Maldives-Kanuhura / former One&Only
Apr 13th, 2008 | 06:18 PM
#2
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
I have asked a few collegues in Male about this, and everyone kind of expressed surprised at the fact that it was no longer being managed by Kerzner (i.e., One & Only). The hotel itself had been scheduled to be sold at the end of March, but the word was that it was still going to be branded a One & Only and managed by Kerzner. (Hotel ownership and management are often completely separate.) No one I spoke to quite understood what had happened, or knew who was managing it. I see that the hotel still appears on lhw.com as a One & Only hotel, so not even all its booking websites appear to be aware of, or up to date with, the change in brand and management. I could not find any other website. You might call or fax the hotel for information. (Phone numbers are unlikely to have changed, e-mail addresses may have.)
My advice is that you pick another hotel. As lovely as the resort is physically, under new management that just came in, things may not run as smoothly for a few months. If you are doing a trip in say 6 months or next year, then that would be OK, IMO, as the new management will have had a chance to work out the kinks, and there may be reviews on tripadvisor or elsewhere. Even the very best managers need some start-up time, and it appears that whoever is managing the resort now may not have had any. There are many lovely resorts in the Maldives to pick from.
It is possible that Kerzner is going to remain as manager, but with no affiliation with One & Only. I doubt that this is the case, but if so, then a visit in the near future should be OK as it is unlikely that they will make wholesale changes in staff or management policies as would be the case with a new owner/manager. I am trying to find out a bit more myself, as this may affect several of my clients’ projects in the Maldives.
My advice is that you pick another hotel. As lovely as the resort is physically, under new management that just came in, things may not run as smoothly for a few months. If you are doing a trip in say 6 months or next year, then that would be OK, IMO, as the new management will have had a chance to work out the kinks, and there may be reviews on tripadvisor or elsewhere. Even the very best managers need some start-up time, and it appears that whoever is managing the resort now may not have had any. There are many lovely resorts in the Maldives to pick from.
It is possible that Kerzner is going to remain as manager, but with no affiliation with One & Only. I doubt that this is the case, but if so, then a visit in the near future should be OK as it is unlikely that they will make wholesale changes in staff or management policies as would be the case with a new owner/manager. I am trying to find out a bit more myself, as this may affect several of my clients’ projects in the Maldives.
May 8th, 2008 | 10:23 PM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Well, that’s a tough one. I have been there in June and other rainy season months. (I have been working on several projects there and am completely lucky in having been able to go there about once a quarter for the last 18 months or so). The Maldives does not get the huge monsoon down pours that you get in India. In my limited experience, you will have hours of rain, some of it steady downpours, but not whole days. The rain generally starts in the early afternoon as the heat has built up. I have to say that the storms are really beautiful, as the huge black thunderheads span the horizon and change the colour of the water. They are lovely to watch.
The down sides are: (i) it is cloudier overall, which really affects the colour of the coral, (ii) it is choppier and currents are stronger, more of an issue for divers, as most snorkeling is done inside reefs and you are not subject to currents, although choppier waters can affect some snorkeling, (iii) you <i>could</i> have a whole day or more of rain. If your plan was to lie on the beach all day, that could be tough as there is literally almost nothing else to do on the islands but watersports and sitting on the beach. But if you have stack of books, and like spa treatments, and if the resort has a good gym, then overall you might be fine. (Most islands have good internet access both in-room and PCs in a business centre for guests if you don’t bring your own, not that you want to spend you vacation on the Web.)
It is all about expectations. If you are going <i>entirely</i> for snorkeling and diving, I would rethink it. If you don’t dive and if snorkeling will be something you will do a few times but is not the principal purpose, <u>and</u> if you don’t mind have a day or more where the weather is not good, then I would say to go. Room prices are lower. The people are the nicest people I have met anywhere so far I have to say.
The down sides are: (i) it is cloudier overall, which really affects the colour of the coral, (ii) it is choppier and currents are stronger, more of an issue for divers, as most snorkeling is done inside reefs and you are not subject to currents, although choppier waters can affect some snorkeling, (iii) you <i>could</i> have a whole day or more of rain. If your plan was to lie on the beach all day, that could be tough as there is literally almost nothing else to do on the islands but watersports and sitting on the beach. But if you have stack of books, and like spa treatments, and if the resort has a good gym, then overall you might be fine. (Most islands have good internet access both in-room and PCs in a business centre for guests if you don’t bring your own, not that you want to spend you vacation on the Web.)
It is all about expectations. If you are going <i>entirely</i> for snorkeling and diving, I would rethink it. If you don’t dive and if snorkeling will be something you will do a few times but is not the principal purpose, <u>and</u> if you don’t mind have a day or more where the weather is not good, then I would say to go. Room prices are lower. The people are the nicest people I have met anywhere so far I have to say.
