Island Cottage  

This island is a very good option if you want to have a wonderfull trip with low price. I mean, the cheapest resort is at least 3 imes more expensive. On this island everything is cheap and you experience the real maldivian life. The Venturo restaurant in the middle of the island offer a very nice buffet dinner at 5 usd per person. The guesthouse is nice, clean, not spottless and you have acces to a small kitchen. This is not a big plus, because the prices on the restaurants are cheap and makes no sense to loose time cooking. Aircon very powerfull and silent, personal very kind, but a little bit difficult to speak with them in english, but not a big issue. Comfortable bed, big enough rooms. Nice corals and many fishes just near the shore

Usually when you visit a place known as amazing, you are tempted to avoid saying things you didn't like, but this is not fair for other tourists. We have to help eachother, because is obvious that tourists agencys and even accomodations are not interested to. So... When you say Maldive you instantly expect endless white beaches, palms...When we arrived we were a little bit dissapoited about the dirt we saw on the island. After one day you wont see it anymore. There is one small beach on the north side, where women are allowed to wear bikinies. Another beach, north-east part has no palm or other tree. Usually locals go there. There is no other beach on the island, and many places along the shore are dirty. The guesthouse is in south part, near the prison, but no big issue with that. The problem is the walk to the beach, at least 1 km, 15-20 minutes. We stayed in a room with see view, but we payed extra for nothing, because there is no terrace, when you go out, you enter in fact in outdoor restaurant and reception. So, no intimicy. Better to stay on the other side, where you really have a terrace and pay less. Thats what I meant when I said hotels try to trick you in some aspects. The breakfast...no buffet, only continental or maafushi style. Continental means 2 eggs, 2 sausages, butter, gem and a glass of juice. Maafushi means pancakes with fish salad (not fresh fish). And thats it for 2 weeks. No diversity at all. I mean they didn't change at least the gem, only orange gem for 14 days. We expected buffet or minimum of diversity.

This hotel is the budget. It location is very good. Staff is friendly.

Generally, everything was good - incedibly helpful and friendly stuff, the room quite big and clean, really tasty food.

The hotel is located at the end of the island, near the local mosque, it means that every few hours (especially at 5 am) we've heard tiring noise.

So much clean, comfort , location and ekonomical hotel. All staff firendly and helper. But staff Enver so much helpfull, friendly and benevolent. We so much good agree with Enver. if we think again come Maldivler for staff Enver stay Island Cottage hotel. Thnak you so much Enver . Never will forget you

FOOD nad drinking for this hotrel expencive . i think if they are not want lose many guest need more economical food and drink sale.

The rooms were incredibly clean and the ac worked very well (a welcome after the long ferry ride which was hot and sticky). The shower has 3 different types of 'spouts' - normal, monsoon and from the front and there was always enough hot water. The staff were very friendly and mostly helpful. The beach at the northern end is quite nice (and you can wear your bikini there, regardless of what other people have said, you just need to cover up when you leave). The activities were pretty good - we'd recommend Picnic Island and Fiyalhohi (voted best resort reef apparently). There is a kitchen and the staff will find you whatever utensils you need. There isnt a great selection of food at the 'supermarket' so bring your own if you want (an Italian couple seemed to bring a suitcase full of pasta, sauce and Parmesan cheese!)

These points arent so much what we didnt like, but more things to note and watch out for: It is right next to the jail. We had no problem about that, except there seems to be some sort of 'parade' or exercise each afternoon which means there is a lot of shouting. Morning prayer is said before dawn and then the morning sun streamed into the room, so a sleep in was never really possible (take an eye mask if you really want to sleep in). It is at the far end of the island, away from the beach and other shops and hotels were you can get food, so coming and going was a bit of an effort. The service can be quite slow (although this seems to be an all over Maafushi thing). Yes, there is rubbish on the island (but I also saw a bit of rubbish on other islands too). You have to negotiate the activities prices - my suggestion is to look up the activities list at Stingray Beach or Whiteshell beach and use those as guides. The food isnt great - there isnt much fresh seafood. We did see one couple pre-order some king prawns in the morning, maybe that's the way to do it. And the fruit juices seem to be watered down (compared to the juices we had in Sri Lanka). Keep in mind this is a locals island. If you want to live the 'Maldivian dream' then you need to stay on a resort, if you cant afford a resort, this is the next best thing.

- it's a nice boutique hotel. (all hotels in maafushi is nearly same size). - very comfartable good rooms - delicious and cheap food. - no alchol. alchol is not allowed on local islands. it's only available at resorts. Resorts are on touristic islands with no local population. - First of all learn about Maafushi before your trip. it's a local island, where they have a private beach designated for tourists. Swimming with bikini is only allowed at that spesific place.

Friendly staff, good kitchen, nice and very convenient rooms.

Dirty beach, poor flora and fauna. That's a definitely place for budget travellers.

Great staff.

Balconys are right in a restaurant, so there is no privacy there. Anyway. The atmosphere is very relaxing.

The staff was very pleasant with us and they arrange everything for us to have a nice holidays!

When we arrive we don't have the room that we have booked, but hey changed quickly the bed and the day after arrival they upgraded us.

The hotel has simple but clean rooms. The Maldivian breakfast is delicious. A special experience to see the real Maldives outside the resorts.

