Gili Lankanfushi Maldives

Well designed villas, good reef, friendly staff, ease of logistics to reach the island, tennis court and open air cinema. Good breakfast and grill night. Excellent spa

Nothing much, lovely stay and overall good service. Sometimes the butlers did not react as fast to requests but overall good service.

Crystal clear water

Nothing

Everything was beyond our expectation. Especially loved the sustainability purposes and coral line project which made our trip even more meaningful and want to return as a family.

The best part of our Gili experience was the staff, whose efficiency and attentiveness truly stood out. Without their efforts — and especially the support of Zuba — the stay would have fallen far short of expectations.

The over-development of Malé has unfortunately compromised the tranquil nature that once defined Gili. It is a shame that the Maldivian government has not enforced stricter codes for architecture and visual impact, as current policies are having a negative effect on the overall setting. The constant trailers and supply routes of tankers also disturbed the natural sightlines and serenity of the resort. At the resort level, Gili appears to be held back by rigid brand guidelines rather than adapting to evolving guest expectations. There is a clear need to better understand current social media trends and the demands of today’s luxury travelers. We also faced challenges with guest behavior: for example, certain groups disturbed us at the pool, and some unhygienic habits (such as spitting and nose-blowing) were not addressed by staff, which negatively impacted the experience. The overall maintenance of the resort felt adequate but not exceptional — likely a result of budgetary and manpower constraints. From our perspective, it seems HPL management is cutting costs ahead of their contract expiry, which comes across as a short-sighted strategy. This approach reflects poorly on the long-term vision of the resort and risks damaging the reputation of the Ongs.