The ROOM – 2.5 stars

We paid for four-star resort accommodation - the Hudhuranfushi Resort – all refurbished since the tsunami (which apparently didn't do much at all to this island), so I was expecting things to be fresh and beautiful. You've all seen the pictures of glorious luxury and opulence that is associated with the Maldives? 

Now, don't get me wrong... I'm no high-maintenance diva, but I was disappointed to have paid a very healthy four-star price, expecting luxury, and got something that was maybe only just three-star quality back home. I've stayed in 'roach motels before, but I paid accordingly. I found the resort a bit more rustic and ratty than the web pictures (and prices) belie.

I guess it wasn't such an auspicious start, having travelled for 25 hours, arriving late at night, thrashed, just wanting a hot shower and a nice bed. There were no towels whatsoever in my room. Okay, I thought, I won't bother with reception at this hour (1.30am), I'll just wait to get my bags and then use my beach towel. I waited 40 minutes for my bags to arrive – eyes hanging out of my head – got my towel out and ran the water. No hot water whatsoever. Stuff it... crawled into bed.

It took another 24 hours to receive both towels and hot water. The double bed was really two single beds pushed together with a hard mattress seam in between (and this happened in the other Villas too - wasn't just because it was the surfer's end of the island). Drew's feet well and truly hung over the edge! There were no blankets; the towels, pillows and all the bed linen were all stained; ratty furniture; poor lighting. 

Our bathroom was open air, but was less than half the size and not as nice as the other Villas, as they had a bath and separate shower, one of which was undercover. The open air thing was very quaint, except with the wild weather we experienced, we ended up with a lot of debris, tannin-tainted water pooling at your feet when you went to the toilet, and sodden bathmats.

Ah well! it's all an experience, isn't it!