Sunrise Inn

The hotel was cosy and quiet, just what I needed for a rest. I was in room 108, and the breakfasts were filling and delicious, with juice and fruit. Thanks to the man who got me off with my bags so quickly this morning. I really enjoyed my stay.

We travel a lot, and haven't previously encountered service that left us feeling so unwelcome and mistrusted. The location and rooms were okay, the breakfast was edible, and the mango juice was good. Laundry was free and worked fine. They also lend snorkeling gear at no charge, but it was in poor condition, which we expected since it was free. One young man worked hard despite the language barrier and did his best. He even smiled, which was unusual among the rest of the staff. Our first problem began on arrival at Sunrise Inn. The owner had overbooked, even though we'd booked months ahead, and put us in another room across the street until the next day. Nobody warned us beforehand or apologized. When we raised it, the owner didn't seem to understand why it was a problem. With two children, not being able to unpack and settle in on our first day was upsetting. The daily staff couldn't answer basic questions about bike rental or excursions. We had to contact the absent owner on WhatsApp, then go back to the staff with the answer. There were also notices posted about charges for not behaving as they wanted you to, as shown in the attached picture. We rented bikes. They used to be free, but now cost $10 per day. We were given a "discount" and paid $5 per person per day. A few bikes were good, but most were nearly falling apart, with bad brakes, missing pedals, loose handlebars, rust, and other problems. We don't mind paying, but expect the bikes to be maintained. Staff said we'd lost a bike lock and charged us for it. We disagreed but didn't want the hassle of arguing. We'd left it inside the hotel, and don't believe another guest would steal one, so we think staff may have taken it. But we don't know for sure, and paid the fine. The island's best beach is on the other side, a long walk especially with children. We wanted bikes again another day, despite their condition. Staff said we could take them free for a day, but wouldn't give us locks because we'd supposedly lost one before. After our earlier experiences, we didn't dare take the bikes to the beach unlocked, in case they were stolen. We tried to buy or rent a lock in town, then went back to the hotel and eventually got one. None of that hassle should have been necessary. Excursions through Sunrise Inn were overpriced. We saved almost $100 by booking a shark and manta ray trip with Relax Excursions, and had a great outing with smiling, welcoming staff. We tried to keep contact with the Sunrise Inn staff to a minimum and act positive when we had to deal with them, because talking with them left us feeling mistrusted. That helped to some extent, but it shouldn't have to be that way. We've read other reviews saying the owner tends to reply unprofessionally, but this is our honest experience and opinion. We hope the attitude toward guests changes, because that would make a big difference. Thoddoo is a lovely place.

The owner was friendly, helpful, and always available, and there was a good range of facilities. We had a wonderful stay. The guesthouse was comfortable and clean, and the food was excellent, with plenty of local dishes at very reasonable prices. There are free bikes for guests, and the location made it easy to reach the beach and several attractions. I'd recommend it to anyone after a relaxing and enjoyable holiday in Maldives.

As of February 2025, this is what Sunrise Inn was like for us. Everything was awful: dirty rooms, terrible breakfast and dinner, and staff who came across as arrogant. The owner, Ali, should quit this "job". There were lies upon lies. No welcome drinks, and no free bikes. He asked $10 per day to rent a bike, and if you asked for one free, he'd say they were "damaged". I could spend all day talking about this garbage hotel, but my time matters more. My advice: check 100 times before spending your money here.