Diamonds Thudufushi Beach and Water Villas

Wonderful and relaxing holiday. This is the fourth time in the Maldives, but they are always a continuous discovery. We stayed in the overwater villa, where it was a pleasure to wake up with the sea in front of our eyes. We returned to Italy with our hearts full of new experiences and beautiful friendships. Alba, the biologist on staff, is someone I want to thank for teaching us all about coral life and participating in the coral adoption project together.

Wonderful place. Everything was perfect, starting from the first steps with the reservation until the departure. The management and the staff have been incredibly helpful and nice. Both the beach and the water villas are amazing places to stay. The food was delicious and various. We will come back soon.

Making a decision on which resort to stay at for our Maldives holiday was so tough, every website seemed to portray the most beautiful pictures. Eventually we decided on Thudufushi and our entire experience was picture perfect! From the moment we arrived to the minute we left, every expectation was exceeded.

• Staff:

Elisa welcomed us so warmly and was super informative and patient with all our questions and oohs and aahs! Rashid met us in his golf cart with his dazzling smile to drive us to our water villa. Every day thereafter, whenever he saw us walking to or from our villa he raced our way to offer us a lift - regardless of how often we declined, preferring to walk most days. A welcoming note, to inform us that Saeed would service our room twice a day, was a lovely touch. Saeed was so dedicated, we never wanted for anything and our room was kept spotless. He even placed a Happy Birthday message made out of palm leaves on our bed for my special day. Mauween was our designated waiter in the over water restaurant. We was a delight every meal time, always meeting us with a smile, a witty story - making sure I always had my lemons on the table. We especially loved being introduced to Sabrina and ChuChu, who joined us on occasion at mealtimes.
Carla and Jaco have the best job and their love for what they do shines though. Readily available whether for a simple catch up or for information and advice. Nothing is too much trouble and their attention to details is incredible. Carla had fat free milk flown in especially for me and arranged an incredibly special dinner for my birthday. Anisha leads two beautiful yoga sessions a day and helps in the surf centre and with guest activities. She has a lovely sense of humour and is brilliant at enticing participation. Dima, besides being easy on the eyes, is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

• Food:

Peter's cuisine at the Over Water restaurant is a daily delight. Every dish was meticulously thought out, prepared with the freshest ingredients and looked like an art piece. We struggled to differentiate between the meals we ate daily and the Michelin star dishes served at the special 4 course dinner prepared by a visiting star chef. The menu is limited but we voluntarily ate the same dishes day after day because they were so good! We didn't need any more diversity. Even so, there is a good variety to choose from and Peter has a daily special to delight the taste buds. The buffet restaurant provides a 5 star version of buffet dining. It is not your normal 'grab and go' service. The food it top quality and there is always a hot food section where dishes are made fresh, while you wait - depending on the theme for the day. The grilled reef fish is delectable! The Maldivian evening is a must do! Dining outside under the palms in the moonlight is intoxicating and the local cuisine is delicious. We loved the ability to preorder breakfast which is delivered and set up on the deck of the villa at your preferred time. Cocktails are plentiful and available from both

• Facilities:

The resort is spotless and very well maintained, with a 'live in' maintenance team on call to fix or tend to anything immediately. Water sport equipment is limited but all in good condition and readily available. Snorkeling equipment is good quality and there is enough stock to make sure we got the perfect fit. Wifi signal is strong in the villa but is patchy in the restaurants and beach bars. There could be a few more beach loungers for the Water Villas guests. We had to get there early to secure a spot. Our bed was one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on! Pillows and linen are kept fluffy and so white! I want to know their secret! We seemed to end up in Bianca's shop almost every day. She has the most exquisite stock and was only too happy to help us find exactly what we were looking for. And when the hat I bought unraveled, it was no issue to exchange it. All the shopping is put on your room bill and it settled the evening before your departure. There is a small gym and TV room where we could watch the live international sport. There is a small selection of books to choose from in a variety of different languages.

• Activities and Entertainment

There is never a dull moment at Thudufushi but guests are free to choose as and when they participate. The daily excursions offer an intriguing distraction to lazy island life. I would have loved to do them all but timing and budget did not allow. We did the Ari Atoll snorkeling and sand bar excursion. The long boat ride was worth it, considering what we saw both on top and under the water.

• Environment and Weather

October is the end of the rainy season and is a great time to catch the off season deals. We had a few rainy days but eh rain doesn't hand around and it is still lovely and warm. If anything the rain gives you an excuse for an afternoon nap. The snorkeling around the island does not disappoint. We saw sharks, turtles, dolphins and manta rays all either from our deck or on the islands reef.

Thudufushi is a place where our holiday dreams came true, every aspect made us gasp is awe and we left refreshed, delighted and already looking forward to our return.