WOW!! First impressions are so important and Joali definitely hit the mark! We were met by the entire Joali team, led by the resident manager, Mark Hibbett. We loved how they all waived to us as our seaplane landed, making us feel so welcomed and showing their excitement for our arrival. It was absolutely phenomenal. We are from USA and have traveled to most of the States, Singapore, Bali, Dubai, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos, Grand Caymans, Bermuda, Bahamas, Los Cabos, St. Marteen, and so many other places, but Joali is absolutely our new #1 vacation destination!
Upon arrival at the resort, we were welcomed into the beautiful mantaray work of art, greeted with warm smiles, a beautiful coconut drink, and introduced to our Jadugar/butler, which means magician, which is exactly what Yantee was for us. He must have 5 phones with him at all times and must never sleep, because every time we contacted him, he was there for us, early morning or late nights. From picking us up from our villa and taking us anywhere on the island, to making all our dinner reservations, arranging boat transportation to Joali Being, taking care of any special requests, handling any issues quickly, and always smelled fresh, like he just got out of the shower. Even on the one rainy day we had, he was there with a smile, while ensuring the umbrella stayed over our heads, and not his, as we walked to the buggy. We were amazed on the night that we planned to stay out late to enjoy cocktails, that Yantee would personally pick us up, regardless of the time. He made us feel that we were truly his responsibility, during our entire stay.
If Yantee is a magician, then Gandip, the head Sommelier, must be his assistant because he was everywhere for us too! He helped us at breakfast with mimosas, and didn't just point to the area where we could get one. He took us over there and explained all the different types of juices, the type of champagne, and selection of fruits. Then we saw him again at dinner and he explained the different types of wines and which ones he would suggest depending on our dinner selections. We had never tried sake before, but based on Gandip's recommendation, we tried it at dinner at Soake and we loved it. He knew how much we enjoy champagne and arranged a beautiful champagne sabering on the beach for us and it was absolutely perfect!! Gandip, along with Dhaadh, withstood the rain and provided us a wonderful breakfast experience inside the Manta Tree. They did so with smiles and attentiveness, as if it was a bright, sunny day. Once the rain subsided, Gandip and Dhaadh, continued to deliver amazing food and service to ensure our romantic breakfast experience was unforgettable...and it was. It is one of my best memories there, thanks to them! Dhaadh was so genuine and really took the time to explain the diversity of the staff and how their true purpose is to provide a wonderful experience for their guests. They weren't just words either, you could feel how important the service is to them.
We worked out daily at the gym and loved the high quality equipment and wide selection, to include an outdoor recreational workout area with boxing bag. Ronnie assisted us at the gym and was quick to clean all equipment, bring us ice from a different building for our pre-workout drinks, hand us cold, fragranced towels when we finished our cardio sessions, and was always enthusiastic when speaking about Joali and all that is offered to keep our wellness, both physically and mentally, balanced for us. He truly loves what he does and it shows.
Sidhesh, who is also a sommelier, helped us with our champagne sabering, and explained the meaning behind it and made it very special for us. He is passionate about making sure we are enjoying our experience and always has a big smile on his face. Baka seemed to show up all over the island and was there ready to help us, was very friendly, and kept things light and funny for us. Leo, Martha, Marina, and Budi all served us at breakfast and/or dinner and remembered our likes and dislikes and always welcomed us by calling us by our names. Martha was really funny too and kept us smiling during our last dinner there, even though we were sad because we knew we had to leave the next day. Farzona was super enthusiastic and spent time with us explaining all the details of our room. The room is super comfortable and the details are incredible.
But none of this is a surprise to us after meeting their leader, Mark Hibbett. No wonder the entire team is phenomenal!! When you lead from the front and set the example, it shows! As this was our first visit to Joali, but definitely not our last, we had never met anyone from the staff previously, but it felt like we created a lifetime friendship in Mark. It is rare to meet a resort manager that makes the time to have genuine conversation with his guests. Mark, is so genuine, warm, and truly cares, not just about the guests, but his team. Any time we gave him a compliment or told him how much we were enjoying our stay, he credited his team and their hard work and sincere desire to provide us with the highest quality services. We can't say enough good things about Joali, the resort, the food, the gorgeous views, and above and beyond service from the entire staff. We will definitely be back and can't wait to get there!
