The Residence Maldives located in the southern Maldives in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, also known as the Northern Huvadhoo Atoll, one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world. This beautiful island resort lies in the middle of the Indian Ocean next to the Equator, fringed by pristine white-sand beaches and surrounded by brilliant blue waters that boast unspoilt coral reefs and spectacular marine life.

Nestled on the idyllic island of Dhigurah in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, The Residence Maldives' setting is the closest thing to paradise. We felt at the edge of the world, away from worldly bustle and stress. The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah is adjacent to The Residence by Cenizaro’s first property in Gaafu Alif Atoll, The Residence Maldives at Falhumaafushi. The Dhigurah’s sister resort sits on the neighbouring island which you can walk across a one-kilometre bridge. Together the two islands make up one of the largest resort offerings in the Maldives.

Note: This trip was taken in with government compliance covid-19 travel healthy & safety measures.

GETTING THERE
The Residence Maldives is in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, and like all special, pristine places in the world, it involves a journey. The flight to Male International Airport from Dubai is four hours 15 mins, followed by a domestic flight that takes under an hour to get to Kooddoo Airport. From there a short boat ride will take you the rest of the way. Upon arriving on an international flight, or if you are transferring hotels and must travel back through Male, you’ll find the hotel representatives at the arrival’s booth outside international arrivals. Hotels have their own booths where they facilitate moving guests to and from the property. We located The Residence booth quickly and were walked to the domestic terminal by the staff member.

Many 5-star hotels offer private lounges while guests wait for their transfers, which can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 4+ hours. The Residence does not have a private lounge, and rather, they utilize a large lounge along with several other properties. The lounge is nothing to write home about but does offer food, coffee, water, and soft drinks as well as a private restroom. We spent several hours in the lounge before our departure due to some flight delays, but finally, a staff member from the resort picked us up from the lounge and took us to the departures area to await our flight.

The Residence Maldives at Falhumaafushi & Dhigurah offers 173 beach and water villas, each featuring its own private pool. It also uses locally sourced materials, designed to capitalise on natural lighting. Dhigurah: Catering to families, the resort provides 12 two-bedroom beach and water pool villas, with more on-land options, designed for younger children. Dining options include all-day dining at The Dining Room, the resort’s beachfront restaurant and Li Bai, the resort’s signature Cantonese restaurant, serving classic Chinese dishes. Other resort highlights include a 42-metre infinity pool, Dive & Watersports Centre, relaxation reading lounge, fully equipped gym, two complimentary bicycles per room for all guests, and a diverse range of water sports and land-based activities.

We opted to stay at Falhumaafushi at a Two-bedroom water pool villa which gave us more privacy and stunning sunset overlooking the ocean.

LOCATION & THE ISLAND

Hidden on the fringes of far-flung Gaafu Alifu, one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world, The Residence Maldives really does feel like the middle of nowhere. Too far from the capital Malé for a seaplane transfer, the resort can only be reached by domestic flight, which zips guests to an island so unspoilt, it looks uninhabited when viewed from the sea. The journey is worth the effort to truly get away from it all, surrounded only by the endless blue of the Indian Ocean and a star-spangled night sky just 13 miles north of the Equator.

At 2km long, the island itself is larger and lusher than those in the south, cloaked in the dense tropical jungle for the full Robinson Crusoe experience with a sense of privacy the more developed islands just can’t match. If the urge to explore proves too great, both resorts are connected by an Insta-worthy one-kilometre bridge to The Residence’s sister property on neighbouring Dhigurah or you can choose to spend an afternoon on one of the resort’s two deserted islands, for vanilla-white sand, vivid turquoise water, and utter blissful seclusion.

CHECK-IN

After the speed boat to the tropical island where you are welcomed by the resort staff with a local coconut juice and whisked away by golf cart to our room for check-in (Check-in are now done directly in the room as part of COVID-19 safe measure) and it was much preferred. All journey is effortless. After checking in, you'll introduce to your villa butler who explained everything that you needed to know about our accommodation and the resort's facilities.

Island Vibes

The Residence does laid-back luxury perfectly. It’s plush without being stuffy so you can kick off your shoes and relax from the moment you arrive. Service is attentive and friendly, but never overly formal and staff are full of smiles at every turn. If you prefer, it’s easy to feel like you have the whole island to yourself instead, cocooned in a spacious pool villa with meals served by a private chef on your own terrace. Restaurants and beach villas are well hidden amongst the trees too, so you can cycle the sandy paths through the jungle without passing anyone else at all. More sociable types can head to the spectacular 42-metre infinity pool for serious swimming and cocktails, dine at the island’s three relaxed restaurants or stroll over the bridge to the Falhumaafushi, for lively beach barbeques, candlelit open-air movies and a buzzing pool with a swim-up bar, trendy soundtrack and over-water cabanas.

ROOMS

At The Residence, there are two different locations that you may end up in when booking the Pool Water Villas. We were in a Two-Bedroom Water Pool Villa facing into the Atoll, with beautiful views of the thousands of shades of blue.

