Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort

We took a helicopter from Vilanculas to Bazaruta island, so felt like complete rockstars from the start. Achingly beautiful scenery. We loved our island hideaway and all staff were warm and welcoming. Beautiful fruit basket and bottle of wine welcomed us. Sunset cocktails on the beach are a must. My birthday dinner was very memorable - special table on the beach, amazing seafood buffet, birthday singing and cake to end the magical evening. Another highlight was scuba diving 2 Mile Reef with divemaster Juma - dolphins, turtles, shark and the most beautiful tropical fish. Plus a stop on Pansy Island to look for shells! Finished by the best lunch - prawns and snapper! Fabulous evening entertainment at the club, with a Greek themed buffet rounded off another amazing day in paradise. Thanks again to Haylee at Barefoot Breaks for everything! You made our trip the best!!

Our worries began as soon as we arrived at the airport: a wait of over an hour, a chaotic arrival without any information. Uncomfortable transfer by boat, again with no information and rude staff. Once there, the rooms were 30 years old, hardly anyone spoke English fluently, and the food was not good or even dangerous (the chicken was raw in the middle!!). Activities are overpriced, nothing is included, the gym is dangerous because the equipment is outdated. The store and kids' room are empty, power outages are commonplace, and wifi is very poor. There's no manager, everyone does what they want. They try to trick you by invoicing you many things you didn't do upon check-out, be careful. Go elsewhere, there's a much better place right next door...

During our 10-day stay at Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort starting August 5, 2024, we experienced both the charm and the challenges of this tropical paradise. **Booking Process** The financial handling during the booking process was frustrating. We assumed our holiday was paid for on the Anantara website using American Express (a surcharge applied which was fine to us). However, just a few days before the intended arrival to Anantara, while already on holiday in the South African bush with limited access to mobile connectivity, we were informed that they could not process the American Express payment due to a banking system transition. We were asked to pay by bank transfer with unclear banking details, which were blocked by our bank's fraud department. This took a lot of time and effort to resolve. It would be much simpler if Anantara arranged a PayPal payment option or some other payment terminal which could easily avoid this kind of struggles. **Helicopter transfer and airport handling** The welcome and organisation on the Vilanculo airport by the Anatara staff was friendly and well organized delivering a swift pass through to the helicopter transfer. This helicopter ride over the azur blue ocean is an amazing experience to get to the resort. The pilot very friendly and experienced. **Accommodation and Facilities** The villas, while spacious and offering stunning ocean views, are noticeably outdated. The interior decor feels very old, with in example broken lamps, old useless kitchens as a memory to appartment style units in the past and curtain rails that no longer function properly. This detracted from the overall comfort and luxury we expected from an Anantara brand property. **Resort Infrastructure** The resort features, as a main walking infrastructure to get around, elevated wooden walkways and terraces, which are unfortunately in a state of disrepair. I even fell through one of the planks, and I am not particularly heavy. The lighting installed in these areas is exposed, posing a hazard, especially around the pool with water where children play. Additionally, the available airstrip is completely outdated, the tennis court has cracked and uneven tarmac, the artificial grass football field is half torn and damaged, all the signing is old and unreadable and the asphalt paths throughout the resort are all broken and worn out. A thorough renovation is urgently needed to address these safety concerns and to meet the high standards associated with the Anantara brand. **Staff and Service** Despite the outdated facilities, the staff performed wonders with the limited resources and outdated infrastructure and accommodation available. From housekeeping to the restaurants and reception, everyone was attentive and helpful. Their dedication and friendliness significantly enhanced our stay. **Food and Beverage Experience** Although we generally prefer à la carte dining, the buffets exceeded our expectations. The quality, themes, and variety were