Enchanted Island Resort

The natural surroundings were beautiful and peaceful, and the food was consistently delicious throughout our 10 days. We were there for our honeymoon, and the kind, attentive staff made us feel welcome and looked after from the start. It was easy to relax and feel close to nature here. We truly felt at home, and it became an unforgettable stay. We’d happily come back.

The location is the strongest point: clear blue water, lots of fish, and good snorkeling. The beaches are public, so boats can bring people there, but the setting is still lovely. Ahmed, the bartender, made incredible cocktails, and I had some genuinely nice, personal conversations with him during my stay. The rooms were a major disappointment. They’re very small, low-tech, and not up to the standard of other resorts. The AC blows straight onto the bed, and duct tape over its bright display doesn’t hide the light well, so the room stays bright at night. The bathroom felt more like a cramped prison shower than something in a 5-star hotel, with no windows and strange pipe or ventilation noises. The toilet was dirty, including a small area that I don’t think had ever been cleaned. The food was below par and took a long time to arrive. They served us eggs Benedict without hollandaise, and when we asked for it, it arrived split. At dinner one night, staff moved a table directly into our line of sight, blocking the sea view and leaving us looking at the backs of two people while we ate. After one long day out, we returned to find our room hadn’t been cleaned all day. The staff seemed understaffed. The gym is extremely small, with three machines, a treadmill and two bikes, plus one bench. There’s just one massage therapist, so even as a couple you can’t have massages at the same time. There weren’t enough sunbeds for everyone, despite the island’s limited capacity, and the Wi-Fi was so bad I had to use cellular data outside the room. I don’t consider this a 5-star hotel, and I didn’t feel recognized as a Discovery member. Since the beaches are accessible, I should have just booked a day trip with an excursion tour. If the other JA hotels are like this property, I wouldn’t return to any of them. There are more issues, but this review is already long.

Getting to JA Enchanted Island Resort by boat was a lovely welcome, and check-out went smoothly too. Bhuwan greeted us warmly, explained what we needed to know, and helped us feel at home. Our villa was spotless, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed. We enjoyed using the resort’s snorkeling gear and kayaks to explore the turquoise water. At low tide, we could walk across the sandbank to the next island, which felt magical. My birthday dinner was the disappointing part. The seafood mixed grill was overcooked and inedible, and spoiled what should have been a special meal. The team took the charge off, which I appreciated, but fresh, well-prepared seafood was what I’d expected on an island. Thanks especially to Irshad Khan, Sheryl, and the lovely housekeeping lady who decorated our villa for my birthday. Their kindness and service made the visit feel special despite the meal. The resort is beautiful, and the visit was wonderful apart from that one mishap.

The staff made us feel at home as soon as we arrived, and the care they put into every detail made the whole stay feel easy and special. It really felt like paradise. I’m already looking forward to coming back, and you won’t regret booking here.