A good stay with some room for improvement
Dec 10, 2024 NorthStar520991 Zurich, Switzerland
We stayed at the Standard Huravalhi for 12 nights—7 nights with friends and the remainder as a couple. While the hotel offers some standout aspects, there are several areas that left us feeling underwhelmed, particularly given the premium price point of over EUR 1,000 per night.
The Positives:
+The bar and café were cozy and inviting, with a…
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We stayed at the Standard Huravalhi for 12 nights—7 nights with friends and the remainder as a couple. While the hotel offers some standout aspects, there are several areas that left us feeling underwhelmed, particularly given the premium price point of over EUR 1,000 per night.
The Positives:
+The bar and café were cozy and inviting, with a great vibe. The à la carte food there was delicious, making it a perfect spot to relax.
+The daily entertainment program was fantastic, with evening DJs, movie nights, and even thoughtful rainy-day activities like latte art workshops.
+A special shoutout to staff members Cheran, Nas, and Jennifer, who went above and beyond to make us feel welcome! Their service truly stood out.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Booking:
-The water villa felt very basic—just two sunbeds and two chairs, with no sense of luxury or thoughtful design, also inside of the villa. But some might like the style.
-There was no umbrella for shade on the water villa terrace, and the bathroom was outdoors, making it consistently hot due to the lack of air conditioning.
-There was no outdoor shower or rain shower in the villa
-There were no sunbeds at the beach at all, only at the pool, which was quite crowded most of the time.
The Negatives:
-Upon arrival at the airport, we had to search for the hotel representative, while other hotels had staff visibly waiting for their guests. This was not the best first impression.
-The service from our host/butler was disappointing. After the initial welcome, we barely saw him again, and some requests were forgotten altogether.
-While some staff were outstanding, the general service was friendly but rather slow
-The atmosphere wasn’t very relaxing due to loud guests and a swarm of "influencers" constantly filming content with tripods.
-Guests at the buffet often left food waste, and the vibe overall lacked a sense of class.
-The main restaurant, Kula, didn’t have enough outdoor seating and was veery dark inside. The food quality was good, the buffet wasn’t replenished frequently. There was no kids’ station either, which could be challenging for families.
-Value for Money: For over EUR 1,000 per night on an all-inclusive package, we felt the experience didn’t justify the cost. The lack of attention to detail, especially in the villa amenities and service, was disappointing. If the price were closer to EUR 500–700 per night, the experience would feel much more in line with expectations. Compared to another hotel we’ve stayed at in this price range, the Standard falls short.
Overall Recommendation:
Overall we had a good time and enjoyed our stay in the Maldives, which is obviously just a paradise!
If you can secure a deal in the EUR 500–700 range for this hotel on an all-inclusive package, it's definitely a good choice.
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