On the Zika risk // I had lots of messages about this on Instagram so thought I’d address my opinions on it all here. Note that this is just my experience and you should do your own reading/research/ make your own decision. Technically the NHS classes the Maldives as an at risk of Zika zone {which only really matters if you’re planning on trying for a baby within the next few months or if you are already pregnant as in some cases across South America it has caused baby’s to be born with birth defects}. But we did lots of reading about this and in reality there have only ever been 3 cases out of the millions of people who travel there every year, and none at all since 2016. Zika needs a population to establish from and the nature of the tiny Maldivian islands all separated from each other makes this hard to establish. We also travelled during the dry season and checked that our island fogs the resort each week {we actually saw them doing this one evening}. I still took 50% DEET spray with me and used it morning and night but I didn’t get a single bite, and nobody else on the island we spoke to did either, they didn’t even spray up. To be extra sure, stay in a water villa above the sea. The Caribbean and South/Central America has had a lot more Zika cases, even Florida has had a lot of cases. To us the Maldives didn’t seem like a big risk at all. Of course, it’s such a personal decision if you are pregnant/planning to be. But we’re so glad that we went. Spray up when you arrive at the airports as this is actually the time when you’re mostly likely to be bitten. Also, since the big epidemic globally a few years ago, cases have suddenly dropped and scientists are now trying to work out why! It's worth reading more into if it could affect you.
On the food // There are two main restaurants, a pool bar and a bbq that’s open a few nights a week. The Dining Room has a buffet breakfast every morning, where the fruit chef would ask what you’d like that day before bringing an expertly sliced selection to your table {we always went for dragon fruit, kiwi and passion fruit. Our favourite tropical fruit!}, then there are pastries & cakes, yogurts, cooked breakfasts, an egg chef, a waffle/pancake chef, Chinese, Middle Eastern and even sushi. We were on half board so went BIG on the breakfast knowing it would be a long wait until dinner {although we learnt on our honeymoon to pack some snacks from home for that mid afternoon hunger!}


Then, at dinner the dining room served a different themed buffet each evening {again with a couple of live chef stations} which we really liked. And it had an a la carte menu for if you didn’t feel like having a million puddings from the buffet and then feeling STUPIDLY full, always my biggest downfall, which was really good too - we loved the Maldivian tuna curry & the chocolate ice cream was like the best french mousse you’ll ever eat. It’s relaxed in here, men don’t need long trousers or shirts for dinner and you can eat on the edge of the sand.

One night we went to The Fulhamaa restaurant, the special restaurant at the end of a 250m jetty out to sea that you need to book ideally a day or so before going. The setting is dreamy, above the ocean lit so you can watch the fish swim past and under a million stars. The starry skies were amazing here away from light pollution. Men need to wear trousers here or get given a sarong to wear for the evening. Make sure you request an outside table.

A couple of nights a week there’s a special BBQ grill on the sand, which looked really fun {and had lots of lobster/seafood} but this is a hefty extra supplement on top of half board so we gave it a miss.

We saw lots of people having lunch so there are probably full board options if you feel like it but with the huge breakfasts and heat we nearly always go for half board. Just be aware that like all islands in the Maldives, drinks are expensive and something to factor in. Alcohol is prohibited to take into the country so you are captive to their prices and taxes.



On our room // we were in an overwater bungalow {request one in the 300s on the sunset side for the most sunshine, best water and dream sunset views} which was incredible. It was spacious, had a large private terrace with sunloungers and steps down into the sea and a dream huge bathroom with a freestanding bath next to the water and two showers {!}. One indoor and one out. More photos below.


Every room comes with a pair of bikes which we loved and it made getting around the island lots of fun. You can also request a buggy to take you to dinner etc if you didn’t want to walk/cycle but we welcomed the exercise and step count with the huge breakfasts we ate every morning and the lazy days!

If money was no object we would have gone for an over water pool villa as these looked even better, with a large private infinity pool right above the sea. But the beach villas all have their own terrace right on the sand too, it’s just that in the afternoons these were fully shaded. I think beach villas would be the best option if you had young children to avoid the panic of the overwater jetty’s and high decks and to have the sand right outside your room. Some of these have pools or their own hammocks or both.

• Amazing snorkelling. We didn’t book the snorkel trip to a nearby reef {an extra charge} but snorkelled from our water villa after picking up snorkels from the dive centre and were a bit surprised by the lack of guidance for where to snorkel/what to see. We saw some fish and a huge ray but the reef definitely wasn’t the best we’ve seen and lacked coral colour {I guess partly a sad fact of global warming?}. We actually saw more just from our deck/the jettys when walking around as the water is so clear so you spot lots of baby sharks, dolphins, colourful fish, rays and even turtles just from the surface. 
• Incredible food. This is a tricky one as we definitely didn’t have any bad food at all, everything we had was good, it’s just the breakfast dining room and variety wasn’t the best ever compared to some other resorts. Of course, I’m being SO picky here, and also logistically it’s incredible that they do have food from all around the world imported here, but I wanted to give our honest thoughts. 

Leaving a gap in the curtains each night so we could see this when we woke up!


















*disclaimer, I received a small media discount on our accommodation but we paid for everything else ourselves. There was no editorial control over anything I posted and as always all opinions are 100% my own. I hope you know me by now in that I only share places I truly love.