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FIHAALHOHI - Guest Comments

Could! Fihalhohi is one of the best kept secrets in the Maldives. In our opinion, the best budget family resort in the country. Perhaps the best budget resort (just like KANDOOMA Island) - that's it - no more. Fihalhohi offers, a mix of natural beauty and holiday action. There are a couple of reasons for the obscurity. One is that Fihalhohi is almost alone in the whole west and south-west of the Atoll ("Club Rannalhi" is its only neighbor).

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Though the island is family-oriented, today different nationalities holidays at Fihalhohi. The island is ideal for children. The fact is that there are lots of other children, plus wide open beaches, a shallow lagoon and crucially, plenty of shade. This island is also large and "open" (none of the guests is restricted from going anywhere), so there is plenty to explore. And then there are the water sports, the play areas and the games corridor, which is between the restaurant and reception. Finally, a sympathetic and helpful management.

In any of those 92 rooms, one, two or even three extra beds can be added for children. 48 are Standard rooms, 26 Superior and 18 are Superior Plus a/c. The standard rooms are just that: satisfactory interiors, fresh water but not hot, 4 to a thatched block. The Superior rooms are larger than average, neat and simply decorated. These also have a telephone and a minibar.

Not all the rooms have beaches outside, but there is always a broad sandy area, in the shade of massive coconut palms, between the rooms. This is perfect for lounging in a hammock and reading or keeping an eye on the children playing. Such a mature island with this variety and size of growth is rare in the Maldives. A telling sign is the large number of birds in the trees and at the water's edge.

The west and north side has big beaches. And the sand is really like icing sugar and walking in the lagoon is like playing with the icing.

Well placed on the west beach is the water sports center adjoining the coffee shop has a very good selection of food and drinks on offer. The water sports are comprehensive and child friendly with special children's lessons. Apart from the windsurfers, catamarans and canoes, there is water-skiing, parasailing and banana riding.

Diving is not as popular as it used to be before the emphasis on family holidays began. However, not only are there some excellent advanced dives around, but this is also a particularly good area for beginners, with some easy, shallow dives which are beautiful but not intimidating. The house reef itself is one of these and is easily accessible from the shore.

The food is good to very good. The breakfast buffet includes waffles and home-made Danish pastries. Lunches are also buffet. Four or five times a week the dinner is a buffet outside. And what variety! It could be Italian, barbecue, Chinese, Mongolian, SriLankan or Maldivian. And once a week, for an additional charge, a seafood buffet is put on at the coffee shop by the beach.