| Holiday-Truth Readers Reports |
Laura Laidler from Seaham travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
Thomas Cook
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2008 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness |  | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment |  |
| said: This resort island is fantastic! We travelled here on our honeymoon and from the moment you set foot on the island it is paradise. You are greeted with welcome drinks on arrival then escorted to your room. We were upgraded free of charge for our first 2 nights to a jacuzzi water villa and couldn't bare to leave so stayed for the rest of our holiday.
The villas are immaculate and very modern. Each villa has its own balcony with sun loungers and steps down into the sea, perfect for snorkelling. On a night the light from your balcony attracts lots of sealife and is amazing to watch. Rooms are cleaned twice a day once in the morning when the bed linen is changed and once in the evening when the towels are changed! The service is unbelieveable and you are never disturbed for them to do this. All villas also have a mini bar, satellite tv and a safe.
Breakfast is quite early so only made it twice but the choice of food on all meal services is great, something for everyone! Breakfast is the normal cereals, toast, English breakfast and freshly made omelettes/fried eggs cooked in front of you to order!
Lunch and Dinner again everything you could imagine. Several types of meat all in different sauces each day, either a joint of meat or fresh catch of the day fish carved and served, salads, soup, vegetables and a different type of potato every day.
Thursdays was traditional night where the waiters were all dressed in traditional clothing and Dinner was all traditional curries etc. and they were lovely.
Sundays believe it or not there was Sunday dinner with yorkshire puddings! And at least 3 joints of meat, all different, being carved and served.
The staff on the island were second to none. Nothing was ever too much to ask and from the day we arrived our names were remembered which was really nice.
I have never experienced all inclusive like this, no sooner was your glass empty and you had a new drink waiting for you, service was always excellent.
Entertainment was good, traditional night, crab racing, a disco and a few local bands playing but mostly enjoyed sitting outside on the decking at the Utheru Bar star gazing, relaxing and drinking a few cocktails.
The island is perfect for snorkelling and you are able to hire the equipment from the dive centre. The beaches are also fantastic,the sea crystal clear and the spa is well worth a visit.
We went on 2 excursions, the sunset cruise was amazing although it was cloudy the day we went we got to see spinner dolphins out in the ocean which was amazing to see. We also went on the whale submarine in Male which was also a good experience.
Overall, the best holiday we have had and we will definately return in the not too distant future!
Click here for more information on this hotel, resort and region
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Bob Dobbs from Lanzarote travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
key2holidays
on a family holiday.
There were 3 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 04 2008 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Simply the best what a great hotel we stayed in a land Jacuzzi villa and had every thing you could want mini bar air con and your own little garden with Jacuzzi so private and satellite TV so you can keep up with the football
we only had one fault with this holiday we didn't stay long enough we were only there for six nights as it was our first time in the Maldives and was not to sure about it but we will be back.
Every one was so friendly the food is great and plenty to choose from they even had a Sunday roast to make you feel at home and if you like a drink good booze.
The transfer to the island is about one hour by boat that's the start of your holiday as we see dolphins and turtles plus you get to pass a lot of the other islands and see the beauty of the Maldives.
Once you arrive you are taken to the reception and given a nice cold drink and a warm towel to refresh your self one form to fill in and you are in your apartment with in fifteen minutes were you suit cases are waiting for you .
And then it's just chill and lay back enjoy your self everything else is there for you we are hoping to go back next year for 14 nights.
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David from Manchester travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
Hayes & Jarvis
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2007 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: The place is stunning - we stayed in both a Water Villa and a Jacuzzi Water Villa - couldn't fault either, they were cleaned twice daily to a very high standard.
It's as they say a no shoes/no news island we are already planning to return. We only stayed 7 nights as we were not sure if we would want to do nothing for 14 - we were wrong and will be going for 14 nights next time.
