JA Enchanted Island Resort

The villa was spotless, comfortable and nicely designed, and the resort has snorkeling gear and kayaks for exploring the turquoise water. At low tide, walking across the sandbank to the next island was magical. We were welcomed warmly by Bhuwan during the boat transfer, and he explained everything we needed to know. Check-out was smooth too. My birthday dinner was a letdown. The seafood mixed grill was overcooked and inedible, spoiling what was meant to be a special meal. They didn’t charge us for it, which I appreciated, but I’d expected fresh, well-prepared seafood in an island setting. Thanks especially to Irshad Khan, Sheryl, and the kind housekeeping lady who decorated our villa for my birthday. Their kindness and service made the stay special despite the food issue. It’s a beautiful resort and we had a wonderful visit overall, with that one unfortunate hiccup.

The peaceful, nature-filled surroundings made our honeymoon feel even more special. We spent 10 wonderful days here and felt at home. The staff were so kind and attentive, always making us feel welcome, and the food was delicious every day with consistently excellent quality. It’s a lovely place to relax and reconnect with nature. We’d happily come back, and highly recommend it.

Ahmed at the bar was the highlight for me. He made incredible cocktails, and we had some genuinely lovely, heart-to-heart conversations during my stay. The hotel’s location is also excellent, or close to it, with a beautiful blue sea and lots of fish for snorkeling. The beaches are public, though, so boats can and do bring other people there. The rooms were disappointing compared with other resorts: small and very low-tech. The AC blows straight onto the bed, which was frustrating at night, and duct tape over its bright display didn’t do much to darken the room. The bathroom wasn’t what I expected from a 5-star hotel. It felt like a cramped prison shower, with no windows and strange pipe or ventilation noises. The toilets were dirty, and a small nook looked like it hadn’t been cleaned. The gym is tiny, with a treadmill, two bikes and one bench. There’s only one massage therapist, so even couples can’t get massages at the same time. Food was subpar and took a long time to arrive. They served us eggs Benedict without hollandaise, and when we asked for it, it came split. During dinner one night, staff moved a table right into our line of sight, so we had to look at the backs of two people instead of the nice sea view we’d had. After one long day, we returned to find the room hadn’t been cleaned all day. The staff seemed understaffed. There also weren’t enough sunbeds for everyone, even though the island can’t accommodate many guests, and the WiFi was really bad. I had to use mobile data outside the room. I don’t think this deserves a 5-star rating, and I didn’t feel acknowledged as a discovery member. Since the beaches are public, I feel I should have just paid for a day trip with an excursion tour. If the other JA hotels are like this one, I wouldn’t stay at their properties again. There are more issues, but this is already a long review.

The staff made us feel at home from the minute we arrived. They were so warm and welcoming, and every detail was taken care of, making the whole stay feel easy and special. Pure paradise. I’m already looking forward to coming back, and you won’t regret booking this resort.