The villas at The Residence Falhumaafushi are stunning and larger than most accommodations in the Maldives. At just over 1,650 square feet with the pool and balcony, the Water Pool Villas provide so much space for guests to enjoy. Villas are spacious, simple, and surprisingly private, with teak and rattan interiors, large bathrooms, and neutral colours to frame the kaleidoscope of blues outside. Each one has its own large private pool, outdoor rain shower, bicycles, and the dreamy postcard views you would expect in the Maldives.

We were blown away by the spacious living room, large bedroom, and beautiful bathroom, complete with a bathtub overlooking the atoll. All villas have a traditional Maldivian style with contemporary design and high-class amenities. With awe-inspiring views of the Indian Ocean and maximum seclusion from the outside world, it's hard not to redefine luxurious privacy here. Each villa is crafted using the finest local materials, blending the beauty of traditional Maldivian architecture with modern design and lush conveniences.

The terrace in our villa had a relaxation and decking area and infinity pool views of the Indian ocean. As we were on the west-facing villas – we enjoy the beautiful sunsets perspective from our room.

Overall, the suites are stunning. The rooms all feature similar amenities and layouts, so you cannot go wrong either way. We would book a Water Pool Villa here again due to the privacy and size of the suite. This also gave us a great opportunity to jump directly into the ocean and do some snorkelling.

Note that all villas face either the sunrise or sunset and those over water come with large sun decks and ladders so you can drop straight into the lagoon below from the privacy of your own bedroom. Beach villas are cheaper but equally beautiful, tucked amongst thick vegetation and leading straight onto dazzling white sand lapped by the Indian Ocean.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Delight in diverse dining options to magnificent views over the horizon, featuring international favourites to local specialities spiced with exotic Asian flavours. Feast in a luscious garden setting with classic Cantonese fare, exquisitely crafted from taste to presentation. Savour the sunset as you unwind with a refreshingly cool mojito by the poolside bar. Sail away to a dreamy dinner by moonlight on your own private island attended by a personal chef. Experience the eclectic tastes of global cuisine at our resort restaurants on the islands of Dhigurah and Falhumaafushi and expand your dining horizons on a journey of flavours across the Mediterranean to Asia.

We opted for Breakfast only package at The Residence as part of the ongoing deal to attract more guest (We had a great discount on rooms). One thing to keep in mind if you book a dining package at any hotel is that you should check to make sure the package includes what you need. Often, meal locations will be restricted on packages like Half Board or Full Board and will be limited to one or two restaurants. At The Residence, all meals were restricted to the main buffet restaurant. There are 6 restaurants across the Falhumaafushi and Dhigurah properties. While guests could be fine with the half /full board package with this. We wanted to try most of the other restaurants to get a full experience.

Breakfast was by far our favourite meal of the day and we were in love with the Maldivian style breakfast offerings. They did serve everything from western, Indian, Maldivian, Korean and Chinese cuisines.

Offering both indoor and outdoor seating with spectacular views, The Dining Room is the resort's main buffet restaurant opens for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Inspired by Eastern and Western flavours, international delights and family favourites are skilfully prepared by the chefs. Breakfast in the Dining Room - beach shack, and this is a great buffet from all that you can start a good day. In the evening, you can choose a buffet or a special menu, including a pot of seafood - lots of ocean treasures, such as lobsters, crabs, mussels, and huge juicy shrimps or simply opt for live cooking stations from the buffet menu. All of them are served from the side and with your choice of sauce. The variety of dishes offered is excellent - even a week spent here will not be boring.

You'll surprise by the authentic Cantonese food offered at Li Bai while the mix offerings (We highly recommend the paella) at Beach Bar is a welcome change from the usual grub found at beach bars. At Falhumaafushi, The Falhumaa, a fine dining venue set at the end of a long jetty, against a dramatic backdrop of the setting sun and were treated to a sumptuous selection of menu items.

The Beach Bar / Casa Del Sol was strategically placed to frame a dramatic sunset over the island. The lounge music was modern and current but a little too “background”. The playlist is focused on lounge music which suited the setting well. The cocktails are imaginatively made with some very good twists in some classics.

Libai is a Cantonese fine dining restaurant. Portions were on the smaller side and they currently only have a set menu available which changes every day. A la carte is available as well. The staff at Libai is amazing.

An overwater signature restaurant, The Falhumaa is spectacularly located at the end of a 230m long jetty above the reef. With the very generous serving sizes and the quality of the food, the menu features western cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood and grilled meats complemented by fine wines from around the world. Expect a romantic meal under the stars like no other focussed on European dining on the Faluma Fushi side of the island. The bar is a relaxed and intimate setting for aperitifs and after-dinner liqueurs.

A variety of 24-hour private dining options are also available with an emphasis on romance. Couples can dine alone together beneath the stars either on a beach or the private terrace of their luxury villa. A private castaway island also awaits a real Robinson Crusoe experience. The options are limited only by your imagination.