The food took very long and usually arrived cold at the table. Be aware that the hotel is on a local island, so wearing a bikini is not allowed and no alcohol is available on the island.

The way to the island was amazing and a little exciting activity and we were not expecting a long travel in sea immediately after our embarkation

The best hotel I have ever stayed in terms of value for money. Hotel staff has a personal approach to every customer, extremely friendly and nice, I couldn't even expect the level of service they provided! Breakfast (included in room rate) is served when you ask for it, any time of the day, activities organized when you want those, your every request will be carefully satisfied. Rooms are spacious, with nice furniture. There are no tvs in rooms, but there is one in the common area. Wifi works good in all areas. They have several rooms with the seaview, if you get one of those consider yourself lucky. The view is very nice, no other hotel on Maafushi island has rooms with that kind of view. Location of the hotel is also great. It's on the opposite side of the island from the beach, several other hotels and restaurants and most of the construction, so there will be barely any tourists around you and it's very quiet. Don't worry that the jail is nearby, it really wouldn't bother you.

I wish they had a restaurant open. During my stay it was under renovation, but they still made some juices and meals (besides breakfast).

for what I paid, I was expecting far less quality, but to my surprise, everything was better than what I paid for. Staff was so friendly that you feel at home. I booked a double room even though I wanted a twin since twin was not available on the time of booking, they provided an extra bed free of charge! they did my laundary for free too. And we were invited to a free excursion as well! and we weren't charged for it as somebody mentioned on here. I would definitely stay there whenever I visit the maldives again. Thanks Shareef, Afzal, Anwar, Reyaz and Elham. You made our vacation unforgettable.

Staff were very friendly.we got free internet and coffee.food was not costly and it tasted good.great budget place for water sport lovers.

Service with a smile ;o0 The folks running the family-run establishment are just great - very warm and welcoming. I’d like to describe the team as young, dynamic, enthusiastic, adventurous, friendly and professional. They were full of positive vibes and exhibited good qualities which added to the overall ambience of the place and made the stay truly enjoyable and memorable. Made the experience of being on a local Island really worthwhile, ensuring that one also had the pleasure of having a taste of what the nearby resorts had on offer, by arranging trips to different locations. Water activities and other explorations were also fun.

Hmmm - I guess not having a small tv in the room....

The people were very accommodating! Shareef, Afu etc were really helpful in making our stay a memorable one. The prices weren't too expensive. The prices for trips were reasonable. Room was great for budget. But the best thing about it was the way the staff handled our needs. Everything was fun! Will definitely stay again here.

New guest house, rooms are nice, clean, confortables etc.

Food is extreamly expensive for this kind of budget, we stayed 5 nights, and we pay more for food than the whole room rate stay! Excursion are also expensives, and if you are going to spend to many nights, you must to do excursions! There is no suitable maldivian beach around, a few meters there's a dirty garbage dump beach. Beware to broken glass when swimming.. I honestly regret my trip to Maldives.. PS. They are so friendly that we're INVITED to snorkelling with friends the last day in maafushi, but we were charged for it at Checkout 40USD+servCh+GST= 46.64USD

The people are very friendly and the local breakfast is delicious! Thanks to the staff who took me everywhere for a reasonable price. Definitely recommended. I will never forget my time here!

Very Good experience, thx to the owner Affu (Afzale) and lovely bfast and other facilities

Clarity on Service charges (10%) and 6% gst on extra facilities like boat hires n fishing trips

гостеприимство, океан, солнце, покой

wielkość pokoju czystość, duży balkon i możliwość korzystania z kuchni

Brak wyposażenia w lazience(polka szafka) bardzo monotonne śniadania albo jajka sadzone i grzanki albo salatka z tuńczyka z naleśniczkami

Были в апреле 13года в течение 10 дней. Все понравилось, номера просторные чистые с кондером и вентилятором. Общий холодильник и общая кухня - все фукционирущее, готовили часто сами.и кстати не правда что в магазинах ничего нет все там есть. общая веранда где обеденная зона имеет шикарный си вью. Расстояние гестхауса от воды метров 50. Персонал отличный, не корыстный, в любых вопросах стараются помочь. Впрочем как и все люди на мальдивах. Цены на экскурсии оч хорошие, причем если например сноркелинг указана продолжительность 1 час вполне возможно что вы будете сноркелить часа 3 и никто не возьмет с вас доп денег. Вобщем милое, уютное место из которого не хочется уезжать.

хороший, уютный отель, не обращайте внимание на близость тюрьмы и отдаленность от других отелей, ребята вкусно готовят, домашняя обстановка, хорошая возможность увидеть острова резорты и посмотреть как живут местные жители, в другом месте вы этого не увидите.

жалко, что местным жителя совершенно все равно, что их остров превращается в помойку!!!

Super séjour. Lovely staff! Les chambres sont propres spacieuses, la salle de bain très fonctionnelle et la douche est top! Je recommande vraiment cette guesthouse. Je l'ai préféré à Summer Villa, qui me paraissait plus surfait, avec de la techno pour dîner. Là, c'est plus orienté traditionnelle. On est au bord de l'océan donc on apprécie le petit vent chaud du soir surtout quand il fait 35 degrés! Je recommande!!!!!!

Thanks for good rest for all personnel