Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

Rebranded and opened as a Sheraton in 2010, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon does a surprisingly good job at maintaining a spacious vibe for a small island resort with over 175 rooms. While you will definitely cross paths and share space with other guests, the resort somehow manages to still feel as private and roomy as some boutiques, and, even at a nearly full capacity, it’s fairly easy to find your own spot, complete with breathing room and privacy, somewhere on the island. The exception here is during mealtimes, when it can feel like a zoo -- mostly at the main buffet restaurant, Feast. Since the hotel adapts a fair amount of menu items to tailor to its seasonal demographics, picky eaters may want to inquire ahead of time and plan their trip accordingly.

The journey to Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa starts with a quick speedboat ride from Male's airport. The relaxation starts on-board with a cold bottle of water and views of Male city island. Guests are immediately greeted at the arrival jetty and ushered to the adjacent pavilion where check-in, orientation, and a welcome drink are provided. Most of the resort's features, from the restaurants, pool, and large decked bar with live entertainment; to the boutiques, official lobby, and Link@Sheraton business center are centrally located on the island for easy access no matter where your room is. Even those who are farther up the beach sunbathing and snorkeling have a nearby spot to grab drinks and bites. 

There are fewer than a handful of Maldivian resorts that are less than 30 minutes by speedboat from Male airport, and Sheraton Maldives Full Moon is one of them. Located on the private island of Furanafushi, part of the North Male Atoll islands, the resort is surrounded by distant views of neighboring islands, and is conveniently located within 20 minutes of popular snorkeling sites like Aquarium Reef. Its ultra-close proximity to the capital city of Male makes it an ideal spot for anyone who wants to mix in a little local flavor with their resort experience.

Sheraton Maldives has 176 rooms across eight categories, each with convenient access to the sea or beach. Overnighters in the top two categories, Ocean Pool Villa and the Water Suite, are granted access to the exclusive island club, home to happy hours, mixers, an additional pool, and some great views of rolling waves. In addition to club access, the Ocean Suite (a big overwater villa) also has a stone whirlpool and bidet, while the Ocean Pool Villa -- the largest of the bunch -- comes with a big, private back patio overlooking the rocky coastline, where you can expect an outdoor plunge pool, outdoor shower, relaxing hammock, verdant landscaping, and patio furniture. Though nearly half the size of the Ocean Suite, the Beach Front Cottage and Island Cottage are the most ideal for those traveling with kids as they are the largest rooms that allow children. (Children 11 and under are not allowed in the overwater villas or bungalows, or Ocean Pool Villas). The standard Deluxe Rooms are located beachside and have tiled floors, CD players, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and stocked minibars. This is the only category with a two twin bed option; all other rooms come with king size beds. 

Regardless of category, all rooms and villas have upscale beach house decor; a color scheme with cream tints, bright pastels, and bold color highlights; high ceilings; large flat-screen TVs with a good selection of international channels; stocked minibars; free water; and lots of space. Standout standard features include comfy Sweet Sleeper beds, fluffy robes, pillow menus, turndown service, wine fridges, and 24-hour room service.

Though most all of the rooms have direct access to the lagoon or a sandy beach area, Sheraton Maldives does have a nice-sized public beach area as well. This sweeping, sickle-shaped stretch of white-sand beach and turquoise water runs about half the length of the island's south side and gives guests easy access to crystal clear waters and shallow sandbank snorkeling. Solid, well-built, white wooden loungers are topped with tawny cushions and line the beachfront, while the occasional in-water sign reminds guests not to touch any of the rays that tend to frequent the shallow waters. If you get hungry on the sands, there's a beachside bar and restaurant just a few steps away. 

For a small island, Sheraton Full Moon has a nice selection of international-themed cuisine restaurants with specific menu items that adapt to match the demographic of the resort’s many different tourist seasons. For breakfast, a diverse buffet is served in Feast. Items on the line range from Western staples like pancakes, waffles, and an omelet station; to country-specific dishes like congee, bao, and curries. There are also healthy picks and a few sugar-free and gluten-free options.

Though Feast is closed for lunch, guests can choose between a la carte options like barbecue seafood dishes, sandwiches, fresh juices, and salads served at the beachside picnic tables of Kakuni Hut; upscale Asian and international dishes like Maldivian tuna tartar or quinoa salad inside the open-air palapa, on the beach-facing deck, or in the sands at the sit-down spot, Sand Coast; or at the large, corner terrace Anchorage Bar, where the food comes with gorgeous sea views.

