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April 4, 2024
This was our second time on Kihaa after 2022 (we've been to 7 islands so far). This has changed: the food is better (was an absolute disaster), but after seven days everything is repeated in the same order. The quality of the food is mediocre. The great beach on the Sunrise side of the island is only half as wide as it was 2 years ago, currents have shifted tons of sand towards the tip of the island, so some sunshades are almost in the water, at the bungalows with pool on this side the water goes right up to the pool at high tide. Some bungalows are therefore no longer usable. Instead, bungalows with a pool have been built right next to the restaurant. The "water bungalows" now sit on the washed up sand, there are no longer any real water bungalows. They are currently abandoned, without windows and doors and need to be completely renovated. It is visually a ruined building, fortunately far away. Kihaa's fantastic pool is losing mosaic tiles by the handful every day. During our stay, entire sections of the various entrances were completely broken off. We can only hope that the management already has a repair date in mind, because soon no guest will be able to enjoy the torn floor. Why we came back: we love the island's mature trees, which provide great shade and are simply necessary in the intense sunshine. The bungalows all offer a great sea view from the bed, each have their own privacy, their own sun loungers and parasol and their own piece of beach (if there aren't ignorant guests who think they have to behave like in Benidorm and steal the cushions from other bungalows themselves). There are small sharks, turtles and even eagle rays snorkeling every day at the edge of the reef and swimming is possible at any time of day (no low tide where you have to walk out forever). Yes, Kihaa is an older island, the furniture is made of dark teak - but to be fair, it has to be said that it is one of the cheaper islands and the old adage "you get what you are paying for" applies. BUT: even if the staff hired from India, Nepal and Bangladesh is super friendly despite working 14-hour shifts every day, the management is still a disaster, which also detracts from the guest experience and therefore also makes us look for a new island: + as soon as you arrive - and before you take your seat in the lobby, you are shooed to the payment point and told to pay the eco-tax immediately and in cash. Is that still possible? This is the welcome after 15-18 hours on the road? No guest comes off the island, why do I have to pay the eco-tax on arrival, but an hour later I can theoretically have a much more expensive jet ski written to my room? + After a week, we were informed that mineral water would no longer be included in the all-inclusive rate but would only be available for a fee. After our complaint, they backtracked after discussion and necessary consultation with the management. The components of the all-inclusive package cannot be canceled unilaterally dur