Constance Moofushi All Inclusive Hotel

The service ethic is not often the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about the Maldives. The white sand, the turquoise sea, the coral reefs through which the entire cast of Finding Nemo bobs quietly along, the gentle rustle of the palm trees in the breeze and the tranquil sound of the water lapping at night. That’s the Maldives and Constance Moofushi has it in spades. However, now that we’re home with a couple of weeks of work under our belt, we find ourselves longing for the people as much as the place. The staff at Constance Moofushi are just the best. Everyone has a smile on their face, no-one can do enough for you, everyone appears to be genuinely passionate about what they do and there is a palpable team atmosphere. We stayed in an over water villa which was meticulously looked after by the wonderful Dhona. On our last night the bed was decorated with some beautiful cut outs of sharks and swordfishes which I think Dhona also designs and makes. You’re a talented man Dhona! The bed was extremely comfortable and the place was very well equipped and maintained. The deck was spacious and secluded with a refreshing outdoor shower and our mini bar was always stocked with wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks. The food is excellent. We ate twice in Alizee which was superb and the rest of the week in Manta which is a delicious and ever changing buffet with a grill station from which I ate the freshest tuna and calamari I’ve ever had in my life, and possibly the hottest chilli sauce I’ve dared try. The cocktails were varied and delicious, and champagne and canapés at sunset is a very special memory. Everyone was genuinely friendly and attentive in the restaurants and bars but we’d like to say a special thank you to Sinaz, Maiz and Saif who looked after us wonderfully and always with a huge smile and a few friendly words. Constance Moofushi has a mind-boggling range of wine and we were really grateful to our sommelier, Nithin, who introduced us to wines that we had never drunk before and took us round the ingenious wine cellar. He also led a wine tasting standing in the lagoon with baby black-tip reef sharks gliding past. Another amazing memory from someone whose enthusiasm and passion for wine really stands out. Thank you Nithin! The snorkelling on the house reef was great and my husband did one of the excursions to snorkel with nurse sharks which was an amazing experience. We attended one of the many short lectures available in the early evening and learned about the painstaking efforts to restore the coral following its bleaching from high ocean temperatures a few years ago. One tip if you’re going out there - ensure that your sunscreen is reef-friendly. I made use of the large and well equipped gym where I came across JB, the personal trainer who is literally buzzing with enthusiasm. He even had me in boxing gloves on my last day. Now that I’m home and stumbling out of bed into a Joe Wicks workout before work I’m mindful of JB’s saying “Train like a tiger, eat like a pig”. Thanks JB - that one is staying with me!! Finally a big thank you to the general manager, Mevin Ramasamy, who was always visible and always interested to know whether there was anything else that could be done to make our stay even better. Honestly, there really wasn’t. The seaplane trip to and from Constance Moofushi is also a treat. It’s hot, sweaty and noisy but the view of the little light blue islands scattered in the dark blue sea is beautiful, and where else in the world would your pilots be flying you barefoot? This was our first time in a Constance hotel, but if Constance Moofushi is anything to go by, it won’t be our last. Until next time folks and thank you once again for everything.