Review of Malahini Kuda Bandos Resort 4*

We came back from Malahini on 29 May. The island itself is beautiful, quiet, peaceful, clean, and has great watersport facilities, staff are friendly and rooms are clean and tidy. Unfortunately what lets this resort down is the administration. We had issues with towels and water not being delivered (one day 4, next day 1 towel), none of the plug sockets worked unless we wobbled the plug. Reception were laid back to the point of it taking 45 minutes to deliver some coffee …sachets when it takes 1 minute 30 to walk to Reception (Housekeeping repeatedly forgot to replenish). We requested a (paid) upgrade to a Beach Villa to treat ourselves. Reception failed to come back to us with availability 24 hours later, and when we queried the request, they’d moved our neighbours with a small baby instead of us in room 304 rather than us in 305, and cited a miscommunication. Waiting staff never informed us that soda water with our evening meal wasn’t part of our Half Board deal and was chargeable. The Male Tour Guide provided to us was lacklustre and seemed uninterested. We knew more than him. It was a waste of $100 (taking into account he was fasting of course — we ourselves have lived in a Muslim country for seven years). On the last day, our ‘early breakfast’ was some toast, a muffin and coffee because the kitchen wasn’t properly open. Not great when you’re asked to check out at 0545 for a flight at 1000, you’re already checked in and the transfer to the airport takes 20 minutes. We arrived at the terminal a full 30 minutes before the desks were even opened. I settled the bill the night before we left, but at 6am as we were about to board the transfer boat the airport and I was presented with a bill for ‘the spa and minibar’. I did not use either and was not charged. In similar circumstances we were presented with our lunch bill at Bluu Bar one day with someone else’s name and room number on it. We had a lovely time, but when you’re paying a certain amount for a trip, you expect a certain level of service is the point I’m making here.