Sorry, not sorry, really long and gushing review!
This is my first review on Trip-advisor, although I am an avid user of the site and would not book a holiday without it! For the first time I am compelled to write this review because of how we felt during our stay, and since returning home from Centara Grand.
This holiday has made me realises that sometimes what we want is not always what we need. Having travelled to the Maldives earlier this year, staying in a Premium All Inclusive resort, booking a trip anywhere again was going to be difficult. We booked this 12 night trip at Centara Grand very last minute (Friday night, to fly out on the Sunday), the reason being, weeks spent pouring over options, destinations, and reviews. Trying to get all of our wish list in one resort - a very tall order!
We were fortunate enough to book a Club Sunset Overwater Pool Villa, and the room did not disappoint, unfortunately we didn’t have too many glorious sunsets during our stay but we did have some spectacular starry nights, where we saw shooting stars a plenty.
Special thanks to Jambe who cleaned our room beautifully, and ensured an excellent service with our laundry. The Grand All Inclusive package currently offers a laundry allowance per room. We have arrived home and unpacked cases with mostly freshly laundered and pressed clothes. This is genius! We’ve travelled widely and have never had a laundry allowance in any package before.
Originally on arrival we checked into a different villa from the one we ended up in, because we were soon alerted by staff that there was a leak that required us to move. Having travelled a long way and spent time unpacking we really did not look forward to repacking everything to move, we did share this with the member of housekeeping who was really apologetic for the inconvenience. A little later this member of staff and another colleague arrived at the villa to advise us that they would take care of it all. We were blown away, and even more blown away to return to our new villa ( a better one actually in terms of location to the setting sun, unfortunately obscured mostly by clouds during our stay) and found that they had arranged all of our clothes and items exactly as we had unpacked them. They even checked in with my husband a few days later to ensure all was okay. What service! Unfortunately I did not see the two gentleman again, but they deserve recognition and praise for that level of care. I hope the resort can identify them and celebrate them for this.
We booked the Club Villa because of the dining offered at the Club (the resort we visited before had an excellent food and beverage offer, one we wanted to replicate, as nice food is an essential part of our holidays), I was so excited after reading the reviews of Chef Senthil’s culinary skills, everyone talking about the delicious food they received. There has been a recent change to the Club offer meaning that our package included access to the Club, Ala carte breakfast, afternoon tea, and daily canapés at the Club. The mention of premium drinks I think is a little misleading, the menu given is exactly the same as that in Coral and Aqua bar, the only difference I could see was that a couple of the cocktails were included that were not in the other bars, and there was at least one different wine option available. The spirits section might be different but I didn’t pay any attention to this section of the menu. Dinner is still available in the Club, but it now seems to be reserved for special dining arrangements. We were dissappointed that we had not had this communicated at booking, and in all honesty if it had been we would not have booked. Our booking and check in information at the resort all suggested breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Club. After a few days we spoke to the resort manager Mr Nalin Dissanayake , we hesitated about raising this, as we did not want to focus too much on the disappointment at the expense of the holiday as a whole. However Nalin was the consummate professional, who listened to our concerns, explained the changes, and then sort to offer a resolution, which meant that we had a few very special meals at the Club, and the food was fantastic. Senthil thank you so much, we loved eating your food, you know we loved if so much we definitely left heavier than we arrived!
The overall experience at the Club (a little oasis in the resort, if you like a bit of quiet solitude, and relaxed breakfasts/snacks with great ambience). We also loved the bit of beach, as being in a overwater villa it was nice to be able to go and lay on the beach, feel the sand between your toes, especially as sun was not on our deck until around noon. The Club however beautifully styled, would be nothing without the staff. Irfan, and Mae alongside Senthil are just THE BEST! Mae provided impeccable service with the brightest smile, and Irfan should be cloned. He started at the resort approximately 8 yrs ago in housekeeping, progressing to where he is today. He is the most genuine, gracious, and kind host at the Club. We looked forward to chatting with him everyday. He is just a lovely human being. Every resort needs an Irfan, his level of care just appears effortless. We hope this is recognised by Centara, you have an absolute gem!
This experience of being amongst friends didn’t stop in the Club, the staff at this resort are EXCEPTIONAL. The Coral bar crew, are AWESOME. It was like walking into your local where everyone knows you. Friendly, welcoming, inclusive, and aways willing to make a ’special cocktail’ for you. These guys just look like they enjoy their job and they enjoy the guests. The DJ, come part time bar man. We LOVED the DJ nights, he kept us dancing with banger after banger, not easy to keep a crowd happy with a mix of nationalities and music tastes, but he did it wonderfully. That was what was lovely, whether it be DJ nights or karaoke, attention was always paid to make nights inclusive for all guests.
I cannot talk about the entertainment without mentioning Huhthu, what a legend! Your happiness is contagious, as is your dancing. Keep being awesome, what a guy! Always joyous, always bringing the fun! Just a delight to be around!
