DESTINATIONS
W Maldives
Invited back by GM
DECEMBER 2018 - Maldives
So where should I begin on this horrible return to the W Maldives? This is my second time visiting the W Maldives, my first experience was horrible and I blogged about it here, I posted it on all travel websites and had over 24,000 readers. In 2017 the new GM of the W Maldives who came from the Cheval Blanc, the LVMH hotel in the Maldives saw my review and invited me to return. He told me about all the changes he had implemented and how I needed to come back for a new visit and experience the change. A few months before my trip a new GM took over again in less than 3 years and to say the least after my visit, the W Maldives will be going under in less than 3 years with the lack of any change and service. It was a horrible experience with little to no change from the last time, restaurants were still closed in high season, the carts are just insane and the service is horrible. I am still questioning how they are a part of the Starwood/Marriott family of hotels.
I was so excited to leave the hotel after my two days of lacklustre experiences and it made me happy we didn’t add on to the two
days they had invited us back for. From breakfast being a complete and utter failure to the over the top New Years set up, to the management team not even caring why they invited me back in the first place. Not only was it a waste of my time, but the hotel is also falling apart and service is pretty much a bunch of college kids who stand around and talk to each other while answering there personal phones trying to serve you when they can. I know W hotels are known for their party vibe, amazing music and alcoholic drinks (I have visited over 15 W’s worldwide, W Hong Kong, W Koh Samui, W Montreal, W Barcelona, W Bali etc) but that shouldn’t mean service can be completely forgotten about.
Let me explain why I think the W Maldives will be closing in less than three years and why you shouldn’t book your Maldives vacation here.
Changes since July 2016
The seaplane company has changed which resulted in a better experience. You no longer have to pay more for your bags. The first time we went we had to pay extra due to our carry-on bags with our luggage weighing over the permitted weight. Before then I had never experienced an airline weighting your carry-on along with your luggage and you at check-in. So this was a nice and welcomed change, one that made for an easier transition. The seaplane also doesn’t stop at multiple hotels anymore; the plane solely goes to and from the W hotel. The hotel also changed their lounge, which is in a different terminal now. The lounge is very nice and they have good food options for guest waiting for there flight. In all honesty, when I arrived and experienced this prior to landing at the hotel I was excited and thought the hotel had made significant changes and that this trip was going to be worth it.
When we landed the welcoming team was there like before, with their booze cart to offer you a welcome drink. One notable change is the hotel no longer offers Moet champagne to guests upon arrival or in the rooms as their welcome gift. Previously they had a bucket filled with Moet bottles and champagne glasses on the welcoming deck. They still offered a glass of champagne but it isn’t a well know brand meaning it wasn’t Moet, Veuve Clicquot, Dom or Krug. This wasn’t a welcome change; I appreciated having a nice glass of Moet when landing and a bottle in my room to enjoy while sitting on the deck. I was actually really surprised by this change especially when the price for the rooms hasn’t changed and for how much you pay a nice bottle of champagne was a nice welcome.
Room – Overwater Bungalow
This time around we once again had an overwater bungalow, it was facing the calmer lagoon side looking at the main island. By hotel standards, this room is considered a higher-level room. Personally, I preferred our view the last time because looking at their collection of boats all day, with them constantly driving in and out with jet skis while listening to them setting up this massive over the top tent ruined the calming atmosphere you’d expect from the Maldives. I also just loved the smell of gas from the boats and seaplane while relaxing on my deck and hearing them hammering all day long made for such a relaxing time. Wasn't relaxing what so ever.
The room was the same as the last time, no changes or updates. I really like the design of these rooms, make you feel like your living in your own personal little oasis, which is amazing. I also love W beds, which are always so comfortable and welcoming especially after travelling for three days to get to the Maldives. When we arrived they showed us around, mostly the lunch specials they had and the events on the remote island they had for guests to enjoy. Now after the fact I realize why they had the island event that day, it was because they would be testing the New Years Eve setup and wanted to whisk people away to another island from noon till four for 120$ per person so they wouldn’t have to listen to the obnoxious music.
