Fihalhohi Island, The Luxurious Side of Maldives

Arrival in Fihalhohi Island Resort

We had arrived at the resort through a speedboat that we hired from our hotel in Maafushi island. Although Fihalhohi Island Resort offers speedboat transfer, we opted to arrange ours from Arena Beach Hotel since the rate is way cheaper than what Fihalhohi Island Resort is currently offering. As far as I remember, the speedboat transfer that we had from Maafushi island to Fihalhohi island cost more or less $250. We were 13 in the group so it was about $20 each. But do take note that I had contacted the island resort first if they do allow other transfer operators to arrange our boat transfers. There are some private resorts that do not allow such and thankfully Fihalhohi Island Resort allows others to send in and out guests to or from the island as long as guests inform the resort ahead of time.

The resort is 14.9 kilometres from Maafushi island. We left the local island at around 10:00 AM and it took us about half an hour to reach Fihalhohi island. But due to time difference, the time in the island resort when we set our foot there was already past 11:00 AM.

The accommodation package that we booked in Fihalhohi Island Resort is an overnight stay half-board meal. Half-board means it includes buffet breakfast and dinner. Then for lunch, we brought some cup noodles and bread to fill in our hungry stomach just in case. But surprisingly, as we waited for our rooms to be ready the resort manager suddenly told us that we were entitled for free lunch on our first day. Our group must have been lucky. Let’s set aside the cup noodles and bread, first and let’s feast on that buffet table which includes continental dishes.

“Photo by Win Shia”

Something new that I had experienced dining in in Maldives was whatever your table in your first dine in in the resort’s restaurant will be your permanent table for the entire stay. The servers will place the room number/s in a small white board placed in the middle of the table showing that that table is reserved for the guests of that room/s. Nice, right?

So… Comfort in Comfort Room

There are three types of room accommodations in Fihalhohi Island Resort; Classic Rooms, Comfort Rooms and Water Bungalows.

All rooms comes with a double bed. Classic Room is the cheapest room in the island. Currently, the resort has 24 rooms of this type. The room has private bathroom with hot and cold shower, hair dryer, room safe, mini fridge, ceiling fan, telephone and private terrace. Comfort Rooms are air-conditioned room. Currently, the resort has 114 rooms of this type. The room has private bathroom with hot and cold shower and bathtub, hair dryer, room safe, mini fridge, ceiling fan, telephone and private terrace or balcony.

“Photo by Win Shia”

Water Bungalows are the most expensive room in the island which is built in pinewoods and placed overwater. Currently, the resort has 12 rooms of this type. The room has private bathroom with hot and cold shower, hair dryer, room safe, mini fridge, ceiling fan, telephone, CD player, tea or coffee facility and private sun deck.

We stayed in Comfort Rooms during our stay in the island resort, not the washroom or bathroom but that is how they name their room accommodation. They must have been thinking of ‘comfort’ which is actually true in defining their rooms as they were really relaxing and comfortable to stay to.

We booked 6 rooms for all of us through Booking and Agoda, 4 of the rooms were occupied by three guests per room. In default, rooms are good for two but one extra guest can be added for additional fee. We paid around $330 for our room and half board accommodation, making us pay around $110 each for a room with 3 occupants. This technique saved us few bucks each.

Since me was the only one who had booked through Booking, me and my roommates Zee and Robbie were separated from the group in terms of the location of our room. We felt a little sad to be away from the group but upon reaching our room it turned out to be a good area as our room was situated in the north side where the better beach was.

Our room is old and classic with its authentic style. It is spacious. It has the amenities that I’ve mentioned like private bathroom with bathtub and shower, private balcony, fridge and all. The room features could have been better if there’s a television set or free WiFi but after all, having none of these turned out somehow to be fine with us as sometimes we have to be detached from what’s happening back in our world.

Up Close with Water Bungalows

What’s exciting about our stay in the resort was seeing the water bungalows up close. After dropping our things in our respective rooms, we didn’t waste our time so we had changed to our swimming attire and went to the site where the famous overwater rooms are.

Seeing these gorgeous structure up close and having photos with these as backdrop were already fine with me. Lakas lang maka-yaman.

Guests of the resort can get to the water bungalows area and view deck freely but have to be mindful that there were also guests occupying these rooms so one must be quiet when walking through the overwater walkway.

It is said that this is among the cheaper overwater bungalow resorts in the Maldives, so expectations aren’t unreasonably high. But with this kind of view, everything was totally okay with us. We were all so amazed that at least we had able to step our foot into this splendid structure which is not a usual sight for us back home. We ended up taking tons of pictures and photos of ourselves with the overwater structure as our back drop.

“Photos by Win Shia”

It appeared we were the biggest group who had visited the resort that time.

All Day at the Beach

We spent most of our day time in the beach area of the resort, if not in the water bungalows. As equally interesting as the water bungalows, the beach looked so tempting and arresting.

The sand is white and fine. The water is crystal clear. The beach is too damn thorough that staying for just an overnight wasn’t enough. I walked through the long stretch of the beach (people watching) – most of the guests were just lying, relaxing, taking photos and having their precious moments.

Me and my friends Zee, Aphol and Win couldn’t let this appealing beach just passed by our sight the next day that we took a swim again and enjoyed the remaining few hours that we had in the resort. Are we just going to have a picture of it in our mind or have fun memories of enjoying the beach?

Bring Down the ‘House Reef’

If the beach and water bungalows had already surprised us, what more about the house reef this island resort has. Another factor to consider when choosing a private resort to stay in Maldives is that, it has to have a colourful and amazing house reef.

Fihalhohi Island Resort has splendid reef surrounding the island. One doesn’t have to go in a great distance to have a glimpse of the amazing underwater world. One doesn’t even have to swim so far to see the several fish. One doesn’t even have to dive to get up close to the stunning corals.

Seeing the house reef was the highlight of our visit at the island resort. I spent most of the hours snorkelling – getting amazed with the live corals and chasing the school of fish.

Because of my excitement and amazement, I even went to the deeper area of the sea to see more decent corals and underwater creatures situated in the deeper water. I ain’t a swimmer but thankfully I was able to manage to snorkel in meter-deep water without having a life vest on.

The island resort offers other several activities for guests to enjoy like water sports, excursions, entertainment and recreation. But snorkelling through the house reef alone was enough for me to be delighted and be amused.

Staying in Fihalhohi Island Resort was worth the money and our time. Though our stay was short, we still had a smooth and relaxing holiday at the island. We all had a marvellous time staying in the resort. Our holiday here gave us the opportunity to see gorgeous water bungalows and amazing house reef, where these things added up in making our visit in Maldives an ultimate tropical paradise experience.

For discounts, book your stay on this hotel through this link.


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Fihalhohi Island Resort
South Male’ Atoll,Republic of Maldives
Phone: +960 6642903
Fax: +960 6643803
E-mail: info@fihalhohi.com.mv
www.fihalhohi.com.mv