Palm Residence Hotel

The room smelled of cigarettes, and it wasn't the room I'd booked. Cleanliness was poor: the toilet was very dirty, with ash in the tub and toilet bin. Nobody cleaned the room while we were there, and the towels weren't clean either. We only had beach towels. Breakfast was very basic and the coffee wasn't good. Staff need to learn to treat customers properly.

There are six rooms, and they're generously sized, with a big double bed and a comfortable mattress. The floor and interior design look great, and there's enough space to add another bed if needed. Outside the guesthouse and on the first floor, there's a coffee table and seating area where you can read or relax. Breakfast is served in a separate area, so cooking smells don't get into the rooms.

The host was friendly, but didn't seem to understand what guests needed, like providing soap or being reachable for communication. Our room was fine in itself, though it smelled strongly of sewage, the sink was clogged, and it wasn't cleaned. We waited an hour at the airport in Male because the speedboat was late, and there was no gesture to make up for it. I also don't think the room merits a three-star rating. They accept credit cards, but you have to withdraw cash or face a bank tax for Rasdhoo atoll. The hotel sets this tax at 3.5%-5%. I don't recommend it.

Sharid made things easy, picking me up at the harbor and taking me back with my luggage on a cart. Breakfast was brought each day to the first-floor dining area. Diane made it, and it was really good, with fruit that changed daily and a choice of Western or Maldivian food. She was often in the lobby and happy to help with tours and advice. Palm Residence is a simple, pleasant guesthouse with ordinary rooms, a fridge, and bathrooms with a shower and bathtub. There’s air conditioning, drinking water in the lobby, and a kettle with coffee and tea bags on the first floor. The price felt right for what you get. Thanks to both of you, I really enjoyed staying here!