Alesara Guest House

The listing doesn’t match what you actually get. It isn’t beachfront, there’s no spa, and several other advertised amenities weren’t there. We also weren’t told the guesthouse is split across two sites. Our group of 12 was divided between them, and the site where some of us stayed didn’t serve food, so we had to walk to the other one for meals. There was no hand wash in the toilet. I asked for some but never got it, so I had to wash my hands with shower gel. I also found a cockroach in my room. The food was bland and cold, and the juice we were promised as fresh didn’t taste fresh and had sugar added.

The staff were lovely and helped us whenever we needed it. They lent us bikes and snorkelling fins, and the bikini beach was stunning, about a 10-minute walk away. We had a great time in Thoddo and I’d recommend Alesara Guest House to anyone thinking of visiting.

For the price, this small guesthouse is hard to beat. Our host was welcoming at the harbour, answered our questions, and arranged the transfer from the airport to Thoddoo smoothly. The room was a good size, with clean linen, TV, AC, fridge, water, cups, and other basic things. Hot water worked well, and they cleaned the room daily. The shared areas were clean most of the time. Breakfast was a generous Maldivian spread, though there were rather a lot of sandwich slices. Coffee, tea, and water were available all day. It’s an eight-minute walk to the beach and just one or two minutes to local restaurants. Bikes cost $5 a day, and they’re useful for getting around this big island. Snorkelling gear was free, but I’d bring your own because it wasn’t in good condition. We had a lovely stay.

Mustafa and his wife were so hospitable. We stayed for more than a week, and the meals, made with local ingredients, were great. The food changed every day. Having free bikes for trips to the beach and around the island was really useful. We’re glad we chose this hotel. Thank you!