Pullman Maldives Maamutaa

Pullman Maldives Maamutaa – A Resort Losing Its Way We returned to Pullman Maldives after a superb stay in 2023, only to discover that the resort has sadly gone downhill under its current management. Hidden Charges & Declining All-Inclusive On arrival, we were told we’d need to pay an extra $100 per night for our child to have a bed. This was never the case before. Only after we challenged it did management relent. Despite marketing itself as one of the most generous “all inclusive” resorts, food at the Hub bar is now chargeable (a burger is $35). This undermines the very definition of “all inclusive” and feels deliberately misleading. Serious Hygiene Concerns Far more disturbing, on four separate occasions human faeces washed up on the beach directly outside our villa. This was not turtle waste or fish matter — it was unmistakably human. For a resort positioning itself as luxury, this is unacceptable and poses real health risks. Staffing Problems The island is visibly understaffed. Exceptional staff such as Nimasha (a superb mixologist, charming and professional), Savee in Souq Oven (caring and attentive), Navaz (charming), Nisha in Malange (tireless and highly professional), Amicca in the Hub bar (skilled, genuine, and warm), and Haquim in Malange (hardworking and cheerful) are the ones who saved our holiday. They are a credit to the resort — but also clearly overworked. Even security staff are now repurposed as buggy drivers, working non-stop shifts. At the same time, a wave of newer staff appear untrained and disengaged, often standing around on phones instead of serving guests. This inconsistency creates a jarring contrast — frontline excellence from a few, but a lack of service culture across the rest. Missing the Basics of 5-Star Unlike comparable resorts such as Heritance Aarah or Emerald, Pullman does not provide a dedicated host or butler available around the clock. At this price point (£9,500 for two weeks, hotel only), this level of service should be standard. Instead, guests are left to fend for themselves for basic coordination. Food & Facilities The rooms remain spacious and comfortable, with a good pool, but the resort is looking tired and in need of refurbishment. Menus, once exciting, are now repetitive and uninspired. Phat Chameleon is particularly disappointing: located in the middle of the island with no air conditioning (prepare to melt) and heavily focused on prawns, with other choices hidden behind a supplement menu. Reputation Management Games It is also telling that the moment a negative review appears online, a sudden wave of glowing 5-star reviews floods in. This pattern suggests a strategy to bury genuine criticism rather than address it. On social media, even constructive comments are quietly deleted, while influencers are hosted to produce heavily curated, overwhelmingly positive (and therefore biased) content. This is not transparency — it’s manipulation. Final Thoughts To be clear, we still had an enjoyable holiday — thanks largely to the outstanding individual staff who went above and beyond. But the cracks are impossible to ignore. Corporate cost-cutting and poor management have crushed what was once a truly special resort. Unless these issues are recognised and resolved, many repeat guests simply will not return. At this price point, Pullman Maldives no longer represents genuine 5-star value. Other resorts in the Maldives — at the same cost — deliver far better service, facilities, and honesty. Read less