EMERALD FAARUFUSHI REVIEW – Our Experience at the Maldives Island Resort

Looking for a gorgeous, well-run, family-friendly resort in the Maldives?

Emerald Faarufushi may be the place for you!

I stayed on Emerald Faarufushi for 13 days with my family of 5 (kids ages 3 (almost 4), 7, 10).  It’s a beautiful, small island with top-notch service. The resort pays close attention to small but meaningful details, the kids club is fantastic, and the snorkeling is kid-friendly too!

This isn’t sponsored, and we paid for our entire trip.  I just want to share our experience because I know it can be so challenging to decide on a resort for a family trip to the Maldives!

‘We invite you to experience our way of life: a life based on barefoot elegance, solace, serenity, elation, and convenience.’ – Emerald Faarufushi

You may also want to read Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Review – Family Paradise in the Maldives

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Emerald Faarufushi – Quick Facts

Size: 17 acres (7 hectares)
Atoll: Raa
Distance from Malé International Airport: 45-minute seaplane or 40-minute domestic flight + 5-minute speedboat
Restaurants and Bars: 5 restaurants (including buffet), 2 bars
House Reef: Yes
Beach: 1.2 kilometers (.75 miles) of white, sandy beach.  It took me about 18 minutes to walk (leisurely) around it.
Pools: Infinity swimming pool on the ocean is available to all guests; private pools at beach villas and water villas
Activities: snorkeling, beaches, excursions, spa (Elemis), kids club, water sports, tennis and padel, soccer, yoga, fitness center, and more

Map of Emerald Faarufushi – get the latest version from the resort’s official website

Here’s a look at Emerald Faarufushi from above. Please pardon my drone skills as I’m a beginner. But, this gives you an overview of the size of the island and the layout.

Why We Loved Visiting Emerald Faarufushi as a Family

Before I go through the details of our stay, I want to go over why we loved visiting Emerald Faarufushi as a family:

• There’s something at Emerald Faarufushi for everyone in the family.  My 7-year-old and 10-year-old were overjoyed to spend their days playing soccer on the island’s pitch, snorkeling, playing in the sand, hanging out at the kids club, and filling their bellies at the Aqua buffet.  My 3-year-old also loved spending time at the kids club, as well as swimming in our villa’s pool, looking for hermit crabs, digging in the sand, getting milkshakes anywhere possible, and playing mini golf.  My husband and I appreciated having some time to ourselves while the kids were at the kids club.  My husband got his workouts in and I went for my morning walks, read my Kindle in a lounge chair on the beach.  And we both made it to the spa.  We don’t typically get time to ourselves on vacation – it’s just one reason we appreciate the Maldives resort experience.
• The Emerald Faarufushi staff is excellent with the kids.  From our ‘champion’ Aslaan to the waitstaff at the buffet, to the dive center staff – our kids felt special the entire trip.  As a parent, I appreciated the staff’s kindness, attentiveness, and effort to engage with our kids.  They did so many things for our kids.  For example, Aslaan organized soccer matches between our kids and resort staff (a huge highlight for my boys), the breakfast crew made themed pancakes for my youngest son, and the staff set up thoughtful birthday surprises for two of my boys.
• Faarufushi has an amazing kids club and staff.  As in, I had to drag my kids out sometimes – I’d call and tell them to come back to the room but they wouldn’t come, so I had to go and get them.  They spent their time learning new board games, making bracelets (I still wear mine!), drawing and doing arts and crafts, having a movie night, playing on the equipment outside, swimming, and playing the race car video game.  They made some buddies at the kids club that we met up with outside of the kids club too.
• It has a beautiful and easily accessible house reef.  My favorite thing to do in the Maldives is snorkel.  In my family resort research, one of my ‘musts’ is a good house reef, and Faarufushi did not disappoint.  We could snorkel steps from our beach villa and we also really enjoyed snorkeling at the edge of the reef from the Mediterraneo Restaurant’s jetty (steps/ladder into the water).  And, my youngest boys loved seeing the fish (so many!) at the groynes, where it was only waist deep.
• Emerald Faarufushi has plenty of activities.  I’ll go into more detail below, but no one in our family ever thought to mutter those famous words… “I’m bored.”  Even though we kept busy, my husband and I felt like we had plenty of time to relax.
• The island is large enough to go for a decent walk around it, but small enough that older kids can be independent.  We loved that our 7-year-old and 10-year-old could take off on their bikes to go play soccer, go to the kids club, or go get a milkshake.  They also loved the freedom!
• Faarufushi has medical staff on-site.  Both my son (ear pain) and husband (back spasm) saw the doctor and were able to get treatment.  Medicine was provided, and the doctor even came to our room when my husband had back pain. 
• The island resort is luxurious but still has Maldivian charm.  I think it’s really hard to balance this, because to me, Maldives = white sand, palm trees and lush foliage, and thatched roof villas.  Sometimes luxury in the Maldives means things look a bit sterile (like you could be anywhere in the world).  But, I also appreciate (and want) clean, beautifully-decorated villas, excellent cuisine, and plenty of amenities.  Faarufushi is luxurious, but charming.  Little (but noticeable) examples: use of wood in the villa décor, keeping the plants on the island manicured but still wild-looking. 
• Aqua Buffet is high-quality and kid-friendly.  Buffets often mean bland, mediocre food, but not at Emerald Faarufushi’s buffet.  There are a variety of stations set up for each meal and the quality is excellent.  We were so happy with the food at Aqua we ended up canceling some of our other a la carte reservations and ate at Aqua instead.  Older kids can serve themselves (or order from made-to-order stations), but little kids can’t reach most of the food.  You can eat at your own pace, and when they’re finished, kids can play in the sand out front or play mini golf next door.  I remember looking at photos of the buffet online and thinking it didn’t seem like much food, but there’s plenty of delicious food available in the buffet area and they often set up additional stations in the dining area or outside.  As a mom, I appreciated some routine with the selection (comforting for kids) but also having new foods to try every day.
• We never felt nickel-and-dimed.  It’s an all-inclusive island, and it really was.  Yes, there are some dishes with supplements at restaurants (like lobster, although there’s a lobster pasta included in the AI plan).  We weren’t charged for food after we’d checked out, etc.  Yes, you need to pay for things like excursions or the spa, but there are plenty of free perks too like the free sushi class, or using the sauna and plunge pools at the spa. 
• We didn’t get any insect bites.  Some of us were eaten alive by sandflies at the end of our last trip, so I came prepared with an assortment of insect repellants.  I never needed them.  The island was fogged twice daily and no one in our family got an insect bite during out stay.  Divine.  I did see a few mosquitoes in our outdoor bathroom area, but they never bit us.
• Our 2-br family villa has plenty of space for our family.  There’s plenty of space for everyone and to hang up clothes, relax with a book, play cards, etc.  Our two older boys had their own bedroom and bathroom.  The outdoor area is spacious.

