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Miavana is a place filled with magic. The pictures you see are just the start of your vacation dreams coming true. Heinrich and his team made sure from the moment we touched down until the time we left, that we felt comfortable and well taken care of. The island is absolutely gorgeous and as you walk on the powder soft white sand, you troubles wash away with the warm water as you inhale the island breeze. When deciding what resort to chose in this class of hotel, it really comes down to details. I can tell you without pause, that their focus on the details is impeccable. From all the staff knowing your name and preferences, to surprise sundowners & picnics, to your golf cart being turned around at night for easy exit, they really go the extra mile to make sure you have the most amazing time. They want to help you create magical memories. I loved the pastry chef there. Her breads and desserts are to die for. On the flight back home, they packed us lunch. In the bag was a special box of sweets for me to say “goodbye.” You should have seen the smile on my face. We had already left Miavana and they still wanted to make sure I took home some Miavana magic. Speaking of magic, I would be remised if I didn’t mention Johnson. He was our tour guide, kite surfing instructor, musician and so much more. He made our trip so fun. He has a passion for Madagascar and his culture. If you are interested in the local culture, I highly recommend you visit the island’s village with him, stay and have a beer in the village bar, and take in the warm smiles and laughter of the children. I also highly recommend taking the helicopter one day to visit the National Park. We literally had lunch with lemurs sitting next to us. I will forever remember the wonderful week we had at Miavana and will not hesitate to return. It was worth every dollar. Thank you Miavana for the memories. - via 
Nihi Sumba is a 3 star surf resort masquerading as a 5 star resort. If you go expecting a nice surf resort, you won’t be disappointed. However, if you go expecting a 5 star experience like that at North Island, Soneva Jani, One & Only Rwanda, or Miavana, you will be seriously disappointed. Considering we paid $6,000 a night all in, activities and alcohol are a la carte, you expect all the bells and whistles. We did bring some basic things to their attention like not getting morning maid service, or not having a welcoming crew that handed you a drink, or remembering what you liked to eat/drink/food allergies, the staff knowing who you are. They attempted to resolve the issues but still don’t understand the nature of high end customer service. Our water glasses were consistently empty, we had to flag someone down for drinks, and the food…..well, I return to my original point- three stars at best. We ate EVERY single meal at the same restaurant. They had “two” but weather prohibited us from eating at the beach restaurant. When we were finally able to eat there, we were given the same menu with a different title on it. There were zero special experiences. We didn’t eat in a special location or have surprise personal activities. You expect special experiences when you go to a luxury resort. It’s why you agree to pay the high bill, for the memories and experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Unlucky for us, we were rained out the entire time. You couldn’t surf, boogie board, play in the pool or do any of the outdoor activities. So we were secluded to our villa or to the very limited list of indoor activities. You would think that when they know it rains every year that they would have back up experiences. The experiences we were given like the Japanese cooking class that didn’t take place in the Japanese restaurant that wasn’t open, involved an Indonesian man with limited English proficiency handing us a recipe to follow along while he watched. The attention to detail and thoughtfulness isn’t there. There weren’t any gifts in our room in the evening, short of Christmas when we got sweets. The lower level employees who work there are kind and I feel like it wasn’t their fault. Management failed to have the proper SOPs in place and set them up for failure with a lack of training,policies & procedures. Finally the villa- our original villa was old, smelled like mildew, and needed to be remodeled. After we complained, we were moved to the owner’s villa which is lovely. However, how many people want to spend $20,000 a night?!?! I couldn’t imagine paying $20k for that experience. Even with the complimentary upgrade, our family decided to leave early and forfeit the remainder of trip that was paid in full months in advance. If that isn’t a wake up call, I don’t know what is. We would rather pay to stay somewhere else during the holiday season at a premium than stay there. I will say that the entire experience wasn’t doom and gloom. There was some sunshine during our trip. The yoga instructor, Kiri, taught wonderful classes and did some excellent privates. She gave my kids Santa hats and was a friendly face we looked forward to seeing each day. She remembered things about our life and I enjoyed our conversations. She’s new there and I hope they keep her because she’s a great asset. CJ the surf coach who was just there temporarily was also a cool dude that talked to my husband about surfing techniques and did his best to try to find him some waves 45 mins away. We had very high expectations for one of the best rated resorts in the world. I am convinced they have a very good marketing department or paid for the recognitions because anyone who has been to a luxury resort before will know within the first 24 hours that Nihi isn’t one of them. They should market themselves correctly as a 3 star surf resort & then I think you will find very happy people, assuming they drop their room rates to $500-$1,000 a night. - via