Few resorts have as many sporting options as this place. As well as the expected table tennis and volleyball, guests can play football, tennis, badminton and squash. As well as the regular watersport options, surfers can avail of some excellent waves.
A relatively large island, it easily accommodates the 137 Beach Villas with unobstructed views to the beach. And being a mature island of lush vegetation, privacy between the rooms is assured.
It is not, however, an island with a great beach everywhere. The west side, facing into the atoll, has decent beaches held by frequent groynes while the east side, facing the ocean, has some beach and a good deal of sharpish coral stones. Most people, understandably, prefer the lagoon side but some enjoy the quiet and privacy of the ocean side. It is on this side that the surfers congregate, waiting for those ideal breaks.
There is lots of lovely, soft sand in the lagoon, which is great for swimming and watersports. It should be said, though, that no watersports and not even the rent of a snorkel and fins comes with the all-inclusive package. There is some snorkeling from the end of the long jetty but it's a bit disappointing. The resort puts on (charged) daily trips.
Diving has long been a big part of the resort and this continues, although numbers have dropped off since it became an all-inclusive. The dive sites are all well-established but still good, with a great variety of destinations within an hour’s dhoni ride: from channels, thilas and outside dives (think whale sharks) to caves and wrecks.
The 37 Prestige Ocean Villas are large, well-appointed and modern, with old-style thatched roofs. They are a considerable step up from the beach villas, which are definitely adequate but getting a bit tired around the edges.
Just like the beach rooms, the over-water rooms either face east or west but as neither is quieter or more private than the other (unlike the beach rooms), the ideal is to get a sunset facing room. The over-water rooms also have their own restaurant and bar, which is great. But everyone shares the one swimming pool and that’s not great as it is not in very good condition.
Having indicated a few less positive aspects to the resort, it is only fair to say that it does deliver a great holiday to just about all the people who go there. The price is key, as long as you are aware of what is and is not included in the all-inclusive package.
For that matter, at a time when people are paying several hundred dollars for their return seaplane transfer, it is not insignificant that the resort is just a half-hour speedboat ride trip from the airport.