Island Indulgence: The Best of Both Worlds

Dhonakulhi is a stunning island offering the best of both worlds; a gorgeous lagoon on one side and a channel ideal for snorkeling on the other. The long beaches are mostly soft， with the North section of the island being particularly picturesque. The view from North point， gazing along the West beach， is breathtaking and will remain etched in my memory forever. However， some stretches feature narrow beaches， accessible only at low tide. The island's length， around 1400 meters， is quite impressive for Maldives standards， making bicycles the practical mode of transport unless you prefer a buggy. We can’t decide between small islands with everything nearby or larger ones offering exploration. Bicycle tours were a delight every time we ventured out. The winding paths are lovely， adorned with many beautiful flowers! The island's standout feature is its low villa density. The vast spaces and lush greenery between villas provide excellent privacy. This also means that beach strolls feel almost solitary. No other resort matches this in its price range in the Maldives， making Hideaway a fitting name. We stayed in a deluxe water villa (219)， which suited us perfectly. With a total area of 190 sqm， space was ample. The bathroom is spacious， with floor-to-ceiling windows lining the front of the villa， and similarly for the shower and toilet at the back. The design was attractive， except for the white fridge that seemed out of place. However， the outdoor area is always our priority when visiting tropical destinations， and it exceeded our expectations. The deck is long， with one area fully shaded against sun or rain， featuring a round daybed in the corner. The other side included two loungers and a roomy pool (for a plunge pool). We agreed this was our favorite deck in any Maldivian villa we've stayed in. For those concerned， there are wide steps instead of a ladder for easy water access. The rooms are generally in fine condition， though some wear is visible. The pool tiles， in particular， should be replaced soon. A note: our friends stayed in a newer， much larger signature villa—so roomy you could fit 15 people in the shower. A great option， budget permitting. We chose the "white platinum all-inclusive" package， which was well-suited for us. It featured 70 wines， including three Champagnes， with Taittinger being the top quality. But don't expect every wine to be premium. Cocktails were crafted with quality spirits and were generally good. The daily-refilled minibar included 4 beers， 3 half-sized wine bottles (sparkling， white， and red)， and various waters: Hideaway’s own， Evian， and Perrier. An assortment of sodas， juices， mixers， and snacks were also included， though minibar spirits incurred charges. The food was reasonably good， though quality varied. The fresh raw seafood dishes were delightful， yet some meals fell short. We favored à la carte dining over the buffet. Breakfast at the buffet's cooking stations was always good， with a decent fruit selection. If you missed any fruit， just ask; they had additional options not displayed. The service was top-notch throughout the resort. They attended to all our needs promptly and with a smile—some of the best service we've experienced. Another positive is that the resort runs on Male time， so no "island time" here. Lastly， the house reef! What sets Dhonakulhi's snorkeling apart is the channel alongside the West side of the island. Although coral coverage isn't optimal， it surpassed expectations on the South side of the channel (between Matheefaru and the black pole). Especially noteworthy are the branching yellow and grey/brown Porites here， along with Heliopora gardens in the shallows. It features a variety of other species， albeit in smaller quantities. What distinguishes this reef is the abundant marine life， including large and small fish. Rarely have I seen eagle rays so common. Blacktip reef sharks were frequently sighted along with turtles， which are not uncommon in the Maldives. Fish diversity and numbers are impressive， and many appear larger than those elsewhere in the country， suggesting ample food supply. The channel also serves as a shortcut for larger marine creatures， though we weren't fortunate enough to spot whale sharks or mantas. Other snorkeling areas around the island can't rival the channel， which is the standout location. Was it the best house reef I've seen here? No， but quite good. Much time was spent enjoying it， and I long to dive back into those waters. A special thanks to Upul at Meeru for ensuring a great experience and uplifting our spirits. Genuine service from the heart was evident， emphasizing our well-being. Thank you， Bina at Sunset Pool Cafe， for being a star! And to our butler， Zareer， for taking excellent care of us throughout the holiday. Hideaway Beach Resort has become one of our favorite Maldives spots. It stands out in many ways yet is an exceptional all-rounder. We hope to walk barefoot on Dhonakulhi again one day. Until then， THANK YOU!