My husband and I recently embarked on our highly-anticipated honeymoon in the Maldives, a destination we chose to celebrate this special occasion. We invested a substantial amount in our stay at the OBLU SELECT Sangeli, exceeding five figures for a six-night stay (over AUD$2,000 per night). Unfortunately, we regret our choice of OBLU SELECT Sangeli for our honeymoon, as we did not have the experience we were hoping for. It's fair to say, had we chosen a more budget-friendly option, our expectations might have been different.
Let's begin with the aspects that worked during our stay.
The snorkelling was truly exceptional. We were mesmerized by the undersea life, and the crystal-clear waters allowed us to swim with small sharks and witness hundreds of colourful fish. The sunsets were equally breathtaking, providing a beautiful backdrop to our romantic evenings.
For most of our meals, we dined at The Grill, one of the three restaurant options available on the island. The food was good, and what made the experience truly outstanding was our waiter, Shaam, and his team. They were professional, kind, and went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. The quality of drinks throughout the resort was also commendable.
Our villa was well-maintained and cleaned twice a day by the hardworking housekeeping staff. Their efforts did not go unnoticed, and we regret not having the chance to thank them in person on our last day.
The spa experience was an absolute highlight, with the dedicated staff providing us with a truly relaxing and rejuvenating experience.
However, there were several aspects of our honeymoon experience that did not meet our expectations.
First and foremost, the honeymoon villa we were assigned left much to be desired. While it was spacious, it was also extremely dated, looking as though it hadn't been updated in at least 30 years. The most disappointing aspect of the villa was the infinity pool, which had several missing tiles, and it seemed like every day we found new tiles on the floor. This not only made the pool less appealing but also raised concerns about safety.
Service was another area where our expectations were not met. Despite being part of our honeymoon package, we had to constantly remind the staff to replenish our drinks, fruit, and water. This lack of attention to detail was frustrating and disappointing, especially given the premium we expected from the limited number of honeymoon villas at the resort.
The resort assigned us a butler as part of the package, but this arrangement didn't work out as expected. Our butler was largely unresponsive and didn't provide clear information. He offered to take us on island tours via a buggy, but arranging pick-ups was a hassle. He also failed to inform us about the available excursions included in our package, and we missed out on a complimentary excursion. Furthermore, the butler created an itinerary for us without seeking our preferences, scheduling dinners at 9pm, which clashed with our dining preferences. It took multiple conversations with various managers to finally secure a more suitable dining time, a process that was frustrating and time-consuming. Definitely something you don’t want to do during your honeymoon!
Dining options on the island were limited to just three restaurants. The Courtyard, a buffet restaurant, served subpar food that didn't meet our expectations. Thankfully, we could dine at The Grill with our package. However, it was surprising that, despite the all-inclusive nature of the resort, we could choose only one option from each course. The Wok, the third restaurant, offered a decent experience but was not something we would frequent.
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of our stay was the construction work that started on three of the honeymoon villas just a day after our arrival. The constant drilling, banging, and noise persisted until 9pm, effectively diminishing our ability to relax and enjoy our honeymoon to the fullest.
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