Embudu Village

First time in 2013, and the last 3 years have been great. Super well run resort, simple, great full board food offering and brilliant gala dinners. Phenominal value for money.

We stayed here for a few nights. We were looking for a place close to the airport with great snorkeling and the hotel met both of these requirements. We were able to leave the resort 2 and a half hrs before our flight. No rushing or panicking, just a 20 min speedboat. The snorkeling was great with lots to see and the food was great, with lots of choice and a local spicy section, which was delicious and something other hotels sometimes lack. Despite this we likely wouldn't stay again unless there were some changes. I can completely see the appeal of this place verses the larger resorts, it's very chilled and low key. We found the local islands to offer the same but with overall better value, with inclusions like free snorkeling gear, not offered at Embudu. But the main issue we had was with the beach bungalows. We found them to be dated, dark and a little depressing. Not all bungalows are beach bungalows, and I think it would be better to re categorise, making some Garden bungalows to avoid disappointment. All of that aside the room was simply uncomfortable and uninviting, with the worst mattress I've ever slept on. The team do a great job of keeping them tidy but after a while things are just old and can no longer be spruced. It's a shame because a little update would go such a long way and as mentioned so much is great about this place.

I enjoyed my time at Embudu as I used to go with my family to this place at a very young age and it feels good to be back after long years. We took the water houses near the boat docks of the arrival. Food was amazing as usual, some woman on the second day complimented my cousin’s pants. I really am paranoid whenever the other foreigners and tourists were around and I feel like they were judging me. I don’t want to be racist but I’m paranoid of the tourists there. Either way, a sweet lady we met. The outdoors were beautiful as usual. My and my cousin shared a room and were in awe of the stars at night. I always love going to other resorts and islands inside the Maldives because of the stars, it’s always beautiful. We sat outside the balcony and just watched the stars while just the drink tea in the rooms. Swimming was just as fun, and I recommend to anybody, whether family or friends or both even, to always take windy days as the waves are bigger and more fun to swim on. Just be cautious with your children. There are two complaints I have, and one of it is the bathtub. I see the window railings in the bathroom. I know they did the best they could for nobody to try and peek through for others to see. But I remember coming back from swimming and was going to shower and meet up with my family for early tea. Once I was cleaning up, two men were walking back and forth near the walking bridge and one of them kneed down near in front of my railing. I could’ve swore they heard me at least but I kept quiet and under in case they were trying to peek through the window. Turns out they were doing some maintenance under the bridge, it was so easy for the workers to peek under and see. Luckily they didn’t and said something for them to walk off. I was very paranoid before cleaning up and meeting up with my family. I understand maintenance is important to establish and keep the resort running, but it’s a little uncomfortable for people who are perhaps in the bathtub that is right next to the window and see workers doing maintenance in a sight where they could be seen. I saw a railing above the window that maybe you guys used to have a shower curtain. I understand the workers are just doing their job, but I just want to say be mindful during maintenance. The other complaint was my family sleeping in a separate water house next to ours. Overnight, they couldn’t sleep due to the windy noise of the water under them and kept waking them up. Their water house got cut off electricity and they ordered to move into the island houses. Me and my cousin chose to stay. We don’t know how the wiring works but it needs to be more covered for no water to wash onto it. Overall, family has all concluded it was an alright experience.

We stayed at Embudu Village for two weeks to take in my birthday on 22nd December, Christmas and New Year. We chose this resort as on previous visits, this was our fourth visit to the Maldives, after long flights from Manchester via Dubai a domestic flight or a seaplane that can be held up by bad weather did not appeal. The speedboat transfer was speedy and efficient, check in carried out quickly, and we were shown to our accommodation, Beach Bungalow No 31, with our suitcases being transported in a wheelbarrow. We had a great, and very relaxing holiday and were well looked after. Things we particularly liked: Short transfer from airport, friendly and helpful staff, service was exemplary. Great bar, with a sun deck for sundowners. We liked having a dedicated dining table and waiter, whose name unfortunately we do not have, we did ask his name but didn’t really catch it. Food was great, and they certainly pulled the stops out for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It is a pretty island with lots of trees and wild life. Despite reports of hard beds, and it did feel hard, it was extremely comfortable and we slept like logs. The shower was great and aircon worked a treat. Things we were not so keen on: The wifi was pretty poor, though better in bar area. We thought there were some maintenance issues with furniture looking a bit knocked about, thin towels and our safe didn’t work reliably. There were no dedicated sunbeds with the bungalow so we were putting towels out at 6.30am. We were surprised on an All Inclusive holiday to be charged a daily rate for snorkel equipment, which has never happened before. It meant that on reflection we handed it back after two days and didn’t even enquire about trips out as they wouldn’t be included too. Tbh we are reaching the age when activities are less important. I was very surprised to hear the dive guy saying that on the ‘Stingray City’ trip they feed the fish, which is illegal, as are vapes which were much in evidence. Where we were staying it was disappointing to see so many prominent sandbags, there was a masonry wall and steps which had presumably not been added to other than the sandbags. Walking around the other end of the island (eastern) were perfect Maldivian beaches, bungalows 64-81 I think, maybe worth asking for in the future. The resort was established in 1979 so one of the older ones, we think a bit more maintenance would be a good thing, though there was such a pleasant laid back atmosphere. It is a very small island, approx 350 x 150 yds, no pool, but we didn’t need one. I wasn’t too sure of the bungalows being joined in groups of four but it didn’t impact us at all. It has a lot going for it which for anyone checking budgets is worth going for.

Beautiful island, reef very near to the island, lovely beaches, nice rooms with ac, 100 percent friendly, helpful staff, 3 buffets per day with an amazing variety where you find everything like European food, always fresh fish and an Asian corner with tasty curries. I would highly recommend the island and I myself go there since 35 years.