Dusit Thani Maldives

We have just returned from an unforgettable 14-night stay at Dusit Thani Maldives, and all we can say is... wow! As a family of four with two teenage boys, we couldn't have chosen a better resort for our holiday. We booked two Beach Villas in All incl. dine around and it turned out to be the perfect choice. The villas offer direct access to the beach, and the views are simply spectacular. What we loved most was the privacy:we could enjoy our own peaceful space without compromising the incredible ocean views or the convenience of stepping straight onto the beach, ready for snorkelling. Each villa has a spacious terrace, a lovely hammock to relax in, and private sun loungers with an umbrella, making it the perfect place to unwind. From the moment we arrived in Malé, everything was flawlessly organised. A member of the Dusit Thani team was waiting to greet us, and after a short stay in their beautiful lounge, we boarded our seaplane. The island itself is simply stunning. Surrounded by a magnificent 360-degree house reef, very vibrant and full of marine life, making snorkeling an unforgettable experience every single day. Diving was also an incredible experience, seeing mantas and sharks & turtles. Thank you to the dive team. What really sets Dusit Thani apart is its people. Every member of staff was genuinely warm, attentive, and always happy to help. A special thank you goes to our butler, Naan, who looked after us throughout our stay with such kindness, professionalism, and attention to detail. He made everything effortless and ensured our holiday was perfect from beginning to end. We would also like to thank the wonderful restaurant teams. Ravisja ( I hope I spell it right) at Sea Grill welcomed us with such warmth and genuine kindness. The Benjarong served some of the best Thai food we've ever tasted. Thank you James , as lovers of Thai cuisine, we can honestly say it's going to be very hard to find Thai food back home that lives up to that standard! :) We also thoroughly enjoyed Sala, which offers a fantastic selection of creative and delicious vegan dishes, Thank you to Amila. A special mention also goes to the General Manager, whose presence throughout our stay did not go unnoticed. He was always around during breakfast and made a point of greeting guests during dinner, ensuring everyone was enjoying their stay. It's a wonderful touch that reflects the level of care and attention throughout the resort. Thank you as well for organising the return back to Male during the most horrible weather condition. Every aspect of our holiday exceeded our expectations. From the accommodation and outstanding service to the reef, exceptional dining, and relaxed atmosphere, Dusit Thani Maldives delivered an experience we will never forget. Tip: If you're deciding to stay at a Beach Villa I would suggest from number 101 to 112, Our was 105 &104 and they are on the most beautiful part of the island where the beach has the widest side, plus you are closer to the big pool as well ;) Thank you to the entire Dusit Thani team for making our family holiday so special.

Booking Process We booked through Purely Maldives - so easy to deal with and the icing on the cake was the negotiated upgrade to the overwater villa. Their advice navigating the tricky implications of the Middle East conflict was honest and open and really helped our decision making. Travel Logistics Our transfer through Abu Dhabi was easy and there were no significant delays. Male airport has been transformed since our last Maldives visit and the Dusit lounge was a tonic after a long flight although we only spent about 45 mins there. The on the ground support was welcome, and facilitated a speedy and fun seaplane transit to the resort. Completing the ‘arrival’ paperwork in the lounge was a great use of time. Etihad were good to fly with - although flights were full and the G&Ts were slow to flow they were professional and comfortable. Absolutely no complaints. Resort Wow. Relaxed luxury. We totally loved the vibe - the bicycles, the friendly staff, the food, drinks, the AI package, the look and feel of the island. Nothing could have been improved. and we had perfect weather. All contributed to a total and welcome decompression for us. The dive centre was superb - although we didn’t dive, they were super helpful and knowledgeable. Very professionally run. Our efficient butler was there when we needed him - we made dinner reservations through him and he organised a replacement bulb in our pool lighting. The bar staff at the Sand Bar and the Sala Bar went above and beyond - incredible cocktails, smoothies and always a big smile! Accommodation We were so lucky to have an overwater villa that we requested (500s). well equipped, comfortable, private, very quiet aircon! Access to the reef was very easy and we loved our deck and private pool. Food We ate almost exclusively at Benjarong and the Sea Grill. We only had one breakfast at the buffet - snorkelling always had a greater pull for us and we enjoyed a relaxed and delicious Sea Grill lunch every day at the Sand Bar. We enjoyed the Maldivian evening at the Market which was enjoyable, but the food, wine and service at the other restaurants were in a different league. We’re so pleased we chose the AI package - mealtimes were so easy. Reef I think on balance the reef access was the easiest of all resorts we have been to - literally down the steps from our villa into a coral garden. And although the variety might not have been as diverse as some, we were lucky to have some superb octopus and eagle ray encounters. We saw a turtle and a shark daily, but they weren’t as prolific as some resorts. A real highlight is obviously the proximity to Hanifaru bay - the Manta On Call service worked really well and the dive centre called us on our second day and suggested we didn’t want to miss that morning’s trip - we must have swam with at least 50 - a memorable and mesmerising trip. We snorkelled at least 4 hours a day and never tired of the incredible underwater world. In summary, it was one of the most relaxed holidays we have been on. I would say we would return in a heartbeat, but there are many other islands to tempt us - but it will be very difficult to top Dusit Thani.

