| 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Honeymoon | Family | Leisure |
| Overall Rating |
|---|
| Very Good 5 Reviews WRITE A REVIEW ADD PHOTOS |
| Bedrooms |
|---|
Sleep quality: Excellent |
Amenities: Very Good |
Bathroom: Very Good |
| House Keeping |
|---|
Cleanliness: Excellent |
Maintenance: Excellent |
| Public Area |
|---|
Inside: Excellent |
Outside: Very Good |
| Service |
|---|
Check In/Out: Excellent |
Professionalism: Excellent |
Friendliness: Excellent |
Dining: Excellent |
Excursions: Very Good |
| Food and Drinks |
|---|
Breakfast: Very Good |
Lunch: Very Good |
Dinner: Excellent |
Choice of Dishes: Very Good |
Choice of Drinks: Very Good |
| Others |
|---|
Ambience: Very Good |
Value for Money: Very Good |
Expectation Level: Very Good |
Internet: Average |
Love to visit again: Very Good |
Joanna Lim
Customer Service, Amenities, Sea Sports Centre
Holiday Inn Kandooma epitomises good customer service. This is what impressed me the most here. The staffs are accommodating, friendly, smiling and I feel that they go out of the way to make me happy as a resort guest. Having been to a few Maldives resorts- 5 stars are not, I came to realise good service is not a given.
Super like #1: the snorkelling trip out on a catamaran with a sea sports crew. I had to go out on a catamaran to an off-site diving because I missed out on the free snorkelling trip that is offered to guest. The water sports crew was very pro and even taught me how to sail the catamaran even though I only paid for the snorkelling. The house reef was so-so but the off-site snorkelling was fabulous.
Super like #2: The double storey beach house resembles a beach apartment and I love the decor. There is a juicer in it and free oranges to go with the juicer. A simple yet fantastic nice touch. Internet connection is not fantastic (and reasonably so since we are on an island) and it's free. There's also free printing and use of Internet in the reception area.
Super like #3: Love how I could have BBQ right at my beach house. Just order the raw food on the BBQ menu and they will deliver to you. Fabulous idea because I don't like to dine with the crowds.
Super like#4: Near Male so only speedboat transfer is needed.
Definitely a resort worth checking out and worth coming back.
(*I do not own shares or know the resort owner(s) so this review is completely unbiased ;-))
Stayed February 2011
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Penny
The restaurant called the Kitchen
From the moment we arrived at the airport we were greeted by the Holiday Inn team who welcomed us with cold drinks and lemon towels before starting our 30 minute boat ride to Kandooma Island. The views were incredible and I really had to keep pinching myself to make sure I took all of the beautiful colours in.
The Island of Kandooma itself is very small, and allot more glam' that what you would expect from a standard Holiday Inn Hotel, although the rebranding of the Hotel Inn was like a different class. For 2 people wanting a nice romantic break for a week it was truely perfect. The beaches never felt over crowded and neither did the choice of restaurants they offered.
Our room was wonderful. Very modern with a real fresh, clean feel. Outdoor showers just incredible and Orange Press machines Free of charge complete with organes stacked fresh in your room each morning. I cannot give the staff any more praise. I felt the service was very genuine and that which you would recieve from a high class restaurant over here. I could talk for hours about how wonderful the place is and how much I look forward to returning. Although it now feels like a distant memory
but one I shall never ever forget.
Stayed May 2010
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Angel
The staffs, friendily
House reef is not easy to reach
The pools area are excellent, beautiful, and relaxing. The staffs at Activity Center are very nice. They organized many activities, free or chargeable, which are really much of fun. You can go snorkeling, sea safari....etc.
Also, you can join the game of underwater hockey. It's really interesting me. Kandooma Island Resort runs well when I visit them. There are SPA center, Gym, Kids Club, Library, shopping store...etc.They can meet all you need and want.
The foods there varies often, too. If you don't want buffet, they also supplies Cafes' food for a light lunch, or a la carte for dinner. The villa is comfortable, housekeeping twice a day. Baby sitting is available, too. It's really a good place for a family holiday.
Stayed June 2010
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Jackie Woodward
Leisure > With children | 24 September 2012
Excellent
Everything
Visited with my daughter earlier this year, we had been once before for a day visit whilst staying on Biyadhoo.
Its not the usual kind of island resort but it is a Holiday Inn and very very nice.
