Beach Palace Hotel

I accidentally booked the wrong dates through Booking, for an entire month, and called them straight away to cancel. They said they'd sent the cancellation request to the hotel, but the hotel had to approve it. The hotel never did, and I lost $1,000. I went there myself and explained it was literally all the money I had for my vacation. I begged them to accept the cancellation, but they refused and said it was Booking's responsibility, which isn't true. It's heartbreaking. I've lost my vacation money and been left out on the street.

I booked three nights at Beach Palace Hotel from October 15-18, 2024, and paid $225 in advance. When I arrived in the Maldives, immigration authorities wouldn't let me enter the country because Beach Palace Hotel was not government-registered. They also said it had a poor reputation. I tried to explain, but they kept saying the hotel wasn't recognized by the Maldives government and didn't meet its standards. I spent the whole night stuck at the airport, then had to return to Sri Lanka the next morning. The hotel's dishonesty and lack of transparency cost me time, money, and peace of mind. I was denied entry because the hotel wasn't registered. I'd strongly advise against booking it. It isn't worth the risk, and you could end up with a ruined vacation like mine. Avoid it at all costs.

After a flight delay, I couldn't get from another island to Male city. I told the hotel I wouldn't be able to travel and asked to cancel the booking. Maybe their policy required me to cancel it myself, but I had made the situation clear, and they could have cancelled through their channel portal too. Instead, they sent me a lot of threatening emails. That isn't acceptable from a service business. It was a horrible booking experience, and the place felt scary and unsafe. I would never book there again.

The bathroom smelled awful, and I was bitten by bedbugs. My arm still has a red spot. I can't be sure, but the linen and everything else seemed unclean. The fabric felt dusty and not soft. There was no coffee heater or hair dryer either. For one cheap night, maybe this place will do. If you can afford somewhere else, don't book here. It felt unsanitary, and it was one of the worst places I've stayed.