Traveling to and Arriving at Emerald Faarufushi

We had a long trip to Emerald Faarufushi: 3-hour drive to Rome, almost 7 hour flight from Rome to Doha, quick layover in Doha, 4 hour flight from Doha to Malé, quick layover, and then a 45-minute seaplane Emerald Faarufushi.

Emerald Faarufushi staff is waiting at arrivals and they help with the seaplane transfer (checking luggage in, getting on the shuttle bus to the seaplane terminal, getting snacks and waiting at the terminal’s lounge, and bringing you down to the waiting room before the seaplane flight). 

Good To Know:  Emerald Faarufushi doesn’t have a private lounge at the seaplane terminal, but the general lounge was fine.  There are snacks and cold drinks, toilets, plenty of couches and chairs, and you can watch the seaplanes departing and arriving. 

We landed at Malè at 7:50 and we arrived at Faarufushi before lunch. 

Helpful Tip: Keep in mind that seaplane flights only operate during daylight hours. So, if you arrive at night, you’ll need to spend the night in Malé before the seaplane flight OR take a domestic flight and speedboat. However, I highly recommend the seaplane flight (everyone in our family loves them!) so try to arrive during daylight hours.

Read more about
Taking a Seaplane in the Maldives
Maldives Seaplane Flights with Kids

Check-in Process at Emerald Faarufushi

Our villa host Aslaan met us at the seaplane and walked us to the open-air reception (at the end of the jetty).  We were greeted with boduberu drums, cool towels, juice and champagne.

Then, we took off in our golf cart with Aslaan for a quick tour of the island (10 minutes) before arriving at our beach villa. 

Our luggage was in our room and Aslaan gave me a brief tour.

I was able to give my signature and check-in through an app.  It took a few minutes, but I was able to complete it at my leisure.

We were swimming within 20 minutes of arriving on the island. Nice!

