The Maldives has long been a haven for honeymooners, but a new trend is emerging – families and groups of friends are now visiting in search of the ultimate getaway. But where do you go?
“The islands in the Maldives are strikingly similar – it’s a bit of a cut and paste. They all have blue sea, white beaches and villas or over the water accommodation,” one travel expert explained. “It’s the ones with the best staff who deliver an unparalleled level of service that are the real gems and where those in the know go to. Oh, and avoid those where you need a sea plane, it’s an extra hassle that you just don’t need.”
I duly did my research and Ozen Collection kept popping up and its two resorts. Ozen Reserve Bolifushi and Ozen Life Maadhoo.
Together with my best friend Kate and 16-year-old daughter Ruby, we decided to put it to the test and booked Ozen Life Maadhoo, a lively island, situated in a pristine lagoon in South Malé Atoll, regarded as the perfect destination for family and friends.
Upon arrival at Malé airport, we were escorted to its adjacent jetty and ushered into a private speedboat bound for Maadhoo.
The resort’s General Manager Elisabeth, together with members of her team, greeted us with the warmest of welcomes. We were then whisked to reception where deep cushion chairs and double day beds are strategically placed, inviting us to unwind and even lie down to check in. Our stay began with a soothing foot cleansing ritual, the perfect antidote after a long-haul flight, it was bliss.
We were then assigned our own butler, or as the resort prefers, a ‘hiyani’, meaning shadow. His name was Faiko, and he checked us in, and we connected us via WhatsApp. Anything we needed, we just had to ask him, and he’d respond. He was particularly brilliant with Ruby, and so kind.
To get our bearings, Faiko gave us a quick tour of the resort in his electric buggy. He showed us the island’s pristine beaches, restaurants, bars, tennis court, spa, gym, hydroponic farm, orchid garden and dive centre. Along the way, he pointed out the best snorkelling spots – including the areas where the resort’s two resident turtles are often spotted.
Our all-inclusive package was extremely generous and included gourmet dining, a choice of dine around experiences, Champagne, over 80 wine labels, beer, spirits, soft drinks, afternoon tea, wellness sessions like sunrise yoga, cinema under the stars, non-motorised water sports, daily complimentary snorkelling trips, and a sunset cruise.
The resort has six restaurants and two bars to choose from including Tradition Indoceylon, Indian and Sri Lankan specialties, Tradition Peking, with authentic Chinese dishes, and The Palms where we breakfasted most days and enjoyed the odd lunch with a vast international cuisine offering.
With 94 villas in five distinct categories, we selected an Overwater Wind Villa with outside jacuzzi and direct steps into the lagoon. Interiors are sophisticated with subtle touches of Maldivian colours. Beds are incredibly comfortable, and bathrooms feature freestanding bathtubs and rain showers. We loved the glass viewing panels on the floor and spent hours watching the fish swimming below.
One of the many things that impressed us with staying at Ozen Life Maadhoo was the team’s extreme focus on creating personalised itineraries for us, making sure anything and everything was possible. Managed with metronomic precision, the resort operates with a high staff to guest ratio: two to one, ensuring guests are impeccably cared for, with flawless service and every detail attended to. Our wish list exploring some new food and wine experiences, adrenalin activities for Ruby, indulgent spa treatments, more water-based fun, and to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s marine life.
Faiko swung into action and went above and beyond. He booked us in to the ELE|NA Elements of Nature Spa. The spa, along with its sister location at Ozen Reserve Bolifushi, is the first and only resort in the Maldives to achieve Gold accreditation for sustainability by the Sustainable Wellness Organisation. We each selected one of its new Philosophica Botanica treatments which are rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its standalone overwater treatment rooms are stunning and feature glass floors. My daughter Ruby, when face down during her massage, saw a manta ray swimming beneath her – a moment she will never forget.
For Ruby, the highlight of the stay was a 30-minute guided jet ski – her first time on one – and she zoomed around the sea, spotting reef sharks and a turtle along the way.
