We had eagerly anticipated our stay at Canopus Hotel for six months, having traveled halfway around the world to get there. We saved diligently to visit Thulusdhoo and maintained ongoing communication with the hotel manager throughout the process. Everything seemed fine, but we were not informed about the unpleasant surprises awaiting us.
We arrived in February 2024 for a 15-day stay and were asked to pay the full bill before checking in. Although we found this request unusual, we agreed since we were exhausted after a 24-hour journey. While the payment process seemed smooth, the problems began shortly after—no wonder they wanted all our money upfront.
Navigating through about 100 cats (and their inevitable smells and messes), we finally reached our room, hoping for a refreshing shower and some much-needed rest. To our dismay, the room was in far worse condition than what we had been led to expect based on the information provided and the price we paid. Despite this, we tried to make the best of our time in the Maldives, even in a subpar room. However, as the holiday progressed, it became unbearable.
As soon as we lay down on the bed for a brief rest before lunch, construction work next door began, sounding more like demolition. This noise persisted throughout our stay, making it impossible to be in our room between 7:00 AM and 6:30 PM. We measured the noise level at nearly 130 decibels. We later discovered that the construction of a ten-story concrete block next door was being carried out by the owners of Canopus.
After recovering from the initial shock, we headed to the beachfront restaurant, only to face another disappointment. Before we even received the menus, we noticed bulldozers and large diggers moving rocks and building a seawall on the beach. Swimming out front was impossible, and the noise was so unbearable that we left our table. The fact that the hotel managers, with whom we had been in communication for six months, never mentioned any of this is disgraceful.
If you still decide to go here, keep in mind that:
1. This is a construction site.
2. The management under-communicates and distorts the truth.
3. Other guests shared my concerns.