I couldn’t believe it – but I had to “downgrade” my room in the Maldives.
I purposely put downgraded in inverted commas because while it was one of the more luxurious rooms at Finolhu Resort with clear ocean views, the alternate room they put me in was hardly a downgrade — it just cost a bit less per night (depending on the season).
So, why did I switch rooms?
Checking into my Ocean Pool Villa, I couldn’t quite grasp what I was experiencing. The room was massive with its own pool and deck and a luxurious bathroom that’s the size of my entire apartment in Sydney.
The living space boasted a king bed and mini and wine bar. The outdoor bathroom was also huge – it had a rain shower and direct access to the ocean. I mean, c’mon, heaven.
I absolutely did not want to part ways with this dream villa – it’s exactly what you see on your Instagram feeds when you search Maldives.
But, unfortunately for me, I’m one of those people who struggle to fall asleep to the sounds of crashing waves. I know, bizarre – I was annoyed at myself. But I knew – together with the subtle rocking of the room – it would keep me up all night, so I had to part ways.
Instead, the lovely staff popped me into a villa on land which was just as amazing.
Let’s be real though, no matter what room you’re staying in at the Maldives (and particularly at this resort), it’s never going to disappoint.
I was told there are eight room categories at Finolhu, catering to everyone’s needs and wants. Like me, some prefer land over ocean villas, some prefer being in a more secluded area. No matter your preference, they’ve got you covered.
My new room – Beach Pool Villa – while a bit smaller than the ocean villa, still had all the space I needed. It also boasted a king bed and fits up to two adults and two kids (or three adults).
Being able to hop in and out of my private pool and then walk out to the beach via my private access was honestly incredible.
It’s a type of luxury you can only dream of and it didn’t take me long to realise why this South Asian hotspot is a bucket-list destination.
Finolhu is just a 30 minute seaplane ride from Male-Velena International Airport and it’s pretty special to see the island from up high, including some of the 180 resorts on the Maldives.
What to eat at Finolhu
Make sure you take advantage of their breakfast options at the Beach Kitchen (literally located on the beach). It features international cuisines and live food stations.
While we are on the topic of food, head over to Kanusan. It’s an award-winning Japanese-focused restaurant that’s recognised as one of the Baa Atoll’s finest culinary experiences.
It has a dedicated sushi counter, aperitif bar and open kitchen. If you have to choose one dish, let it be the Salmon Yuan Yaki, a mouth-watering dish of grilled salmon with puree of daikon, citrus fruits and parmesan.
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Also, one of the highlights staying at Finolhu has to be the popular Crab Shack. It’s located on a secluded stretch of beach – about an eight-minute boat ride from the resort.
It’s a toes-in-the-sand kind of experience that offers fresh seafood while gazing out over the lagoon’s azure waters.
It has an all-white dress code and after dinner the music gets louder and the dancefloor (sand) gets packed.
It’s so popular that it has welcomed celebrity guests such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cara Delevingne, who I’m told publicly named the Crab Shack as her favourite dream feasting location following her stay at Finolhu.
What to do
You must book yourself into manta snorkelling and a turtle and dolphin safari. Both are guided expeditions nearby where you get to swim alongside the marine life. It’s truly spectacular and an experience you will never forget.
If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can laze around your resort with a cocktail in hand, or by one of the many bars, or try stand-up paddle-boarding on the calm waters.
If you’re one of those people who enjoys squeezing in a cheeky workout while on holidays, the resort’s gym is pretty awesome. It’s indoors and outdoors with a boxing bag and equipment on the sand overlooking the crystal-clear waters. It’s an epic way to train.
After your workout, walk over to the Milk Lab and indulge in something healthy – or do what I did and dive straight into a tasty milkshake. They also have a lot of other yummy treats.
I sat in their cute, outdoor area before heading over to Fehi Spa where I topped off my morning with a relaxing massage. Literally heaven.
The average stay at Finolhu is about five days and you can spend it doing absolutely nothing and have the most amazing time (yes, with a cocktail in hand).
If you want to stay at another resort while you’re in the Maldives, make it Centara Grand Lagoon. The food, activities, service are all top-notch.
A highlight has to be the morning snorkelling expedition. The waters and marine life were just magic. It’s a very pinch-me moment when you’re relaxing on the top deck of the boat with a drink in hand, soaking up your surroundings. The trip takes a couple of hours in total.
When you get back, enjoy lunch at Suan Bua. It’s probably the best Thai food I’ve had in a very long time. The flavours transport you to Thailand.
The Maldives is a bucket-list destination and I’d encourage everyone to visit at least once in their life.
It’s become such an in-demand location among Aussies that Melbourne-based travel company Luxury Escapes launched its own direct flight from Australia to the Maldives.
Instead of a more than 20-hour flight with stopovers in Singapore, Doha, Colombo or Dubai, it’s now just 11-hours non-stop from Melbourne to Male-Velena International Airport.
The service, in collaboration with Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, launched on May 18 and what was meant to be weekly non-stop seasonal services until November 2026, has now extended due to “overwhelming demand”.
Last week, Luxury Escapes signed an agreement with the national carrier to operate a year- round weekly service from January 2027.
The current six month seasonal flights will finish in November, before recommencing in January, operating a weekly return service and continuing the only direct link between Australia and the Indian Ocean paradise.
I was on the inaugural flight and all I can say is it’s so good arriving at a destination without the hassle of hopping off a flight and jumping back on.
“It’s pretty special being able to create what nobody has ever been able to do in the history of Australia and Maldives travel, which is a direct flight from Australia to Malé,” Luxury Escapes Co-Founder and CEO Adam Schwab told news.com.au.
He said the hotspot has long been a bucket-list destination for Aussie travellers, but the time and complexity of travelling via a transit in Singapore or the Middle East had been a “major deterrent”.
Well, not anymore. You can now do it in half the time and you feel pretty refreshed when you land.
This writer travelled to the Maldives as a guest of Luxury Escapes