My review of the hotel:

(expect a YouTube video at some point in the coming month and I have already made some on my channel for FS Koh Samui, Phulay Bay, The Sira, BASK Gili Meno and W Koh Samui - just search my post history)

I have been to the Maldives once before in 2020 to the Radisson Blu which was brand new, to be honest my memory of the hotel isn’t detailed enough to compare as it was Covid and the hotel was basically empty! So I was looking forward to visiting this August. Originally I was going to the Four Seasons in the Baa Atoll but I was concerned about the cost of food so I did a literally 1-week before search on the Marriott app and found a very reasonable £3,000 all inclusive rate for 4 nights - my fifth night being a points redemption (and yes I know as a redemption this hotel is great value but I did not have enough points!).

I was a bit concerned about the lack of response when emailing the hotel, it seemed to take longer than the Four Seasons took to reply (although again I realise the irony in that statement) but regardless there were no bad reviews of this hotel and I thought why not try it? And as a spoiler I enjoyed our stay but I do have a list of things I found that could be better.

I had injured my back badly upon leaving London and I ended up asking for a wheel chair and I have to say the hotel were great, they collected me from the airport assistance and literally put us on the first seaplane within an hour of arriving at Male.

We were checked in easily enough (having pre-paid) and taken to the water villa after a quick tour. The hotel provided us with bikes which were great for getting around but the island isn’t particularly large and walking would be fine.

One thing I really liked is I did not see ANY mosquitoes. The entire 5 days we were at the island not one insect bite, in fact the only flying insects were an occasional fly at the restaurants. That was great. I hate mosquitoes and having to cover in insect repellent and constantly watch for them is a huge pain.

The staff at the restaurants were friendly, helpful and at every restaurant the chef came out to check on how the meals were going. At EVERY restaurant. Maybe it was just because I had complained about the communication but that impressed me. The all-inclusive was very flexible and I am pretty sure they gave us free food that technically we shouldn’t have had.

The island itself was a bit disappointing. The main beach in front of the main restaurant had lovely soft sand (but coral and rocks not far into the water) but as we walked around the island it became obvious that this was not the case everywhere. There was lots of coral and the beaches were not well maintained where there was no restaurant or anyone staying at a beach villa. There was quite a lot of seaweed as well although they were cleaning that up the entire time, but this led to pet peeve number one….

Why do they put a delivery dock with all the dry seaweed that they are burying and burning right in front of the Main restaurant? What kind of terrible design is that!?

I’m not sure I want to be sitting having my lunch and seeing a big yellow excavator digging a hole on the small island opposite the dock and then dumping black sacks of seaweed into it?! Why?! I mean they could have moved the main restaurant. I don’t understand that design.

That actual little dumping island which you can walk across to either on the jetty (dodging bags of seaweed) and then climbing down a ladder or you can walk across in the water at low tide or swim was actually a very nice little island. They could have easily put a restaurant or bar on there and the beaches on the inside of that island was more pretty and had more gentle waves than any other beach on the island (just shame about the big dock with boats and excavators).

The swimming pools on the island are also small and although they have a cool vibe they would be very easily full if the resort is busy, I mean they aren’t even big enough to swim properly. This is another point that confuses me. On an island without standard pools in the villas you surely should have big main pools to compensate?

And really that is my view of this resort, it is a mix of lovely modern (but relatively small rooms) and good service, matched with strange decisions and bad beach areas. Now I have little doubt that if the island was at full occupancy that the beaches all around the island would be given attention but surely that is what you get with Le Meridien, that is the difference between this brand and a Design Hotel, or Luxury Collection or St Regis or RC?

I haven’t had much experience of the resorts in the Maldives - and I plan on visiting Finolhu, a Design Hotel - next month and I really hope that it is a lot more refined than Le Meridien.

One last comment, there is no sea life around the resort except fish at night under the bright lights. We didn’t get out to the house reef as the water was rough most of the days we were there (They even stopped providing water sports equipment like kayaks and paddle boards) which I don’t know if that is normal or not?
The currents are also very strong, and we had real issues getting back to the water villas even with life jackets, so my advice would be to be always wear them and only go out at low tide. Although if you’re a good swimmer and have flippers you should be fine. I am not and didn’t pick those up.

Overall, you get what you pay for (or redeem) this hotel is a good resort for its value point. It isn’t perfect, it isn’t bad, and I am sure in great weather and if you’re not staring at the big jetty you will be able to overlook my complaints. We didn’t get out to the house reef but I am sure if you do there are plenty of fish.

However, for me one of the reasons why I am going to Finolhu (which is close to the FS) is that I know there are sharks, dolphins, rays etc all around the water villas and it feels more special.