Overall, the food was good, and they did have different themes each night. There were a variety of options for both vegetarians and meat-eaters with a tremendous range of dishes each day.

ACTIVITIES & PAMPERING

Between the two properties, there is quite literally double everything you need for the perfect vacation in the Maldives. The Spa by Clarins was a real treat to experience, with the overwater spa suites and relaxing massage offerings. Bikes are also allocated to all guests, which is the best way to get around the island. It is a blast to explore the nooks and crannies of the two islands by bike.

Regardless of whether you want to explore the Reef Falhumaa on a kayak with a transparent bottom or go snorkelling, there is always a lot of activity offers if the activity is your forte. One place that cannot be missed is Marine Life Activity Centre and the Euro-Divers Dive Centre. The beautiful lagoons are ideal for different water sports activities. Some unexplored and even uninhabited islands nearby are just waiting to be discovered.  

There are several excursions such as “Starry Night Cruises”, fishing trips, excursions by jet ski, Traditional Maldivian Dhoni Excursion and “Local Island Experience” you can join. As for water sports, jet ski, windsurfing, wakeboard, water skiing, stand up paddle and catamaran are part of the program.

Snorkelling looks pretty good on the quieter side, inside the atoll (west), but too rough to go over the edge of the reef to another, oceanic side. The main bonus for some will be the famous surf spot in the neighbourhood. Snorkelling gear is complimentary for the duration of your stay and we highly recommend exploring the beautiful reef along with the overwater bungalows.

Divine relaxation can be found in Spa by Clarins - this is the first and only spa in the Maldives from this exclusive brand. Anyone who knows this name knows his fame for being a pioneer in using the purity of plants, and the fact that the treatment rooms are also located over the water expands the sense of closeness to nature. In fact, the abundant use of glass almost makes you feel that you are swimming in the space between the sea and the sky, and this feeling is intensified after you have undergone a procedure - their branded massage gives you incomparable bliss, so after you have enjoyed it aromatic tea on the outer deck, you will feel almost weightless. Here, also, morning yoga classes take place, while the golden ball of the sun rises above the horizon - an unforgettable impression.

And for an unforgettable moment, do not miss a dolphin’s sunset cruise. You can only marvel at the surprise and unbridled ecstasy when you approach the pack and are suddenly surrounded by literally hundreds of dolphins dancing solely for the sake of joy. We opted for a fun boat ride instead and were lucky to have dolphins swimming next to us at the same time.

With brilliant blue sea all around, there are water sports galore including sailing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, glass-bottomed kayaking, windsurfing and snorkelling in the glorious house reef, where sharks, turtles and manta rays glide elegantly past vibrantly coloured fish.

DIVING

Euro-Divers at The Residence Maldives offers PADI courses of all levels. Join for some great dives or expand your diving horizon by completing a course under the attentive care of our experienced diving instructors. Most dives sites are from 5 minutes to less than one hour from the resort. The boat journey by dhoni makes diving trips even more enjoyable.

Certified divers will find over 30 dive sites nearby. The sites will accommodate divers of all levels. Grey reef and leopard sharks are often encountered here. Napoleons, eagle rays and turtles are permanent residents. The house reef is a spectacular dive site and ideal as well for snorkelling. Bottle nose dolphins are known to patrol the reef!

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability initiatives are cutting-edge and impressive. Energy from the air conditioning units is recycled to heat water in the bathrooms, eco-friendly cleaning products are used and glass doors have sensors to disable the air con when left open. The resort also runs turtle conservation programmes and is paperless where possible using iPads instead for ever-changing menus. Most notably, unlike many Maldivian resorts which prefer the sea crystal-clear at any cost, The Residence has retained the ocean’s native seagrass around the island, which provides food for turtles, prevents climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and protects marine life. 

OVERALL

Overall, we loved our experience at The Residence Falhumaafushi. Leave the heels at home and get on your bike. Paths are sandy, restaurants are relaxed and there is nothing better than cycling the long wooden bridge between the two main islands, spotting turtles swimming in the lagoon below. The suites are such an incredible size, and the private pool really elevates the experience.

Which one to choose? Falhumaafushi or Dhigurah

AT DHIGURAH:

Book a Beach Villa for the optimal experience. There is not a great beachfront at the Dhigurah property that is publicly accessible and the only way to guarantee a great beach is to book a Beach Villa. If a beach is important to you, take this into account.

AT FALHUMAAFUSHI:

Book a Water Pool Villa for the optimal experience. The Water Pool Villas are incredibly unique with their expansive size and unique experience being over water. There are several publicly accessible beaches around property to explore, and therefore we feel the Water Pool Villa is a worthy upgrade.

You cannot go wrong with either properties, but we prefer the Falhumaafushi for a few reasons. The hotel is much smaller than Dhigurah, so it feels more intimate and boutique-y. There seem to be more adults on the Falhumaafushi side and Dhigurah caters a bit more to families. The two hotels have virtually the same facilities, so I would recommend selecting your property based on the room type you’re able to get in your budget.

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