We arrived in Malé at around 4:30pm and were warmly greeted by the Joy Island airport team as soon as we collected our bags and cleared customs.
From there, everything was seamless. We were quickly escorted to our speedboat, which was ready within moments of reaching the boarding area. The 45-minute journey to Joy Island was incredibly comfortable — the boat was immaculate, and the staff were attentive throughout, offering refreshments and even comforting our child when she felt a little uneasy.
On arrival, we received the most beautiful welcome: cold towels, live drumming, and a genuinely warm reception from the team.
Our host, Hassan Ahmed, then took care of us. He struck the perfect balance — providing all the information we needed while understanding how tired we were after travelling. He checked us in efficiently and escorted us to our beach villa, ensuring everything was perfect before leaving us to settle in. From that moment on, he checked in with us daily (often twice), always making sure we were comfortable and happy.
The beach villa itself was stunning — beautifully designed, well-equipped, and opening directly onto a private stretch of beach that felt almost exclusive to us.
The island as a whole is breathtaking. The beaches, pools, and surroundings are simply spectacular, especially in the sunlight. Words genuinely don’t do it justice.
Dining was on another level entirely. In over 20 years of travelling the world, I have never experienced such an incredible variety of high-quality, beautifully presented food. The chefs (lead by Danielli & Antan) are exceptional — a special mention to Prem, whose lamb curry was outstanding (honestly, I would have happily paid £20 for that dish in London). After complementing the lead chefs about the spectacular food I mentioned the lamb curry again, it was that good and later that evening a special portion just for me was made, now that is what you call top tier service and looking after your customers.
A further thank you to Dita, Aju, Tutu, Nazim, Arvind, Gita, Jagdeesh, Gaurav, Chanuka, Kavindu, Ausath, Madu, Didi, Yoel, Juni & of course, Hassan along with the wider team — whose service was beyond anything we’ve experienced before. They made us feel truly valued every single day.
Midway through our stay, I wanted to surprise my wife for our 40th birthdays, so I spoke to Hassan about upgrading to a sunrise lagoon villa. Within a couple of hours, everything was arranged, and the following morning he personally came to collect us and transfer us to our new villa.
The lagoon villa exceeded all expectations — but what stood out even more was Hassan’s honesty and accuracy in describing it. He is a true asset to the resort, and his care and attention made our stay unforgettable.
Getting around the island was effortless, with buggies readily available at all times.
Beyond the setting, what truly makes Joy Island special is its people. Every team member — from entertainment to the diving instructors — was warm, friendly, and genuinely invested in making our stay memorable. We even tried diving for the first time and had an amazing experience.
This has been a magical stay that far exceeded our expectations. It truly feels like a dream — the kind of place you think only exists in pictures.
We will absolutely be returning.
Joy Island & Hassan “the Bossman” Ahmed, we love you all 💜
Raj, Sapna & Eva