The reef restaurant staff, we thank you for your attentive and friendly service, we did not visit that often, usually at lunch time, but whenever we did we just had the nicest experience. You have to try the garlic Naan served daily, I think we ate our body weight in Naan, as every time the chef saw us, he greeted us, and placed a bread in the oven, delivering it to our table when it was ready. His badge said he was a trainee Chef, and yet again not only was the food he delivered delicious, but his ability to make you feel really valued was second to none. We were really impressed with the food on offer at the buffet. You will be in your element if you like south and south east Asian food, as the daily offering is varied and plentiful, along with western dishes as well. Even if you would not opt for these choices I think you will be converted! I would not choose to eat from South Asian restaurants at home, and that I think this is more to do with the authenticity of what is created for western tastes, rather than what I thought was a dislike of dishes. At the buffet I was often drawn to these dishes the most, trying lots and enjoying them all. Also worth mentioning there appeared to be a really good gluten free bread and pastry section in the buffet, something I have never seen so well catered before.
Suan Bua the Thai restaurant, serves delicious food and cocktails for lunch and dinner. Special shout our to Pablo, we only visited twice during our stay and when I booked the second time he remembered our room number. Another waiter there was my husbands favourite as he told my husband that he looked like an ‘older’ David Beckham! It seems flattery will get you everywhere! The chef came around the tables during our fist visit and I got talking to him about a dish that I had had some years ago in Northern Thailand, he told me that he was from Northern Thailand, and was planning on getting that dish on the menu in the future. He said he could not get all ingredients, and then added if we visited the restraurant again to ask, and he would try to make it for us, and guess what. Our second visit the dish was delivered to us as our main. It was delicious and so appreciated. Chef, sincere thanks. Another example of how staff go above and beyond for guests.
Moving on to the other restaurant Azzuri Mare, Jithin the chef was informed that we were disappointed regarding not being able to eat all of our evening meals at the Club, and with that he came and introduced himself to us, and spoke to us about the food at Azzuri Mare. His passion, care, and attention to detail shone through. He talked proudly to us about our next meal with them and made recommendations from the menu, advising that he could tweak any dishes to make them more to our liking. When we ate there he came and took our order, talked us through our choices to ensure that we would thoroughly enjoy the dishes. He talked to us about ingredients, preparation and what the catch of the day was. The food that we ate there, was absolute top notch. We know that Jithin has won awards for his fish and seafood cooking, and it shows. He practices his skill and refines it to produce the best food that he can. It is good to hear about the career development he has been selected for, as alongside his culinary talent, he has the same gracious, and effortless approach to guests that you do no often experience even in the ‘hospitality’ industry. Thank you Jithin it was a pleasure to eat your food.
We cannot talk about our experience at Azzuri Mare without shouting out Sunny! Sunny by name, and definitely sunny by nature. The best service, and the most entertaining of hosts. Sunny you looked after us and made us smile every time we saw you thank you, you are FABULOUS!
Aqua bar we did not use very often as it was a bit too quiet for us, but when we did the level of service continued, always warmly welcomed and always taken care of. The same also goes for reception staff. Any interaction was a pleasure.
We used the gym whilst there, and although we never attended any of the organised activity the instructor always went out of his way to chat with us whenever passing. We appreciate you!
We went on a couple of excursions (the guide and the crew, you guessed it, excellent!) and my husband went on a couple of dives. As someone who has tried diving before without success Hassan one of the instructors spent time talking me through how he would assist me if I choose to give it another go. I didn’t this time, but if I wanted to in the future, I would feel in very safe hands with Hassan. Thank you, you could see my fear and you did you best to reassure me, and you did. Had our break been longer you may have got me in the deep!
I didn’t visit the spa but my husband did, and he said Jen was amazing. Unfortunately we had missed the part about the spa allowance in the package, only discovering the day before departure. My husbands only regret is not being able to fit in more than one massage.
Finally Fitty, the turtle whisperer! Fitty works in security but appears to be able find a turtle at any time on the reef, and will willingly take people out to locate them. We were fortunate to find them ourselves, and whenever we saw Fitty we would report back. He would not pass without having a little chat, which just made us smile and added to our holiday.
Aside from the staff, the island is out of this world beautiful, exactly what you would expect in the Maldives, it is well maintained and all areas are clean and looked after. The restaurants do get a bit hot, but hey, you are in tropical paradise! Sun in some accommodation could be limited outside the villa’s depending on location, so if this is important to you I would recommend that you check. If you want to flit between your villa and the main pool/Club if you have a Club room then it should not be too much of an issue.
The house reef was spectacular, better than where we were before, I felt that my snorkelling experiences were that of what you would only normally experience when diving, such as being within a few feet of turtles, and swimming amongst shoals of fish. The house reef is alive and growing, you can see all of the coral cultivation that is happening, which is vitally important.
The only constructive points that I think could enhance this already great resort is:
The app did not advise about buffet themes for Reef each day, I like to know to then plan where I want to eat
Service via the App was not very reliable - twice I ordered a bottle of wine to the room, the first time we had to chase some hours after the initial request that was acknowledged before it arrived. The second time we ordered this way and the wine was never delivered. Ordering by phone seemed the most reliable way.
Suan Bua and Azure Mare have the same menu’s for lunch and dinner, depending on how much you like on the menu this might limit your choices significantly. Where we visited before there was a different lunch menu and dinner. Maybe even just having some daily specials would enhance the variety
We definitely left a bit of our heart in Centara!
Would we return, YES!!!!!!!!!
