Bandos Maldives

I’d be delighted to recommend Bandos Island Resort after a truly wonderful family holiday. It fully lived up to our expectations of the Maldives. The snorkelling was incredible—swimming alongside sharks and colourful tropical fish felt like stepping into a real-life Finding Nemo. There was always something new to see. Our apartment was spacious, spotless, and just steps from a quiet, almost private beach with comfortable loungers—perfect for relaxing. The food was excellent throughout, especially the local curries, which have inspired me to try recreating them at home. The service was outstanding. Every member of staff was welcoming, but Swapan in the Gallery restaurant made our stay especially memorable. He added a warm, fun and personal touch to every meal, and our little boy adored him. His kindness and attention meant so much to us—he is a real credit to Bandos. The spa was another highlight. My daughter and I both enjoyed deeply relaxing treatments after a long travel delay. We loved our evenings at the Sunset Bar, unwinding with drinks while watching the beautiful sunsets. A special thank you to Jay, whose friendly and interesting conversations and helpful recommendations made our visits even more enjoyable. Ahmed at the Sand Bar also deserves recognition. My husband enjoyed great chats with him, and his friendly service added another personal touch to our stay. He’s a fantastic addition to the team. The only small area for improvement was the all-inclusive drinks package. We were surprised that some drinks, like Margaritas and Prosecco, weren’t included. Expanding the selection would make the experience even better. Thank you to everyone at Bandos for such a special holiday. We leave with wonderful memories and would happily recommend the resort to anyone seeking an unforgettable Maldivian experience.

This was our 10th visit to Bandos, and sadly it has come to an end once again. The staff are truly amazing, especially Husain at The Gallery. He always goes above and beyond to make us feel welcome, and this time he also took my husband on an amazing snorkeling trip around the island, which was a truly unforgettable experience. A special thank you as well to Niaz at The Gallery and Rameez at Huvan, who always greet us with a smile and is such a warm person and to Amar, who always makes sure you feel comfortable. These wonderful people are what make this island so special to us. A big thank you to the chef at Huvan for the incredibly delicious curry and dhal—they were absolutely outstanding! Our room was always kept spotless and beautifully maintained, thanks to the fantastic housekeeping staff. Bandos will always feel like a second home to us. Although this year we felt the warm, familiar atmosphere just a little less than before, perhaps that’s simply because we know the island and its traditions so well after all these years. The snorkeling on the house reef was amazing once again. Thank you, Bandos, for another wonderful holiday. We will definitely be back! 🫶

It is only 10 minutes by boat from ththe airport which makes the whole trip very convenient when traveling with small kids! No need for a seaplane! The villa was super nice. The staff at the restaurant was amazing. The spa is HEAVEN on earth! I had the best massage of my life there! Kids had so much fun on the beach and the pool and at the kids club! Thank you! We had amazing holidays

Only 15 min in speed boat from airport, very comfortable arrival/departure procedures. They made super tasty birthday cake for my mom and beautifully decorated the table. Great domestic coral reef suitable for swimming with kids. This island is so green, beautiful and clean. Staff is friendly

The Good The food variety was genuinely impressive, with plenty of vegetarian options across the board. A special mention to Chef Nadheem and Chef Jayveer, who went out of their way to accommodate our dietary requirements. The staff made the stay. Jainam was so bright, engaging and even took one of my favourite photos of us at sunset at Huvan. Arya at Seabreeze was brilliant every morning, always greeting us with a warm smile, even on the back of a night shift, that kind of service doesn't go unnoticed. Nature-wise, the island delivers. There's a wonderful variety of fish and snorkelling was a real highlight. Do be cautious though as there are no lifeguards, and it's easy to get drifted further out than you realise. Sun beds were never an issue... plenty to choose from, no scrambling for a spot. And the sunsets at Huvan and sunrises at Seabreeze were breathtaking. Genuinely stop-you-in-your-tracks moments. The Not So Good All-inclusive that isn't quite all-inclusive. Food is only served at set locations and strict times. We missed breakfast once and had to pay for it, which I've never experienced at an all-inclusive before. At Huvan, Seabreeze only drinks are included, not food, and not even all the drinks are covered. If you're all-inclusive, the menu shouldn't still have pricey extras confusing the picture. The spa is expensive and not transparent. I went once after struggling with jet lag but didn't go back. The massage was exceptional but the prices didn't match how quiet it was, which felt like a missed opportunity on their part as much as mine. On top of the treatment cost, they add service charge and tax, so the price you see isn't the price you pay. Not geared up for peace and quiet. There were a lot of children at the resort, so if that's an issue for you, book adults-only. We ended up asking to move rooms because of kids next door, the walls aren't soundproof. The room we moved to was a quiet one so happy with that. Bottom Line Beautiful island, brilliant staff, incredible natural surroundings — let down by an all-inclusive package that doesn't feel truly inclusive and some pricing that isn't upfront. Worth visiting for the experience, but I'll be trying a different island next time. Would I return? No, but only because there's so much more of the Maldives left to explore.