Property: Pullman Maldives
Status: Platinum Explorer
Room booked: Ocean Pool Villa
Room upgraded/type: No and not offered
Rate: Trip was around $6600 Aust after saving approx $2000 with points
Early check in/late out: No see comments
Free internet: Yes
Free breakfast: Yes buffet
Welcome drink: No but not needed
Welcome amenity: No status not recognised in any way at all
Recommend: YES!!!!!!!!!!!
I finally had some time to sit down and write this review. We spent 7 nights at the Pullman Maldives and, since I couldn’t find many detailed reviews beforehand, I wanted to share our experience. I may update this as I remember more.
I booked through the app, using 62,000 points which took about $2,000 AUD off the price. The total booking was USD $4,455.46, leaving USD $3,014 to pay after points—or so I thought. The app says payment is taken immediately, but it isn’t. Instead, a few days later you receive an email from Guest Services with your booking details. This email explains that you must book your Maldivian Air flights through the hotel and also pay the green tax. This increased my total to USD $4,214.33.
I was told the hotel had to book the flights or the boat transfer wouldn’t be arranged. They also advise that you won’t receive flight details until 24 hours before arrival, which turned out to be true—we got them while in transit. The email also stated payment was due two weeks before arrival. However, a few weeks later I received another email saying I had to pay within 24 hours or my booking would be cancelled. This was confusing since we were still four months out. I emailed three times with no response, and only received clarification after contacting the General Manager, who confirmed payment wasn’t due until two weeks prior. Overall, the booking process is convoluted, and the app doesn’t clearly outline the additional costs, which added quite a bit to the total.
We flew Malaysia Airlines business class. Getting to the resort was a trek: flight to KL, a 6‑hour layover, flight to Malé, a 3‑hour layover, then a Maldivian Air flight to Kooddoo, followed by sorting bags and a speedboat to Pullman. We left home at 4pm and arrived around midnight (AUS time) the next day. A long slog, but after a good night’s sleep, you really do forget about the journey.
We arrived around 7pm local time. Check‑in was extremely efficient—they put you straight into a buggy and take you to your villa. You’re assigned a Guest Services contact and he adds his details into your WhatsApp. What I didnt love was that there was a bit of a hard sell on excursions and upgrading to the underwater villa for a night or two.
The main restaurant offers buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food quality is very good, with multiple sections including a carvery, Maldivian dishes, pasta made to order, curries, and casual options like burgers and nachos. Drinks were slow to arrive, and accessing menus via QR code wasn’t ideal—we wanted to switch off and not use our phones whilst at the resort
There are several other dining options included in the all‑inclusive package. Phat Chameleon, the vegetarian restaurant, was our favourite—the food was divine, but we only managed to get in once as it was fully booked. Melange is the main buffet and we ate there often. Souq Oven is marketed as Middle Eastern, though we didn’t really see that theme, but the food was good and the views were beautiful. The Hub is the pool bar, but food there is not included in the AI package. Saffron Affair is a lovely bar for evening drinks, though again the QR code ordering was a bit frustrating.
We stayed in an Ocean Pool Villa, which was absolutely stunning. The room was spacious, and the bathroom was essentially outdoors, with a bathtub plus indoor and outdoor showers. The minibar was extremely generous, replenished daily, and included in the AI package. Housekeeping was exceptional—almost as if they waited for you to leave and immediately refreshed the room. Truly faultless.
The spa was just okay. I had an issue with a package change and didn’t receive the full service I paid for. Also, prices don’t include taxes and service fees, which add about 27% on top. If I returned, I’d skip the spa.
Because we stayed 7 nights, we received a sunset cruise or fishing trip, $20 off laundry, an extra 30 minutes at the spa, and use of bikes. The sunset cruise was lovely, with bubbles served on board. You’re given a voucher card at check‑in, but what they don’t make clear is that you must get it stamped when you use the services and present it at checkout, or you’ll be charged.
We didn’t do any excursions or snorkelling because we saw plenty of sea life right off our villa.
The staff were wonderful—warm, attentive, and genuinely eager to help. We tipped a few people, including housekeeping, with Aussie dollars, which they seemed to appreciate. If I went again, I might bring some USD, but I don’t think it really matters.
The resort is truly stunning. I arrived stressed and exhausted but left completely recharged. I would absolutely return, though next time I’d consider a stopover in Singapore. I’ve seen that Luxury Escapes is doing charter flights, which could be an option. Besides points I didn’t receive any status recognition during the stay so booking via Luxury Escapes might be a better way to do it and you see the full price up front. Does anyone know if you can still get your points is you book this way????
Checkout was seamless, but again you’re at the mercy of Maldivian Air. Even though our flight from Malé wasn’t until 3:30pm, we had to leave our room at 6:30am, losing half a day to sit in the very basic lounge at Malé.
The pros: the all‑inclusive package is extremely generous, the rooms and villas are beautiful, and the staff are exceptional. The cons: the long travel time, reliance on Maldivian Air scheduling, the voucher system, the QR codes everywhere, and a slight hard sell on arrival.
If you book, my tip is to make your restaurant reservations before you arrive. Phat Chameleon was our favourite, and I’d absolutely book it multiple times.
Would I go back - yes absolutely!!!
