Gili Lankanfushi

From the moment we arrived, the service at Gili was impeccable. The staff's attentiveness was remarkable; everyone remembered our names almost instantly. Each morning at breakfast, our coffee orders were already on the table before we even sat down. Our stay in the Private Reserve for our family trip was made truly exceptional by our Mr. and Mrs. Friday, Zubba and Rayaa. They were both outstanding. The private reserve itself was beautiful, with amazing rooms and even better views. We were fortunate to celebrate two family birthdays during our stay, and the Gili team went above and beyond to make these occasions truly special and memorable. Our overall experience at Gili was simply wonderful. We left with heavy hearts and tears in our eyes, already hoping to return someday. Thank you so much, Zubba, Rayaa and the rest of the team, for making our stay so incredibly special.

What an amazing holiday this has been. Can’t fault the Gili at all. We stayed at the Private Reserve which really was our home away from home for the week. Everything was perfect. Our Mr and Miss Friday Zubba and Rayaa were amazing; they were so helpful, fun and went above and beyond. Would highly recommend, thank you Zubba and Rayaa!

We have been to many premiere beach resort destinations around the world in the Caribbean, the Pacific islands, and tropical Southeast Asia, as well as resorts in the Maldives, but NONE came close to Gili Lankanfushi. The mesmerizing and glittering azure/turquoise water in the lagoon is UNMATCHED from anywhere else (yes, including you, Bora Bora!). But what stood out the most was the UNPARALLELED customer service and attention to details that made this resort surpassed all others. Have you ever had random staffs at a resort all magically knew your names, including your kid? Have you ever had an animated picture of your family drawn on powdery white sandy beach while sitting on a rug sipping wine watching the sunset? Have you had staffs who paid attention to your favorite foods and drinks so that the moment you sit down at your dining table, the items are out without mustering a single word? The resort went as far as preparing a surprise exclusive honeymoon dinner for us. A complete surprise! We came back to our villa and BoOom! Complimentary champagne and honeymoon cake arranged neatly beside our curated bed with roses and palm leaves in our names..another complete surprise.. A couple of shoutouts to my favorite people at the resort: - Our private butler (Ms. Friday) Shaany who went above and beyond to the point of anticipating the majority of our needs without us even realizing we need those things. She’s fantastic with kids! - Our personal waiter Wabbe who thoroughly knew all of our habits and favorite items after just ONE MEAL! He is an amazing human being. - The gentle, soft spoke tropical fruit station chef, Mr. Hariss who patiently peeled every single fruits on our platter without us even requesting…this blew our minds! We even had upper management in Mr. Rodrigo and Ms. Shazu visiting to ensure that every needs are met perfectly…all of these were done so discretely that our privacy was NEVER infringed! Life is already stressful and tiring for most of us, so let Gili Lankanfushi pamper you to a new height! Take my words on this one..

We went as a family in November and have never had a holiday like it. Truly the ultimate chance to switch off and refresh: I literally didn’t have to carry anything in my brain. Mr Friday (the fantastic Alif) was there to take care of remembering our schedule, adjusting to our last minute changes and also making great suggestions, beautiful family moments, and memories. All with a sunny smile and a “certainly” attitude. And by schedule I mean the tough grind of our chosen daily activities: yoga, tennis lessons with Henrique, snorkelling with the resident marine biologist (the aptly named Coraline), learning to surf with Brendan, surprise sunset cocktails on the beach, dolphin spotting, etc. The food was delicious and Alicia at the restaurant was a gem. Service and anticipating guests' wishes in general was incredible. Our child is autistic and often displays behaviours that seem odd to other people. All the Gili staff were extremely kind and accommodating, but Alif and Alicia went out of their way to ensure they understood and could fully support her needs. The buggy driving lesson was a real highlight! We loved every minute and can’t wait to return. We were so busy relaxing and recharging that we didn’t even get to try the famous spa, movie night, diving, turtle snorkelling, or nurse shark spotting! What a great excuse to return and savour some more of Gili’s fabulous island life….

Gili was truly one of the most special places I have been to. My husband and I went for our honeymoon and our experience was incredible. The hotel was gorgeous with unmatched hospitality. Our “Ms. Friday” in particular, Shaany, helped make our stay unforgettable. She was so helpful with anything we needed and beyond thoughtful, organizing special surprises for us throughout our stay. We will definitely be back!