The rooms are very spacious for overwater bungalows and with the added deck it makes the room feel twice as big. Their is an outdoor pool and shower as well as a lounging area. The room also comes with a Bluetooth hook up for both inside and outside which makes listening to your own music super easy. The bathroom is nice, with a big tub, which has a view of the ocean as well as a spacious layout for two people. The double sinks are beautifully designed but so hard to use. They used the smallest faucets possible in this huge sink, so badly designed so much so the water ends up all over the counter no matter how hard you try.
One major issue I had was a huge crack in the front door. I was shocked that they had no issues with this and hadn’t already fixed it. Not only for privacy but more for preventing the mosquitos from getting in. It is the small things that matter when you pay so much to experience a luxury vacation. The hotel is nice, but in all honesty, it is falling apart, and the staff of the hotel isn’t helping it stay pretty. While we were there on numerous occasions I saw the staff drive the carts into the corners of the jetty and not care they chipped the wood or caused any danger to the guests. As much as having a room on the water is nice the jetty is a dangerous place to walk.
Bath products
I love W bliss products and always look forward to staying at W hotel to enjoy showering myself in the lemon scent. This time however it wasn’t so, the products all smell rotten, horrible completely unusable. We were shocked at how bad they smelt and wondered if they were expired or if they were refilling bottles. It is upsetting to experience this and to have to even question if something is wrong with the product while on a romantic vacation can be both an added stress and annoying. Hopefully, they can fix this because it is something serious in my opinion and if transporting the products to the hotel is a problem maybe they should look at other methods.
Boats, boats and more boats
OMG, how many boats does one small hotel need? Like honestly there were boats in every direction you looked and for what? Most of the time the boats weren’t in use, so more then anything they were a horrible eyesore to an otherwise picturesque view. They also offer jet ski which guest drive around the overwater bungalows so if you're expecting a relaxing experience sitting on your deck, don’t expect one. It was so annoying hearing this thing zipping around with boats all the time. I almost feel as though this hotel is not meant for relaxing, they are trying to be an over the top party hotel in the middle of the most relaxing place in the world. Also worth mentioning if you have one of the room at the begging of the jetty you will really enjoy the garbage boat, which is there for at least 3 hours in the early morning. It smells fabulous and is such an amazing thing to experience while on vacation in the Maldives. It’s that smell you get from all the garbage on the roads in NYC.
Carts on Jetty
This was something I had expressed in my previous review about the danger and how much I disliked the carts on the jetty and the GM had mentioned in an email before my visit that he was changing this. Well, I guess when he left that never happened. They are the most obnoxious things ever and without any guardrails, you could easily fall into the water should you not walk properly beside the carts zooming by. Makes for a stressful walk when you’re heading to dinner on a nice walk down the jetty. I just don’t understand why they drive like New Yorks on a jetty in the middle of the Indian Ocean; the lack of consideration for the guests is ridiculous and completely disrespectful for those people who paid to enjoy a relaxing vacation. Also, they are driving with blaring music, on there phone and don’t care about the guest. They need to rethink the whole thing, just like I said last time because it is ridiculous how dangerous this is.
Food
Food at the W Maldives is extremely overpriced and not worth the price. A burger is 46$++ (++ is 22% tax & service charges) and your not getting anything special. I was astonished at how overpriced the food actually was, I stayed at the Park Hyatt Maldives which is way more remote then the W and a burger cost 28$++. How is it they can have such reasonable pricing compared to the W? Also, I would like to mention, the Park Hyatt’s Maldives food was out of this world and way cheaper, does the W just overcharge knowing guests have to pay for it because they don’t have any other options?
