Falling in love with Ifuru: My Maldives escape

There are some places you visit because they look pretty in the photos… and then there are places like Ifuru, where you arrive and instantly feel like you’ve come home to somewhere you didn’t even realise you were missing.

This island honestly surprised me. It’s warm, it’s real and it’s full of people who make you feel like family from the second you arrive.

Let me take you through it.

Landing in Malé: The adventure begins

Arriving into Malé always gives me that little buzz of excitement. The new international terminal is lovely and the 10 minute walk to the domestic terminal makes everything so nice and simple.

Because Ifuru has its own runway, we took a domestic flight, which sometimes stops at another island on the way. We had a four hour wait in Malé but honestly, the restaurants are pleasant and the views are beautiful, so it didn’t feel like a chore at all.

You can take a seaplane too, which is about 40 minutes, but a speedboat would be around six hours, so that one is a definite no thank you from me.

Touching down on Ifuru and feeling the magic

The moment we stepped off the plane we were met by the sound of Maldivian drums, and it honestly gave me goosebumps. A golf buggy whisked us away to the reception, or as Ifuru calls it, the Friendship Centre, and that name couldn’t be more perfect.

Meeting our Buddy and why he made our holiday

Every guest at Ifuru gets a Buddy, and ours was Choatey. What an absolute gem of a human.

He took care of everything. I mean everything.

• Island tour

• Behind the scenes visit to the staff village and veggie patch

• Booking restaurants

• Organising surprises

• Glueing Jon’s glasses back together

• Printing paperwork

• Checking in daily without ever being intrusive

He’s also the star of their traditional night, confidently leading the drumming group with so much pride. It was emotional to watch and I felt really lucky to experience that side of Maldivian culture.

Our rooms: Peaceful, comfortable and exactly what we needed

We stayed in two room types and loved them both.

Beach Bungalow

View from our beach bungalow

Classic Maldives. Beach right in front. Calm, peaceful and perfect for unwinding. No sunsets for us thanks to the direction of the island and the moody weather, but honestly, the tranquillity more than made up for it.

Beach Suite

More space, beautifully styled and just one of those rooms where you instantly feel at home.

Other options include:

• Two bedroom villas

• Interconnecting rooms

• Beach bungalows with private pools

So whether you want privacy, family space or a treat yourself upgrade, there’s something for everyone.

Activities - and yes, I went paddle boarding

I pushed myself on this trip, and I’m so glad I did.

Paddle boarding

I absolutely loved it. Shaky at first, arms everywhere and balance questionable, but once I found my rhythm, I got the hang of it surprisingly fast. I even stood up quickly, which I’m taking as a personal win. It was peaceful, fun and one of those moments where you feel genuinely proud of yourself.

Snorkelling

The house reef is wonderful. Full of colourful fish and so much life. We even spotted a shark, thankfully not while snorkelling, otherwise I’d probably still be swimming back to Kent. But truly, the underwater world here is magical.

The people who made our stay special

Everywhere we went, we met team members who made our experience even better.

Kasum, Ramesh, the lovely beach bar lady, Upul the landscape manager, and of course the brilliant Beach Bar trio, Yuda, Rayaah and Queenie.

But I have to give a special shoutout to Ari at the Waterfront. What a character. Always smiling, always full of energy and always ready with spot on recommendations. And our glasses were never empty - now that’s service.

Food and drink: So good we still talk about it

The Waterfront restaurant

We genuinely loved the food on Ifuru.

The Waterfront restaurant was a favourite. Relaxed, great dishes, lovely atmosphere, and with Ari looking after us, it became a highlight of the trip.

Every meal felt warm and personal, not just hotel dining. That makes such a difference.

Spa time: Pure bliss

A visit to the spa is a must. Dev, my therapist, was knowledgeable, gentle and incredibly talented. I floated out feeling lighter, calmer and completely relaxed.

Island life and entertainment

There’s plenty to keep you entertained:

• Dive school

• Water sports centre

• Gym

• Kids club

• Entertainment programme

• A fantastic reef right off the beach

We even booked a dolphin trip, but the weather had other plans and we ended up in a storm. Very dramatic, very wet, very Maldives. The weather can be unpredictable, but it certainly makes for good stories.

Good to know

• Seaplanes and domestic flights have strict luggage limits

• Perfect for twin centre holidays with Sri Lanka, India, Goa or UAE

• Direct flights from London

• Summer months offer brilliant value

Would I go back?

Without hesitation. Ifuru isn’t just another Maldives island. It’s emotional, warm and full of heart. It’s the kind of place where you don’t just relax, you reconnect with yourself.

If you fancy doing the same, I’ve got fantastic offers, especially for summer.

Get in touch and I’ll take care of everything.