Emerald Faarufushi Accomodation Types

Emerald Faarufushi has 80 villas – overwater villas and beach villas in the following categories:

• Beach Villa
• Beach Villa with Pool
• Family Beach Villa with Pool
• Water Villa with Pool
• Sunset Water Villa with Pool
• Superior Water Villa with Pool
• Presidential Beach Villa

We booked the Family Beach Villa with Pool (see it here on Google Maps), which consists of:

• Large open area with king-size bed, television, sitting area (couch) with view of sea, glass desk with chair, minibar area (fridge, tea/coffee stations, etc)
• Dressing area with two separate sections, each having large closets and shelves and seats (nice touches like the closet light that turns on when you open the door)
• Large indoor bathroom area with enclosed toilet, enclosed rain shower, vanity area with toiletry kits, makeup mirror, two sinks, ladder drying racks
• Outdoor bathroom with bathtub, shower, garden area (we loved watching the hermit crabs, and you could even see them through the glass from the indoor toilet area)
• Second bedroom with twin beds for kids.  Television in room and separate entrance to the patio (with lock that wasn’t easy for my 3-year-old to open)
• Second bathroom attached to the kids’ bedroom with sink, shower, closet, and toilet and ladder drying racks
• Crib for our 3-year-old next to our bed
• Outdoor area (between villa and beach) with swimming pool, covered wooden deck with lounge seat, table and chairs), outdoor shower, umbrellas and lounge chairs

What We Liked About the Villa

• There was plenty of space for all 5 of us inside the villa and out on the covered deck.  I could do yoga in a few places in the villa and on the deck.
• There was plenty of storage for clothing, toiletries, suitcases, etc. 
• The snorkeling right in front of our villa was fantastic.  No need to leave the villa and ‘our beach’ to look for great snorkeling.
• We (adults) could sit under the beach umbrella and see the ocean and the pool.  We liked having the clear view so we could always see our kids (vs. having a lot of trees or bushes blocking the view of the beach).
• We could see the ocean from our room and the pool. 
• Many places for drying swimsuits.  With 5 people, we needed the outdoor and indoor (in the bathrooms) wooden racks for drying swimsuits and rash guards. 
• The large wooden deck had plenty of space for relaxing (large, round couch plus table and chairs) and kids could swim in the pool while we watched. 

What We Didn’t Like About the Villa

• It was really sunny (hot) in the morning with no shade except for the beach umbrellas. 
• Beach between our pool and the water wasn’t very wide.  Definitely not a deal-breaker, but my kids love playing in the sand, so it wasn’t ideal.  They did play in the sand here, but enjoyed the beach more in other areas of the island.
• The pool shower didn’t have a foot shower. Nit-picky, but it’s nice to have so we can easily rinse our feet off before going on the deck or inside the villa.  There is a normal shower, but it was difficult for my kids to rinse their feet without getting their entire bodies wet.
• There are some sharp corners on the pool and the steps can be slippery.

Good To Know:  Faarufushi gives you a toiletry kit from the brand Forisca (sustainable products).  There are toothbrushes with toothpaste tablets, shower caps, razors, cotton pads, loofahs, and cotton buds, nail files, hand soaps.  We also received samples during stay of citronella cream, ylang ylang sunscreen, and blueberry lip balm.  You also have large bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, after sun gel, body lotion, and hand sanitizer in your bathroom. 

We also saw the inside of a Superior Water Villa with Pool.  While it was dreamy (and the snorkeling is great!), I don’t think it’s in our family’s future, as I’m still nervous about the kids being on the water, and they enjoy the beach too much.  I do think these could be a great option for families with teens.

Emerald Faarufushi Activities for Kids

The focus for our family was definitely on the water and the beach, but we took advantage of all of the other kid-friendly activities on the island.

Here’s what my boys enjoyed and what your kids could do on Emerald Faarufushi:

Play on the Beach

The water in front of our villa was clear, shallow, and wave-free (thanks to the groynes).  We built sandcastles, made monster truck tracks, played catch with a water ball and frisbee, and played soccer in the sand.  We found gorgeous shells and watched hermit crabs scurry across the sand.

Go Swimming

We swam in the ocean, in our villa’s pool, and in the large infinity swimming pool by the bar.

