Sara Teele
We just returned from a short stay at Malahini Kuda Bandos, and we genuinely had an amazing time. The only possible negative I can come up with is that the rooms and some facilities are a little bit run down with a lot of wear-and-tear, but not in a way that seriously affected our trip or our enjoyment. Everything was clean, comfortable, and more than sufficient for a relaxing beach escape. Loved the ceiling fan in the room so I could skip the AC!
The true highlight of this resort is the staff. Every single person we interacted with was friendly, warm, and incredibly helpful. Special shout-outs to Vanesa, Ansari, Leona, and Astini - they were absolute stars and made us feel so welcomed.
We did have a rocky start due to a 5-hour flight delay, and some confusion over WhatsApp where we were mistakenly told that the resort had no plant-based milk options and that we could not bring our own. As vegans, this worried us. But the moment we arrived, we realized the complete opposite was true. The team went above and beyond to accommodate our dietary needs. They had plant milks, vegan butter, a chef familiar with vegan cooking, and staff who were eager to make delicious meals for us. We felt so cared for.
One of the highlights of our trip was the private beach dinner. It was absolutely worth it; romantic, beautifully set up, and surprisingly affordable (almost the same price as the buffet). They created a customized 4-course vegan menu for us, full of flavor and beautifully presented. The only thing missing was a vegan ice cream - like coconut milk ice cream or dairy-free sorbet - which I hope the resort considers adding because it would make the dining experience even better!
We were only there for two days, but we left feeling relaxed and refreshed. Another huge plus is the location: just a 15-minute speedboat ride from Malé Airport. It saves so much time compared to resorts requiring long seaplane transfers. There is a bit of light pollution from the Malé coastline, but we still saw plenty of stars and enjoyed the peaceful island atmosphere.
Overall, we loved our stay, felt truly looked after, and would happily return. With a few small updates to the rooms and some vegan dessert options, this resort would easily be perfect!
Salman Muhammad Soomar Ranani
Amazing resort and specially amazing staff, food and atmosphere.
Would like to start with transfer to resort; transportation was excellent and the boat staff were really good. Reaching resort was smooth, cucumber, mint & lemon juice was served. When we reached rooms were available but they made us pay additional for early check-in though rooms were available but they kept us asking to wait or pay additional.
Later everything was very great, comfortable stay, good food, great activities. Really enjoyed the welcoming nature of staff, variety of food and of course the resort itself which was preserved well with nature surrounding.
The great thing was very minimal or no plastic and polytene use.
Pavel Strandh
We visited Malahini Kuda Bandos through a UAE credit card promotion that reduced the price by more than 75%. Without that discount, this stay would have been difficult to recommend.
The strongest part of the experience is the island itself. The reef, the marine life, the beach, and the colours of the lagoon are genuinely beautiful. If your goal is to enjoy nature, you’ll find it here. Sharks, sting rays, mantras, you name it, right outside the island!
Everything tied to the commercial side of the resort falls short.
Service is inconsistent. Some staff members are kind and professional, some not well-trained. Others lean heavily into upselling, which creates the opposite of a relaxed holiday atmosphere. And a fraction of the team seems visibly unmotivated. The egg station became the clearest example: requesting a poached egg resulted in frustration, sighing, and attempts to redirect to fried eggs every morning for five days. It was almost amusing, but also undeniably unprofessional.
The water sports team showed a similar lack of interest. Light rain, mild wind, or any small excuse was enough to keep kayaks and paddle boards locked away. When equipment was finally available, the rules were restrictive to the point of feeling infantilising: one-hour limit, mandatory life vest, and constant supervision like a school outing. Reason for the rules are also absent, "Its the same rules for everyone". I can tell you it is not, having seen the rest of the world, this experience was the only that gave me flashbacks to kindergarden days. Absolutely ridiculous.
There are also basic shortcomings across the property. Simple items like bathroom rugs were missing. Not everyone in the restaurant gets a seat with a cushion etc. The foosball table looks neglected. Meanwhile, prices are set at levels that don’t match the overall experience: minibar items are extremely expensive, excursions come with steep markups(even with so called discounts), and even pressing a t-shirt costs USD 6. It consistently felt like the priority was extracting revenue rather than delivering value. Even the staff admit that it is ridiculous.
Reading other reviews, these issues appear to be recurring patterns rather than isolated cases. It’s hopefully an exception within the Maldives, but based on this stay, it doesn’t feel unique. For a similar style of holiday—with better service, better value, and a more guest-focused approach—you can easily find stronger options in places like the Philippines, Vietnam, or Mexico.
The island’s natural beauty is undeniable. Everything else needs meaningful improvement.
Ursula Baumberger
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A wonderful stay at Malahini Kuda Bandos
We were warmly welcomed by Subha, who anticipated every wish and made us feel at home from the very first moment.
Amdadul prepares the best omelets for breakfast – simply perfect to start the day!
All the staff were incredibly kind and caring. Aiya always greeted us with a warm smile at the restaurant, and Rosi looked after us with so much attention and friendliness.
A special thank you to our housekeeper Forhad, who decorated our bed every day with flowers and leaves and left such lovely messages.
Our massages and spa treatments were professionally and lovingly performed by two wonderful ladies – pure relaxation!
The food was delicious – compliments to the chefs!
We felt completely comfortable and well taken care of throughout our stay.
Thank you to the entire team – our time at Malahini was truly amazing!
Sofia Ahmad
We had an absolutely amazing stay at malhini kudos Bandos during our first trip to the Maldives for our babymoon and 5 year anniversary! The staff were incredible and gave us a cake to celebrate the occasion with amazing room decor aswell! They even upgraded us to a larger suite on the last day of our stay which was so nice!
The food was really delicious too in the maaga restraunt and all the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful especially Shees and Ms Yadanar.
My Booking
