We booked our stay at Pullman Maldives through Luxury Escapes’ new direct flight package from Melbourne. I’ll admit we were initially a little sceptical, but the entire experience exceeded our expectations from start to finish.
From the moment we arrived in Malé, everything was seamless. We were met by Pullman staff who guided us through our domestic flight connection and later our boat transfer to the resort, making what could have been a complicated journey completely stress free.
The resort itself was spectacular. We stayed in a Two Bedroom Ocean Pool Villa, which was incredibly spacious and ideal for two couples travelling together. Each bedroom had its own luxurious ensuite with double vanities, indoor and outdoor showers, and a beautiful bath.
The villa was exceptionally well appointed, with a minibar replenished daily, a glass floor in the living area, and a generous outdoor space featuring a private pool, gazebo and multiple seating areas. The overwater hammocks quickly became our favourite spot, particularly for watching the sunrise each morning.
Getting around the island was easy, whether walking, riding bikes or using the buggy service. The island was also beautifully lit at night, making it easy to explore after dinner.
The food and beverage offering was outstanding, especially considering it was all-inclusive. Souq Oven quickly became our favourite for both lunch and dinner, while Mélange offered an excellent buffet with plenty of variety at every meal. Breakfast at Mélange was a particular highlight, thanks to the incredible chefs at the egg station, whose skill and attention to detail never went unnoticed. We also dined at Phat Chameleon - given its excellent reputation we had high expectations, but unfortunately it was the only dining experience that didn’t quite live up to them.
The snorkelling was simply extraordinary. We joined one guided snorkelling excursion through the dive centre, explored directly from the beach, and snorkelled straight from our villa into the lagoon. Each experience was unique, and together they offered some of the best coral reefs and marine life we’ve seen anywhere in the world. We encountered hundreds of colourful fish, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, stingrays and more turtles than I could count.
The service throughout the resort was exceptional. Every staff member we encountered, from restaurant staff and buggy drivers to groundskeepers and housekeeping, was genuinely warm and welcoming. A special thank you to Haisham, whose attention to detail while servicing our villa and during evening turndown service was outstanding. We’d also like to recognise Nawaz at Mélange for his wonderful hospitality and kindness throughout our stay.
A couple of tips for future guests - bring reef shoes, as they make entering the water much easier, and book any specialty restaurants or excursions soon after you arrive, as popular times can fill quickly. We also preferred staying in the smaller cluster of overwater villas rather than the larger loop. They were quieter, offered uninterrupted sunrise views and were conveniently located close to restaurants and some of the island’s best snorkelling spots.
The Maldives was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for us, but Pullman has completely changed that. Safe to say, we’ll be back.
