Onto Part Two now of our recently completed Maldives Trip.
One & Only Maldives at Reethi Rah
From the moment we stepped off the boat and into reception you instantly got the feeling you were in a top end luxury holiday resort, one of the best in the world. Rooms are fantastic, the entry level villa is huge and extremely private with your own section of beach area at the front, you could spend a week here and not see another person if you didn't want to! The Grand Beach Villa is definitely the best room type for families as it has a separate room for the kids that a nanny could also fit in and also has a great sized pool at the front on the beach front. One of the best kids clubs I have ever seen, children here would not be disappointed and the level of facilities is exactly what you would expect of a resort of this price bracket. All Villas are Butler serviced. We ate in the Reethi restaurant which is the only restaurant you can eat in if on HB (no credit is given for the others) but you really wouldn't be disappointed with this as the restaurant is very glam (definitely need your shoes!) and there is a huge buffet and also an a la carte menu if you wanted to order off this (items off this menu are at a supplement and this is clearly marked)
Verdict: So many positives! If money is of no object and you want to feel spoilt then this is certainly one of the islands for you. The standard of service is exactly what you would expect of a One & Only resort and the whole island is immaculate, not a leaf out of place! If you are looking for something a little bit more intimate then this perhaps wouldn't be the right choice, it is also very high end glamour and also not the place if you seek a true Maldivian experience with barefoot luxury.
Zithali Kuda Funafara
Lovely island with amazing beaches, nice wide beach areas and a delightful sandbank on one side so you felt like there is plenty of space to sit around on the beach without being too crowded. Great sized rooms, very modern and contemporary with huge Jacuzzi baths. During the day the island was very quiet but this was totally different at night when the resort did feel as if it had come to life. The buffet restaurant was small but I felt it did have a good variety of food on offer and some dishes can be cooked to order which was nice
Verdict: This island would definitely be best suited to young couples.
Hilton Irufushi
Hilton Irufushi had a great resort feel to it and a nice atmosphere around it. It is a large island but didn't feel intimidating. There is an adults only side to the island with an adults only pool and bar so you wouldn't have a case of families clashing with honeymooners. Brilliant room product with lots of space and a nice modern feel to them. The resort would be perfect for groups of friends traveling together or families (had a great kids club)"
Verdict: We were all impressed with this resort, there was plenty to do here. The buffet restaurant was just being set up for evening meal (Iru restaurant) and it had a huge variety of dishes from what we saw, this would certainly not be a disappointment for guests on HB. Another island that for the price of it, far exceeded our expectations
Jumeirah Dhevanafushi
"Still in soft opening mode so it is difficult to give a full report on. It does have the making of a fantastic resort, the entry level villas all have their own pool and are the biggest in size I have seen in the Maldives. A small island with only one restaurant so it is difficult to compare it to Reethi Rah as the two resorts are totally different yet in a similar class bracket undoubtedly.
Once completed the Ocean Pearls (Water Villas) will be amazing and as they are totally detached from the rest of the island with their own restaurant would have the feeling of being exclusive.
Verdict: It would be interesting to revisit this island in a couple of years once it has matured and is fully open. I think it would be unfair to base judgement on this trip alone because the resort is so new. But the potential is undoubtedly immense.
Cocoa Island
"Most definitely the prettiest Maldivian island I have ever seen! When you imagine what Maldives holidays are like, this island is certainly one of the islands that fits in with your imagination. You would be hard pushed not to be bowled over by how beautiful the beaches are and the vast area they cover. A tiny island, this resort has all the public areas on land and the room product is all over water. I loved the design of the rooms that they appear to be Dhoni's from the outside. The space inside is huge and they were very well furnished, modern but still with a Maldivian feel about them. There is only the one restaurant but the food choice was excellent and varied, we ate lunch here and it was absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful pool area on the beach and it did have a good feel around the resort"
Verdict: This is definitely a resort for couples, I wouldn't recommend it for families. It is absolutely perfect for honeymooners but in my opinion a week here maximum would be enough. I loved the Maldivian feel to it and the wow factor of the beaches, this is certainly one of my personal favourites, definitely a place to come to relax and get away from it all.
Centara Grand
"Having stayed here on my holiday last year I have already got a very good impression of this resort, it is perfect for families. I was disappointed that they no longer have their own lounge at Male (I have fed this back to the resort) but now we have our own agreement with MAT we can offer this – this should be offered particularly to families. The entry level rooms here (Beach Suites) are all duplex which is perfect for families as the kids aren't in the same room as parents. They are also large in size so you really don't feel as if you are falling over each other. Lovely beach in front of the rooms.
The resort has a great atmosphere and a brilliant all inclusive plan, all the restaurants are included and you can order a bottle of wine with your evening meal rather than by the glass"
Verdict: The only thing I felt this year compared to last is that the service didn't quite seem as brilliant as it was 12 months ago. I don't think the others noticed this, they all thought it was fine but having spent time there last year I did feel a difference. If you hadn't been before then you would probably think the service is of a good standard considering it is an all inclusive resort but I personally know it can be better.
Check back tomorrow for our final installment!
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