Soneva Fushi Resort and Spa

We were looking for a quiet resort in the Maldives to spend our honeymoon and after reading the reviews in TripAdvisor we decided that the Soneva Fushi was the right place for us. It met all our expectations and more. I won't write a long review as most of what I could say about this resort is already written in the reviews below. Just to highlight again the excellent personalised service from all personnel in the island, the amazing food, the impressive coral reef, the facilities (restaurants, spa, open air cinema), etc, etc...

The place was great. The island is not very big and you can actually walk around it. Dont try to put on shoes, you would not need them! There are several hidden places where you can stay and not see any of the fellow islanders. Real Crusoe feeling. The island is clean and the house reef is great for snorkeling and diving. The dive instructurs were good and very attentive.

We visited Soneva on our 6th trip to the Maldives and we chose this island because we thought or read that it was the best. We had previously been to (in order) Lohifushi, Laguna Beach, Vilamendhoo, White Sands and the Hilton, with the Hilton still being well ahead of the rest even now after returning from Soneva. Soneva is unbelievably rustic, at first you think it is charming and it is, its very 'natural', but when you pay for a 5 star resort, you still expect the luxury, which we felt it was lacking. Its very different to everywhere else in its ethos. In that when it says 'No Shoes, No News', it is literal. You dont know what is going on from day to day, there is no entertainment, no tv, no internet.. Unless you ask. This is what they count on and the response is when we commented that we would like to know whats available. Basically you have a small hut that has the same activites showing, as does the room booklet and I think this seemed to us very different, when most islands have activites per day, newsletters keeping you informed and at least you knew you could take it or leave it. Unlike other islands there is no main reception area. Instead you arrive and go to the same activity hut, where you are assigned pretty much your own concierge. This is where you start to see the value of Soneva, your girl or boy Friday as they are called will help you with anything, and nothing is enough trouble. Its from these guys that you find out that if you ask there are ipod connectors in rooms, you can have internet access, they will bring you a tv and dvd player (no sky) etc.. We were quite shocked initially to find that the island was only a fifth full, so there were only actually ten villas taken. This surprised us as where they blame it on low season (May), we have actually only ever been to the Maldives at this time of year, and no other island has been this empty. Maybe 70% full plus, but with only ten villas taken, it meant that a lot of activites and a couple of restaurants were closed, because of it. What they are able to do though is upgrade you for free, and we had read this before we came out, so we were really pleased that my request for room 38 which was also an upgrade was met and meant that we now had a private pool, outdoor bathroom with 3 showers and huge stone bath and a big two storey building that was a gym and steam room on the ground floor and upstairs was an open air lounge. very nice.. The private pool was wonderful and I would recommend anyone going to pay extra for it. To be able to just lie on a lilo and sunbathe in the pool was wonderful, especially when 5 months pregnant and you cant get too hot. The other great thing about Soneva was the food. This was also where you see the value. Whereas all other resorts have the main restaurant being a buffet, Soneva have a menu where every choice is michelin star quality as opposed to mediocre buffet style. The Organic restaurant that was open on random nights also had a menu added to the main restaurant which you could choose from as well. This was also nice knowing that if you did choose other options or decide to go to the other restaurants that by going Half Board you werent made to pay extra. This was also a very Soneva thing to do, where they really dont try and get more and more money out of you at every point, which sometimes you do see on other islands. Here they throw things in, ie. if you want 15 bottles of water everyday in your room, then its all free. Where we felt Soneva let us down was in just how rustic it was. I didnt expect the pictures I had seen of it to be literal with it being 5 star. I thought that the pictures looked dated, but this is what it actually looks like. They try to make everything as natural as possible, but to be honest the constant insect bites and insects crawling around in the bedroom at night, having to only have use of an outdoor bathroom etc.. did start to put me off just a little. I think this ws after staying at the new spa villas in the Hilton and that they were so flawless, it just made you wonder if you were asking for too much in a five star resort to have some luxuries.. I personally understand what they are doing, but they should also make you more aware of this. They grow about 70% of there own produce and are an extremely eco friendly resort, serving only fish that isnt as they say close to extinction from over fishing and the Organic Restaurant even has compost as a flush. I felt this wasnt obviosu enough and they seemed to think it was their biggest USP, but the website doesnt really mention it and the only way you know this is to read one of the 8 brochures in the room about the island. So as a summary, if you are looking for pure relaxation and want to rough it in luxury and style, then Soneva Fushi is for you.

