Sun Island Resort & Spa

Glass bottled water is free and you have a limited selection on 6 bottled soft drinks from the mini bar. Everything else red bull, bottled water and alcohol all are charged at the room. You also have tea and coffee facilities available in the room. Rooms got cleaned twice a day which was really nice. TV channels - lots of variety. No extra treatment for the upgrade of room. Pool/Beach area The provider of the sunbed cushions and towels was on his game every day and was very friendly. The sunbed waiter service is very hit and miss and I guess this is where tipping would come in handy as those guests that did tips regularly got preferential treatment throughout the day. On some days we weren't even offered a all inclusive drink so would go to the bar and get them ourselves. Not so much an issue but they prefer individuals paying for the cocktails they have on promotion than it appeared serving all inclusive guests. Pool bar-bar tender Very good. He was always on the ball. Selection of All inclusive Cocktails-poor but drinkable. In the end out of about 15 drinks on all inclusive drink menu I only tried 5 throughout the holiday of which only 2 of them were palatable. An alcoholic one and non alcoholic.The white wine served during meal times again is palatable too. Hot drinks- Tea and coffee only. Any lattes or espresso/hotchocolate was an additional cost. Main bar Entertainment-average Service-Poor Only the main buffet restaurant and Southern star restaurant out of I think it's about 5 are all inclusive. Your not given a free dining experience at the remaining restaurants which wasnt great.Every night and during the day staff would come around to where you were eating or sunbedding trying to upsell their themed nights. Due to being all inclusive they would provide sometimes a special rate of "$40" per person. This sometimes applied to those on half board which I felt was not really fair considering the premium we had paid for the all inclusive. Otherwise prices ranged for $60-$100 dollars per person. For super special occasions they had private beach dining which was pricier. Fish market-not all inclusive So having caught our fish on our fishing trip we had the option of eating it which we did do. You arrived back at around 8 in the evening and the restaurant is suppose to open at 8.30. Well that did and didnt happen. We were asked to take a seat as the chef was late. Then asked if we would like drinks.Which was when they told us they were not part of the all inclusive selection, which made us cross. As all the people on our trip had been on the all inclusive boarding rate and yet again we were being asked to spend further money. We then waited till about 9pm to be called up to select our fish and to gave it cooked. They provided minimal food (salad and rolls) to have along with the fish we had caught. The food which we had caught was lovely. However I dont really know what they do with the hoards of fish that people do not eat.Probably gets used by the hotel. Tipping Throughout the holiday there was very much a feeling that the staff were expecting tips every step of the way and that made us feel uncomfortable.By no means are we reluctant to tip but we expect service that goes above the standard. Sometimes waiting for a drink could take up to 45 mins in the main bar or 30 mins in the cafe when their are less then 25 people on them. Excursions Brilliant. We went on two excursions the first being the big adventure trip to try and find the mantaray/whaleshark and turtles. We found 2 of the three and saw dolphins on the way. That was an absolute delight. However, there are no guarantees on seeing any of them when you pay the fee and there are no refunds. The sunset fishing (free for stays over 6 nights), was again brilliant. The staff were amazing and we caught so many varieties of fish using the old traditional method of line fishing. Between myself and my partner we caught 7 fish! Which we then had the option of eating later on at the fish market restaurant (this restaurant is a different story.) Gym and sports facilities Great- exactly what you need for a large resort like this. They have ping pong tables, badminton courts, a squash court, snooker tables, the gym and weights room ( good quality)* and jacuzzi and steam room and sauna, volleyball, tennis, football and basketball courts. The gym however for the cycle bikes are missing the footsteps which proves inconvenient at high speeds as it jolts which could cause injury. They also have a house Reef which is pretty where you can snorkel and plenty of watersports activities for a cost. Mosquitos They do their best to try and smoke out the mosquitos in the evening around the island.if your anything like me take 50-100% deet for first thing in the morning and from about 4pm In the evening. Location Is wonderful and the island itself is well maintained and landscaped.The gardeners do a wonderful job. All in all a beautiful holiday, but probably wouldn't go back to this particular resort again. Read less

A fantastic and relaxing holiday and made to feel so welcome by Zakir and Alam at the Southern Star Restaurant. Everyday was a lovely experience and the food was excellent. All the staff were welcoming and friendly and took care of us. We were kept tidy by a hard working Givas and a superb bed design was quite amazing. Overall it tells you these people care about their customers and they made our holiday special. Read less

Sun Island Resort is really beautiful place. Real paradise on Earth. The nature there is exactly the same what you can see in catalogue or the Internet. Amazing white beaches with coconut trees everywhere. The ocean is so clear and turquoise blue. I liked that hotel really care about the resort. Hotel staff clean the beaches every day. They care about the flowers and everything around. There is a very comfortable background while nature is undisturbed. There are different types of accommodation. But every room is close to the beach. I lived in standard beach bungalow. The room was simply furnished but clean. Housekeeper clean the rooms twice per day. Every day they change your towels. I have only one complaint. During my stay in the adjoining rooms there was a reconstruction. I must say, that it was very disturbing. But on other side, the island is so huge, so there are so many places, where I could go and dont listen the sound of hammer and drill. Hotel staff are made up of about 95 percent only by men. But they are very friendly, very talkative and always open to help. The main hotel restaurant is absolutely amazing and tasty. Lots of food and everyone can choose what they like. I visit this island in September and the weather was fantastic. I spend there one week and only two days were cloudy (not raining). The rest of week was just sunny. I really felt there pleasantly and happilly. I must say, that I really miss this place. For me, the journy there was really complicated and so long, but staying on this island makes up for everything, so certainly recommend it. Read less

Dear Mr. Faiz, Not able to meet u personally, however would like to thank u for all your hospitality during my stay at sun island. To all the guest reading my review, please contact mr, Faiz for any of your concerns during your stay at the hotel. His 21yrs of hospitality experience will help to resolve all your concerns during the stay. Regards Subhendu Ghosh Events Sales Manager (#GrandHyattKochi) Read less

After 3 flights, minibus and speedboat we eventually arrived on the Island, checked in and taken to our room which was a superior beach bungalow (highly recommended) with direct beach access, private sunbeds and sunset view! The all inclusive meals were excellent, a special mention to our waiter Samad ! Fantastic staff all around including the pool and beach bar!! There is plenty to do (or not) depending on your choice. I was royally treated on my birthday by the staff and we both had a fantastic time, thank you. Already looking forward to a return visit! Read less