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GANGEHI - Guest Comments

Gangehi has a very high rate of returns and the very high rate of staff retentions. This is so important for continuity and that wonderful "welcome back" feel. And this is one of the positive aspects of Gangehi. However, Gangehi has one drawback and that is (as you can see from the below picture); major sand displacement in the last few years.

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The rooms, restaurant and bar/lounge are first class. The bar/lounge rests on stilts over the water facing both  South, for the sunrise during the day, and West for the sunset. Its decor of dark brown and white cotton give it an air of cool comfort, accentuated by the large aquarium tank in the middle and various pieces of antique Indian furniture.

The restaurant looks out onto the vast west beach. For all the "hellomaldives"  guests at Gangehi, they consider the food as excellent. Breakfast and lunch are large buffets, dinner are served at the table. All the drinks are free in this truly All-Inclusive resort. Service is personal and is of a high standard (comprises 24 hours rooms services).

The island's 25 rooms are large and well put together. The theme here again is dark wood, browns and whites. These are combined in Club Vacanza's textile design taken from the traditional Maldivian mats and used on bed covers and curtains. All the rooms air-conditioned and have a telephone and a Minibar. The bathrooms are not large but they have quality fixtures and fittings, including two wash basins, a bidet and a lovely, powerful old fashioned shower.

Eight of the 25 rooms are Water Bungalows and these a little larger than the others, 14 rooms are on the perimeter of the island and 3 are tucked away inside, particularly quiet and remote. Remote because the interior of the island feels like that. Winding through the virginal growth of mature trees and flowering shrubs is a well-built wooden walkway that feels like a nature trail through the shady greenery of the original Maldives.

The tragedy of the island is the bad joke that beach erosion has played on it. Over the last several years all the sand has shifted from the east side to the west side. this has left 12 Bungalows with no beach, a low island wall and a wall in the lagoon to halt further erosion. At the same time the Water Bungalows (on the west side) no longer stand in water but on sand, and not only that but they and their walkways take up most of the only good beach. If only the Water Bungalows and Beach Bungalows were on opposite sides .......

If you are a diver - then Gangehi could be considered a fairly expensive resort, but still may say it's good value for money.