On our trip to Sri Lanka, we made a short stopover in the Maldives to visit the three fine hotels of the
The Small Maldives Island Co.
to visit. The private hotel collection comprises three dreamlike vacation resorts, each located on dreamy islands, each individual and breathtaking at the same time, with excellent service and luxury that simply leaves nothing to be desired. Dorothee Richter went island hopping in the Maldives for Murmelz Food & Travel. #1 the Finolhu Resort.
TSMIC Lounge at Malé Airport
After our short 1-hour flight from Colombo to Malé, we were taken straight to the lounge of The Small Maldives Island Co, which invites you to linger in the style of a Senator Lounge, but is much more intimate and luxurious.
A quick espresso and the seaplane was already waiting for us to take us to the picturesque island of Kanufushi to our first destination, the Finolhu Resort should bring. During the short flight, we couldn’t stop being amazed: below us, we discovered countless small turquoise-blue atolls, a manta ray calmly made its way around – no question: we had arrived in paradise.
The Finholu Resort
After our seaplane landed, some of the staff were waiting for us at the Finholhu jetty with a fresh drink and we finally dived down to our island in the Indian Ocean. Into a world of sun, beach, palm trees and sea with chilled beats and all kinds of culinary taste explosions.
Accommodation: Beach & Lagoon Villas
The Finholhu Resorthas Beach Villas and Lagoon Villas, which lead out to sea on a jetty in typical island style with thatched roofs. We moved into a Lagoon Villa, each of which has its own access to the sea. Without exception, all rooms are stylishly furnished, sensationally large (between 145m2 and 530m2), with indoor and outdoor showers, as well as an excellently stocked minibar. There is certainly nothing left to be desired here, even for longer stays.
Fish & Crab Shack Restaurant
After a first swim in the crystal-clear, bathtub-quality water, we took a motorboat (you can also walk along the 1 km long sandbank) to the Fish & Crab Shack restaurant.
A rustic restaurant with island flair, under the open sky directly on the sand, where fresh seafood specialties are served to gentle beats. We tried a first-class sushi platter with fresh crab meat, tuna and just about everything the Indian Ocean has to offer. Accompanied by an excellent New Zealand Pinot Gris. Who wants more! For the main course we tried Reef Fishas Catch of The Day, with truffle fries and fresh salad. Prepared to perfection and of the best quality! Chapeau, dear Fish & Crab Shack for this lunch!
Resort style & atmosphere
On the island, between the pink and light blue VW Bullys, large lounge furniture, cozy hammocks and loungers covered with white cloths invite you to relax and while away the time. The relaxed vacation feeling is enhanced by light summer beats that immerse the powder-sugar beach in a chilled Café del Mar-style atmosphere, while the DJ in the 1 OAK Beach Club entertains with soft club beats by the pool. For us, this day should never have ended.
Dinner at Finholu
In the evening, however, we went to Kanusan, the fine dining restaurant at the Finholhu resort. Built on a jetty into the sea, the restaurant with its Chinese chef offers modern Chinese-Asian cuisine at the highest level. From mud crabs and king crabs to a fantastic pho bo, accompanied by a large selection of fine wines, no culinary wishes remain unfulfilled here. Asian cuisine par excellence, which with its lightness is simply perfect for the island feeling on the Maldives.
Afterwards, we were tempted by the bar in the 1 OAK Club, an offshoot of the famous New York original. Classic cocktails of the highest quality alternate here with exciting signature drinks! We tried the fruity Rasperry Bamboo (cachaça, raspberry, spicy honey), a Passion Fruit Mango Mojito as a long drink variant and the gin-based Passion Pitt with lemongrass-mint-yuzu infusion. All so good that we would have loved to try the whole menu. We grooved through the paradisiacal night to the sounds of the resident DJ.
On the way home to our villa, we spot a few night owls relaxing by the pool with a cozy shisha until the morning.
MURMELZ VOTE
The Finholu Resort is a (still secret) hot spot in the Maldives for the younger or young-at-heart, and above all creative & international crowd that loves luxury with understatement. Even families with children will feel at home here, as the young travelers will love the resort’s own Kids Club, so that all parents have time for themselves in paradise. Murmelz likes!
MUMBLE RECOMMENDS
Murmelz’ Travel Partner offers the most individual advice and the best prices:
+49 40 46651665 I contact@travel-for-life.com I
www.travel-for-life.com
And there’s an extra surprise for all Murmelz readers!
Simply the code word:
Murmelz
name.
FINOLHU RESORT
Baa Atoll I P.O. Box 2123 I Male I Republic of Maldives
+960 660 8800 I wonder@finolhu.mv I www.finolhu.mv
MORE MALDIVES TIPS CAN BE FOUND HERE:
Island hopping in paradise #2: https://murmelz.com/amilla-fushi-malediven
Island hopping in paradise #3: https://murmelz.com/huvafen-fushi-malediven
Legal Notice: Travel for Life & Murmelz enjoy discovering the world together. However, this article has not been sponsored or supported in any way.
