Ifuru Island Maldives

In many ways Ifuru Island is the perfect introduction to holidaying in the Maldives. While this idyllic resort offers the sugar-white beaches, lush palm trees and dazzling clear blue seas you’d doubtless expect, it also has its own airstrip – no costly seaplane transfers required – and a selection of different accommodation options, making it one of the most affordable all-inclusives in the Maldives. 

The airstrip occupies the eastern side of the island, but with only three flights a day there’s minimal disruption. The resort occupies a kilometre of uninterrupted beach on the island’s west coast and with so much space you can always find a quiet corner of sand to laze on or coral-studded stretch of sea to scuba in.

Why stay at Ifuru Island Maldives?

Because it’s one of the Maldives’ most playful islands. Unlike many of the somewhat stiff, honeymoon-centric options elsewhere on the Maldives’ string of atolls, this is a place where families, groups of friends and solo travellers can relax. During our stay there was a cheerful mix of people on a group tour, couples and fellow families. 

Ifuru is independently owned, and it shows: the whole place feels designed to suit the landscape, rather than fit a formula. The staff are uniformly friendly and at the start of your stay you are set up with a buddy, who is just a WhatsApp away should you need anything. During our stay Suci juggled the different needs of adults, tweens and teens effortlessly. Despite all this, the resort is surprisingly affordable, relatively speaking, with the premium all-inclusive package proving as close as the Maldives gets to a steal. 

What are the rooms like at Ifuru Island Maldives?

Every room in the resort faces west, meaning wherever you stay – from an entry-level suite to a two-bedroom villa with its own private splash pool – you’ll get a great view come golden hour.

Our one-bed sunset villa managed to accommodate two children and two adults relatively comfortably. Throwing open the curtains to a hedge-flanked strip of sand running straight down to the sea was a joy every morning. The terrace and spacious outdoor bathroom – complete with two showers – meant we never got under each other’s feet, even during the usual post-beach, pre-dinner chaos.

The villa’s layout is straightforward and functional rather than flashy: plenty of storage, a nice mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, including a secluded stretch of beach directly in front of the villa, perfect for enjoying the bounty from the minibar, which was included in our package.

What is the food and drink like at Ifuru Island Maldives?

For most meals, you’ll find yourself at Social House, the island’s main buffet restaurant. It excels at lunch and dinner, with live cooking stations and something to please everyone. The island’s rotating theme nights – including a lavish barbecue on Saturdays – keep you on your toes and there’s a good smattering of Maldivian dishes alongside the international crowd-pleasers. 

Outside the buffet, the all-inclusive package stretches across five restaurants and bars. Our favourite choice for dinner was Palm Grill – a welcoming steak-and-seafood house with tables among the palm trees and a lively open kitchen powered by a charcoal grill. The Waterfront offers more elevated cuisine in an over-water setting, where even the excellent food can occasionally be upstaged by the resident family of reef sharks putting on a show beneath your feet. It books up quickly, so plan ahead to secure a table for at least one meal - lunch comes with the best views - during your stay. In the same building, but outside of the all-inclusive package, Kai is the island’s teppanyaki option, offering dinner and a show as the amiable chef mixes hotplate cooking with occasional egg juggling. 

What are the facilities like at Ifuru Island Maldives?

All whims are catered for. Xanadu spa offers massages in its family of cabanas, there’s a gym, a fun games room with a pool table, foosball and table tennis and a full-sized tennis court and separate football pitch elsewhere on the island. Non-motorised water-sports equipment is available to borrow for free, allowing you to paddleboard over the see-through waters. Scuba diving is good value, considering the part of the world you are in, and the excellent divemaster Ira will guide you to secret spots where with luck you’ll see turtles, reef sharks and a cacophony of fish.

Why should you book a stay at Ifuru Island Maldives?

With plenty of scope to squirrel yourself away from reality, this tropical retreat is perfect for a relaxing beach holiday. Walks along the beach (be sure to say hello to the resident heron), gently lapping waves and evenings under the stars are sure to soothe even the most frazzled visitor. Better still, the good value all-inclusive options mean that your holiday won’t end in tears and an unexpectedly large credit card bill.

Time Out tip

One downside of there only being three flights a day from the island is that you can be waiting a while for your departing flight from Malé. If this turns out to be the case, fear not. Many hotels in Malé offer day passes, allowing you to soak up every last drop of Maldivian sunshine before leaving paradise. Our buddy Suci arranged everything before we left Ifuru and it worked seamlessly.  

Price: Nightly rates start from $600 for a Sunset Sky Suite on a double occupancy all-inclusive basis.

Book now: Via Booking.com

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