Enchanting Experiences at The Westin Maldives
✈️ Arrival & Welcome The transfer from the airport is impeccably organized with swift connections, a comfy lounge (though more varied food would be nice), and smooth seaplane transfers. The island greeting is enchanting: drums, singing, warm smiles, and a refreshing hibiscus beverage. Check-in is smooth and efficient, setting the perfect tone for the stay. 🏡 Villas The villas at The Westin are some of the most breathtaking we've encountered in our five visits to the Maldives. Measuring 180 m² (90 m² inside + 90 m² terrace), they are spacious, modern, and elegantly crafted using natural materials. The Heavenly Bed ensures top-notch comfort, while the marble bathroom with a lagoon-view tub is pure bliss, featuring automated separate toilets, large dressing area, and indoor/outdoor showers. Though vast, the terrace would benefit from hammocks or extra seating. The metal stairs into the lagoon are steep, sometimes rusty, and very hot under the sun—a different material would improve comfort. Housekeeping was superb, yet a few tweaks would enhance the stay: additional bath mats initially, leaving the underwater light on at night to enjoy the marine life, and more frequent minibar refills. 🍴 Dining Dining includes a buffet breakfast, a la carte lunch, and specialty restaurants in the evening (Pearl, Hawker). Highlights include outstanding pastries, excellent wood-fired pizzas, an introduction to new Asian fruits, and fresh orange juice in the villas. For improvement: menus mainly cater to the Asian clientele (around 70% of guests), with limited tropical fruit juices (mango, coconut, passion fruit). Some fruits weren't very sweet, and service was slower during off-peak times. Unforgettable dining is all about the staff. A heartfelt thanks to Chef Min for personalized dishes and offering coconuts and mangos free of charge. Thanks also to Amil (Restaurant Manager), Deepak “Octopus”, Balot, Anupam, Sharma, Alko, and the entire team. 💆 Spa & Wellness The spa is a peaceful haven. A personalized welcome (our names in stones at the entrance), beautiful treatment rooms with lagoon views, and therapists (Ika, Nopi, Kadik, Wati) are professional and friendly. Treatments were deeply relaxing. Details we adored: the hibiscus tray and exceptional tamarind juice post-treatment. Improvements needed: prices are higher than at other resorts, and the oils and products used aren't promoted or sold. Local products should be exhibited and purchasable. Phone usage rules should be stricter—some guests disrupt the tranquility with loud calls. 🎾 Activities & Entertainment The included dolphin cruise in the all-inclusive package was magical and lively. Other excursions (manta, fishing, local islands) were pricier than at other resorts. Evening entertainment was enhanced by a talented, energetic live Cuban band, though guests seldom danced. Themed evenings could add a festive flair. Special mention: my husband loves tennis and played thanks to Deepak and Rovit, who promptly found partners for him and joined in themselves. Their thoughtfulness showed genuine care in making our stay distinct. ⭐ Staff & Service The real gem at The Westin Maldives is the staff. We've rarely witnessed such a professional, united, and sincerely caring team. Their collective efforts made our 50-year celebration unforgettable. Complete staff acknowledgments include Chef Min, Amil, Deepak “Octopus”, Rovit, Balot, Anupam, Sharma, Alko, Anto (French), Krishan, Ramesh, Christiane, Melissa, Egyptian Ahmed, Amit, Nithil, Vijay Kumar, Ika, Nopi, Kadik, Wati, Faizi. A special mention (20/10) goes to Deepak, Rovit, Amil, Balot, Anupam, Anto, Krishan, Amit, and Chef Min. They exceeded expectations and truly brightened our stay. We appreciated the warm, genuine welcome note from GM Vijay Kumar. Even missing his event invitation showed his engagement and care. Many staff praised him, and it’s visible: when management treats the team with humanity, they deliver an extraordinary experience to guests. 💎 Conclusion For our 50th year, we chose the Maldives over Tahiti without regret. This stay will forever be in our memories. Normally, we don’t return to the same resort, but The Westin set a new standard. As demanding guests and myself a customer service consultant, I confidently attest this resort represents excellence. Despite minor areas to improve (fruit variety, spa prices, lagoon stairs), our experience was a flawless 5/5. We highly recommend The Westin Maldives for luxury, peace, beauty, and the warmth of a superb team. Thank you all for making our journey unforgettable.