We have just returned last week from a truly beautiful holiday to this resort.
Cannot recommend the 2 bedroom deluxe in ocean villas enough. Absolutely loads of space , very clean and well kept and so many areas outside to sit or lay and relax and enjoy the stunning views in all directions .
We were in villa 362, with a view over to the main island. We were able to watch sea plans come into land and see the sunrise from our deck or the sunset from our roof terrace or private jetty and daybed area at the end of the private jetty
Our sons had their own bed and en-suite bathroom, and we had the large open plan bedroom and bathroom , all with of space to store clothes and views of the sea from all angles. Yes there is glass in both showers however it’s frosted for the most part , and there is a blind to pull down if you still feel conscious . Being right out at the end of the pier , with just 2 other of this room type villas, it feels very private and away from the other in ocean villas.
The only small thing that could improve the outside of the villas is they could do with a fresh staining of the wooden furniture / wooden rails .
I would say the deluxe in ocean villas are the next best room type due to location and views. The standard in ocean villas are either closer to the Azurro restaurant or have views over to the local island across from the resort.
Speaking of the local island, yes it’s viewable from the main pool are on the main island , but never affected our holiday, and as I say our room type didn’t have any such view of it .
If you are going to stay in a beach villa, I would recommend the ones on the east side of the island as you look at the island from the arrival jetty. They have views of only the sea , not the jetty, water villas or local island and they seem like you are on a deserted island . Just means slightly longer walk to the restaurant etc.
We found the ferry schedule not to be a problem apart from in the morning an extra ferry would’ve nice running from the villas to the island, but agajn, wasn’t a problem.
The ferries always leave right on time btw, so you need to be there a couple of minutes before.
We used the main pool on the island of a morning so as to be able to have drinks service laying by the pool, and the boys play table tennis, darts and there is a pool table as well in the bar area.
We found the food to be very good, plenty of choice at breakfast, including a fresh omelette/ egg station , Asian choices such as noodles and rice and congee , and all the usual things like bacon and beans, pastries , donuts, bread, waffles, pancakes , cereal , salads and cheeses etc
Breakfast at Azzurro was also plenty of options although less than the main buffet , but you get to eat with the view of the ocean and less of a crowd.
We didn’t eat at the buffet for lunch, but did at the pool bar a few times which had pizzas and burgers etc, an Indian menu with samosas etc, fish tacos , as well as milkshakes and lovely cocktails
We also ate some lunches at Azzurro, again beautiful views and tasty lunch choices such as burgers, pizza, Seafood, pasta, steak sandwiches, steak, prawns , salads etc
There was often reef sharks and large rays hanging around the water around the restaurant as well.
For dinner we always at at the buffet after a pre dinner drink at Azzurro ( amazing pina colada btw ) or the pool bar
We found there to be absolutely plenty of choice and variety . There was different theme nights, Italian, Asian Spice ( Thai and Indian ) grill night, Maldivian night, Fiesta night , stir fry night , and always plenty of salads and breads, always a station with Indian type options and always vegetarian choices, as well as vegetable and potato options , and a station for ramen type dishes freshly made, and each dish had signs to show any allergens etc. we had everything from curries, both Indian and Maldivian, tacos, amazing fresh noodle stir fries, freshly cooked meat and seafood on the beach at grill night ( boys loved the calamari especially ) , Thai green curry, there was always a lovely reef fish dish , always rice , and always a kids station as well ( usually chicken and mash or freshly crumbed chicken or pasta or fresh homemade fish fingers )
We never found it too hectic ,the busiest night was grill night, although there was a little wait at the fresh station on stir fry night , you got to line up and put in your bowl what you wanted them to freshly stir fry for you, so of course it takes a few minutes, and same for the fresh tacos on taco night, but it’s worth it for the freshly cooked food made to your exact liking .
There was also plenty of desert choices and always a fresh to order desert station which changed each night, things like churros, banana fritters , chocolate pancakes etc
We found the clientele to be mainly oriental on the in ocean side, and Russian and European and English and a few Americans on main island The evening entertainment is low key, we don’t care much for live shows etc, we like to sit with a drink and the boys liked to go off and play with some other kids around the table tennis table and play pool etc and run around on the beach.
They do show sport in a tv in the pool bar, there was cricket and football for example.
We had a Maldivian drum band which we enjoyed , there was karaoke, a movie under the stars night ( puss in boots ) a life singer a couple of nights ( she had a good voice but didn’t pronounce all the words correctly) and a night club night with DJ. So if major nightlife is your thing this isn’t the island for you, for us it was
perfect , we wanted low key and just to enjoy sitting outside with a drink and being able to see
all the stars and have a walk along the beachto catch the ferry back over to our villa.
We used the free paddle boards and kayaks and snorkel equipment .
There is a free boat trip each day to the house reef, however we were easily able to get there from our villa. Plenty of coral and colourful fish, even around our villa there was fish , we were even in our pool one day and saw a sea turtle swim by as well as a very large and harmless reef shark., but the most concentration was at the house reef and also a place we called the fish bowl. If you go around to beach villa 159ish you can see a concrete post in the water as a marker, ( covered in high tide ) just a short swim out you can see dark water, which is a bowl of sorts, you can swim over it and to the other side and stand up again. Plenty of coral gardens and fish and we also a turtle and small reef sharks.
It needs to be high tide to swim comfortable over the coral, same can be said for swimming out to the house reef sharks from the villas. Beach shoes are handy when in the water .
Lastly, we found the staff at the resort to be very warm and friendly and some of them very personable and willing to go the extra mile for you. Can’t fault any of them at all.
If you are after an out of this world over water villa experience, and relaxed casual 5 star as opposed to opulent 5 star island resort, with lovely service and good food then this is the perfect island for you.
