Bandos Maldives

Once incoming guests have made it through customs at the airport, they head to the designated Bandos Island kiosk, where they are told to wait until everyone on the list has arrived -- usually a few passengers from the same flight. On the speedboat, the boat crew does not offer bottled water or cold towels as is typical with other resorts, but it does not take long before a harbor of an almost perfectly round island comes into view. A stoic staff member will lead the group to the basic lobby area to have a seat, where guests — mostly Brits, Germans, Russians, and the occasional Asian — are asked to hand over passports. Someone will come around with a glass of iced tea and thin towelette while paperwork is filled out. 

The grounds and tropical vegetation are not as pretty as on other islands and beaches are often narrow. Rather, the draws here are the excellent dive center and the kids' club. Day-trippers can pay to use the facilities, so the beach on the west side (a point of entry to the reef for snorkeling) might have more crowds and kids running around. Though parts of the island can feel desolate, the ambience gets livelier during sunset, when many guests choose to enjoy pre-dinner drinks. Many follow dinner with drinks at the Sand Bar, which has a stage for entertainment or to screen films. Couples might be found walking hand-in-hand looking at reef sharks swimming up to the jetty near the 24-hour restaurant. 

Because this is one of the larger resorts in the Maldives, housekeepers might be anxious to clean the rooms on departure days, leaving folded sheets and toiletries waiting on the porch while guests are still in the room. Also, someone will be coming around to check the minibar. These small annoyances, along with the total lack of goodbye ceremony from the staff (common at other resorts), may leave a bit of a sour taste in guests' mouth on the boat back to the airport. This resort may have lower prices than other neighboring islands, but guests should not expect to feel special here, despite this being one of the oldest resorts in the Maldives.

Bandos is located in the North Malé Atoll, part of the Kaafu Atoll -- a section of islands close to the airport where a number of resorts are located. After passing through customs at Malé International Airport, guests are met by a representative (usually at a numbered kiosk) where they will be led, luggage on a cart, to a speedboat towards the property. Depending on the wind and weather, this ride can be choppy, but the journey only takes about 15 minutes. Each guest will pay a transfer fee, which may feel steep considering how short the ride actually is (also, do not expect to be offered water or towels). 

The Maldives is a distinct nation in the Indian Ocean consisting of 26 Atolls and over 1190 islands. Each resort (there are over 100 of them) is situated on an individual private island with access to incredible marine life (there is plenty of diving and snorkeling to be had at Bandos). Guests can walk the entire island, but may want to bring sandals, as some paths are not meant for bare feet. Since the island is closer to the city of Malé, there will be more boat and air traffic in the vicinity. Occasionally, a boat anchored offshore might have late-night partiers disrupting some peace and quiet. 

Though the state religion of the Maldives is Sunni Islam, private islands like these are allowed to serve alcohol.

With 215 rooms, Bandos Island is one of the biggest resorts on the Maldives. It has seven room types with patios and garden or beach views; all were renovated in 2005. Amenities include AC, minibars, free bottled water, coffee/tea (stocked daily), and safe deposit boxes. They have attractive rustic details such as thatched or wood-beamed ceilings, and the decor incorporates a lot of wood, which may make them feel dark during the daytime. An extra bed can be delivered for kids at no extra charge.

Standard Rooms have garden views (some have a glimpse of beach), thatched roofs, either one double or two twin beds, and bathrooms with showers. Beachfront Deluxe Rooms (there are 48 of these) are slightly more spacious with wooden furnishings and floors, four-poster beds (one king or two twin beds) and white linens. Bathrooms look sterile but offer separate showers and bathtubs. Garden Villas have king beds, high thatched roofs, and a location next to the swimming pool. Jacuzzi Beach Villas (another popular category, with 49 units) are the distinct two-floor units on the south side with easy access to white sand. These are separate bungalows with an upstairs bedroom (with king bed) and separate living rooms on the lower floor. A Jacuzzi Pool Villa has a private infinity pool. There are only two Water Villas on the southwest side; they have modern interiors, open-air showers, and bathrobes. 

Wi-Fi is free. Rooms are serviced twice daily.

The freshwater pool with swim-up bar sits inland, and there are plenty of nice lounge chairs for sunbathing. It's popular with kids as well as adults, so couples seeking quiet, take note. There are beaches all around the island but they are narrow in size. Some offer better swimming than others, which is why some get more crowded then others — especially with kids. There is a house reef around the island for snorkeling with two points of entry. 

The Dive Center is one of the best in the Maldives and one of the most well established, with access to over 40 dive sites. The center has a six-person decompression chamber for diving emergencies (it's used by other islands for emergencies as well). Professional staff run this spacious facility, which has audio visual classrooms, a library, hot water showers, storage rooms, and a shop selling essentials.

A water sports area sits next to the center and offers a wide range of motorized and non-motorized sport equipment, including snorkels, catamarans, water skis, paddleboards, and jet skis (fees apply). Excursions such as deep sea fishing and dolphin cruises are available. 

The Orchid Spa has a pretty garden location and provides traditional Asian massages in individual cabanas, as well as nail and hair services. 

The Paradise Club sports complex offers indoor and outdoor games such as badminton, tennis, ping-pong, and billiards, as well as a fitness center, sauna, and steam room. The Kokko Club Kids' facilities include a large outdoor playground and indoor nursery, and are free for kids three to 12. Babysitting services are available (for a fee) for kids up to 12 years old. 

Guests tend to book a dining package before arriving, which allows varying degrees of access to the main buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They might be offered discounts or "credits" for the other three á la carte restaurants on the island as well. The Sea Breeze Café is open 24 hours a day and serves a range of snacks, sandwiches, and pizzas. Koon Thai Restaurant next door is open for dinner, with a sleek dining room as well as outdoor seating next to the water. Huvan is located on the west side of the island next to the deck where many choose to start the night with drinks and views of the sunset. Post-dinner, the Sand Bar has nightly entertainment and drink specials.