Bandos Island Resort Hotel

This is the best holiday I have ever had. I am planning to go again with the man of my dreams. Bandos is beautiful and relaxinging. It has everything to hand and more. Its paradise. Staff are helpful and friendly. The beach is beautiful and the huts are gorgeous. Would recommend a trip there to anyone.

I maybe slightly biased on my review as this was my honeymoon, however Bandos Island was paradise on earth - I can'r believe there is such beautiful tranquil place on this earth, but my new husband and I found it for sure!
We booked our whole holiday through first choice and they were great, gave us a great deal and knocked off quite a bit from the total cost. Flights were great both ways - took 10 hours to get there and about 11 on the way home. Food on flight was great and all staff were friendly enough:) Make sure you have your camera ready for when your flying over the maldivian Islands - their stunning and there are just tons of there everywhere! You can see that your in for a treat already as you can see the crystal blue water and the white sands even from 1000's ft in the air! :)
Once we arrived at Male (pronounced Mar'lay) and stepped out of the plane the heat just hits you and thats when you wish you'd worn shorts over :)
We went from 11th Nov 07 for 7nights and the weather was fab, no rain - not even a cloud. One of the staff later told us that we had just missed a good week of rain though!
We got ushers through passport control quickly and found the desk for first choice..you need to do that as they have arranged the boats or seaplane for you. We were waiting about 25mins for our speedboat. Once everyone had arrived we then got taken to the jettys (about 3/4min walk from the airport across the street) Our boat ride took about 20mins.
We arrived at Bandos and out bags were taken from us and put on a cart and taken to our rooms. We waited at the lounge in the reception area and had a nice cooling cocktail on the house and a cold flannel. One of the members of staff ave us a brief welcome and then we got taken to our rooms one by one.
We stayed in a Jacuzzi Beach Villa. Its the most amazing hotel room I've ever seen. So clean and tidy. The housecleaners came in everyday and swept the floors (sand gets everywhere!) they put fresh towels and fresh bottled water out every day. Even if we left clothes out in the room, they would fold them up for us! The air con is a god sent and the fact that the bathroom doesn't have an outside wall on it was great :) Although Ants attacked the toliet at night!
We were half board, and if we went again we'd do the same. Half board means you have to stay in the same resturant all the time which we didn't mind as the choice was always vast and there was always different things everynight for dinner. For lunch though we went to a different resturant and it was nice to choose from a menu and have the cocktails and smoothies etc that they offered and it was reasonably priced as well. On our lastnight on the island we went to the "posh resturant" and had the best meal ever. My husband had Poached Lobsters Tail and I had this lovely mixed fish dish. We sat out on this desk and there were reef sharks and others amazibng reef fish swimming around beneath us.
During our stay we hired out a canoe for an hour and we canoed over to Kuda Bando (the neighbour island which is uninhabited) and had a look around their - its well worth doing and cheap as well. We also did the galss bottom boat ride, that was a little disapointing, but was intresting to see the reef. We also had a little time at the spa, we had a full body massage and for the both of us cost about £100. Well worth it though, they have seperate little huts for each room and the little ladies that massage you are very strong and give you a lovely massage.
My husband also did the diving course and is now a qualified open water diver. He trained with a lovely man called Leo and we made good friends with him. He went out on about 3/4 dives on the Bando Reef then we went out on a boat to Potato Reef and my husband did an open water dive for about an hour.
One of my highlights was the dolphin watching boat ride. At the reception it has all the activitys and trips you can do and can sign up for. I wanted to do the dolphin dive, but it was really crowded already. When we hired the canoe at the watersports hut the man offered to take us on a private trip for a bit extra. It was so worth that extra money! We went out just before sunset and chased to 100's of dolphins on the Indian Ocean. We watched the sun setting on our way back - Perfect!
The staff in the reception were a little cold with us sometimes, the staff in the shops were all lovely, but the staff in the resturants were the most lovely people, they would do anything to help you and they love talking to you. The housecleaning boys are lovely and everyone is very respectful. Whilst we were there (8days) and will all the things we did whilst there that I mentioned above we spent in total £850ish
I would recomend Bandos Island Resort to anyone and do not have a bad word to say about it. It was my dream holiday and the staff and the Island made that!

the tropical island is a perfect setting,whether your on your honeymoon or just needing a relaxing time, lush greenery , white sands , good hospitality , spa so relaxing , food fantastic ,beach and amenities very good for young and old , entertainment very good ,very clean ,and only a short jouney from male by speedboat . there is so much to say about Bandos island resort and spa , please find out for yourselves , we will return very soon .
Thankyou to all staff for making it special.

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just returned from our 5th visit to Bandos in the last 5 years, and I have just re booked for next year. It is a beatuful island with its own reef, we have seen the island change for the better over the last few years, with the addition of a much larger swimming pool, and an extension to the sundowner bar and also the fantastic spa (dont ask for your massage to hard), the food is very good and the staff are great. This is not a really posh 5* resort but the facilities are excellent, the standard rooms are on the beach and very clean, the jacuzzi villas are great with an outside bathroom! everything about Bandos has a very relaxed feeling, we have until this year gone on half board but decided to go b & b this year, it can get a bit boring going to the same restaurant every night, albeit with a different menu. We found it a nice change to go to either of the other 3 restaurants (the Harbour is lovely but expensive). It is a child friendly resort with early evening entertainment for young children, our children are now 12, 15, 17 & 18 but still love to visit Bandos, the welcome is truly wonderful.
This year we flew First Choice instead of Monarch, it was a much better flight with more legroom and a slightly wider seat, (and better entertainment) as the seating was 2 3 2 instead of Monarchs 3 4 3 we found it was possible to get some sleep.