Sadly once you’re on the island you don’t have many options, the island has three restaurants Fish, Fire, the Kitchen as well as room service options. Even in high season, not all restaurants are open every night for guests. We tried to go to Fish for dinner and were informed they weren’t open that night because Fire was open. I was shocked that even in high season when the hotel is completely sold out they don’t have all their restaurants open on a small island with hundreds of people. I was beyond frustrated and annoyed that this hotel has little consideration for its guest coming from all over the world to enjoy a vacation on this small island. Unlike most destination like W Bali or W Hong Kong where not having all their restaurants open every night would make sense as people leave the property to enjoy a meal, here on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean you have nowhere to go. So why have the restaurants closed? I don’t understand it what so ever and it frustrated me that I couldn't enjoy a nice fish dinner during my stay..
Breakfast
Breakfast is a complete disappointment, my previous visit saw amazing dishes and food selection. They previously had someone whose sole job was preparing fresh exotic fruit at the fruit station every morning. There also used to be a chef who cared to talk to guests and ask them about what they preferred in terms of breakfast varieties. This time it was a sorry excuse for a buffet with a very bad selection of breakfast options. They also don’t understand how important it is to keep food cold, fresh and to not contaminate food. The cheese and meats were out on dishes without anything to keep them cold, sweating and melting from the heat with fly’s all over them.
The spoons, tongues and scoops to grab the foods in the buffet were always laying in the food. Muffins had tongues laying all over them and with so many different people touching the tongues and spoons I felt like more than half the food I couldn’t even touch let alone enjoy due to food poisoning concerns. They also don’t offer even half the food options like last time, no more avocado toast or oatmeal or muesli bowls, they do have oatmeal but it tastes horrible and is more like bad soup. They do have an Asian soup option but it’s so sad, it tastes like a Campbell chicken noodle soup, nothing Asian about it what so ever. How can a five-star resort like this lack so heavily in the breakfast department? Yes, I am comparing it to W Hong Kong and W Bali but this hotel is one of the tops in all of Starwood/Marriott brands and yet they can’t even offer a good breakfast buffet or service? I was extremely disappointed in the food options overall at this hotel from lunch, dinner and breakfast the food is better suited for a Sheraton hotel.
One of the waiters who served us back in July 2016 was still there from our last trip and sadly he wasn’t good the first time and wasn’t any better this time. Somehow with my luck he always found a way to be our waiter, he wasn’t pleasant what so ever, didn’t understand the menu and if you asked him a question he would tell you the wrong information. Service is number one in ensuring your guests feel appreciated and welcomed to your hotel. However, at the W Maldives, the staff are always checking their phones, texting and talking to each other. I doubt that a waiter has a need for a phone while trying to take coffee orders and meal orders. I would have to wave down servers if I wanted to order something as they don’t check on you and once I did have there attention I would order numerous things as it takes forever to get anything.
One thing I find very troubling is how the hotel ends breakfast so early. It is so weird to me how they stop serving breakfast at 10:30. When you're on vacation people sleep in and show up around 9:30 or 10. I am the odd person when travelling; I love waking up for the sunrise in the Maldives meaning 5:30 am. So having an early breakfast for me is best but the W doesn’t offer breakfast until 7 am and should you arrive when it open expect extremely slow service. We had a flight to catch so we arrived at 7 to get food ordered and our coffees immediately and after ordering our coffees it took them 20 minutes to make them, and there’s no one else in the restaurant. I had to ask what was going on with the coffees we ordered and my favourite waiter who loves texting and checking his phone finally arrived with my cold coffee. I was so frustrated and so excited to leave this place.
Lunch
On our first day, we arrive at 8:30 am and decided to hit the gym then get a bit to eat. They have lunch specials which are extremely overpriced and very small (not worth your money). You think from seeing the description you're getting a full lunch special but no way it the smallest overpriced lunch ever and the food sucks. I order the Mediterranean plate and we also order the burger plate. We asked if it came with fry’s and if it was a good size dish and were told yes. The dishes are more tasting style and the burger doesn’t come with fry’s but because they made a mistake they’d offer us fry’s on the side. The lunch was a total fail, my sandwich was literally bread with four small veggies, and almost no pesto and no goat cheese what so ever. It was such a sorry looking sandwich with no flavour. Also, it takes forever to be served why? Because they put everything on one dish, salad, sandwich and dessert. Rather than three meals and serving them individually which is what you expect at a high-end resort to do for there lunch special, but they come all together with the cheesecake dripping in sweat and the food cold.