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yvonne richardson from loughborough travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
airtours
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2006 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment |  |
| said: Well what can I say ?? After getting a late deal for 300 each all inclusive - what a bargain!!! I can say that I would have paid almost anything to stay here - it was lovely!!
We had been given a standard room - which we didn't even look at as we had got the holiday so cheap we decided to upgrade straight away to a jacuzzi land villa which was fantastic - even better we upgraded again to a jacuzzi water bungalo for the last few nights when there was one available which was out of this world!!!
The hotel was spotlessly clean, the food was lovely - we ate at the buffet which was a similar standard to the food we had in Dubai ( the best "buffet " food ever - very lean meat, everything very well presented and fresh !!) and had a meal for 2 on the boat with lobster and was worth every penny.
The beach was beautiful - lots of little sand coloured crabs though - and small harmless nurse sharks in the shallow waters, great fish and stingrays.
The waiters were well presented and very polite and helpful, the "entertainment" consisted of dancers and music, a crab race, a live band and a disco. Mostly we sat looking at the stars with a cocktail - sheer relaxation.
You do not need to dress up at this hotel too much - smart but casual evening wear and the best thing of all - sand floors in the bars meant NO SHOES!!!
We have been to many places - Jamaica, Dominican etc and have found our perfect couple heaven - not for kids although some people did take their children - I will be saving hard to pay full price to go back as I don't think we will ever get such a last minute bargain as this again!!!
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Mark from Aberdeen travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
First choice
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 01 2006 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: This was our first time in the Maldives and we were not disappointed. We booked a jacuzzi land villa, these were super-an individual villa with your own back garden with jacuzzi.
The villas were cleaned twice a day and were spotless.The food was simply fantastic a terrific choice for breakfast lunch and dinner.
Wherever you were situated you were only about a ten minute walk from the bar or restaurant.
All the staff we encountered were very polite and most were chatty.
Evening entertainment varied from crab racing to live bands and a disco night.
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Oly Daze from La Mata, Spain travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
Kuoni
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 12 2005 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Meerufenfushi or Meeru as it is more commonly known is one of the largest island resorts in the Maldives and approximately two hours speed boat ride away from the airport. If I remember correctly there is even a one hour time difference between the two.
After arriving at the airport you will be transferred aboard a large speed boat with seating inside for perhaps 50 people or more. The more adventurous may want to sit on the roof of the boat, but if you do, remember to put on some sun cream as it is easy to burn. You will be transferred to a smaller dhowi a few hundred yards from the island as the larger boat cannot dock.
As with all islands on the Maldives, it is wise to carry a bundle of one dollar bills as these come in useful for tipping the baggage handlers. The going rate is 2 dollars per suitcase.
Meeru is the only island of the dozen or so that I have stayed at where I have seen a car (No roads though!). There is also a pizza delivery operation for the really bone idle.
Being such a large resort there are many standards of room available. Personally I would not be too happy staying in the water bungalows, they may be the more luxurious, but they are the farthest from the main bar and restaurant, a good ten minute walk. Standard rooms are fine, as you will only be using them for sleeping.
There is a pleasant pool next to the bar, but if going in high season you may have to get up early to grab a sun lounger as there is a limited supply. The bar itself is spacious and is obviously the hub of activity. There is a second large bar with a stage for occasional entertainment, which by Maldivian standards is quite good.
The restaurant serves all meals on a buffet basis. With any trip to the Maldives, do not expect gourmet cuisine. I have never had cause to complain about the quantity or quality on Meeru. The chef will be pleased to cook anything that you might catch on a fishing trip. There is also a small bar farther along the beach which serves some nice curries and other snacks. A room service menu is also available, and food can be delivered by a guy on a bike. Do not get conned into having a romantic candlelit dinner on the beach, or a beach lobster party, as these are both expensive and naff.