Go on Excursions

Here’s what we did and what we thought

• 2-Site Snorkeling Excursion: I went with my two older boys, and I appreciated that the guide had a floatation device for them to hold onto so they didn’t get too tired.  We were also able to float with the current, so it was really easy snorkeling.  Gorgeous coral and marine life, and it was different from the house reef, so I’m glad we went.  My boys did get cold, and one of them sat out part of the second site snorkel, which was fine.
• Manta and Turtle Snorkeling: My husband and I took our middle son on the turtle and manta ray snorkeling excursion.  We swam with the mantas (incredible!) and saw so many turtles.  This was a longer excursion (a few hours), and it included a fast ride to and from the snorkeling sites, which my son loved.  This excursion and the other snorkeling were trip highlights, even though the snorkeling at the house reef is excellent.  I wish I’d booked a private manta and turtle excursion, as we met up with other guests who had and they were able to go with the marine biologist.  We didn’t really learn about the mantas and turtles (just saw them), and I would’ve liked more info for my son (well, and me too!). 
• Dolphin Cruise: I went with my two younger boys.  My husband and other son stayed back because they’d done the dolphin cruise last year and didn’t feel like going again.  We saw dolphins (not guaranteed), and I loved being out on the water with sunset.  We heard the call to prayer on local islands as we rode past, and it was a lovely boat ride.  We sat up top on the way out and on the lower deck on the way back.
• Sunset Fishing:  We went sunset fishing as a family.  This was our least favorite excursion, even though we did end up catching a baby shark (it’s catch-and-release).  We all thought the excursion felt too long.
• Local Island: My older son and I went to the nearby local island.  It was interesting to see what local island life is like and how Maldivians adapt to their remote island setting.  My son had a ton of questions, and our guide answered them all.  I only wish we’d been able to stop for a cold drink at one of the cafés and to browse in the grocery store.

Get a Spa Treatment

Like other Maldives resorts, the spa at Emerald Faarufushi is pricey.  My husband and I used the sauna and plunge pools (free), but my kids didn’t enter the spa.  My 10-year-old really wanted a massage until we told him he had to pay for it (and he saw the prices).  But, if you’ve got a child who’s interested, there are adorable treatments like a ‘mermaid facial’ and a ‘mom and me’ massage.

Go Snorkeling and Identify Fish

This was easy to do, right in front of the villa.  We could swim out just past the groynes and it was shallow enough that my kids could’ve stood up if they’d needed to (but they knew not to as to not damage the reef). At low tide it was really shallow and I preferred not to take them then (too easy to scratch a belly in some places).  My 10-year-old also liked snorkeling off the Mediterraneo Jetty (deeper water) with me or my husband.  We bought a laminated fish identification card from the gift shop and my boys loved pointing out what they saw.

Hang Out at the Kids Club

All three of my boys couldn’t get enough of this place.  The 3-person crew at the kids club were engaging, fun, and trustworthy.  They played with my boys (inside and outside), taught them local games, did arts and crafts with them, competed with them playing the race car video game, and put on special activities like movie night (complete with an outdoor screen and popcorn).  They asked me to go to the kids club and didn’t want to leave when we came to get them.  The kids club had kids of all ages, and it never seemed too crowded.  There’s a schedule of activities, so you can time your kids club visits to what your child is interested in the most.

Take a Class

I took a sushi class with one of my sons and we had a blast.  It was a small group and the sushi chef taught us how to make the rice and a few different rolls (harder than it looks!).  Faarufushi has other classes available too, like carbonara pasta classes and Swiss chocolate rolls. 

Use the Sports Courts

My boys took full advantage of the soccer pitch – they were on it at least once per day, training or playing a match against Emerald Faarufushi staff.  The soccer pitch also doubles as the tennis court, and you can’t play soccer if there are tennis lesson scheduled.  My boys played early in the morning and late at night.  There’s also a padel (similar to pickleball) court adjacent to the soccer pitch.

Race Hermit Crabs

A couple of nights a week there are hermit crab races (they also have them in the kids club).  My boys did it once, but I ended up feeling a little sad for the hermit crabs.  After that we just watched them in our villa’s yard.

Play Mini Golf and Ping Pong

There’s a 3-hole mini golf course and a ping pong table set up just behind the Aqua restaurant, and it’s a hit for kids of all ages.  We played on it in the evenings sometimes and my boys would go on their own after other meals.  The balls are a soft material so you don’t have to stress about injuries (although the putters are real, made of metal).

Use the Water Sports Equipment

There’s a water sports center with free equipment and you can also pay for other activities.  We used the free glass bottom boat (great for kids who aren’t comfortable snorkeling yet) and the kayaks. 

Go For Bike Rides

We mostly used the bikes to move from one place to another, but my two older boys sometimes took off for mini rides around the island.

