Equator Village

9 readers found this review helpful

My partner took me to the maldives for my 26th birthday in Feb. On arrival the Shameless cast were talking how the food was bad but the beer cold, Its what you make it apparently!! The rooms are disgusting, the food terrible and the staff clearly do not want to be there. There is no beach and there are rats running around. The fan above the bed was hanging on by one wire and the ELECTRIC shower is plugged in, in the shower cubicle with bare wires on show. Water is brown and toilet seats are stained. We paid extra and moved far away from the hell hole after 2 days with another couple we met there. I would never ever go back and the hotel is not fit for animals.
This was the one and only time we ignored bad reviews and went with an open mind. NEVER EVER AGAIN, people write reviews for all sorts of reasons and some are unreasonable... This is purly a warning, this island is not how the maldives should be and we strongly advise that if your option is here or Blackpool, go to Blackpool.

1 reader found this review helpful

Stationed here with the RAF for 1 year 69/70..Had to come back for a look 03 first time,very little had changed from RAF days and we thought it was great.Came back the next year with the wife and found it was changing quickly but still tremendous as we were not looking for anything superlative in the way of hotels etc.Went back again the next year to find the new exspensive resorts were under construction,and the new airport just about to open.As I was well known in the hotel as well as on the Island[by the locals who worked for the RAF] our whole party was shown around the other parts of the Atoll where the new resorts were being built,nice surprise,as when I was there with the RAF I was never allowed to leave Gan itself.Getting back to the Equator Village hotel,if you are not looking for luxury,not to fussy about what you eat,not bothered about the type of alcohol,just want to sit in the sun,walk about and talk to the locals who will ,if you are straight with them,invite you to come to their home and eat with them,then Gan will be the resort for you..The whole of the Atoll is open to you,the only down for me personaly was that I was not allowed to walk around the whole of Gan island itself for whatever reason,but a magic holiday it always will be,and we will be going back again shortly..

22 readers found this review helpful

ok sit up and listen. I have been to The Equator Village 3 times now. Previously going there indipendantly. Cosmos did a really good deal that I could not beat.
This island is 11 miles long. has several thousand people living on it has roads and lots of cars and motor bikes and lots and lots of shops. A hospital a dentist and just about anything you will need apart from bacon!
It is a Budget holiday remember the word Budget and you cant go wrong. If you want luxury pay luxury prices and go elsewhere.
The rooms are basic the fridge is where you store all the drinks you cannot drink in the bar. coke and fanta and lemonade are available in bottles beer and guiness also. Californian wine in red and white are ok but not something you want to get used to. along with local spirits of all kinds. Premium brands cost you lots if you want them.
Food. Breakfast consists of cereals fruit juice and eggs done as you like them with a variety of tomatoes baked beens and gypsy toast and regular toast brown and white fresh made bread or rolls and lurpack butter with marmalade. What more do you want? lunch soup bread, salad pasta and hot food which always has fish on the menu which is very very fresh and cooked in a variety of ways. breaded fried baked roasted or barbecued. sometimes its even curried.
Evening meal is based on theme nights one night its chinese one italian one barbecue and even one with roast beef with roast potatoes.
You will not starve here as if you do not like what is on the menu if you as your waiter he will get the chef to make you something else. All you have to do is ask. There is no charge the chef will respond to any reasonable request. I asked for french fries which are normaly on the room only menu or al a carte at a charge but got them every night I asked for them. I also asked for cheese sandwiches for afternoon tea and got them.
Puddings or sweets are excelent and if you see no ice cream ask for it! there is always fresh fruit too.
This is the maldives not Spain if you want spanish or english food dont go there.
Do go there for the fabulous sea and sea life the beautiful scenery the lovely local people and the diving or snorkeling. The staff will get you anything you want and and and do there best with any other request. ( They are very poorly paid and will expect a tip at the end of yours stay) You will get a mountain bike (free) and two snorkeling trips free per day) not many people go here just to sit on the beach or round the pool. I t has the best dive site of all and is most interesting because of the local people there is a dock and fish dock and a police station and immigration and customs as well as many other things of interest It does not have air conditioned shopping malls it has shops for local people that sell all kind of tourist gifts and cigerettes and chocolate and ice lollys etc. You will find mosquito stuff and all at reasonable prices. Less than a mile away is a chinese buffet that costs $2
If you want somewhere to re charge your batteries relax and not pay a fortune go there its very interesting and very very hot and going through a period of growth. There are some problems with drugs and local youths hense the reason for the guarded gate. and perimiter walls. But they will not come into the grounds and you probably will never encounter them. What you wont find is drunken locals as there is no drink on the islands except at the Equator Village.
The pool is great the beach is subject to local tides. The shower in the bath room is ancient and electric and wet room style the toilet dates back to the war but all are very clean. as are the beds and towels. Lets face it you go to your room to sleep and your eyes are shut!!! the only bugs you will see are mossys and they will spray your room daily if you have a problem. OH OH and there is the internet now too.
Television is in the lounge and tv room but do you really travel for 11 hours and get on another plane for 90 mins to watch TV !
Get a life and stay home or pay many thousand pounds and go for luxury y elsewhere.
Keep an open mind and you will enjoy this place there are Japanes english germans dutch and russians and americans there when we were there. Quite a few singe people too. Loved it every time ive been and will keep going back because I cannot afford the other maldives resorts!

3 readers found this review helpful

They say you get what you pay for but I think I got much more than I did. Yes fairly basic but the food is good, the reef is awesome (saw a turtle on the first snorkel) and so is the diving with the local operators which are very professional and friendly. If you are looking for 5 star luxury this is not for you but for its simplicity, ambience and great pool facilities there is surely no better than I can think of. The fact that you can go and see how the locals live is a plus.

2 readers found this review helpful

7 of us went to Equator Village for 2 weeks all inclusive.
On arrival the accommodation looked well worn and slightly worrying as you are in the ex military compound, with barbed wire and broken bottles cemented into the perimeter walls.
After being shown to our rooms, 2 of the girls started crying, but we decided to see how it was after a good night’s sleep.
The following morning it was no better. With no beach, no windsurfing, very poor food
And a smell of warm effluent wafting around.
IF you have fancied a bit part in Tenko this is the place for you.
But I must say that Thomsons were brilliant and listened to our complaints and did everything in their power to move us quickly and efficiently to another resort which was lovely.

1 reader found this review helpful

We have only just arrived back from Equator Village in the Maldives, Maldives is the most beautiful place ever the views and the scenery are amazing and would recommend the destination to anyone. Cosmos were very good and the service we received was very good as well. However the resort was very basic in fact a little to basic for the price you would pay to go all the way out there.
All Inclusive means the following: subjected to only one particular beer, one red and white wine and a handful of soft drinks. Your meals are all buffet any food consumed outside of meal times you have to pay for. Should you want to order of a different menu during meal times you have to pay.
All inclusive at Equator Village is one bottle of water in a little fridge in your room. The rooms are quite big with tiled floors, bathroom which is also very basic and not very clean. The resort does not make any amenities to avoid insects or mosquito's from entering into your rooms. Maldives and the Island is spectacular for diving its one of the best islands ever, however your in Maldives and would appreciate some luxury, which this resort will lack, there are no T.V's in the rooms, when its bad weather there is nothing for you to do! Great holiday but would not 100% recommend the resort.