Where do I even begin with this beautiful place? My favourite blog post to write so far as everything was beyond exceptional! This was a special trip for us as it was for our honeymoon, it was really difficult to decide on where to stay as there are so many to choose from in the Maldives but I eventually decided on Finolhu and wow was I glad! Located in the Baa Atoll area of the Maldives, Finolhu had a complete renovation back in 2020 when it was closed during Covid, completely transforming into a vibrant, colourful yet relaxing resort that is simply charming.
Location 10/10: We flew with British Airways from Heathrow as we wanted to go direct and BA are the only airline to do so from the UK. The flight was just under 10 hours going but just under 12 hours coming back. We flew into Male and from there we had to get a seaplane to Finolhu, however some resorts you can get there by speedboat if it is closer to Male! The location was breathtaking and with a natural curved sand bank it was amazing to see from the seaplane as we landed and I cried (like I did most days as I couldn't get over how beautiful it was...!) I have never seen sea water or sand like it and photos don't do it justice! We loved how much marine life it had too - you could go snorkelling straight off the beach and we saw sharks, stingrays and so hundreds of colourful fish!
Room 10/10: The room had the wow factor as soon as you walked in; immaculately clean, a spectacular view, not 1 but 2 outdoor showers, free standing bath, turn down service, fully stocked mini bar and wine fridge! Sitting out on the deck looking out over the lagoon to watch the sunrise each morning is one of my favourite memories! If you wanted anything to be brought to the room it was there within minutes and we loved the buggy service, we said on day one we would walk but it was so much fun coming out of your water villa and catching a buggy!
Dining 10/10: we had booked the all inclusive premium package which meant we could go to any of the restaurants as much as we wanted and got access to a wider drinks menu and it was worth it! The buffet food was no average buffet, each day was different with lots of live cooking stations for breakfast, lunch and dinner! They then had 3 restaurants which I recommend booking in advance; Arabian Grill, Crab Shack and Kanusan. Arabian Grill is a Middle East/North Africa fusion which was right on the beach and amazing food - we had the seafood grill platter both times we went! Then the Crab Shack is a really special experience, accessed by boat or you can walk the stretch of the sandbank to get there. We ate here 3 times during our holiday - once being in the evening during their Friday night white party which was so much fun! Then there was Kanusan which is Japanese and the food was incredible, the best sushi we have ever had! Overall we couldn't fault any of the dining at Finolhu!
Value for money 10/10: So as this was our honeymoon we wanted it to be extra special and memorable so for the lagoon water villa we paid £500 per person per night. This includes everything from gratuities, taxes, access to all restaurants, drinks, activities, mini bar with wine fridge and of course the value comes from the quality of their staff and the incredible attention to detail service. So as a luxury destination, I do rate it 10/10 for value for the quality you get.
Extras: They really catered to families as well as couples with their kids club 'Oceaneers' which looked brilliant if you have children and had activities on each day! They also have a spa to book treatments and their signature 'bubble experience' where you can have an exclusive night under the stars! They also have entertainment each evening and games you can join in during the day if you want to. Two nights a week they have an open air movie night with popcorn and beanbags on the beach which I loved! You can also pay for additional excursions such as a dolphin cruise which we did and it was one of my favourite memories of the trip!
THE GETAWAY GUIDE FEELING 10/10: If I could vote this even higher I would! Never been anywhere like Finolhu and it has a special place in my heart now. If you are looking for luxury and the most memorable experience then look no further as Finolhu will take your breath away!