What an amazing lunch experience. After that meal, I didn’t feel good what so ever and for the next two days had bathroom issues which I don’t like mentioning in my review but I needed to be honest with you all so you can fully understand why this hotel is not worth your time or money. If you are looking for an amazing experience I recommend looking elsewhere, with the Park Hyatt Maldives, Conrad and Como hotels why would anyone pay to stay at the W? Honestly they are nothing special and overpriced in terms of food. A burger is 46$ ++ (22% tax & services on top of everything)
Hamburger Lunch Special
Kitchen Dinner Menu
Mediterranean Lunch Special
Advertising at breakfast
We love breakfast when travelling amazing food, two hours of relaxing with coffee and talking. You don’t expect the hotel staff to try and sell you spa packages and water excursions like those people on the beach in Europe. What an annoying and dumb thing to do, I was frustrated when the first person approached us, by the time the second came along I was angry and said I didn’t want anything before she even spoke. This is not ok for the hotel to think they can sell their products to people enjoying breakfast, if I want to book something I’d go to the whatever whenever myself and find out details. Let people relax at breakfast and offer them the best service possible so they feel welcomed and appreciated and maybe then they might look to experience services at the hotel.
New Years Prep
OMG, what were they thinking? When you arrive off a seaplane on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean you expect tranquillity, relaxation, gorgeous views. You would never in a million years expect them to be setting up for a full-on David Guetta in Ibiza concert. Oh yes, that’s right, if you have ever been to Ibiza, Coachella, Wanderlust and understand the size of these venues think of that setup on a small island in the Indian Ocean. Ridiculous is the only word that comes to mind when explaining what they were doing.
Three days before New Year's Eve they were testing the sound system and it was insane. Our overwater bungalow was vibrating like crazy and the music was out of control. We were never informed that they would be testing the equipment, a letter in the room for us the night before informing us they would be testing the sound system for New Year's Eve would have been nice of the hotel, but like I mentioned before they lack in any form of service. I called the ‘whatever whenever’ line and they told me it’s the test for New Year’s Eve and they believe it will take an hour and a half and when I asked why I wasn’t informed they hung up on me.
I called three times and they enjoyed hanging up on me when I expressed that the music was way too loud and disturbing the guests. It took a very direct email to the GM to finally have them turn it off. They never informed guests of what was going on something, which I’d expect a hotel to do. When we stayed at the W Bali they left a note for us in the room informing us of a power outage for an hour or so, the W Hong Kong informed us they were fixing the Wi-Fi and there could be some issues with it. It’s not difficult to inform guest when they are paying over 1,000$ a night to stay with you. This is the perfect example of the lack of service this hotel has and why I say they will be closed in three years especially with the new St-Regis and Westin, which just opened.
Conclusion
Why would you ever spend your money on this overpriced hotel with horrible services, overpriced food which isn't even good and is incredibly noisy from the boats, seaplanes, and hotel staff? You are flying for hours to get to paradise in the middle of the Indian Ocean, not to walk into an Ibiza concert, if you are looking for an Ibiza vibe you would book the W Ibiza, not the W Maldives. If you're looking for a quiet, tranquil, relaxing vacation with amazing food options this is not the hotel for you. My opinion from the beginning has been this hotel will close in the next three years and is not worth the thousands of dollars you will spend to get there, on the room and food. Look elsewhere, there are so many amazing options in the Maldives so much better than the W. I can highly recommend the Park Hyatt Maldives as I have been twice and loved every minute. For most people visiting the Maldives is a once in a lifetime trip and should be enjoyed, so don't waste your money on the W Maldives. Do your research, look for hotel reviews and understand what you are signing yourself up for. Hope this review was helpful in allowing you to really understand what the W Maldives is all about.
