How We Chose Our Maldives Resort

Immediately after booking our around the world trip we started looking at resorts in the Maldives.  It really is a dreamy endeavor.  I mean the images of white sand, turquoise water, and overwater bungalows are gorgeous to look at and my imagination kicked into overdrive.  After a while though, they all started running together and we suspected that zeroing in on the right fit for us would take some time.   I found the sheer number of resorts to choose from overwhelming.  I think Graeme found it exhilarating.  Another reason we are a good team.

First Things First

The remote coral atolls that make up the Maldive Islands are hard to get to and everything has to be flown in or brought by boat.

The first thing we had to accept was that it was going to be more expensive than the top end of the budget that we had in mind.  This was going to be a one-time trip and we were not willing to flex on the things that were important to us.  Having said that, we absolutely recognize the privilege that allowed us to make this choice and are grateful that we were able to do it.

Making Sense of Chaos

Spoiled for choice, we finally understood that we needed to get specific about the kind of experience we were looking for.

To begin, we decided to establish a search criteria.  We did this separately and then came together to compare.  Not surprisingly, we were almost perfectly aligned.  No negotiation necessary.

Next, we scrapped a few of the resorts that had made our first pass wish list.  Having clarity made that an easy exercise.

Finally, we narrowed it to our top three and only one of those checked every single box.

Our Search Criteria

Air Conditioning – Whenever we go somewhere hot this is and always will be my first priority.  We actually saw some resorts without it.  This is my number one non-negotiable. Forever.

Adult Vibe – This was very important to us.  We love children, especially our grandchildren, but it felt important to us to have as much of a child-free experience as we could control.

Small Footprint – We were not looking for a massive resort.  We wanted a very small, secluded, and walkable space.

Living Area with a Sofa – This might seem micro-specific but it was another deal breaker for us.  One of us always gets up before the other and we like having a space separate from the bedroom.  And I prefer a sofa over two chairs. And ideally, we wanted an ottoman.

Good Sand and Coral – This one is all Graeme and I’m grateful for that.  I would never have considered it.  We saw many resorts with very narrow beaches and smaller coral reefs.  Instead of relying on stock photos, he used Google Maps to suss this out.  He is a GENIUS!

Dining Options – This one was hard. The smaller resorts often have one dining option.  We are not foodies but we wanted choices.

Indoor Shower – We saw many resorts with outdoor showers as the only option.  Please see air-conditioning above.  Seriously, and I am serious, I enjoy an outdoor shower but I don’t want that to be the only option.

Sun and Shade Exposure – Another tip of the hat to Graeme. He nailed this one, again not remotely on my mind.  We wanted choices with sun and shade around our bungalow. Not all resorts offer that.

Transfer Distance – Transportation to the resort from Male (where the international airport is)  is either by boat, plane, or both. And it is either complimentary or for an additional fee. We wanted to go by boat only and we wanted to be within half an hour of Male.

Sustainability – In a fragile ecosystem like the Maldives, it was very important to us that the resort we chose reflected our values.

Our Choice

Our choice for the Maldives was Huvafen Fushi, and not a week goes by that we don’t reference our magical time there through memory or photography. We abbreviate it to “The HF,” and it delivered everything we were looking for in stellar fashion.

On the North Male Atoll and about half an hour away from Male by private boat, HF is self-described as “paradise redefined“ and a “sanctuary of wonder.”  That fully reflects our experience.

First, a little about the resort.   HF is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and that means every experience is curated accordingly. They offer beachside and over-water bungalows, each with a private pool. The beachside bungalows offer two pools, one public-facing, and one private.  We wanted to experience both options so we split our time between one of each.  Each bungalow has a dedicated Thakuru, or butler, and ours was incredibly skilled at asking us questions we didn’t know we had. A really nice advantage for us was that he followed us to our second bungalow and having him be part of our seven-day stay made for an incredible experience. Definitely top-notch service from arrival to departure.

Second,  the footprint at HF is small, you can walk around the entire island in less than twenty minutes. Having said that, they pack a lot of amenities into that space without it feeling crowded while retaining the serene vibe we really wanted after such a long trip with a lot of movement.  There is a lot of privacy to be had at this resort and that was important to us.

Third, the offerings for experiences were very robust. This part wasn’t especially important to us because we were keen to relax but we did take advantage of several of the options. The activities range from snorkeling and other water sports to two pools, both fresh and salt water, and the world’s first underwater spa.  Additionally, they have marine biologists on staff to provide education and  assist with conservation efforts. If you are looking for an active island experience, HF hits the mark. Or, if you are like us and mostly want to chill, consider this resort a terrific solution.

Fourth, this small island definitely delivers a dining experience for everyone. From in-room dining to a white tablecloth restaurant, the food is incredible and varied for an island so small. As I’ve mentioned previously, we are not big foodies, but our meals were absolutely delicious.  My vegetarian preferences were accommodated at every meal and included multiple options.  Casual dining options include a poolside, wood-fired pizza oven, and an overwater bistro.  Also, HF is home to the first underwater wine cellar in the Maldives.  We don’t drink so we didn’t have occasion to go there but I have no doubt it’s just as elevated as the rest of the resort.

Finally, HF delivered on every single point that was important to us. The experience was sublime and we would love to go back. In fact, I’d like to go right now.

Final Thoughts

I’d like to reiterate that this was a luxury experience that we were very grateful to have but you can visit the Maldives on any budget and there truly is something  amazing at every price point.  It is an absolutely stunning destination and while it’s not a walk in the park to get to, it’s worth every memory if you do.

Spoiler alert for future posts about the Maldives, there were no downsides to this resort for us. Everything about it was over the top in terms of guest experience. We appreciated that and would have zero reservations about recommending it wholeheartedly. In fact, if we return, we will stay here again.

This post is all about the resort, but I’ll link future posts about  our specific experience and what we enjoyed the most.

Have you been to the Maldives? Are you planning to go in the future? Let us know in the comments and we are happy to answer