Bandos Maldives

Lovely hotel on a beautiful island, with helpful staff. The room was good, comfortable and clean. The grounds and buildings are well kept and there is absolutely no man made litter. Plastics are not used and room items like the rubbish bins are made of wood. The buffet restaurant food was adequate although some dishes could have been hotter. The labelling of a few dishes was possibly inventive? I liked the separate cold room for sweets etc. Definitely a place to visit again.

We had an excellent stay at Bandos Maldives! The resort exceeded our expectations in every way. The staff were warm and welcoming especially Gene, Kanchan, Suraj. The surroundings were absolutely stunning, and the service was top-notch. One of the highlights of our trip was the food — it was delicious, with a great variety of options every day. We especially appreciate the beautiful beaches, clear waters, and relaxing atmosphere. Everything was well-organized, clean, and comfortable. We truly enjoyed our time here and would definitely love to return. Highly recommended!

We have had the most wonderful stay on Bandos . We were here for 10 days , and are departing today . Our premium beach villa was amazing ( villa 142), overlooking the location of where the sun sets each evening . Villa - 5 star accommodation over two floors with an an outdoor shower room and toilet , plus a jacuzzi bath . Lounge area on ground floor and bade room , additional toilet and sink plus balcony on first floor . Our room boy was Mohamed and he deserves a mention for his outstanding care and attention to detail , the room was serviced with care and we were very impressed . Food - Fresh, tasty and healthy , no French fries in sight on the AI buffet . Children’s menu is available and cooked to order .Alternatives a la carte if needed , but we were more than happy with the buffet meals . Slightly repetitive over ten days , but we certainly never went hungry , very happy. AI drinks - large choice of soft and alcoholic . Decent wine and draught beer, plus cocktails and mock tails . Very good selection. Service and staff - Outstanding !! Only had to ask once for drinks service on an extremely busy evening in the restaurant when we were overlooked. All staff are exceptionally friendly and welcoming . Pool area is new and inviting , the warmest pool I vane ever been in ! There is some building work still taking place to refurbish older parts of the island , but it never got intrusive . The bars at night are very different vibes . The Sand Bar offers lively entertainment , while Huvan with its pier overlooking the ocean is relaxed and chilled . Something for everyone . We are sad to leave , thank you Bandos , you were amazing !

My best friend and I stayed at Bandos Maldives for 4 nights and 5 days, and it was truly a memorable experience from start to finish. We landed at Malé Airport at 9:30 AM. Immigration and luggage queues were quick. Make sure to fill out the IMUGA form online before flying to Maldives so you don’t have to fill it in on arrival. By 10:30 AM, we met the Bandos crew outside the airport and were ready to leave for the speedboat transfer by 10:40 AM. The 15-minute ride was smooth, and we arrived at Bandos around 10:55 AM. On arrival, we were greeted with a refreshing welcome drink, which set the tone for a relaxing holiday. Standard check-in was at 2 PM, so we waited a little while for our villa to be ready after previous guests checked out. To our delight, we received a complimentary upgrade to a Beachfront Premium Villa. The villa was immaculate, modern, and soundproof, with fresh towels and supplies provided twice daily. The location was perfect – enough plants in front for privacy, no trees blocking the view, and the sunbeds were positioned ideally for tanning (which explains why other guests sometimes “stole” them, haha!). Waking up to serene mornings and stunning ocean views was amazing. We had originally booked half board but upgraded to the all-inclusive package, which was absolutely worth it. Buffet meals, snacks, and drinks were delicious and varied, making our stay stress-free and enjoyable. The island itself is a tropical paradise, beautifully maintained, and has a calm and friendly atmosphere. The weather was perfect during our stay, and the live entertainment was fantastic (special shout-out to the band – they made the evenings fun and lively!). ⸻ Pros – Staff: • Gene at Reception – Exceptionally welcoming, patient, and attentive. She explained all our options clearly and made us feel completely supported throughout our stay. • Abu at the Gallery Restaurant – Thoughtful and attentive; remembered our daily drink preferences and surprised us on our last night with a beautiful handmade flower arrangement from the garden (santan, kalachuchi, coconut leaves, and other colorful blooms). Truly made us feel valued and special. • Leandro at Huvan Bar – Kind, courteous, and attentive. Made us feel well looked after. • Parvez – Absolutely amazing! He consistently ensured we got back safely to our villa each night, which meant so much as I’m very scared of lizards and geckos. After long days of walking and activities, Parvez always came to the rescue, making our evenings stress-free and safe. Pros – Other: • Villas: Immaculate, modern, soundproof, twice-daily housekeeping, stunning ocean views, serene mornings. • All-Inclusive Package: Excellent buffet meals, snacks, and drinks – highly recommended. • Activities: Snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding; breakwater keeps waters calm. • Water & Beach: Crystal-clear waters – you can see colorful fish, friendly baby sharks, octopus, and even pawikan (sea turtles) swimming while you enjoy water activities. Soft, powdery sand. • Entertainment: Live music and shows. • Location: Only 15 minutes from Malé Airport by speedboat. • Island Atmosphere: Clean, well-maintained, peaceful, and relaxing. ⸻ Cons / Small Downsides: • Sunbeds in front of our beachfront villa are often occupied by other guests. • Standard check-in is at 2 PM; early arrivals may need to wait. • Balcony wooden railings block some of the view (safety reason). • No bicycles available for guests. • Reservations team can be slow to respond via email before arrival. We booked through Booking.com for faster confirmation. Even though direct booking might offer better deals, we were happy with the complimentary room upgrade and decided to take the all-inclusive package upon arrival. Note on Cons: Even with a few minor cons, we truly loved our stay at Bandos Maldives. These are only suggestions for improvement, not complaints. The island, staff, and overall experience were fantastic, and we would highly recommend it. We would definitely return! ⸻ Traveler Tips: • Fill out IMUGA online before arriving – it saves time at the airport. • Upgrade to all-inclusive – meals, snacks, and drinks are excellent. Meals and snacks have set timings; drinks are available anytime. Minibar drinks are included; only snacks are chargeable. • Bring snorkeling gear if possible ($10/day to rent; life jackets included). • Use WhatsApp to contact reservations for faster replies than emails or calls. • Check the weather forecast before booking; our stay had perfect weather, but rain is possible. • Early arrivals: bring light clothes or swimming attire to roam comfortably before check-in. • Standard check-out is 12 PM; late check-out is chargeable. Speedboat check-out transfers have set timings (e.g., 9 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM). We opted for the 3 PM transfer to match our evening flight; staying on the island was much nicer than waiting at the airport. • Mosquitoes & insects: Surprisingly, none inside the villa. Bring repellent just in case. Staff were very helpful in keeping us comfortable. • Plenty of hammocks around the island to relax in. • 4–5 days is not enough – there are plenty of activities to enjoy daily!