Need to know
Rooms
Fifty-five.
Check–Out
Noon, but flexible subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 2pm.
Rates
Double rooms from $1597.00, excluding tax at 25.44 per cent. Please note the hotel charges an additional government tax of $6.00 per person per night on check-out.
More details
Rates generally include breakfast, otherwise it costs US$60 a person. Half and full board bookings also include dinner, and full board bookings include all meals.
Also
With clear skies and hardly any light pollution, you’ll get spectacular views of the starry night from the resort’s telescope-equipped observatory.
At the hotel
Six Senses spa, private beach with watersports facilities, bikes to borrow, observatory, open-air cinema, floodlit tennis court, badminton, snooker table, group yoga and tai chi classes, jogging trail, board games, ice-cream parlour, library, stash of CDs and DVDs, free WiFi. In rooms: flatscreen TV, DVD player, preloaded iPod and dock, binoculars, air-conditioning, minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities. The resort can also organise scuba diving, motorised watersports, and local boat trips.
Our favourite rooms
Sunsets may be spectacular at Soneva Fushi, but villas on the sunrise side of the island are blessed with uninterrupted views of the ocean. All have an indoor-outdoor feel, with garden bathrooms, cosy outdoor seating areas, and rustic-chic interiors of wood and crisp cottons. There’s no communal pool on the island, so make sure you splash out on a villa with a private seawater pool. The one at Retreat Villa (61) extends into the shade of the second-floor open air dining area connecting the two bedroom suites of this sprawling hideaway. The master outdoor bathroom is equally impressive: with a pond, sunken bathtub, steam room and a small private gym, it may well tempt you away from the decadent spa.
Poolside
There is no communal pool. Some villas have private seawater pools; all have their own secluded stretch of white-sand beach.
Packing tips
It’s more about what not to pack: for a truly blissed-out castaway experience, leave the phone charger at home. And don’t bother with shoes – no one on the island wears them.
Also
Each villa has its very own Mr or Mrs Friday, a private butler to look after guests’ every need. Craving a refill from the ice-cream parlour? Just ask.
Children
Welcome. Extra beds can be added for US$120 a night for over-12s, $60 for 7–11 year olds and free for under-7s. Babysitting is available for US$18 per hour. Children aged seven to 11 get 50 per cent off food and drink: kids under six dine for free.
Best for
Babies and over-5s.
Recommended rooms
The Soneva Fushi Villa suite and tree house is perfect for Robinsons travelling with their family. Older children will love the seawater pool and tree house: 2.5 metres above the ground, it has a bunk bed and single bed that sleep up to three children.
Crèche
There’s a chance you won’t see much of your little Smiths when they discover the Den: probably the best kids' club ever built. There are secret passageways, a clownfish-shaped wading pool for toddlers and a large pool with a slide from the main building, a pirate ship, ping-pong hut, trampolines, a children’s mocktail bar, lego room, dress-up area, cinema, library, learning area, music room filled with instruments, a zip line, and swings hanging from the trees in the botanic garden. Older children will love the beanbags to sink into, cinema room and music room with DJ corner, as well as the art, craft and cooking classes. Open from 10am to 5pm, the Den is free and supervised, and welcomes children aged 4-12; younger children need to be accompanied by an adult.
Activities
Older kids can safely explore the island: there are no dangerous animals or insects, and plenty of critters to keep them occupied (geckos, chickens and rabbits wander freely). There are smaller bicycles and tricycles for them to borrow to roam around, and they can enjoy the watersports and snorkelling, play table tennis, badminton, tennis, volleyball, or just flop down with some pizza and pop corn to watch films at the open-air cinema.
Swimming pool
There is no communal swimming pool, and you’ll need to keep an eye on young swimmers in the villas with private pools. The lagoon is very calm and there is no need to worry about currents or tides, but little feet may need water shoes to avoid scrapes.
Meals
Children are welcome at all times. The restaurants have high chairs, as well as soft toys and drawing materials to keep little ones busy. There are children and infant menus as well as half portions available. The chefs can adapt their menus for special diets, too. The bars serve mocktails, milkshakes and smoothies, and are happy to whip something up if it’s not on the menu.
Babysitting
Babysitters can be organised with a day’s notice and cost US$18 per hour.
No need to pack
Nappies, baby wipes, formula milk and baby food are available at the hotel’s shop.
Also
Don’t miss Eco Centro, the resort’s innovative recycling centre. Little Smiths can learn all about reusing and composting, and pick fresh fruit and vegetables from the organic garden.
Eco‐friendly
Responsibility and sustainability are at the core of the resort’s philosophy. It has one of the largest solar power plants in the Maldives, and the resort has kept pockets of the island’s coastline untouched so turtles can continue nesting there. Food is grown and sourced locally where possible, and there’s even a purpose-built centre for waste management and recycling, as well as a marine conservation programme.