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I had the pleasure of reviewing OBLU Pick from Atmosphere Hotels within the Maldives. To get it done justice, the review has been split up into three parts, covering the hotel, wellness and activities and also the food and drink. The very first instalment is my experience of the hotel itself. Here’s the lowdown:
Oblu Select opened July 2022 with 137 Villas and an island capacity around 900 guests. Although Sangeli itself is an all natural island, One Banyan is an artificial island developed by imported sand.
The resorts from the Maldives have a penchant for aerial views – it may be the opportunity to contrast the white sands towards the blue seas or the chance to begin to see the coral reef shields that surround many of the islands. The most notable part of the aerial view of Oblu Select may be the long curved jetty connects the 2 islands. The jetty can serve as the place for the Water Villas, but additionally because the highway linking the main island towards the adults-only island. Initially, it's not hard to dismiss the jetty like a design feature. It's crescent shape almost appears like a fishtail, perhaps like a seahorse. However, the angle of the arc has practical purposes. The arc is protruding enough to accommodate water villas; the arc curved enough for guests to look back at the lights of Sangeli during the night instead of have the view blocked by the villas and the arc is long enough to create physical distance forwards and backwards islands, which in turn, creates an eco distance.
Walking the full length of the jetty is an ordeal even in the cool air of the night. Golf buggies are available, but the resort provides bicycles, which makes for a 5-minute cooling and breezy ride to One Banyan. The two islands are why is the resort perfect for couples, friends and families because the main island is so fantastic that families don't feel aggrieved in the inaccessibility of 1 Banyan. The beach villas in Sangeli all have small regularly and stretch of non-public beach so couples do not have to bear the holiday ruining ordeal of sharing a swimming pool along with other people's children. However, if couples desire to be in a larger pool, they can peddle off and away to One Banyan.
The division of the islands is the only the introduction to a resort which is operationally impeccable. This begins with the staffing and the staff. Regarding staffing, there is roughly exactly the same quantity of staff on the island as guests. This means that you do not have to hold back for anything. There is always someone on hand to satisfy your every request immediately. How many holidays are you currently on when you honestly say that you've never struggled attracting a waiter's attention?
But it goes two steps further back . Firstly, it's all-inclusive so guests never have to carry cash, pay by card or even sign for add-ons (except for premium drinks). Secondly, the main restaurant on Sangeli is a buffet there aren't any complications related to orders, table numbers and the movement of waiters between kitchen and tables. However, look around at any mealtime and you will see an overstaffed floor of waiters whose responsibilities are restricted to drinks orders and plate clearance. This creates a great feeling of ease for that guests, but most importantly for that staff. The restriction of roles gives the staff the liberty to fulfil the Atmosphere brand ethos: 'The Joy of Giving'. So often these values aren't anything but words online, however the staff uphold this value tremendously also it just makes the resort.
The most impressive element of this commitment may be the method of raising standards is as simple as treating the staff really well. In early evening, walking with the palm tree-covered white sandy walkways of Sangeli, cries could be heard from the staff cricket game and when guests are so curious to veer off-course and pull away some tropical branches, they'd see a backyard sports arena just for the staff and a lot of smiles on faces. Sometimes, if guests arrive early for dinner they will catch no more employees briefing. This is a hospitality staple. Ahead of a night's service, management will address the team and remind them of priorities for that evening. But at Oblu Sangeli, these briefings end with cheers and back-slapping – a real sign of employee satisfaction.
As appealing in the Water Villas are using their easy descent in the jetty crescent into the ocean blue, the Deluxe Beach Villas win out because of the exceptional outdoor bathrooms and also the extraordinary stretch of white beach all to yourself.
All the villas are large. They are far from tropical glorified hotel rooms. They are clean, spacious, modern. If chic would be a spectrum, they'd be one up from shabby chic and something down from beach house chic. The interiors are colourful and fun. They aren't elegant, however the spacious seating indoor seating areas and also the cushioned outdoor sofas is exactly what deserves the title of 'Deluxe'.
The beach villas centre round the multiplicity water – to drink, to cleanse, for cooling and also to explore. The outdoor bathrooms have “his and hers” sinks, a rainfall shower and a tub for 2. The non-public pool is only the right size for 2 to frolic in after a very taxing stroll down the beach at lunch. Go out the front garden gate and there you have what all of the tourists come for: the white sands and also the blue seas.
Guests can snorkel round the island at any time and put completely from their villas. If you move your sun loungers out onto the beach, palm tree clean up detail will cleave open coconuts for you personally and serve it with a paper straw. The whole resort is 100% plastic-free. All water is served in glass bottles and chilled within the villa's large refrigerators.
The practical and beautiful style of the accommodation, the attitudes from the staff and management and also the great craftsmanship from the rooms combine to create a truly unforgettable experience. But more than that, Oblu Select at Sangeli allows guests to rid themselves of stress altogether. Holidays can be stressful. New languages, cultures and decisions about what to determine or where you can park may cause bickering between close people all attempting to have a great time. Here, everything is there for you and I can honestly say I had forgotten what it really was prefer to feel a negative emotion.
Find out more about OBLU Select Hotel at Sangeli here. Email : [email protected], Phone : (+960) 400 4500.
