Ozen’s first property is about a 40-minute speedboat ride from Male airport. If you’re staying at multiple resorts in the Maldives, it’s a great idea to book a hotel with a speedboat transfer. You’ll get there faster than a seaplane (more on that later). Ozen has better speedboats than many other nearby all-inclusive hotels, and the air-conditioned interior is a welcome respite from the tropical heat.
Arriving in Maadhoo is a real treat. You’ll be greeted by a small, lush green island. As is typical in the Maldives, there’s a welcome committee that shows you around and helps you check in. They even gave us a foot massage after our 11-hour flight from London. It was the perfect way to relax.
Earth Villa – Sunset
I was given a Sunset Beach Villa (which the hotel calls Earth villas). It was just a few rooms away from the reception, but you hardly heard anything from your amazing sanctuary. I had a villa with my own pool, which was perfect for swimming. The view over the ocean was incredible. Inside, there was a big bedroom, an equally big bathroom, and the most amazing outdoor shower so big you could have a party in it.
At the top of the island, there are a few water villas. They’re smaller than the ones on land, but they’re still really well-furnished. Just a heads up, only the sunset side villas have their own pools. But don’t worry, there aren’t usually too many people at the main pool.
Water Villa – Ozen Life Maadhoo
Maadhoo has a super simple layout. The Earth villas are right on the main part of the island, along with the main bar JDV, the water sports centre, and an amazing beach. This is connected to the area where you’ll find all the restaurants, shops, spa, and gym. The main restaurant is set up as a buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Although it’s not the biggest buffet you’ve ever seen, it’s really good quality. At breakfast, the coffee was great, and they even made a Cappuccino with Cinnamon for me, which you won’t find anywhere else.
During our stay, we had dinner in both the ‘traditional’ restaurants. It’s a building built over the water, split into two – one side is Indian and the other side is Chinese. For lunch, we also got to eat in their underwater restaurant, which is an experience you really need to try at least once. You sit facing what looks like a giant aquarium, but it’s not, it’s the Indian Ocean! These are all included in your all-inclusive, and all apart from the M6M are unlimited.
M6M Restaurant
We also had a few different experiences along the way. Since the hotel doesn’t have a house reef, they took us on a snorkelling trip (near the nearby Holiday Inn hotel), where I saw a Turtle and a huge number of fish. The other is a peaceful and relaxing sunset cruise, where we saw Orcas in the wild.
I love this hotel. It might not be the most luxurious in the Maldives, but that’s not the point. What makes it is the staff. They take the time to really know you, are completely professional but will be your best friend by the time you leave.
