Bandos Island Resort

Bandos is a very popular destination for visitors to the Maldives, partly because it is relatively close to Male, but also because on top of a fine resort with great activities and facilities, it is also very family orientated. Like its near neighbour Baros maldives, this resort had a major overhaul in 2005 which added some additional accommodation and an extension of its facilities. The general look and feel of Bandos is a good balance between casual and formal, with thatched roofs but fine tiled floors, for example. The reception is complete with modern conveniences such as a conference hall, plasma TV and an internet hotspot, but the tropical beauty of the island hasn’t been compromised at all, with tranquil accommodation and private beach areas shaded by ubiquitous tall palms and other indigenous vegetation.

The resort has gone out of its way to accommodate families, with a purpose-built childcare facility complete with female staff on hand to look after the children and provide babysitting in the evenings. Some of the rooms in the standard and junior class have an interconnecting door for families split between several rooms. The resort is popular with families, so kids who are not quite old enough to take part in some of the older activities can probably find other children their age to play with. Visitors with young children should be aware that the lagoon tends to deepen quite quickly.

The main bar and coffee shop are well-placed near the water, and the bar is often a hive of activity until the early hours of the morning. The restaurants, while not particularly inspiring in their decor, do serve a range of quality dishes.

Accommodation

There are 84 standard rooms which affront the beach and an additional 19 that are not at the beach side. These alternate between double and twin bed layout to provide for families. They are nicely furnished with tiled floors and balconies, but you might consider the bathrooms to be on the slightly smaller side. Some of these rooms face westwards into the sunset and are also blessed with one of the best sections of beach. There are 48 Junior suites arranged in groups with a shared garden. These are ornately decorated, with a yellow and ochre color scheme, solid wood four-poster bed and a sense of style that make them very accommodating. The only main downside, as far as we could perceive, is the beach in this section of the resort is almost completely submerged at high tide, but this is a small matter for most I should think.

The 48 circular-shaped Beach villas are the latest addition to the island. Each is two-storey, with an upstairs bedroom and a sea balcony. These buildings have been carefully and tastefully done to give you that superior feel, with the bathrooms half inside and half outside, complete with thatched jacuzzi. The 24 Garden villas are mainly based alongside the relatively new swimming pool, which will suit those who like to lounge by the pool all day. Although not as large as the Junior suites they are cosy in their feel and decor and are only a short walk to the beach.

Activities

Bandos is without doubt one of the focal points of diving in the Maldives, not least since it has one of the few decompression chambers in the country. The dive center here is both a PADI Gold Palm Resort and a Platinum Facility of the International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers. It offers an extensive range of courses from absolute beginner open water courses to expert re-breather courses. The snorkeling is very good and you can snorkel the whole way around the island.

Weddings at Bandos

The Bandos resort accomodates visitors getting married with the “Kuda Bandos Sunset Wedding” which features a taste of traditional island ceremony, a sunset boat ride, unique cultural costumes, Maldivian drums and traditional style and ceremony. The ceremony is held on the beach of one of the uninhabited islands in the atoll – Kuda Bandos – and is followed by a private cruise for the newlyweds on a Dhoni (Maldivian boat). Later, the newlyweds can enjoy a romantic private dinner set on the beach of Kuda Bandos.