OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi

If you like to be kept awake until gone midnight daily, this is the hotel for you. The evening entertainment primarily consists of a live disco which can be heard across the whole island going until gone 12pm daily. The location is good, it’s a short speedboat ride away from the airport which after a long day travel was nice however on arrival to our hotel - when check in says 2pm we were advised our room was not ready and to have lunch and come back. After being on a plane all night all we wanted was a shower and to get changed. The staff at the hotel are all lovely and very helpful, when we went back after lunch - going on 2:30 now, we had been told again by reception that our room still wasn’t ready and we had to wait… this was shortly followed by a lady running up to me and apologising with my keycard, explaining that our luggage was in our room. The house keeping were exceptional, really helpful and our room was very clean. Our room itself was lovely, it was nice and spacious with lots of room - however we had a family room and for the two of us it seemed a waste. As we where upstairs, unless you got up very early to put towels out good luck getting a sun lounger out the front of the hotel, the rooms on the ground floor have their own private sun loungers but they still use the others on the beach front too but oh well. There is no reef here, there’s a handful of fish which you’ll see if your lucky but if you’re looking for a hotel to snorkel at and see Fish again this one isn’t for you. Good value for money however if you’re looking for something with a more authentic feel I’d go somewhere else. Read less

This was one of the most amazing holidays what we experienced So far. Everything was excellent food , service and the overall experience. This is really a hidden gem in Maledives. The resort in my opinion is 5* not 4*. The rooms and the service provided was excellent. Cannot think about something that i didnt like or wanted to comment like they could improve. I can reall just recoment this property for couple escape and also for big familyies with kids its perfect. Read less

We arrived at the airport and were transported to our island by speed boat. This took about 20 minutes. The speed boats are literally outside arrivals at the airport which is very convenient. Our accommodation was in a beach front villa which sounded good, but lacked that outlook to the beach we were expecting. However, the accommodation was very comfortable with air con, wifi,(tempermental) tea & coffee making facilities, hairdryer and ensuite. Out side there were 2 loungers but these looked into bushes, and it was only beyond the bushes that the villa looked over an isolated very rocky/sandy, stony beach with the main lands sky scrapers in sight to the right and a tightly knitted row of about 40 villas on stilts to the left. It was a disappointing offering and could do with something for those who want to get away from the crowded noisy pool/bar/beach area. The main area consists of 400 people packed into what I would describe as a basic 3 star all inclusive resort. There is nothing classy about this place at all, you could be in Benidorm. There is no way this is a 4 star resort by any stretch of the imagination. 3 star at best. Not to be a snob, but some of the guests were questionable. Two girls mid 20’s/30’s sat at the table next to us at dinner clearly had issues with self harming as their forearms were slashed. Clearly a trip paid for by the British tax payer The island caters for about 400+ people so it is very busy! And not as we had assumed from the photographs and google page. When you mention the word Maldives, it conjures up a tranquil island of peace and quiet – OBLU is the opposite – on arrival disco music was thumping so loud the greeter had to go and turn it down. Music thumps out around the pool and beach area like a Benidorm bar. On the second day there was water aerobics in the pool – and more thumping disco music. At night there is entertainment – not bad but again, there is no tranquil piano bar here it is loud disco thumping type stuff to appeal to the masses. There is only one bar on site that serves drinks next to the pool. There is only one pool next to the beach and bar with lots of loungers and umbrellas. It’s packed. Drinks are premade with few branded drinks, but many are local brands catering for the mass consumption and the cheaper end of the market. Think Benidorm all inclusive bar and this is it. All meals were buffet style. We found breakfast good, but lunch and dinner were really poor. These consisted of Soup, a variety of bread rolls, Pasta with tomato/cheese Sauce, chips, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, beef stews, various vegetable combinations, an Indian buffet, a Thai Buffets, donna kebabs, various salads with processed sliced cheese and sliced spam type hams, water melon, melon, other fruits, cakes and ice cream were the order of the day. Again, think all inclusive Benidorm and this is it. Most nights we had the soup and bread rolls as we are plain eaters and there was no steak, chicken or salmon or fish that was not covered in something that we recognised. Wine and beer were available, but the glasses were small thick glass tumblers they used for juice at breakfast. No Wine glasses, which spoilt the occasion. There are other restaurants on the island but these are all chargeable, we were told by an American couple off a cruise ship (here for the day so more people) it was $300 for lunch in the under water restaurant, the lobster bar charge $79 for a Lobster dinner, surf & Turf diner is $55,and there is a Pizza place but these are at all extra cost. There is a shop on site that sells ice cream and crisps There are water sports available, but these are all at extra cost. Even a mask and snorkel is chargeable, had I known this I would have bought my own. From memory a jet ski is $200 for an hour, various trips and diving were all around $75 - $150pp Would I go back here no. Would I recommend no, unless you like long haul flights and a busy resort. Just head to the Costas and save yourself the long haul flight. The weather is good – hot sunbathing weather and we found the staff very helpful and polite.. Read less