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This
small, neat and pretty resort is run by the Taj Group, India's leading
luxury hotel company. The top-class, committed management continues to
evolve a first rate product on a carefully cultured island. But the force
of nature has caused a few problems around the edges. |
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Taj Coral spends an extra
effort on extra-curricular or reacriational activities. Apart from all the
usual outings (including Male' excursions), a glass-bottomed boat is
available and at times the diving dhoani is borrowed for champagne cruises
(chose from moonlight, starlight and sunset). Stingray feeding is a daily
event, photo-flights are promoted and there is even a horticultural tour
by the Indian Gardner. The full evening entertainment list includes
unusual option such as acrobats, bingo and boduberu (cultural show) on the
beach with both men and women. And for your day-to-day fitness the island
has a fitness centre, Jacuzzi, outdoor swimming pool, table tennis,
snooker. Not mention a Balian Spa is also at your service. |
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All above services and
activities are available - merely there for the asking. The meals also has
the Indian touch with extra variety's added to the 3 buffets, which are
provided from the main restaurant. These buffet meals are differently
themed for each and every day of the week (Maldivian, Italian, Barbecue,
Mexican, Chinese and Seafood). On the beach a reasonable a la carte
restaurant specializes in curries and grills. And the special lobster and
prawn candlelit nights on the beach. Most of the hellomaldives.com
considers that the quality as very good and few guests highlighted the
issue of a ingle brand coffee - which is Nescafe, and we have had prompted
the Taj Coral management about the issue. |
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 The 35 Garden
Villa's and the 30 Lagoon Villa's is quiet OK for an island like Hembadhoo
(local name for Taj Coral). These rooms are essentially the same but the
Lagoon Villa's a bit longer in size and the fittings are of a higher
standard. Both villa categories enjoys a unified interior decor of light
earth colors. The in-villa, tea and coffee making facility is a bonus for
Taj Coral, while the satellite t.v, mini bar and safe are now almost
standard in all the quality four-star resorts of Maldives. |
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 Unfortunately the
Lagoon Villa's are on the beach-erosion side of the island - therefore the
view of the Lagoon Villa's will at first capture you the netted
coral-walls that arc around this section of the island; otherwise you
could get a wonderful view of the far-horizon. |
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Though the
name says Garden Villa - they pretty close to the beach due to the size of
the island, which is wide and fine at low tide - but at high tide the
erosion is evident by the low wall built at the shoreline and the visible
palm tree roots. At this time you can mover onto the permanent bulge of
beach on the southeast corner or take timeout to snooze in your personal
hammock. |
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The house
reef diving and snorkeling happens on the leeward side of the island. The
reef slopes in stages; first to five metres, then twelve, then twenty. At
twenty you will get a wreck with schools of fish and a large resident
napolean wrasse. Diving is popular here, particularly with the Japanese. |
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