This holiday was an absolute joy - pity about Hayes Jarvis (hence the 8)
Hayes Jarvis mucked up the bookings and put us in the wrong type of room after paying a premium for a beach villa. Luckily we had our confirmation emails with us, as they wanted to put us next to a building site. They are a nightmare to get hold of by phone when before you go.
The food and drinks are superb and I recommend full board as drinks and food on their own can be expensive (as we found out). Three different restaurants, including the buffet and night entertainment provided although with the wildlife you don't need it. Sharks, cranes, stingrays are amazing to watch.
The island is gorgeous and that small you can walk to the beach in less that 10seconds, walk around it in 10mins.
Staff - very friendly and love a Scots accent as it’s is completely alien to them (especially when you tell them about snow!)
Water sports are limited to paragliding, canoeing and snorkelling/diving as no motorised water sports on this island.
If you want good food, beautiful crystal clear waters, peaceful surroundings and not being pestered by tour reps this is highly recommended. It is paradise peace and quiet and the beach is spotless as you expect.

Bandos Island resort was an absolute paradise and totally exceeded our expectations. We were so lucky to be upgraded to a pool villa and the level of accommodation and service was excellent.
The island itself is idyllic with beautiful white sandy beaches, tropical vegetation and resident (friendly) fruit bats! The facilities are good with a beautiful swimming pool, a range of water sports, diving centre and air conditioned gym.
There was a good variety of food in the half board buffet but it was nice to have a change now and then in the other three restaurants. The highlight of this holiday is the snorkelling. Just a few metres off the beach you can swim over the house reef and see an amazing colourful array of fish and coral. You may also see some baby white tipped reef sharks.........totally awesome!
Watch out for dead coral in the shallows......it’s really sharp and can cut your feet....bring some wet shoes or buy some in the resort shop for about $20

Well let’s go from the start. This was my honeymoon and I’m going to find it hard to top.
The flight was first choice and they boast great legroom. Only a month before had I flown with virgin and man did it have more room. Infact the only thing virgin did better was the free alcohol and served food a bit faster.
On arriving at Male we found our operator and with out delay show to our boat. First time I took a boat as a taxi!!
On arriving at Bandos we were greeted with a smile. Followed by an ice cold towel and a cocktail to start our holiday. Once we had a small intro we were shown to our rooms and arrived to find our luggage just being delivered. On entering the room the first thing we saw was a huge fruit bowl followed by a spacious room and large bathroom/wetroom.
During our 2 weeks we had some great times.
Food was good. Breakfast was the same every day but so much on offer gave good variety from fruit to cooked breakfast and pancakes!!!
Dinner was good with a range of meals each night and a range through out our stay. (Although some of the puddings were interesting.... Avocado mouse and sugar....)
The see was amazing and the first thing we did was bought some better snorkels to take in the amazing array of fish.
We did a diving course and it was given as a 2 on 1 so we were able to go on our pace. The woman was able to Taylor the dive to us and give us a personal tour once down the side of the reef. We saw many things from sharks (big and small) eels and even octopus.
We also did one of bandos' night fishing excursions and it was such a laugh. After an hour or 2 with a wire and a hook we took our catch of the night to a nearby uninhabited island and a BBQ with live music to eat it.
Overall the staff were very friendly and took note of everyone to keep your service personal. The room boy was great and with small tipping would see you right. From hanging up your clothes to dry outside to flowers in the bath room.
On the 7th night. We cam home to find the bed neatly arranged in pleats. And on our last night the room done out with H-Moon on the bed and a range of tropical flowers arranged all over the bed.
Overall the whole experience was amazing and it was worth the long haul.

My new husband and I have just returned from the most beautiful, perfect, friendly, luxurious place in the world....If you dont visit Bandos Island in your lifetime, you will have missed out!
From the moment we stepped off the speedboat and into the reception, where a welcome cocktail and friendly face was waiting, to the moment we stepped off that jetty to return home were smiling!
All accomodation is nice - even the standard rooms. We stayed in a Junior Suite with four poster, view of the sea etc, and then upgraded to a jacuzzi beach villa for the 2nd week. This room was 5 metres from the sea, with an outdoor jacuzzi to lay in whilst a tropical storm lashes down around you.
The main restaurant areas where you take your included meals is fantastic. For each meal, whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner, you have such an extensive choice to choose from, it takes you at least 10 minutes to walk around trying to choose something!
The main bar - the Sand Bar, is also wonderful. Entertainment about 3-4 times a week, from live bands to discos, waiter served tables and a floor covered with sand!
The staff are the most wonderful natured people, nothing is too much trouble.
We swam with baby reef sharks in the islands lagoons, we went snorkelling with puffa fish and all sorts of nemo-like characters and we fed the fish, just outside our villa, twice during our stay - they quite happily hand-feed from you. Amazing!
If you want 2 perfect weeks, then I suggest you go to Bandos! We are going back next year...!