We had an awesome experience from service to food. Water activities staff were also amazing especially Shaifuu.

There is always hesitation in going back to a place and it falling short of the memories, but our second time at this resort was just as amazing as we remembered. We were invited on two trips at the start of our stay: a visit to a nearby sandbank where drinks were provided on arrival and a sunset cruise. Both were spectacular. All the staff are so kind, professional and provide a simply outstanding service. The cleaning service in the rooms was great and they did a wonderful job. At the Sand Bar, we always felt so welcomed and they knew exactly what we wanted before we did. For example, something so simple as wanting a towel to put on the table to play card games in the evening. Asked for one once and then every evening we got one. The Sea Grill food at the Sand Bar at lunch is also a big highlight. The Benjarong I think was one of the biggest reasons to come back! The food is absolutely amazing and we have never been disappointed. And, of course, the staff are just perfect. The Sala Bar’s vegan menu was so wonderful, and the cocktails were just perfect with amazing recommendations from the staff. You would think you would get bored on a 700m long island, but it is the perfect balance of relaxation and exploration. The house reef is absolutely beautiful and perfect for snorkelling, filled with turtles, reef sharks, octopuses, eels, scorpion fish, rays and so many more. The dive centre is also amazing. This time, we came a little earlier in the year than before so it was harder to see the whale sharks, but the we got a call in the evening during dinner and rushed out to join the boat. Needless to say, the time and effort they put in to help us explore the wildlife in an amazing and respectful way was brilliant. For my family, cycling around the island is a simple yet prominent reason we love Dusit Thani. A simple addition to our previous visit was the pool table, table-tennis, table football, etc, that just added a great element. I would like to say a special thank you to Anas, Ahmed and Atta who made our trip even better. Anas was so helpful and made sure we had everything we needed, from a bike fixed in record time, helping surprise my parents for their wedding anniversary and so much more. Ahmed remembered us from last time we came and was as amazing as we remembered and made every breakfast morning memorable. Atta is an amazing chef and so kind, especially with the most amazing pancakes in all different shapes! Whale sharks, bats, manta rays, etc. He brought a smile to my families’ faces every morning. And a big thank you to Jean-Louis who greeted us everyday and made us feel so welcome. We all definitely hope to come back soon <3

Everything was truly amazing and we all had a wonderful most memorable time. It’s a very beautiful Island down to the smallest detail. April our dedicated Butler was always available and like Genie in a bottle fulfilled all our wishes and helped us enjoy more. Every Staff in the many restaurants and bars was professional, attentive and very friendly. I was also impressed with the professionalism of our dive instructors Rose and Xuebao who made us feel safe underwater.