Having reviewed all the other resorts on Malidivian Islands on TripAdivsor, all the evidence pointed in going nowhere else than Soneva Fushi. Quite an upgrade in cost....however, worth every penny if you want to escape everyone except your chosen company, perhaps a handful of other guests, and an army of the most attentative, welcoming and ever-giving staff - genuinely, nothing is too much trouble and their attention to detail is extraordinary. Thier' website doesn't do the island enough justice, simply showing the spectacular accomodation but not the rest of the islands fabulous facilities and stunning beaches. Anyway, the point is, this place is the dogs. For those of you non-British, this means go there, above any other place in the Maldives, you just wont regret any part of it. And if you don't believe us, believe the Malidivian Govt, who rate this the number 1 island amongst the 100 tourist resorts that exist. Quick facts we wanted to know before we went but couldnt find anywhere: half board is definintely good value. Wine - great range US$50 dollars upwards. Meals US$20-80 per sitting. Diving $US95 and excellent facilities. Good diving, although being a bit spoilt, i wouldnt recommend it as the best in the world - although the 2 giant manta rays we got to play with for 20mins was mindblowing. i note in another entry that it says the bicycle ride back to your room on the other side of the island isnt ideal - but this remains one of my very favourite memories, wheedling our way through the palms and finding our way home and around all the other facilities dotted throughout the island. Last, but not least - the food - utterly amazing, night after night, and dining in amongst the organic gardens a treat to behold. if we had to dredge up a negative it would be the neighbours - an ugly looking island spoiling the view from one side of the Soneva island. Happy Days, am jealous already if you are even thinking of going...

Just spent five days at Soneva Fushi and it's fair to say that all previous reviews are correct and this resort is certainly the best that we have visited in the Maldives. Weather was perfect as was the food and service. The island is very large with jungle like interior ( beware saddle sores from the bicycles) which makes it quite different from the majority of resorts. A few helful tips : If only staying a few days during peak times it might be worth trying to book restaurants/excursions in advance as we found that our 1st choice was not always available on a given day. Desert island picnic definately worth doing and good value for money- they have 4 different islands to choose from and supply a picnic ( more like a banquet) of your choosing from an extensive choice. We visited an island, 30 mins by speedboat ,which was huge with a large interior and beautiful beaches. The snorkeling was very good here. Organic Garden Restaurant fantastic! A real experience as you cross the rope bridge and arrive at an enormous tree house where the food was great ( try the organic toilet, an interesting experience!) Snorkeling around soneva very good with plenty of reef as the island is so large. The service and food was quite excellent throughout our stay and there really was very little to find fault with. Several reviews have commented on the resort being very expensive but we found it to be really quite reasonable compared to other 5*resorts in the maldives and felt that we got excellent value for money. THOROUGHLY RECOMMENDED

we spend 12 days in deluxe crusoe and we have been really satisfied. after 4 stays in maldives (rivelli / hilton / banyan tree and taj exotica ) this one was probably the best. the real luxury here is the SERVICE. everything is done by your guest manager to help you. great quality of food and room service is very efficient no criticism execpt may be the view from the sunset side on the tower communication but you may have a glass of champagne at the jetty to forget it !!!! anyway we ll go back here because everybody is so kind

This trip was our second to Soneva Fushi (and hopefully not the last). This place is the only place that has me relaxed and in complete holiday mode as soon as I step off the plane! I don't need to say much more - I wouldn't change a thing. We plan to return in March this year.

My husband and I spent 8 days in that wonderful and fabulous hotel 2 weeks ago. It was for our honeymoon. We are French and it was our first time to the Maldives. We booked a Deluxe Crusoe Villa and they gave us one with a swimming pool. The villa was just perfect and it was like we were alone in the world. The food is just excellent really I was surprised by the quality. The service is great and every employees are here to make you journey the most perfect as it is possible to be. We also went to the soneva gili but it is less private. With my husband we have fall in love for the soneva fushi. The island is really big you can walk in this incredible "jungle" feeling like children, walking with no shoes, doing bycicles, playing with the rabbits. For snorkling and diving it is a paradise. Everything is perfect, sorry but I have a poor english and I can't tell you with the right words how great is this hotel. I hope we would be able to go back in this amazing hotel, we will never forget our honeymoon there.

