. Well done bandos Read less

We stayed in Bandos from Oct, 3 till October, 15 and would like to thank all the crew for the wonderful stay. It is especially vivid now after 1 month delay before I write this review. We were 3 – two adults and a 6 year old boy. Therefore, I may eagerly advise Bandos Maldives (please mind, exactly Bandos Maldives, not a nearby Malahini Kuda Bandos) due to the following reasons which are connected to staying with children: - proximity to the airport: 15 mins by the speedboat and you are there - wonderful Koko club, where you may leave your kid with lovely Philippine ladies - excellent variety of food, not spicy at all, edible for all ages - the hotel provided a baby bed for the kid, although my tour agent said that they have no option out there. All in all, I do suggest Bandos Maldives for your first Maldives experience with a kid. However please mind that this is one of the oldest hotels in Maldives (although it has been renovated several times), and it’s our second trip to Maldives with my wife. The first time we were at the very remote atoll (+ 50 mins by domestic airline) and at a very new and top-notch hotel which was much more new and decorated. Therefore we didn’t get this taste of luxury at Bandos HOWEVER THIS IS NOT A DISADVANTAGE. It’s not better not worse, just different. Bandos has its own spice, which is hard to explain but most likely is connected with wonderful crew people over there and beautiful snorkeling places. A small hint from me: go between villas 191 and 192, there you will see a small lane to the ocean, follow the rope and you will see a passage to the open sea, it is free of corals and debris. At the border between the lagoon and deep water you can snorkel and see adult blacktip sharks. Such a thrilling experience! Also the best snorkeling in the lagoon is right-hand location from the Huvan restaurant. Other tips: 1) take all-inclusive option otherwise the cost of drinks will destroy you; 2) standard rooms and double beachfront rooms are not so new unlike the rest of the options, but still ok, we stayed in double beachfront room (281); 3) bring your snorkeling masks with you, you will save money; 4) it depends on the year, but our beginning of October weather was disappointing – 6 out of 12 days were rainy and cloudy, but I repeat, we were quite unlucky, not the fault of the hotel of course :) ; 5) don’t be greedy and tip to all the good people out there, you don’t even have to have cash, you may add the tip to the bill at every meal, even if it comes as zero if you are all-inclusive; 6) the hotel is very international: about 40% English and German, 30% Asian (China, Korea), 20% Russian speaking; 7) this is my personal disaster, but another advice is to swim with water earplugs, I did so much snorkeling that caught external otitis. However, thank God there was a wonderful clinic with German Dr. Alexander out there who prescribed me correct eardrops and I was brand new after 3 days; 8) sunscreen everywhere!!! You get burned in no time. Me and my kid got sun burned after one day without sun screen at a full cloudy day. Also I want to dispel some of the myths which arise out of 1* reviews at tripadvisor and which almost made me change my mind and not visit Bandos (thank goodness I didn’t believe them): 1) "construction noise" – although they are currently rebuilding the main restaurant there is no noise at all around the island; 2) the planes do not disturb you at all, a true overreaction; 3) “a waste incinerator plant nearby working every day, smell of burn” – wrong. Only once during 12 nights we saw it, but it was very very far away and of course no smell; 4) no rudeness at all, very friendly crew. So overall I really recommend Bandos for its nature, wonderful attention of the crew and a lovely get away especially with children. Read less