We were met on the jetty and taken by buggy to the very light and pleasant reception. The welcome ice cold drink and cold towel were well received. Check in was very quick, then we were taken to our room by buggy, it wasn't very far to walk but the ride was good as it was rather hot.
We were only there for a couple of relaxing days during our week of island hopping.
We were on room and breakfast only so were arranged to have evening meal at the main restaurant, if we should return it would be on FB or HB.
It was very nice sitting outside for the meals rather than being cooped up inside, There was plenty of choice (I am a very faddy eater) no matter where we go I always manage to find a wide selection of salads and desserts.
The roof top terrace is excellent for watching the sun setting while you sip your cocktail etc. there are plenty of sofas to lounge on.
The room was excellent and very modern, flat screen TV ipod dock, tea/coffee/water, orange press to squeeze your own oranges supplied each day. Slippers,flip flops, robes and a beach bag all supplied. Also a well stocked fridge, (be careful what you drink as they are expensive).
Very light room all white with turquoice trimmings - I liked the light up bedside table. Part open air bathroom with sunken bath (not huge but served its purpose) and a separate shower.
Outside on the veranda was a sofa and coffee table and a hammock, and we were only a few steps from the waters edge.
At the swimming pool they have a drinks trolley so you can help yourself to free water, the first time we visited there was also suncreams. It was very strange whilst relaxing beside the pool to watch some guests learning to snorkel in the pool (organised session).
There are free snorkelling trips from the island, only trouble is they don't last for long enough. You no sooner get to the site which is not very far away, get in the water, then its time to go back.
Kareoke under the stars - not my idea l,but it was a laugh to listen to orientals singing there hearts out, especially when you've no idea what they are singing about and they are very competative.
My daughter was very happy with the free wi-fi which was excellent.
One thing I would have liked would have been 2 beds instead of the big one. I suppose if we were staying for a long time we would have asked to have had the big one split, the room was very spacious so it wouldn't be a problem.
One thing that is novel is the light up markers round the island at night e.g. South Beach, Spa, Restaurant, West Beach etc.
From a distance I don't like the look of the over water accommodation. (Just my opinion looking at them from Biyadhoo they look like caravans on the coastal edge at an English resort), but up close they look very very nice, and I would love to stay in one.
I have stayed on 14 different islands with my husband and visited a least 6 others, as well as 3 two week holidays on the Atoll Explorer.
Would I come back to Kandooma - Yes indeed. If I could win the Lottery I would like to visit every resort in the Maldives and return to all I have visited. To us the Maldives is the best place on earth!!
We have visited other exotic places but to us nothing compares.
Stayed May 2012
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nic.winstanley.5
The check in personal touch
As a lover of the more natural islands I must say Kandooma wasn't my favourite.
I loved the room, it was beautifully decorated in white and turquoise.
The bed was so comfy, I could have slept the whole stay!
The best part for me was on arrival the clipboard with our registration cards was a large leaf with our names written in silver pen. I don't know if they do that all the time but as a lover of the small touches that was a winner!
I liked the bathroom and the amenities where better than other resorts I have stayed.
The beach wasn't like a typical Maldivian island. More rough sand and a less natural feel to the island. It is also a really large island but there's not as much greenery as other resorts I have seen.
We ate in the main restaurant most evenings ad had room service as a treat which was punctual and reasonably priced... I'd have preferred to do that every meal!
The food at the buffet had a great selection but the lay out of the restaurant a little strange which meant at some points it felt like we were sat on a corridor with people passing backwards and forwards so I'd always recommend a table on the decking outside if the weather is ok.
The market was mainly Chinese and Japanese which meant there weren't many english books in their library. (a big aspect on how I rate an island!) The atmosphere had a much more international feel to it too. I think this also comes down to it being a Holiday Inn chain.
The area under the room was nice for having an afternoon snooze but little air movement made it a little stuffy, especially as the weather was humid during our stay. I wasn't really a plan of the plastic seating either which look funky but aren't designed for comfort.
The island bottles it's own water which is a big plus on a resort. I found the drinks much more expensive than other 5 star islands and the excursions were all above average prices.
In conclusion there are other islands I would go back to before this one.
If you like modern and contemporary islands with a brand behind them then its for you.
If you like a more natural island with a strong Maldivian flair then I would suggest another island.
Stayed May 2011, in room 128
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