Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa

The resort is nice and fine, but the schedule getting there and leaving from the island is not worth the trip that cost $ 370 per person Arriving in Male a 13 hour trip from Amsterdam, we had to wait 3 hours in a lounge before we were able to board the seaplane. Including the flight time we arrived in the very late afternoon, which was a pitty. The day before our holiday was to end, the island was ‘locked down’ because a local working on the island had symtones of the corona virus and was tested. Nobody could leave or come to the island. The next day at 8.30 am the ‘lock down’ was cancelled, the locale was tested negative. As required we went to the reception and we were told seaplane we could see the depature time on our television and if not someone would come to notify us. Whatever happened we could make use of our beachvilla untill 1 hour before departure. At 11 am a guy from the reception come to see us and told us our seaplane flight was scheduled at 3 pm. We had to evacuate the room at 12 noon. After bargening we could leave the room at 1 pm (at 10 to 12 our keys were blocked, so back to the reception again). Having had lunch at 1 pm we went to the reception area to wait to for our scheduled seaplaneflight at 3 pm. At 2.15 pm the reception were checking everyone to go on the plane. At that moment we were told the flight was fully booked and we were scheduled for the flight at 4.15 pm. Till 3 pm no new tourists came on the island. So why we couldn’t keep the room till 3 pm, I really din’t understand. Of course many sorries from at least 4 member of personeel (one after the other higher in rank). 3 days lost: 1/ the day of arrival because of the long wait, 2/ the day of the lock down, because they told us to cancel our flights and reschedule, so we spend lots of time on the internet and trying to contact airlines, 3/ the day of departured because of not necessairy waiting and waiting. They told us the whole operation was costing a lot of money as if. We should be sorry for the management. The people who were sheduled to leave the day before were, were staying for free and of course they had to pay back the people that were supposed to come the day before and couldn’t come because of the lock down. Later in the conversation the managemnt told us they had a 100% occupancy year around. So no need to feel sorry. However we had a nice holiday, but at the price you pay, you expect a professional staff. That was not the case.

Me and my wife visited Vilamendhoo for the first time and we found out that many, many people had being here many times. In my mind it's the best explanation how good this place is. For us coming from USA it's a very long flight and honestly in 11 days we had been there, we have not met even one couple from USA. Snorkeling is the main reason for us coming to the middle of Indian ocean, as this place was advised by a couple who are world's expert on snorkeling places. As a result of 2015 El Nino & the rise of ocean temperature, most of the corals were bleached and they are coming back slowly. However, the variety and quantity of the fish and other sea creatures here is unsurpassed. It was even much better then GBR in Australia that we snorkeled several years ago for 3 days. I don't want to repeat what hundreds of other people wrote about this places in TA reviews. We agreed with them 100%. Just one note about food. Buffet restaurant was a very good selection of food and also the quality was on a high level. Watch out for your stomach. We snorkeled 3 times every day and burned a lot of calories, but we had to watch how much we eat, as food was so, so good. Every night I watched sunsets, and it was the best sunset I had ever been able to capture on camera. Colors of sunrise are also amazing and when I look at my pictures now - only location tells me if it sunrise or sunset. We started to walk around island every morning at 6 am and we saw large cleaning crew that was already at work - that's how clean this place is. On one day we took "Ocean Discovery" trip on a beautiful yacht carrying 10 guests and a crew, We saw Manta Ray and Whale Shark - outstanding experience. I could write and write about this place - it was better than expected - but I am forcing myself to stop now.

Our honeymoon in Vilamendhoo was from start to ending outstanding. Welcome to the island was nice and you feel like you reached home. Our jacuzzi water villa was amazing and the staff in the resort helpful where ever you request help. Buffet restaurant was a very good selection of food and also the quality was on a high level. Mr. Daniel was extremely good host and he runs the operation the way as this is his own Resort, real hospitality from the heart. We will definitely come back to Vilamendhoo the place where dreams happen