Enjoy the Wildlife

• Look for crabs on the beach at night (there are so many!)
• Watch the big bats fly from tree to tree
• Look for lizards
• Try to spot baby sharks and rays from the shore

Kids Club at Emerald Faarufushi

If you’re traveling with small kids, one of the most important parts of a resort is the kids club!  If you book here, you’re in good hands – the staff is amazing.  They’re very kid-focused and my kids would’ve gladly spent all day there (not kidding). 

My kids loved (in their words):

• Coloring
• Hanging out with my new friends
• Getting Tattoos
• Playing the race car video game
• Movie night
• Making bracelets (beads and bands)
• Rock painting
• Learning Indian board games

Things for Adults at Emerald Faarufushi

At Emerald Faarufushi, adults get to be on vacation too (not just parenting in a different location)!  Here are things that adults can do – some with your kids, and others while they’re at the kids club or with your partner.  Keep in mind you can also participate in most of the kid-friendly activities above.

• Go snorkeling.  I love snorkeling with my kids, but it’s also nice to snorkel with my husband… I can totally focus on the fish and not just part-time (because I need to watch my kids in the water).  At Faarufushi, we had a blast snorkeling in front of our villa (stingrays, eagle rays, baby and adult sharks, eels, so many amazing fish!).  We also really liked biking out to the end of the Mediterraneo jetty and snorkeling there.  You can park your bicycle at the end of the jetty and walk down the steps/ladder into the water.  There are buoys set up  with life-preservers every 30-50 meters, and the sea life and coral is different from the reef in front of the villas – at Mediterraneo you’re at the edge of the reef.   We never saw a turtle at the resort, but we did go on a turtle snorkeling expedition and saw plenty of them. 
• Go for walks.  As I mentioned earlier, it took me about 18 minutes to walk (leisurely) around the island.  You can make the walk longer by walking to the end of the jetties (water villa jetty, Mediterraneo jetty, dive center jetty) and by walking on the inner sandy path loop.  The inner loop works well mid-day as it’s mostly shady.  I tried to go early in the morning and enjoyed being alone on the beach (except for when I walked by the Aqua restaurant, where everyone was eating breakfast).
• Relax at the bar.  Try a new cocktail or mocktail, watch a sporting event on the big screen television, or play cards.
• Spy on your kids at the kids club.  We liked to ride our bikes past the kids club and see our boys were up to.  It was kind of like those days when you finally get the kids to bed and then you stay awake in bed looking at photos of your kids on your phone.
• Get a treatment at the spa.  If I’m going to spend $ at the resort, I prefer to spend it on excursions like snorkeling or the local island visit.  But, the spa at Faarufushi does look absolutely dreamy.  We used the sauna, plunge pools, and relaxation area. 
• Take a bath.  Take advantage of the gorgeous bathtub in your villa, whether yours is in the outdoor bathroom area or indoors with a stunning view of the ocean.
• Stay up late for the evening entertainment.  It’s easy to go to bed early in the Maldives, but if you want to hear some live music you can head to the Sunset Bar next to the resort’s pool.  There are also
• Have aperitivo at the Eclipse Bar.  Just past the overwater Mediterraneo restaurant is this bar with little ‘cubbies’ so you can have some privacy while you watch the sunset.  I went to look at it and it’s gorgeous!  It can get windy, and there aren’t many spaces, so be sure to book.
• Use the gym.  It’s small, but has basic weights, a treadmill, a stationary bicycle, and an elliptical machine. 
• Try some of the water sports equipment.  Get out on the ocean on a SUP, a kayak, or a glass-bottom boat (all included).  You can also try motorized equipment like jet skis. 
• Relax in the hammocks – There are a few hammocks scattered about the island.  Read your book that you brought from home (or your Kindle).  There’s also a little take-one-leave-one library at the reception.
• Play chess.  There’s a large-scale, outdoor chess set just in front of reception.  We saw quite a few matches going on during our stay and my 10-year-old happily jumped in to represent our family.  Challenge staff members to a match!
• Take a class.  Emerald Faarufushi offers free classes to take including a sushi class, a cocktail mixology class, grappling lessons, HIIT classes, and more.  Make sure you reserve them (vs just showing up) because they can fill up or if there aren’t enough participants, they won’t run the class.  Check out the app in the ‘What’s On’ section to get an idea of the weekly offerings.
• Shop at the boutique.  Faarufushi’s island shop is small but full of beautiful clothing and swimwear, fun souvenirs, and some essentials (like pricey sunscreen).  We ended up buying the fish chart, a Maldives satellite map, and a bracelet. 

