Honest review
Turkey transplanted to the Maldives: waterslides, a huge freshwater pool, DJs, buffets, all-inclusive — and just 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana airport. The port is 50 metres from the international terminal, and we waited about 20 minutes for the boat — logistics do not get simpler.
“Aila” means family in Dhivehi, “fushi” means island, and it is the plain truth: the resort is lively and dynamic, with a football pitch, a disco until midnight and a kids’ club that rivals five-star ones in scale — a huge pool with gentle depth transitions and an air-conditioned room for toddlers; children aged 4 to 12 are taken without parents from 9 to 18 and fed right in the club.
The rooms are small but light and fresh — the resort is just over a year old. We liked the water villa without a pool best of all: solid steps into the lagoon, a sandy bottom, comfortable depth — swimming straight from the villa is a pleasure. The beach villas stand close to one another — an honest four-star trade-off.
The trump card is the neighbour, Oblu Select Lobigili: a shared bridge leads to a gym where three of the four walls are glass, and to Only Blu — the largest underwater restaurant in the Maldives, six metres down. Ailafushi guests pay extra to dine there; I recommend lunch — the visibility is better, with rays and fish right before your eyes.
Come here with children or with a group of friends who want energy, motion and a short transfer. For silence and seclusion, look to the neighbouring island — it takes adults only.
First-hand experience of the Maldives Expert team — we have been here ourselves
Video review
