Baglioni Resort Maldives

As members of Palace Resorts, my husband and I had the opportunity to mark off several bucket list items—staying in a bungalow over the ocean and swimming in the wild with sharks. The Baglioni was absolutely amazing with unparalleled service. Imagine this: stepping out of a seaplane to be greeted by several employees including one who would be your personal butler for ten days. They placed handmade local flora necklaces over our heads then opened and held umbrellas for each of us while escorting us down the dock where we were serenaded by a band playing traditional music. Freshly cut coconuts with the hotel name burned into them served as our first cocktail. After a quick overview, they raised our umbrellas again and walked us to the breakfast buffet. This was the type of service we received for the next 10 days. For the first week, we were in an overwater bungalow so could open our sliding glass deck doors and step onto the stairs to swim in the warm, crystal clear water. For the last three days, we stayed in a beach villa where we watched sunrise from bed, showered in the rain in our private, enclosed bathroom, and walked a few meters on the white sand beach to the ocean replete with coral, fish, and sharks. When we weren't drinking copiously or eating exceptional food, we luxuriated in the beauty of the island. Over the magical days, I swam a total of a half marathon along the ~40-70' wall defining the atoll and Mike and I snorkeled and SCUBA'd together. Visibility was incredible allowing us to see over 50'. We saw two types of starfish, several Moray eels, lots of little crabs and some in-water crabs living in shells, large turtles, lion fish, stingrays, sea slugs, eagle rays (I saw 5 swimming together at one point), and loads of tropical fish (e.g. tangs, wrasses, clownfish playing in anemones). We also saw lots of black tip and white tip sharks. Most were in the 2.5' range, but we saw some closer to 7-8'. We didn't see the octopus living right off our beach or the pod of dolphins playing about a pool length's distance from our shore. My husband and I cannot recommend the Baglioni enough. _____________ The service was phenomenal! Examples of exemplary service included: —Supplying alternative hair conditioner when the type provided didn’t work for my hair —Sending chocolates to our room after I mentioned that I liked them —Letting us reschedule our dive experience because I was sick —Free medical assistance —Leaving me to sleep peacefully after finishing my massage —Scheduling a tour of the physical plant just because we were interested —Bringing me turmeric each morning just because they learned I liked it it in my lattes The employees at Baglioni Maldives were, without exception, perfect in very way. I felt their constant smiles and friendly demeanors were sincere and was consistently surprised and pleased with the level of service and care we received. Every employee was truly committed to ensure we had the absolute best experience possible while on Dhaalu and they regularly asked if there were even more they could do to assist us in any way. That said, some of these employees were particularly memorable to us. These include: —Ella, Margaret, and Pauline (Taste) came to know us quickly and were always so pleasant. They remembered our preferences and greeted us so warmly every time we entered the restaurant or saw them elsewhere on the property. They were sincerely concerned about our well-being, always wanting to ensure we were having an outstanding experience. —Widi was wonderful in the spa! She was so personable. —Raj and Ananya in the pool bar were so positive, always greeting us with smiles. Ananya made me feel so good when she sought me out and requested I bring her all my unique drinks requests. She said she loves to learn about new drinks and it made me feel special that I could provide her new options given my weird palate (and eagerness to try everything in my bar app). Her eagerness to improve her craft was evident. —Raiis in housekeeping was not our normal room attendant, but cared for us several days throughout our trip. We saw him often when walking along the path to our water villa and were always welcomed with a smile and question about whether we needed anything. —Zaha’s name is now synonymous with the word “amazing” for us. What an incredible woman with intense attention to detail! From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, she was our fairy godmother and knight in shining armor rolled into one. —Mariana (the marine biologist) gave a well-prepared and fascinating presentation on reefs and the development of atolls. Plus, she was a great help by answering our many questions during snorkeling adventures. When we happened to see each other in the water at random times, she seemed eager to answer my onslaught of questions. I also really appreciate all she is doing to improve the health of Dhaalu’s reef. —Zaki was most excellent at creating a positive vibe on the island. He was so fun and sincerely interested in everyone. I loved that he took a personal interest in the guests, making us feel like members of the Baglioni family. He provided a great island tour and even joined me on a swim around the island so I could feel more comfortable than if I were swimming alone.

Our family recently experienced our very first trip to the Maldives, staying at the stunning Baglioni Resort, and it could not have been more perfect. We were blown away by the beauty of the island, the amenities, and the exceptional service, especially from Chingiz, our personal assistant, who made our stay truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, Chingiz’s warm welcome and attention to detail put us at ease. He gave us a wonderful tour of the island, helping us quickly get acquainted with the resort’s layout and amenities. He organized all our spa appointments, arranged reservations at the resort’s fantastic restaurants, and even provided rides to ensure we got to meals comfortably. He even took the time to play ping pong with our son and ensured we felt cared for in every way possible. The Baglioni Resort Maldives exceeded all our expectations with its breathtaking views, luxurious accommodations, and world-class dining. And a special thanks to Chingiz for his exceptional service. We highly recommend Baglioni Resort to anyone considering a trip to the Maldives. As first-time visitors, we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to this paradise, and we look forward to returning in the future! – The Comai family

The Resort was like paradise. What made this trip truly special was the service and treatment we received from our guest relation officer Chingiz. He fulfilled all our wishes, was always easy-to-reach, very friendly and competent. I would also like to thank the cleaning team, who made an excellent job, especially Zia. Last but not least I want to mention the staff at the pool bar. The waiters and barkeepers were incredibly friendly. I was especially impressed by the way Naymur treated us. It was just extraordinary how attentive and friendly he was and by creating new creations of cocktails every day he made our trip even more special.

Paradise. Family of 4, two small kids, we had a blast. We wish we could have stayed there indefinetly. We were in Sunset Beach Villa with a pool, which is located perfectly between the Taste restaurant and Pool Bar. Kids club was also close by. I feel like that part of the island has the best beach. Yama restaurant was also great. Pizza boat, too. All inclusive is definetly a way to go, as you don’t have to worry about food and drinks neither inside or outside your villa. Mini bar is good, refilled daily and included in all inclusive. Food was great, wheather was great, villa was great, island is amazing, but people who work there are the best thing about this resort. Everyone was kind, playful with our kids, and always ready to help. We wish we could have stayed more than 10 days, all of which we spent 100% barefooted (from the moment we got off the plane, to the moment we got back on it). There is always something happening, and we spent each day doing something else.

This was by far the best vacation we have ever had. And staying at the Baglioni Resort Maldives was the best decision. From the moment of our arrival, Ambe took such good care of us, attending to everything from dinner reservations, to making sure we had everything we needed for a wonderful vacation. We were treated like royalty and family at the same time. As my husband said, Ambe takes hospitality to a higher level. Every one of the staff was alert and attentive, always watching to see if we needed anything. We'd like to mention a few of the staff who went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable and fun. Sahadat, RJ, Falaa, Unaish, Raj and Ella took the time to get to know us personally. And we would like to give a special thanks to Shakil, who took care of our villa for us. He went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable and happy. On a scale from 1 - 10, I would give these staff members a 20. Stellar. The resort is well organized and geared towards hospitality and making sure everyone is having a great time. Between the outstanding staff and the beautiful location, it truly was paradise. This was supposed to be a once in a lifetime vacation, but we are already planning on coming back. Thanks to everyone at the Baglione.