It really does feel like a home away from home. This was our second visit to One&Only The Palm, and this time we stayed for 11 nights, with our daughters joining us for 7 of those days. We already knew we loved the place, but coming back reminded us why it holds such a special place for us.
I don’t think I need to go into too much detail about the hotel itself. It’s the One&Only, after all, and everything you would expect from a property of this level is there. The rooms, surroundings, pools, food and service are all exceptional. It’s luxury, but done in a way that still feels warm, personal and incredibly comfortable.
What really makes this place so special, though, is the people. The team under Rahul Sharma are exceptional. They don’t just deliver great service; they genuinely care, and that is what makes One&Only feel different. It’s the little things, the smiles, remembering your preferences and simply being there when you need them. That’s what turns a beautiful hotel into somewhere you genuinely don’t want to leave.
First and foremost, Vanessa. A huge thank you to you, even before we arrived. You were on hand from the very beginning, making sure everything was taken care of and that our stay was going to be exactly what we hoped for. You are a rare gem and such a wonderful ambassador for the hotel. We really appreciated everything you did for us.
And then our host, Noushad. What a guy. He personally greeted us when we arrived, gave us his WhatsApp details and, well, the rest was history! Nothing was ever too much trouble. Restaurants, transport, pillows (yes, even pillows!) – whatever we needed, Noushad was always there to sort it. He somehow managed to be around whenever we needed him, without ever being intrusive. Even on his days off, he would check in to make sure we were all okay. That level of care says everything. Thank you, Noushad – you really did look after us and our girls so well.
Breakfast deserves a special mention too.
Marinelle and Eahjea were fantastic. They kept our girls entertained, and their energy, personalities and professionalism were brilliant. They made breakfast something we genuinely looked forward to every morning.
Thank you also to Santosh and Fitri, who always greeted us with the warmest smiles, and to Hasan, the manager, who was always so attentive and made sure nothing was ever too much trouble.
At Zest, a huge thank you to Sonu, Ashwin and Alberto. Another team who made us feel so welcome and looked after us throughout our stay.
And then there’s the pool team…
Passy, who heads up the pool team, is a great guy and always made sure everything was taken care of.
Jude deserves a special mention of his own. He is one of those people who just makes you feel looked after. Warm, gentle, incredibly professional and genuinely kind. Nothing ever seemed like an inconvenience, and he always did everything with such a lovely manner. A real credit to the hotel.
Brian, Shiva and Bobin were constantly on hand, always with a smile and always ready to help with whatever we needed. They somehow managed to anticipate what we wanted before we even asked – exactly the kind of service that makes a holiday so relaxing.
And of course, Rashid da Silva and Ruwan, our lifeguards, who not only kept a watchful eye over us but also made sure we had everything we needed… especially the noodles! 😂
Housekeeping – Mushkatin. Our girls’ room certainly gave him a bit of a challenge, but he was brilliant. Nothing was too much trouble, and he always went about everything with such a lovely attitude. Thank you for looking after the girls’ room and for helping make their stay just as special as ours.
We came back for a second visit because we loved One&Only the first time. We’ll leave this time wondering when we can come back again.
The hotel is spectacular, the setting is breathtaking and the level of luxury is everything you would expect. But honestly, it’s the people who make it.
A huge thank you to Rahul and the entire team for making our 11 nights so memorable, and for giving our girls such a wonderful 7 days with us. We laughed, relaxed, ate far too well and made some very special family memories.
One&Only The Palm really is something special. We’ll be back. ❤️