Maadhoo’s sister island is also a speedboat from Male airport, although a notch higher grade means you get a slightly nicer speedboat!
Arriving at Bolifushi is even more impressive. There are two jetties, one where passengers embark and disembark, the other where your luggage does! There are not many places I have seen that. Of course, there are some similarities to Maadhoo when it comes to service – you get your own butler available 24/7 on WhatsApp (and yes, once again they are like your personal PA you never knew you needed), and a similar soothing foot massage when you arrive.
Bolifushi feels like a much bigger and more sophisticated island. As soon as you arrive, there are villas lining the beach on either side of the main island – with all the major facilities at the top end – with a bar, a main buffet restaurant, and all the speciality restaurants, shops, and a gym. The gym has a wonderful view over the lagoon, with fish swimming around beneath you.
Gym View – Ozen Bolifushi
Like we did at Maadhoo, we went straight to the main buffet for lunch. It was a much larger and more impressive spread – with a large cooking station, salads, sushi, as well as homemade ice cream and a ‘children’s section’ with lots of sweet treats like doughnuts and cakes. At breakfast time, they have an equally impressive spread – similar to Maadhoo but a much more expansive selection (although at least on the first day it was difficult to explain that I wanted cinnamon on my cappuccino).
Once again, I had a beach villa, about halfway along the main part of the island. You can certainly see the hallmarks of its previous life as a Jumeriah hotel, with both Asian and Middle Eastern references. Everything is on a grander scale than at Maadhoo – so I had a bigger pool, more outdoor space, and a bigger bathroom. It was also further to walk to all the main facilities – so they provided you with a bike, complete with your name on it!
At the other end of the island, there are two ‘banks’ of water villas. What makes this resort a bit different is that many of the water villas have their own slides, which makes for a really fun day (yes, really it’s fun). There are a combination of one- or two-bedroom versions.
Water Slide at Reserve
On dry land are their most exclusive room types, including the lovely 70’s-inspired two-bedroom reserves, and the utterly amazing Royal Reserve. Instead of being one building, it’s a complex of three bedrooms, a lounge, a restaurant, a gym, a spa, and a beach – all to yourself. Once here, it’s somewhere you would never need to leave.
Next door is the dive centre, run by Trevor from Lansing – and he certainly has a passion for sharks. The hotel has its own house reef, so you’re able to grab a snorkel and go off on your own from your accommodation and experience the wonder of the Indian Ocean for yourself. This is included in the all-inclusive, as well as other non-motorised water sports like taking out a canoe or paddleboard.
There are, of course, more restaurants – the first night in Soyi, the most incredible Chinese with impeccable service. The second night in their flagship fine-dining indoor-outdoor restaurant with a tasting menu. We really enjoyed the main bar, where on our first night they had a rock band who came from Male – they were really excellent. At other times, they have their own in-house due, who were also great – although you’ll find the atmosphere relaxed and low-key compared to the slightly trendier Maadhoo.
