The Barefoot Eco Hotel

Umístění - skvělé, severně od hlavního města, dolet do hodiny, výrazně méně turistů, možnost poznat místní obyvatele. Nádherné atoly, okolí - šnorchlovací pohádka zvláště v doprovodu podmořského biologa Massima. Poskytované služby na výborne úrovni, eco hotel - fantastická čistota jak v areálu, tak okolí - písečná absolutně čistá pláž. průzračná voda. nikde plastové lahve. Jídlo velmi dobré, zejména čerstvé ovoce. Nelze objednat alkohol, kdo má zájem musí na loď.... Absolutní třešnička na dortu - ranní lekce jogy s Mayurou a jeho špičkové masáže. V kombibaci s výše uvedeným - fantastická dovolená.

Magické místo , služby na výborne úrovni , jak čistota v areálu tak pláž . Jídlo velmi chutné , i když výběr trochu jednodušší , ale to plne koresponduje s eco koncepci. Tento hotel taky neposkytuje žádný alkohol, takže je potřeba s tím počítat . Vynikající je možnost se účastnit ranní lekce jógy

The hotel is situated in a remote island, without any other resorts or people, so expect highest levels of tranquility, the lack of other islands around also means no overcrowded snorkeling spots, no loud boats or no speed boats chasing the marine life! The set up is beautiful, with a vast garden, which makes you feel like you are in a jungle, I almost didn't see other guests during the day. Striped by a long white beach with a swimming lagune of transparent turquoise water, the hotel also offers many activities, to discover marine life in a human manner - making sure the guests know how to treat the nature and environment around. I particularly enjoyed the food, especially the fresh raw fish being offered everyday. All the staff was very polite and friendly, making my trip even mor enjoyable. It’s a great compromise, you get to experience the beauty of the Maldives without emptying your wallet!

We thought a detour to the Maledives, coming from Sri Lanka, would be a good idea, as the flight from Colombo to Male is only 55 minutes. Unfortunately, it is quite complicated to get to the hotel - so our trip to the Barefoot Eco Hotel took us one day instead of the anticipated few hours. Also when flying back, we were booked on a flight to Male (because other guests needed to catch an earlier Flight) at 6:00am and hat to spend 5 hours at Male Airport before the departure of our flight back to Europe. The Beach and architecture is very beautiful. The hotel’s benefit is the breathtaking view and the very polite service staff around the buffet. Also the housekeeping staff was very friendly and our room was always kept clean. In contrast, we experienced poor communication and arrogant behavior and less motivation by two guys from the reception staff, who smiled our questions away in a passiv-aggressive manner. Still the Maledives profit from a past romantic ideal and narrative of the beauty of marine life. But the reality is sad- mostly dead corals and some lonely fishes gathering around. The hotel‘s dive shop offers diving and snorchling tours by fuel driven Speed-boat (not eco!). It seems as if time stood still somewhen in the 1980ies, where tainning fully sun-exposed still was ignored to cause skin cancer. The only ‚eco‘ we observed in the hotel was the soap (instead of shower gel) and biological desinfection against insects and mosquitos as well as instructional videos showing how not to pollute the area with (plastic) garbage and cigarettes. But except that, we did not discover any engagements making the hotel worth to be called ‚eco‘… the served salmon seems to be imported for the tourists, as well as other incredients served. In how far it is ‚eco’ that the owner needs a jetski is also questionable. In other places, hotels and dive centers engage in helping to rebuild/grow reefs and cleaning the ocean from plastic. Beyond that, we observed many grumpy and unfriendly guests who were acting egocentric and not mindful when approaching the buffet in a ‚me first‘ manner. It got even worse after an italian tourist group arrived and started to block seaside chairs with their beach towels even when not using them. With such attitude and crowd attrackted, the place is compareable to a common all-inclusive hotel anywhere else in the world. But it is not a 4-star hotel. Only the prices are of a 4-star accomodation.

The first morning I woke up way too early, some animal made loud calls- was it a bird or a monkey? Where am I ? The sound of the waves from the nearby sea brought back my memories Ah I’m in the beautiful Maldives staying in a villa all by myself. And was Robinson Cruso really a man or did she just pretend? I bet Freitag adored her... My daily routine starts with coffee by the beach and a quick dip in the water, followed by my morning yoga practice – some sun salutations, stretching, breathwork and meditation. All of this takes place under the watchful eyes of the villagers in the pictures adorning my outdoor living room. The clothes I brought from Europe are far too warm and heavy for this climate. Fortunately, the local tailor is highly skilled, and his fabrics and expertise really highlight my figure. And the fresh flowers the room boy places in the vase on my veranda makes me feel truly special. One of the papayas in my little garden is ripe, and I’ve sprinkled the pieces with fresh lime from the village store. They’ve never tasted so good! The store has everything—from fresh vegetables and local spices to tools and cleaning agents. The ladies there are incredibly friendly; when they see my basket of vegetables and coconut milk, they ask if I’ll be cooking at THE BAREFOOT. Their eyes follow me as I ride back on my bicycle to the resort. The lentil dish I prepare in my little kitchen is decent, but the view of the sea and my feet in the sand make the lunch truly memorable. Yesterday, I went for a two-dive adventure and saw eagle rays, two stingrays, many sharks, and millions of colorful fish of all sizes. Corals of all shapes are thankfully growing back everywhere. Today, I’ll treat myself to an Ayurvedic massage and enjoy an early bedtime. But before I sleep, I ll take a quick walk on the beach under the beautiful starry sky.