The beach between the reception area and the snack bar is not too popular, the water is too shallow. Early morning you can walk out for fifty yards or so and watch the baby reef sharks feeding, but it is no good for bathing even at its deepest point. Farther round, between the snack bar and the water bungalows there are some small but very nice spots to sunbathe and swim, and you will also be able to do a limited amount of snorkeling (Meeru’s actual house reef is a boat ride away). My advice to anyone going to the Maldives is to use sun oil rather than cream. Leaves and other vegetation are swept up every day and buried in the sand; this promotes small sand flies which bite. They stick to oil but can bite through cream!.
Meeru keeps a large boat, a sloop I believe, permanently moored on the house reef. A 15 minute dhowi ride will get you there at no charge (except for a tip). Here you will be able to snorkel, as well as enjoy some snacks and drinks on the boat. The usual water sports are available on the island. There is also the obligatory PADI diving centre which will take divers out two or three times a day. My son took his open water diving course at the age of twelve (on Baros island, not Meeru). Some islands will allow children to dive as young as eleven.
A friend who has recently returned from Meeru informs me that there is now a golf driving range on the island, but I should imagine that the balls and clubs available will not interest serious golfers. The island staff often put on daytime activities for the kids.
As far as an All Inclusive basis goes, be aware that not everything is included. You will be limited to your choice of drinks, and children’s snacks (even ice creams) have to be paid for. It is not an option that I would recommend.
I have visited the Maldives on over twenty occasions over the last 25 years, and stayed on at least a dozen islands. Meeru rates very highly in my book!
Best time to go?......Christmas and new year, undoubtedly…..The island is decorated beautifully, and the Christmas and New Year buffets are really good!
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joe from lincoln travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
kuoni
on a friends holiday.
There were 4 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2005 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness |  | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment |  |
| said: Resort is ok or would be if the resort told the truth about up and coming building works as the tour operators do not seem to be aware of the full extent.
They are demolishing 58 rooms and building lots more with areas of beach to be cordened off remember this is an island so you will not be allowed to walk round it soon the works are set to start 1st May 2006 AND Last untill end of october.
Plus any delays the builders have.
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erol from barry travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
Kuoni
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2005 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food |  | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Our accommodation was clean and well serviced,however the a/con was out of order and after a few complaints we were given another room.
The food was repeat menu during out stay and on occasions under cooked,my wife suffered from upset stomach as a result.
During our stay we had two local bands perform and a disco,the bands brilliant,the disco.....somewhat too techno.
All inclusive....never again as it does not reflect the extra outlay,you are at the mercy of the bar staff and have to drink what they put in front of you. The drinks are low quality and non alcoholic.
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joe from watford travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
hayes n jarvis
on a singles holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2005 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Well we booked this resort after doing lots of research and it all seemed very good until we arrived they where overbooked and we got told very rudely buy some guy we have to pay to upgrade because the resort is full or go to another island.
We refused to pay for an upgrade and the guy seemed to get even more rude it was like having a gun held to your head pay more to upgrade or go to a differant island. We were so upset we went to another island.
We have ticked the boxes with a 3 except the staff box we would never go to this resort again.
We had been moved but the experiance had upset my wife so much after 3 days we got the tour rep to get us a flight home and they were not to helpfull it seemed they wanted to look after the resort rather than us not the type of holiday you want on your honeymoon so we had our second week at home but happy.
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Katie from Surrey travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
My Travel
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2005 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We booked a late to Meeru so didn't expect much luxury, how wrong can you get!
We were originally booked into a standard room but after a look felt that it was rather basic by Maldivian standards. We upgraded to a water villa and were lucky enough to get the one closest to the spa, quite secluded from the other's. We felt the price to upgrade was agreeable and to be honest absolutely made our holiday.
Our room boy was fab, and our room was cleaned everyday, with special effort in the evenings with imaginative bed designs.
Moreover, I have never been to an all-inclusive resort where I have not, at some point, felt limited to the food choice or bored with menu repetition however this did not happen at Meeru and I was very happy with the food offered.
