I just completed an 8 day stay here with my wife and five year old son.

We went last year too at about the same time.

Last year, I offered advice about what beach villas to request and which to avoid, and I want to change that advice, because I think it's wrong now and may have been wrong when given.

Let's start with a map of the beach villas.



If you look at 202-252 an 302-366, the low numbered villas would be to the right side of the map, and the high numbered villas to the right. Link to full map is here if you prefer: https://cdn.malediven.reise/hilton-m...8d718542fd.pdf

Last year we were assigned 336. It was fine, except for one issue, which is that it was too close to Aura which sometimes does DJ parties at night, and the first night we were there it seemed loud and disruptive. I think that was the only night it was loud though (may have been a Saturday).

So this year, I requested a villa in the 202-252 horseshoe, which I thought seemed more "private" last year (fewer villas packed into the horseshoe). I specifically requested the lower range of villas, like 202-212. They gave me 250. Oh well, win some, lose some.

I believe 250 may be one of the worst beach villas to be assigned, if not the very worst, and here's why.

First, I've changed my mind and now think the 302-366 side is superior to the 202-252 side, mainly because the unattractive "gunk" viewable on the horizon is much more noticeable on the 202-252 side now. Islands being developed, cranes, city of Male etc. Here's the view of the horizon from the middle of the 202-252 horseshoe:








The 302-366 side has a much better horizon, it looks like this, first photo looking out to middle of horseshoe, next photo to the left, and then looking to the right. Note that the little dredger boat thing seen in the second photo isn't always there, it moves around:






Second, you'll also notice from these photos that the 302-366 side has much more beach, about a 30 meter stretch or so from where the villas' "backyards" end, until the shoreline. Whereas on the 202-252 side, it's more like ten meters from the end of your backyard until the shoreline. I think having the longer stretch of beach is preferable, because it means if people are walking by along the shore or frolicking in the ocean they won't be close to your villa or deck space, they'll be a good distance away. So were I to stay here again, I'd request not to be in the 202-252 range.

Anyway, let's get back to why 250 is particularly bad villa choice. 252, 250, 238, 236 (there are no 4's) all face directly across the lagoon to the overwater villas. You won't be fretting about seeing the "lights of Male" in the distance if you get one of these villas and your nighttime view is this:



If you do end up in the 202-252 range, lower is much better, so the overwater villas are to your left periphery and maybe even blocked by the bushes and you're not looking right at them every night. I'm not even sure they were occupied, the lights seemed to stay on all night.

A few more thoughts on what makes 250 and similar villas a bad choice. 250 is next to 252, a large family villa. What will that mean? You're likely be next to a large group, probably with multiple children. Greater chance of noise (I'm less sensitive to this now that I have a five year old). Also, since 252 is an "end unit" and the guests there can't really swim directly in front of their unit or to the right because of rocks and bushes, they're going to walk out of their back deck to the beach and turn left and swim/frolick right in front of 250. I think 206 would have the same issue. There is nowhere to swim in front of 202 or to the left, so those guests will end up using the beach in front of 206.

236, 238, 250, and 252 are also an unnecessarily long walk from Habitat and everything else.

Lastly, you'll see that next to 252 on the map is a large unmarked purple building. This is some kind of staff building. And frequently, at night, there was noise from thei building. Power tools being run. Like an angle grinder or something. Not deafening noise, but enough for me to say "..., I'm trying to relax on my back deck, why am I listening to power tools at 9:30 p.m.?"

So to sum it up, if I were requesting beach villas, I'd request 308-322
then 326-336

No higher than that because of possible noise from Aura DJs.

If none of those were available I'd request 208-230. No higher than that because then you're facing the overwater villas.

I forget why I always omit consideration of 301-321. I forget if maybe those aren't regular beach villas. Not sure. Feel free to try your luck with them and report back.

We had a nice time overall, still an excellent breakfast, my kid loves the kids club, and the vegetation seems to be coming along nicely. Might go back again before the kid turns 6 while he still eats and rides the speedboat for free.