Soneva Fushi by far! From the moment you are met at the airport to when you leave, you are looked after like royalty! On arrival at the airport, you are handed a cold towel and an ice cold bottle of water, transfered to the seaplane airport and taken up to Soneve Fushi's private lounge with great big, wide cushions, which are great to relax on. It is air conditioned and has a great view across the bay where all the seaplanes land! More cold drinks await and if you are hungrey, all you have to do is ask! Seaplane journey is 30 mins. Fantastic views. You are met at " Soneva Fushi International Airport" a pontoon in the middle of the ocean, by your Man Friday, who is there to cater for your every whim during your holiday. He / she will arrange anything you wish, greets you at breakfast and again at dinner. Any problems, ( we didn't have any!) they will sort them out. As you take to boat from the pontoon to the island, they take your shoes from you and place them in a bag. We went without shoes for 10 whole days, it was bliss. Rooms are fantastic. we started off in a Soneva Fushi Villa with pool ( no. 43) which we felt was one of the more private rooms on the sunset side of the island, as it had more plants and ungrowth. It is next to a small restaurant, but you wouldn't know it is there, as you cannot see it from the room. We were then upgraded to a Crusoe 2bed Villa suite with pool ( NO 65 on the sunset side)Out of this world! 2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms Sitting room outside day bed, Steam room, mini gym and a spa area, for private massages! Plus a great pool, bigger than in the 1st room. Food is also fantastic! You can eat where you like, no extra for eating in your villa! Breakfast is buffet, with the wide selection of different food. The fruit is freshly cut in front you. Lunch is buffet again, but they is also a menu that is served throughout the day, that you can order from if you prefer. Dinner is A la carte 5 nights out of 7. When we went Apr 06, they were about to refurbish the main restaurant and open a new one , up near the outside cinema. The island itself is very green and worth a walk around ( takes 45mins to walk round the beach). You are provided with bikes for the duration of your stay. Which gives you the ideal opportunity to view the rest of the island. (There is a great network of well kept path ways). The only negative comments I could make would be the SAD inconsiderated people that insisted on using their mobile phones etc in the restaurants most meal times. People are asked to use them in the privicy of their own rooms, but there were some ( mainly Russians) that decided that they could do what they wished. The other comment would be that there were quite a lot of Russians, most were ok, but the odd large group, did start to annoy us. Having said that, this was our personal view. It certainly wouldn't stop us going back ( We are hoping to do that later this year! There is not much more to say really, other than you won't be disappointed.

We went here for our honeymoon two years ago, and will be returning again for my husband's birthday in a few months. It is truly incredible, and worth every penny you spend. We have been to similarly priced hotels in French Polynesia, and they were absolutely horrible and we felt like we were absolutely being ripped off for the price. Here, we were in such bliss we didn't think twice. The staff go out of their way, and they even upgraded us free of charge to the presidential villa on our honeymoon, simply because it was vacant that week and they thought it would be something nice for us. We're really into food, I'm a nutritionist, and the food was amazing and very fresh and healthy. They grow a lot of their own produce, and it is obvious when you taste the food. The also have the freshest of seafoods, juices, salads, everything you could want. We dined in our villa most nights(it was the presidential villa-why leave?) and the food they brought to the villa was just as great as any restaurant, something special, and lots of options too! We also went to one of their private islands for the day. While we were there some rogue tour operators showed up with a boat full of tourists and tried to invade what we had thought was a private island. We got on our radio back to Soneva Fushi and they came out by boat to get rid of the others, talk about service, it was great, and pretty funny too, with the Soneva boat chasing the other boat away.....Anyway, to sum it up, if you are not sure whether or not to go, or whether it is worth the money, DEFINITELY GO and YES, it is worth the money. We also went to Soneva Gili, by the way, and it was also excellent, but there is more to do on Soneva Fushi.