To sum up the attentiveness of the staff, we had an 'incident' with an eight-legged Meeru inhabitant and when I informed the night reception, who could clearly sense the urgency in my voice, they had someone with us within a minute or two who easily resolved the situation!
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Gill from Hereford travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
Travel4less
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 02 2005 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We were very worried about what we'd find six weeks post-Tsunami but we needn't have. Meeru was wonderful, the best holiday we've ever had.
Booked into standard rooms but hated them (bit holiday camp), explained to management on arrival and given a very reasonable upgrade to jacuzzi villas - still think these are the best on the island. Although over-water Villa's are much more expensive, they are in a very windy position. The current in the sea below is fierce and you have to wear shoes because the boardwalks are too hot to walk on.
Jacuzzi villa had four poster bed with muslin drapes, small sitting area, open air shower room and 'garden area' decking with sun beds jacuzzi and shaded double mattress-very private.
Whole island kept very clean and beautiful. All staff friendly and eager to make your stay as good as possible.
Food excellent in main restaurant, loads of choice different every night. Ate in Asian Wok one night because it was recommended but didn't really enjoy it - food was fine but ate on beach and got eaten alive by sand flies. Beach restaurant did excellent breakfast and lunch-good portions. Room service same price as beach restaurant-excellent value.
Evening entertainment is low key which was fine with us.
Trips were all excellent, especially the sunset cruise where the dolphins just made the holiday for us.
Snorkeling: first time for us so we found it incredible, but if you've snorkeled before it probably isn't the best.
Would we go again? YES! Tomorrow! But then again there are so many other islands!
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Kerry from Derbyshire travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
Kuoni
on a friends holiday.
There were more than 6 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 10 2004 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
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| said: I went with a group of travel agents on an educational, we only stayed at this particular hotel for 3 nights. But those three nights were excellent!
The only problem was we stayed in the standard rooms on the island, they are basic, not what you would expect from a room in the Maldives.
We visited other types of accommodation on the island and would recommend upgrading to everyone to a room above a standard. As you fell like you are in the maldives and not spain.
The standard rooms were very dull, big, but the furniture looked as tho it was from the staff quarters. The Other rooms were like private pine cabins and the showers were outside, a lovely touch.
Don't worry you won't get bitten as there are tiny little gekkos that eat the mosquitoes. The gekkos are harmless, more scared of you! The doctor on site was excellent. I had first hand experience as I was bitten in Sri Lanka before flying to Maldives and the doctor saw me straight away, very helpful. Called me a day later to check how I was getting on.
I am going back to the island in the year for my own holiday and am upgrading to a jacuzzi water villa, definatly worth the money!! Food is excellent at the property.
We did visit other islands in the Maldives but personally loved this one, myself and my partner prefer to be doing things on holiday and this island has everything. Watersports, diving, sports facilities i.e tennis courts. Spa facilities are amazing!
Food, very wide choice to eat, buffet style. You are allocated a table that you stay at for the full duration with your own waiter. Staff are very friendly. The island is one of the biggest in the north male atoll and they have lots of staff, they are very friendly and always accommodating.
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Amanda Best from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
Kuoni
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2004 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: I thought the all-inclusive option was well worth it. There were a few extras we had to pay for but compared to other peoples bills at check-out time, ours was so very low!
Cocktails as with most AI were extra apart from the cocktail of the day which was free all day. The food was fantastic - so much variety every night, mainly soups or salad for starters, all sorts of fish and meat with pastas, rices, potatoes every night, lots of fresh fruit and gateaus etc for dessert.
The food and entertainment is on a week rotating basis so once you have been there a week the 2nd week will be the same food/entertainment on the same days.
Although the entertainment is fairly basic, it is the Maldives 'get away from it all' experience and for a MAldivian Island, Meeru is one of the more lively! Even if you don't like the entertainment there is music every night at the Dhoni bar.
Rooms are cleaned daily and beds turned down at night - they also spray the bathrooms every night to keep the bugs out which is good.
Room service is good value as is the restaurant at the beach where you can have a meal under the stars!
