Huvafen Fushi

To say the Maldives is like a dream is to venture dangerously close to the realm of travel clichés. Yet the sight of the emerald sea with white patches of sand topped by tall palms is such a picture-perfect marvel that it’s hard not to. And among this beauty, Huvafen Fushi is an exemplary Maldivian resort.

This country is like a dream, but not only because of its natural beauty. That these islands exist at all seems like a fantasy, so much more so since these low-lying lands are destined to disappear eventually, beneath the rising waters of our warming planet.

Exemplary island resort

Huvafen Fushi has been on our to-do list for a long time, which also worried us a little. Was it going to feel “dated”? In the competitive world of top Maldivian resorts, where each new opening has to wow with something better, bigger, or more innovative, can Huvafen Fushi compete with the other best resorts in the Maldives?

We needn’t have worried. Beach villas may be smaller than in other resorts, but they are proportional to the size of the island and are updated to the top luxury standards, and packed with hi-tech features.

What’s more, you can’t say Huvafen Fushi lacks in the department of “the firsts”: its underwater spa was the first in the Maldives—and the infinity pool is still among the most iconic.

But for us, the essence of this resort is not something one can photograph or put on some “luxury resort must-have” checklist.

Pure escapism

Huvafen Fushi is about the very special atmosphere of stylish quiescence. It’s about a relaxed island living at its best. It’s about doing virtually nothing.

And by nothing, we mean starting a day with breakfast so lavish and tasty we’d keep it lingering in the restaurant, then busying ourselves with some snorkeling, tanning, feeding stingrays, and perhaps a spa treatment—and ending it with a sundowner at the trendsetting Raw, an overwater hangout of the Cafe Del Mar kind. From there we would retire to Salt, topping all of it with some of the finest dining we’d ever had.

Perfect days filled with not much activity at all.

in our opinion

Supremely extravagant in the Ocean Pavilions, refreshingly simple in the overall experience: Huvafen Fushi has found the flawless recipe for a serene island destination.

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What we love

• Low-key, understated luxury and atmosphere. Even the resident heron is unusually chilled out, letting a budding photographer come really close
• Fantastic infinity pool, ingeniously illuminated at night
• Underwater spa concept—the sea life is mesmerizing and it pretty much steals the show
• The place becomes magical in the evenings, with cool chillout tunes filling the warm air and dimmed lights in the communal areas
• Overwater sunset bar, beautifully designed and offering inventive cocktails
• Spotless service from the eminently gracious staff
• Food is one of the true highlights of Huvafen: go to Salt restaurant for amazing seafood and to Celsius for lazy, relaxed, barefoot (sand on the floor!) breakfasts
• The natural setting of the villas, especially the ones on stilts, built over water. Their thatched rooftops look traditional, but the interiors are anything but—and have a touch of a contemporary urban loft apartment feel
• Set apart via jetty extending a hundred meters out to sea, the two Ocean Pavilions are in a class of their own. With a great deal of space, several lounging decks and an infinity pool that connects interior with outside deck (great feature for hosting parties), they are for extravagant living

What you should know

• The hotel is very close to Male so that after a long international flight there is no need for another air journey. It's a relief, but also very convenient for late departures. We departed late and a night boat ride to Male was lovely!
• The staff has one of the best working conditions in the Maldives and the turnover is very low: employees stay with the company for many years. Consequently, they all strive for excellence and contribute to the great overall atmosphere on the island
• Stingray feeding takes place every day at 6:30 PM
• If you’re after nightlife partying Huvafen Fushi might not be your place
• The resort is the go-to place for demanding celebrities, among the guests, were George Clooney, Kate Moss, Tom Cruise, and many others