Fun Island Resort

Built in 1988 and showing some wear, this 75-room budget resort is more casual than romantic. A beautiful blue lagoon and on-site reef provide plenty of diving, snorkeling, and water sports opportunities, and worthwhile excursions are available to neighboring islands and fishing spots. As for the resort itself, the place has seen better days.

The affordable rates at Fun Island translate into faded signs, mediocre buffet food, old furniture, and dated (but clean) rooms. At a glance the grounds look tidy, but upon closer inspection we found tiny bits of trash, a condom wrapper, and a potato chip bag with a family of hermit crabs living in it. A stranger’s lipstick marks were also left on one of our “clean” mugs in the restaurant.

Fun Island has more families than most Maldives resorts, with the bulk of guests coming from China, India, and Italy. The resort is a decent choice for budget travelers who want to take advantage of water sports and excursions, but those expecting a pristine island paradise will likely be disappointed.

Situated on its own private island in the South Male Atoll, the resort is accessible by a speedboat that leaves directly from Male International Airport. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the island (locally known as Bodufinolhu), which is less than half a mile long and 184 yards wide. The main attraction on Fun Island is a “house reef,” which guests can reach by jumping off the end of a long jetty. A 145-person staff lives and works on the island year-round.

The Maldives is a distinct nation in the Indian Ocean consisting of 26 atolls and over 1190 islands. Though the state religion of the Maldives is Sunni Islam, private island resorts are allowed to serve alcohol. Fun Island does not include alcohol in its all-inclusive packages, however. 

Fun Island has two room types: Beach Front and Deluxe. All rooms include minibars, electric teakettles, free bottled water, beach towels, and outdoor patios. The simpler Beach Front rooms (which are actually closer to the island’s center) have worn wicker furniture, tile floors, and king beds that look suspiciously like two twins pushed together. Deluxe Rooms are larger, with better furniture and a private courtyard area. They also come with TVs, free Wi-Fi (although we were unable to get a signal in our room), and uninviting outdoor tubs made of dirty-looking concrete. All rooms have plain white walls and no artwork whatsoever.

Fun Island has a decent range of amenities, but some aren’t in the greatest shape. A small fitness center near the lobby has dated machines and a bad, musty smell. A spa offers everything from couples massages to facials, but poorly maintained fishponds and fountains (overgrown with green algae) make the place feel less than zen. Gift shops near the lobby sell souvenirs and jewelry, and a game room has a pool table, ping-pong, and board games. A volleyball/badminton net is available near the beach, and there’s also a room with a snooker table.

Washed up seaweed, rocky areas, sharp bits of broken coral, and the occasional piece of garbage make Fun Island’s beaches less than perfect, but they’re beautiful nonetheless (this is the Maldives, after all). The water was crystal clear during our visit and the temperature was perfect -- cool enough to feel refreshing, yet warm enough to slip into without a chill. Wooden lounge chairs and cushions are provided for guests, and drinks are available from a beach bar.

The food at Fun Island is hit or miss, but mediocre overall. The main restaurant, Farivalhu, serves international buffet cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfasts are included, and guests can upgrade to half-board (dinner) or full-board (lunch and dinner) packages, which are only applicable at Farivalhu. Guests can pay out of pocket for a la carte bar food at the main bar next to the lobby or at the beach bar. All drinks (even water) cost extra, so expect the drink bill to add up fast after services charges and tourist tax.

For those willing to pay extra, the resort offers plenty of special services. Dolphin safaris, fishing trips, scuba lessons, and tours of local islands are just some of the excursions available. Staff can also arrange private candlelit dinners on the beach or on a deserted island nearby. A water-sports center rents kayaks, windsurf boards, catamarans, Jet Skis, and snorkeling gear. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby and main bar, but it’s slow. DJ parties are held regularly at the beach bar.