The Spa is fab too - I had a facial - heaven!
I wouldn't hesitate in returning!
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Kate and Nathan Schlosser from Lincoln Uk travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
Kuoni
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2004 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We stayed in a Jaccuzzi Villa which was fantastic. It was cleaned everday and the bed sheets made into patterns everyday, the roomboys are amazing and very discrete we only met ours twice during our two week stay.
The food was lovely, the breakfast was the same everyday but the dinners and teas were different every day, all the food was well cooked and kept fresh by being consatnly replaced, there was an excellent variety and something for everyone.
The food waiters were brillant you were never left with any dirty crockery as soon as you had finshed your drink it was replaced and your dirty plate taken away so you could use a fresh one.
The location for us was the best we were on honeymoon and just wanted to relax and we did, too much! The transfer was an hour by boat which was great as you got to see some lovely scenery.
The staff were fantastic, polite, eager, friendly, enthusastic and always available.
The entertainment was basic and really only at night time, disco, live band, movie night etc but we enjoyed it especially the Traditional Maldivian night. We would definatly go to Meeru again.
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Nicola & Phill from Liverpool travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
airtours
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2004 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: During our visit we stayed in one of the beautiful Land Villa's. These are the next step up from the standard room and absoloutley fantastic. The standard rooms were small with poor views / location and a tiny enclosed terraced area. However our villa was great.
Thank God for the air conditioning as it was quite humid when we travelled but where able to sleep better than we ever have in our lives!!! The wooden villa's are spacious and the outdoor bathroom is excellent, I was really worried about this before we went but it was perfect for the weather conditions. We had a few ants in the night but so long as you turned the light on before you went out they hid so were not a problem! The rooms were spotlessly cleaned every day by the most unobtrusive staff I've never seen, and each evening our bed sheets where arranged in beautiful patterns.
When we overslept we ordered room service breakfast, this was a nice treat from the buffet breakfast. The buffet meals where excellent. There was a great variety of meals which where regularly replenished to ensure that only fresh, hot food was served. It was help yourself but with chef's on hand to clean replenish and help you where necessary. The only reason that I didn't give the food the full 5 is because the dessert's were not fantastic, and that's the most important part of my meal. I'm just being picky because the buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner's where beautiful.
There is also a restaurant where you can pay for your meal if you fancy a romatic meal on the beach which was great and of a slightly better quality than the buffet.
The bar is right on the beach with excellent views, you are served drinks on the beach and at the pool here during the day. I would definatley advise all guests staying on the island to pay for the All Inclusive package as you will save a lot of money on drinks / lunches etc as there are no other bar's or hotel's on Meeru.
Good quality Bath and beach towels are included and changed regularly so don't bother taking any. Buy everything that you need at home (sun cream, cosmetics..)because the shop has limited stock and is quite expensive.
Tipping here is important because the staff are paid quite poorly, you will receive excellent service anyway but most guests paid a tip of about $10 dollars per week to their meal waiter and room cleaner (you have to leave it on your bed for him as you may never see him!). Bring plenty of $1 notes to tip as you go.
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Graeme1962 from Darlington travelled to Meeru Island Resort with
JMC
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2003 |
rated the Meeru Island Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We found Meeru to be a nice island resort - nice not great.
Board Basis :- It's a shame the AI does not quite mean AI e.g. it did not include milkshakes which my daughter loves.
Hotel Cleanliness :- the room boys and gardeners did a fantastic job of keeping not just the rooms but the ground very clean.
Hotel Food :- good quality but got very "samey" after two weeks, the chinese restaurant was excellent but very pricey.
Hotal Location :- the hour by speedboat from the airport did not cause any problems
Hotel Staff :- All the staff we encountered were pretty good.
Entertainment :- Pretty non-existant and what there was was quite poor.
A point of note, when we were there the currents around the ends of the island very very strong.
I would not visit again simply because there as they say "Been there....".
Regards
Graeme
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