Medhufushi Island Resort

Having returned 2 weeks ago from a blissful 10-night holiday with my wife and two adult children at Medufushi Island Resort I can say that I was ecstatic that we chose this resort. It’s not a high end 5 Star luxury resort but the staff and owner were certainly pleased to host my family and this shone through in the exceptional level of care and attention everyone provided. We were aware that the resort is affected by sea grass deposits, however there is a team constantly clearing sea grass away so it doesn’t accumulate but does not spoil the beauty of the island. The rest of the island is also kept clear of debris and is always tidy. Some of the structures and furnishings are showing signs of wear but there is a refurbishment scheme to the Water Villas and pool area being carried out while we were there that did not detract from our holiday. Sensibly, this work is being carried out in the low season. There is investment going into the resort and we were appraised of further plans to enhance the facilities and visitor experience which I am sure will be delivered to a good standard. Drawbacks are very few and are hugely outweighed by the positives. The island is beautiful and very few structures are visible on approach. The Vilu bar and jetty are prominent as is the pool and water villas but the rest of the island is screened by mature vegetation. The beach villas are not situated directly on the beach but behind well manicured vegetation to allow the villas to blend into the landscape. This gives the feeling of a more traditional Maldivian island which is respectful to the natural environment. Our accommodation comprised 2 water villas and the experience was beyond our expectations. Waking up each morning to look out over the sea was incomparable. Sunrises are definitely worth the early start to witness the majesty of the sun rising above the Indian Ocean. Sunset on the other side was equally beautiful. The beaches are soft and sandy but there is some coral at shallow depths and I would recommend sand/sea shoes. The ocean is warm, crystal clear and the colour of the water into the distance is all shades of blue and turquoise and is absolutely captivating. Set against the blue sky, white sandy beach and swaying palm trees, it is a picture of paradise. The water villas were very well appointed with a large comfortable bed, air conditioning, large shower and bath alongside a spacious dressing area. There is a fridge in the room stocked with soft drinks which were part of our all-inclusive deal and drinks were replenished daily. The doors to the private terrace can be opened fully and you have a double swing seat, a table and chairs as well as 2 loungers. Ali who prepared and maintained our rooms was very efficient and attentive. Our kettle was spotless and always filled and we had 2 large bottles of water daily for our use. Ali is very friendly and accommodating and I would look forward to seeing him during the day while he continued his work cheerfully. I was especially touched by the decoration he left on our bed on our final night. Moving onto another highlight, the food was excellent. We looked forward to the buffet each mealtime knowing there would be lots of choice. Sharif looked after our table at every meal time and I cannot commend him highly enough. He went out of his way to make sure we enjoyed the variety of dishes and also arranged dishes specifically to showcase the chef’s skills and also introduce us to Maldivian food which was all delicious. Sharif is also very engaging and thoughtful and he made a huge impression on all of us. The naan bread is the best I have ever had, freshly made, thin and crispy plain or garlic with plenty of butter, it really is exceptional and good enough to eat on its own. The Chefs are very talented and in particular my friend Yasin who never let a sitting pass without a greeting and asking our plans for the day or how the day was going. Yasin made the most delicious omelettes and fried eggs and often had a queue of people waiting. As a family, we do miss the engagement we had with Sharif and Yasin. Similarly, the Vilu bar hosts guests impeccably. Jay, Sujith, Shanu, Ajay and Sarita always served us with a warm welcome and smile. We did enjoy the evening entertainment and the karaoke threw up some real surprises and laughter. You had to be there to know what I am referring to but it was a memorable night. It was also heartening to see the interaction between guests of all nationalities which is a credit to the atmosphere and ambience created in the Vilu bar and resort generally. The pool area always has sufficient loungers and Nazmul worked very hard to ensure he could accommodate as many people as he could around the pool and beach area. We have been back a fortnight now and the memories will take a long time to fade. We absolutely loved the resort and the people. My morning ritual of enjoying a cup of tea on the terrace of my water villa watching the sunrise and the kaleidoscope of colour across the ocean, listening to the waves gently lapping up against the underside of our water villa was the most calming and relaxing time I have experienced. We will go back to these times and relive our experiences until we hopefully return again in the future. Our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the proprietor, Ali a charming and very eloquent host. It was a pleasure to meet him and his General Manager Hassan, I was most grateful for the time they took to speak to my children and share their first hand experience of an event at the resort. We would not have got this insight anywhere else. Finally, a word of advice relating to purchasing souvenirs. We found the adjacent islands provided the best value when we went on an island hopping tour. Prices are much more reasonable and a fraction of the prices I paid at Male airport. Overall, this was a spectacular holiday which will live long in our memories.