Problems started from arrival in Male (airport) where the arrivals clerk had no paperwork pertaining to our seaplane transfer. As such (and despite us having the relevant documentation ourselves) we were offered a chance to "get on the boat now as you are holding up the other people" or to wait 5 hours for the next scheduled seaplane (taxi service is not quite an accurate description). Arrival in Kuramathi was chaotic as there was not enough staff to process the amount of people that had just stepped off the speed boat (80ish) so the whole process took in excess of an hour. This first few hours in the Maldives did not set us up nicely to relax and as such any minor niggle became a major problem which the staff just were not able to deal with. (e.g Honeymoon fruit basket not put in the room which would not have been a problem until one of the staff asked how we had liked it! We were then given 3 different versions from 3 different staff members as to what we should have been entitled to which left us confused and as if we had stumbled into some sort of tropical Fawlty Towers episode! Questions relating to the spa were dealt with a grunt and us being directed to a folder on the other side of the reception lobby, our table in the restaurant was allocated and not up for re-assignment despite requests, drinks service was painfully slow in the main bar area (although the cocktails were fantastic and disturbingly strong !!) and the football songs from one group were wholly unwelcome. Maybe in Benidorm but not what you expect in the Maldives ! In short, great scenery, fantastic accommodation but surly, unhelpful staff made this an extremely unpleasant Maldivian honeymoon. My second experience after a perfect first one in Olhuveli is unlikely to tempt me back to the country. Sorry Pio !!

1. Kuramathi Tourist Island is not an intimate island. There are three resorts with a taxi traversing back and forth. This means:
(a)If you want a drink when on the beach you often have to walk 15 minutes to your room.
(b) You cannot get a drink from the bar as you cannot use your all inclusive anywhere on the island, but only in the resort closest to your room.

2.The Bungalows are set back from the beach, many set in a kind of Semi Circle Shape. This means:
(a) In most Bungalows you cannot walk direct from your bed to the beach without crossing a path.
(b) The verandas are out front. This is far less intimate as your veranda faces about 10-15 others, and you sip cocktails with many other people walking past on the path directly in front. On most other islands the front of the bungalow is set on the beach and the path is set behind, meaning you have privacy.

3.Entertainment. Three resorts means one lot entertainment each night when the other two do not have it. If you are all inclusive you will not be able to use your all inclusive in the resort that has the entertainment that night.

4.Beach beds are a problem. There are none, which quite frankly kind of makes the idea of a beach holiday to relax a little pointless.

5.Socialising, again not so intimate. On a smaller resort you get to know many people after the end of the week. You go to one bar and know you will bump into someone you know. This is not often the case on kuramthi as there are far more places to spend the evening.

6.We went looking for Paradise, but found a couple had brought 6 children with them screaming and shouting as we lay on our towels (No Sunbeds).

7. People Booking after May beware. Out of 6 days in rained non stop for 4.5 of them.

We spent 6 days at Kuramathi Coconut Village in May 05, having been on another resort the previous year. One day was spent at Gatwick due to the 30 hour delay to our Monarch Gatwick Flight.

My husband and I are going back to Kuramathi Village in the Maldives for Christmas and New Year, and this will be our forth visit to Kuramathi. We have been to three other islands, and although they were very nice, for us, they did not compare. We are looking forward to seeing the new restaurant, and we are sure it will be a stunning addition, having been shown the plans and walked the site in June of this year. Christmas on the island is fabulous, and although a Muslim country, the hotel and staff put so much effort into decorating the public places and all of the walkways, that the place becomes a giant fairyland. I can't wait. May I also point out that there is no set age group on this resort. We have met and made very good friends with a lovely young lady of 23 and her partner of 34, and at the other end of the scale, a couple in their sixties, all lovely people who we still keep in touch with. In fact the younger two have become firm friends, and are in fact returning with us at Christmas and have done for the past two years. I am sixty years of age by the way, and love to swim in the sea with my mask, snorkel and flippers. There are some lovely lagoons with very shallow water where you can see a vast array of fish without venturing too far out of your depth. A little tip if you are very shortsighted like I am. Go to Specsavers and invest in a Prescription lens mask. The difference it makes is unbelievable. We are looking forward to seeing all of the staff again. They are fantastic, and amaze us by always remembering our names, and greet us like old friends. Roll on December 18th!!

Imagine booking a dream holiday to Kuramathi Village, looking so forward to going, then two days before leaving getting a call from your travel agent to be told the restaurant you were due to eat in had just been knocked down and that you were to eat in the coffee shop instead.

Imagine arriving at the airport and then having a 30 odd hour delay before leaving.

Imagine arriving at the island, paying to upgrade to a better part of the island, only to be told by everyone else sitting next to you that they had been upgraded for free.

Then imagine strolling down to the beach the first day in supposed paradise, finding the island does not provide anywhere to sunbathe on no beach beds, on a supposed beach holiday.

Imagine spending days inside due to the monsoon between May to August.

Imagine wanting to while away the hours and do a bit of fishiing only to be told it will cost you $1500 as you have to have a man and a boat.

You dont have to imagine. If this is you idea of a perfect holiday, simply go to Kuramathi.



PS- Imagine trying to simply be honest and writing some of these points in the Kuramathi guest book, only to find KURAMATHI BIG BROTHER removes them.