Come dinnertime, Kakuni Hut closes, but every other restaurant (and bar) is open -- including two upscale reservation-only spots, Baan Thai and Sea Salt. The latter has on-sand dining and a fish tank where guests can choose their catch of the day by pointing to it. If casual (and slightly dim) is your game, Feast moves the buffet poolside in the evenings -- unless it’s raining, of course. And if you don’t feel like making the trek anywhere, 24-hour room service is always available.

Sheraton Maldives has three bars on the island; two of them, Drifters and Anchorage Bar, are near the lobby, while Kakuni Hut is slightly farther down, up against the sands of the beach. The hotel’s main bar, Anchorage Bar, is open pretty much all day until the first hours of the morning, and is built on a corner deck outfitted with upscale wicker chairs, tables, cabana beds, and couches topped with thick, blue-shaded cushions. The panoramic view is perfect for sunset viewing, and the deck is host to nightly social hours of wine tastings, live music, and happy hours -- though you may have to battle through some smoke if your immediate neighbors opted to try out one of the bar's hookahs. The inside bar area has a stage area for live music or dancing and a pool table, a handful of barstools, and plenty of seating.

With more of a maritime lounge vibe, the Drifters pub is a classy British sports bar-type watering hole. Only open in the evenings, this is the place to watch your favorite game on the big screen. On the other side of the clock, Kakuni Hut beach bar is open during daylight hours and is away from the central food and drink hub. With a casual beachside atmosphere, this spot serves fresh juice, barbecue bites, and booze to its picnic table diners or those just lounging on the beach.

Sheraton Maldives is home to the first of the Shine Sheraton signature spas. Located on its own island and accessible by a worn wooden pathway, this upscale and mostly outdoor spa has treatment rooms with outdoor showers and toilets, and open fourth walls that face directly to the sea. The interior of the locker rooms are tight but have the basics like lockers, a small changing area, and a steam room, sauna, and hydro shower. Outside you'll find a hydrotherapy pool area with loungers overlooking the sea and an infinity reservoir -- a favorite watering hole among the island herons. The spa area is also home to a yoga studio with private classes and a relaxation room with agronomic padded loungers, garden views through glass windows, hot ginger tea, and soothing music. If you like the products used in your treatments, they are available for purchase in the spa lobby. 

Sheraton Maldives runs on a few different all-inclusive and a la carte meal and drink options. Guests on half-board get breakfast and dinner and unlimited non-juice soft drinks and water. The full board package also includes lunch. Both of these meal plans only include dinner at Feast, Sand Coast, Anchorage restaurants, though there is a dining credit for use at other restaurants. 

The resort's all-inclusive package includes breakfast, and lunch and dinner at Feast, Sand Coast, Anchorage and Beach Bar restaurants, along with unlimited draught beer, house wines by the glass (red, white, rose), sparkling wine, house pouring spirits, mineral water, and soft drinks between a set time that is inclusive of most of the day and night. Premium booze is extra and there is a dining credit for use at restaurants outside those included in the plan. 

Aside from heading to its beach area, if you want to get wet at the Sheraton Maldives, you'll have to make for the pool. A little on the small side for such a large property, the lagoon-style pool has a relaxing garden setting with a nonetheless lively vibe. To one side, you'll find a little wooden bridge (that heads to the lobby) with a gushing waterfall, and to the other, a smaller, shallow kids' pool. The pool itself is surrounded by a stone tile deck with padded wooden loungers, umbrellas, and (usually) lots of lingering guests. 

If you prefer to be a little more active, you can hit up the fitness, watersports, or dive centers. Full of name-brand, state-of-the-art equipment, Sheraton Fitness is the place to sweat it out with weights, free water, exercise balls, mats, and resistance bands. There are even inspirational quotes painted on the walls to push you that extra mile. Or, team up, head outside, and hit up the astroturf tennis court or ping-pong table. Over at the watersports center, a handful of non-motorized sports, like windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, banana boat riding, and snorkeling are available for free. If you want to do any diving or go out on a snorkeling tour, you'll have to head slightly farther down the beach to the resort's dive center, which is located on the far corner of the island next to the welcome pavilion. 

A plus for parents and kids is the Sheraton Adventure Club. A dedicated activity space -- free for kids four to 12 years old -- with a playroom, activities, crafts, and outdoor area with a playground, small adventure course, sandcastle making station, and igloo with built-in seating. 

Located between the pool and the lobby are the resort's boutiques, from fine jewelry to souvenirs and conveniences, and Link@Sheraton (a TV room/media and book library/internet cafe). It can get packed in here, especially with only one TV, a few Microsoft computers, and somewhat limited seating. There's also free internet and free gold cart shuttle rides around the island.