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We arrived during a storm in the off season and that was a difficult journey. Upon learning this the team at Sandies Bathala then did everything they possibly could to make sure the remainder of our stay was incredible and it was! We'll have memories to cherish for a lifetime. The food is delicious and varied. The staff are kind, warm and attentive. The island's features really well thought out, eco friendly and well maintained. The coral reef is awesome and the ability to go snorkeling directly from your villa is a highlight. We stayed on the beachfront and in an overwater villa and they were both great! We'd go again on a heartbeat. Highly recommend staying at Sandies Bathala!

Perfect little gem of a resort. Delicious food, with locally-sourced options at every meal (don't miss the fish tacos!). Warm and friendly personal service. Diving is exceptional - instructors are patient with beginners and offered bespoke itineraries for qualified divers. The house reef is lively and healthy, and for sites further afield the best dive boat this side of the Caribbean. Rooms are beautifully put together. Just lovely.

What is there to say about this property. Whilst staying here for a week of vacation I was made to feel at home by the most amazing staff I have ever come across on my travels. It started with Gehani, who welcomed my partner and I to the island, and made every request we had to her come through. She was one of the most helpful and genuinely caring persons we met who helped make us feel at home at this resort. Also, sucil and leem went above and beyond to always ensure our needs were met and that anything we asked for was available to us. The food was amazing every single day and we particularly liked chef sanjewa who always provided quality meals. Additinally, moosa helped make our stay within our villa always magical with his birthday and honeymoon celebratory creations. Whilst the staff were amazing and created a truly enjoyable stay, I cannot even begin to talk about the reef which surrounds this island. I’ve snorkeled many places around the world and this was truly the most beautiful, vibrant and alive reef with thousands of fish, sharks, and rays we’ve ever seen. I was truly astounded and loved that the staff continue to make every attempt to protect the reef. I will recommend this resort to anyone who loved snorkeling and diving and who really enjoys being a part of a family because the staff at this resort truly make you feel at home.

Perfect

Safari Island was paradise for us, with easy access to the reef for snorkelling. Facilities were well spread out. With more than 100 guests, the resort experience felt very private. The food was exceptional and 'half board' (full international buffet breakfast and dinner) was enough for us, with our own fruit and snacks. The chefs at the buffet stations were affable and friendly. The range and quality of food is excellent. The tables had linen tablecloths and napkins and attentive wait staff in a relaxed atmosphere. When required, management were responsive and personable. They kindly accommodated our request for a change of room location. The overwater bungalows are a great design, with much privacy and sound insulation. The glass bottom coffee table gave exceptional visibility to fish swimming underneath. The turn-down service and beach towel replacement in the afternoons was a lovely touch, as was the special honeymoon greeting. Absolutely heavenly.

The resort strives to preserve the island environment - avoiding plastic, reducing waste, making its own water and supplies. An incredible local community works to make that possible. The vegetation is just magnificent. You can walk around and truly feel the wild nature above. The reef is the main reason we chose Nika and it exceeded our expectations. Nurse sharks, Black fins, turtles and all kinds of tropical fish populate the corals, you can snorkel around the island the be able to see them (also depending on the season). The daily food choice is nice and healthy: lots of fresh fish, Asian ingredients, pasta and a strong Italian footprint. Few bullet points: *The original villas are incredible, but they take much of the landscape and the public beach surface is limited *Some activities seem too expensive. If you really want guests to understand the ocean and its fragility, prices should be more competitive *Entertainment is very limited. Maybe you want to consider updating the evening sessions. The last thing guests wants to see at bar is a ppt - we read presentations all the time in our office! Maybe you could set these at different times of the day, based on guest interest. Evenings should be more Maldivian, more music, more fun *Sometimes prices show older tax. Lotus Spa also not transparent, with fees changing from a promo to the final price *Beach staff not responsive at times. We waited 3 days to try a kayak; every morning we had to search sunbed cushions ourselves.