OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi

Don't expect the dream holiday and you'll be ok. The resort itself is ok, a bit rough around the edges. For such a new resort I felt my room wasn't the cleanest, flooring coming up, plastic glasses looked dirty and although most staff are friendly enough I wouldn't say the service was of a good standard. The food was fine you could always find something but again could have been better and more choice, especially fresh fruit. All inclusive is mainly full board as there are limited snacks inbetween which is difficult with children. Only popcorn between meals or limited snacks inbetween which to buy in the shop which was expensive. Grounds kept well, massage was lovely definitely would not return. Read less

Our 2nd Visit to the Maldives – Mixed Experience Pros: • Location and Island Layout: The island is lovely, and the surroundings are well-kept. We stayed in Beach Villa 417 with a sunset view, which was perfect. The area outside our villa was maintained beautifully, and the air conditioning worked well, which was a blessing. • Villa: The outdoor bathroom was a nice touch, and the bed and pillows were incredibly comfortable, ensuring we slept well every night. However, the laminate flooring could use replacing as it doesn’t hold up well in wet conditions and started to lift. Also, there’s a bright night light in the room that can’t be turned off, which was a bit disruptive. • Food & Drink: The buffet was varied and offered tasty food with good quality. The Maldivian night was a standout. The chefs really work hard, and the variety of food was appreciated, though fruit options were limited—only apples, oranges, and melon, with no bananas in sight. Cons: • Food & Drinks Service: There is no table service at all. Drinks are self-service in plastic cups, and the wine selection is disappointing. The only diet drink available on the island is Coke Zero, which was a bit limiting since all other sodas are full-fat. • Entertainment & Atmosphere: The music around the pool was extremely loud and inappropriate at times. We don’t have children, but even as adults, we felt uncomfortable with the vulgar lyrics and sexual content. We reported it to reception. The nightly entertainment left much to be desired – the Maldivian dancers were fantastic, but the same singers and a DJ playing club music unsuitable for the setting made for an awkward atmosphere. The volume was so high that it could be heard across the island until late into the night. However, we did meet some lovely friends during our stay, and spent evenings chatting with them in the bar, which helped “drown out” the techno music and made the atmosphere more enjoyable. • X360 Bar & Snacks: The drinks at the X360 bar were strong and good, but there were no snacks available ( apart from popcorn and nuts) between meals unless you were willing to pay extra. This felt below expectations, especially for a resort in the Maldives. • Games Area: The games area needs a lot of attention. The pool table was in poor condition, with several broken cues and a filthy table. The magnetic dartboard was broken and needed to be propped up for children to use it. There’s really nothing for kids to do in this area. • Excursions: The prices for excursions were extortionate. We booked a dolphin cruise, but the experience was disappointing. The sea was very choppy, and we were told it might be canceled—yet we were informed to return 15 minutes before departure, and the trip went ahead despite unsafe conditions. At one point, the coast guard even instructed the boat crew to turn around. The boat lacked safety equipment like life jackets or we were just not informed where we could access these, and the whole experience felt unsafe. To make matters worse, we didn’t spot any dolphins, which we understand can happen, but the unsafe conditions and lack of safety protocols were concerning. This cost us £170, and it was a huge letdown. Given the prices they charge for excursions, we expected much more in terms of safety, value, and experience. Staff: • Housekeeping: Our housekeeper, Aiham, was fantastic. The room was spotless, and he was very pleasant. • Restaurant Staff: Special thanks to Hasini and Imashi, who greeted us at the restaurant each evening with warmth and a smile. Spa: The spa experience was excellent. We had a wonderful balanaise massage, and the staff were professional, friendly, and provided the kind of luxury experience you’d expect. • Underwater Restaurant: A major highlight was the underwater restaurant – it was outstanding and almost took our breath away when we first entered. The views of the fish in their natural habitat were mesmerizing, and I could have easily sat there for hours just watching them. The staff there were wonderful, attentive, and added to the overall fantastic experience. In Conclusion: Comparing this stay to our previous experience at Cocoon Resort, we felt that Oblu fell short in several areas. The staff at Cocoon went above and beyond – they made my birthday special with thoughtful touches, like decorating our bed and providing a birthday cake, all at no extra charge. At Oblu, we were charged £100 for the same service. Additionally, Cocoon provided a coffee machine in the room and offered juices like pineapple and apple, which were included, whereas at Oblu, we had to pay extra for similar amenities. While the natural beauty of the island is undeniable, our overall experience felt more akin to a resort in Tenerife than a luxury Maldives experience. If it weren’t for the stunning surroundings and the great friends we made. Sadly, we won’t be returning to this resort but would like to thank Oblu for the memories. Read less

I went here with my wife for our honeymoon. The place is beautiful, you can snorkel with tropical fish and reef sharks right in the island and the staff are friendly and welcoming. I would especially like to point out the water sports center and spa as they are almost reasons enough to go by themselves. We had a great time doing a bunch of water sports activities and the staff were really helpful and friendly. The parasailing comes to mind as especially worth it for the excellent view. In the spa we were seen to by Padma and Sari and we had to go back for a second visit. It is the closest thing I ever had to an out-of-body experience. We were left almost comatose. Simply great. Read less

Lovely welcome when you land. The rooms were very nice, well equipped and over the ocean. Really cool listening to the waves beneath you. Lovely beach although wear beach shoes as the coral really hurts your feet. The bar was a bit hit and miss, some staff were unfriendly but that could be that they were understaffed and so busy at times. The "daily fountain" often ended early if it was there at all. Most ares were very hot even with the fans, no a/c here! Do not expect drink service on the beach or pool area, this does not happen, letting down the 4 star rating. The trips are very expensive, fishing was $1500٫00 and a snorkel with the sharks $200٫00 There are regular buggies to take you up and down the paths and to the restaurants, very welcome at night or in the heat. The drivers were always lovely. On to the restaurant: dress code never enforced so expect bare feet and swimwear yuk. The food, whilst varied was never great and so we chose to eat at the paid restaurants a couple of times, adding to the cost. However, the worst thing were the plastic glasses! I understand this around the pool but surely not in the restaurant. The white wine was often warm and the person in the restaurant drinks area was quite rude. Read less