Another unforgettable experience was our time spent with Núria and Erin, two marine biologists employed by the resort. They shared valuable insights about the critical role of coral reefs and how rising ocean temperatures and coral bleaching are threatening the delicate Maldivian ecosystem. Núria and Erin explained how Ozen is actively working to conserve a 300-metre stretch of its in-house reef using 80 coral frames that nurture more than 2,000 coral fragments. We were able to take part in the conservation ourselves and ‘adopted’ a coral spider frame which helps to propagate coral ($100 to sponsor a frame). We worked alongside Núria and Erin to populate it, and this was then carefully planted in the water in a nearby reef. The biologists monitor the frames twice a week, diving with toothbrushes to remove any algae. Our frame is numbered and labelled ‘The Boyle Family’ – and we will receive biannual email updates, along with photos showing how our coral is growing. It was such a special experience and gave us a deeper connection to the Maldives.
Every day at Maadhoo brought something new and exciting. One of our favourite lunch spots was LONU, a beach side restaurant which offers a modern take on traditional Maldivian dishes. We devoured Tuna Carpaccio, Fish Ceviche, Prawn Wraps, Mas Bai (a traditional Maldivian tuna dish with coconut milk and spices), and finished off with Kanamadhu Cake (a sweet, spiced dessert made with coconut and banana) – all while watching sea life, including baby reef sharks and a manta ray, glide by.
Having never tried fishing before, Faiko suggested we join the resort’s one-hour complimentary sunset fishing excursion. It was fascinating: we were taught how to line fish – the only fishing permitted in the Maldives – and within minutes, Kate got the first catch of the day – a mini reef shark, which was safely released back into the water. I followed with the second catch, and Kate landed the third. The thrill of reeling in our catches while the sun was setting was simply perfect. As we made our way back to the resort, walking along the jetty, we spotted two baby reef sharks swirling around a group of small fish, just metres from the shore – just when we thought our stay could not get any more magical.
Much like its sister island Ozen Reserve Bolifushi, the resort’s curated wine list and gourmet offerings are exceptional. The sommelier’s personalised pairing suggestions at each mealtime elevated the entire experience, and we were able to sample so many new wines.
To explore the wine list a bit more, we booked a private wine tasting ($150 per person) with Executive Sommelier Rohit Salunke at “Gin Is In”, the chic first-floor bar above the main lounge. Rohit selected six wines for us to try, offering fascinating stories about their growers and why each had been chosen for the list. One of my favourites was a Bodegas Vinatigo 2022 from a fourth-generation winemaker in Tenerife, historically reserved for royal houses and nobility due to its prestige – and it was devine. Another standout was a 2019 Lady May red wine from the Glenelly Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. We wrapped up the tasting with a Guy Charbaut Croquantine Demi Sec, a phenomenal champagne served at the resort’s champagne dinners, where the winemaker himself attends. The wines were so exceptional that I’ve since placed an order for them — if I can’t get back to the Maldives, at least I can bring a taste of it to me!
With our newfound appreciation for exceptional wine, we timed our stay to coincide with the weekly cocktail party at Joie de Vivre, the resort’s main bar, followed by a gala dinner. It was great fun with guests being able to visit different food stations serving a range of international cuisines and enjoy live entertainment.
M6m, the resort’s underwater fine dining restaurant, set the stage for our final night. Situated six metres below sea level, it’s an incredible and immersive setting as we were served supper, expertly paired with wine, seeing black tipped sharks and fish gracefully gliding by just inches from us through the restaurant’s glass walls.
Our time at Ozen Life Maadhoo drew to a close, we found ourselves bidding heartfelt goodbyes to the incredible staff. Their warmth, passion, and dedication to ensuring every moment of our stay was exceptional made all the difference. It was clear that creating unforgettable experiences, where every detail mattered, wasn’t just their job—it was their joy.
For an escape from the everyday and families looking to reconnect and create cherished memories in a truly extraordinary setting, there really is no place on Earth like the Maldives. We left with a deep appreciation for the beauty of this tropical paradise – one of the most beautiful places on Earth – and now can’t wait to see how the Boyle coral frame is thriving.
Ozen Life Maadhoo: Seven nights from £4279 per person, all-inclusive accommodation, with Virgin Atlantic Holidays. Includes Virgin Atlantic Economy flights direct from London Heathrow to Male and speedboat transfers https://www.virginatlantic.com/holidays Tel: 0344 557 3859
More information on the Ozen Collection here: https://theozencollection.com.