Good To Know:  This isn’t an exhaustive list of everything you can do on the island.  You can see an up-to-date list on Emerald Faarufushi’s website and on the resort’s app.

Emerald Faarufushi Dining & Restaurants

Emerald Faarufushi is an all-inclusive resort, so you don’t have to make any decision plans about which dining package to choose – everyone is on all-inclusive. 

There are 6 restaurants and two bars on the island:

• Aqua (buffet open for breakfast, lunch, dinner) – By far our favorite place to eat on the island (we’ve got three kids…).  Open-air setting right on the water, with some tables set up in the sand for dinner.  Plenty of stations with high-quality dishes and ingredients.  Fresh salads and fruits, themed dinners, attentive wait staff. 
• Beach Club (lunch) – Casual restaurant that looks out onto the beach.  Menu includes dishes like hamburgers and pizza.  We preferred the variety and ease of the buffet so we only ate here once.
• Carnivorous (dinner) – Beach Club turns into Carnivorous at night.  As you can tell from the name, it’s a meat-focused menu.  There’s an appetizer buffet set up with nachos that our kids loved (adults too). 
• Mediterraneo (dinner) – This Italian restaurant has a gorgeous setting at the end of one of the jetties.  I was not excited to eat at Mediterraneo since we eat Italian food daily, but Chef Moreno and his crew are masters.  Even my Italian husband was thoroughly impressed and wished we’d booked another dinner at the restaurant. 
• Le Asiatique (dinner) – Upstairs (above Beach Club/Carnivorous) and a quieter setting than the other restaurants.  There’s a variety of foods from different Asian cuisines.  We ordered Thai dishes and they were great.  It was a little more challenging to eat here with kids because there’s no outlet for them (they can’t play in the sand after eating and it’s really quiet). 
• Teppanyaki (lunch, dinner) – A classic Teppanyaki show/meal.  We had a late reservation and one of my kids fell asleep.  But the rest of us enjoyed the entertainment. 
• Sunset Pool Bar (lunch, snacks) – We usually ended up here for milkshakes and juices, but you can also get lunch/snacks here like mezze platters, Wagyu burgers, or tacos. 
• Eclipse Bar (aperitivo snacks) – We didn’t end up having aperitivo here, but you can get a platter of Italian finger foods to nibble on while you sip your vino or cocktail and marvel at the sunset. 

Our favorite restaurant overall was the Aqua buffet, and our favorite a la carte restaurant was Mediterraneo. 

Helpful Tip:  Reserve a la carte meals before you arrive as the seats are limited and can fill up quickly (especially earlier seatings). 

Good To Know:  Emerald Faarufushi’s dining staff is very attentive and helpful with kids.  For example, they remembered what our kids liked to drink and didn’t make them feel bad if they accidentally spilled something. 

A few more things to know about dining at Emerald Faarufushi:

• The resort is known for its wine list and great sommeliers.  It’s a good spot to be in if you like vino!
• We never went hungry.  If you get hungry between meals, you can snack from your mini bar or go to one of the bars for a milkshake, mezze platter, etc.
• Speaking of the mini bar, it’s included in your stay.  It’s got wine, beer, sodas, juices, chips (Pringles), candies, and candy bars (like Snickers). 
• You can get ice cream in dishes but we never saw any ice cream cones. 
• Service is personal at Emerald Faarufushi.  We had plenty of conversations with Chef Moreno (and he made my Italian husband a special pasta dish), the chef at Aqua gave me the recipe for my favorite salad, the pancake and waffle crew made Spider-Man pancakes for my superhero-obsessed son.

Check Out Process at Emerald Faarufushi

Unfortunately, like all good things, our time at Emerald Faarufushi had to end. 

We were able to get the afternoon seaplane out (3:30pm), which meant we had most of the day to enjoy the island (breakfast, lunch, swim). 

We showered off in the spa shower because we had to check out of our room at 12:00pm. 

Helpful Tip:  If you plan on using the spa’s shower to rinse off before getting on your seaplane, go earlier than you think because there’s only one shower stall each for men and women and there could be others ahead of you.  You get an appointment but that doesn’t mean everyone respects their time limit (based on experience).

I had been given the bill for extras the night before, so I was able to review it and there were no surprises.  The bill included excursions, tips, etc. (everything else had been paid for pre-arrival).

Good To Know:  You can leave tips with cash (USD and EUR are best), or you can leave them on your bill and pay with your credit card.  There’s a space for you to fill in where you want them to go and how much.  We did a mix of both.

We left our bags in our room when we checked out and they were loaded onto the seaplane for us.

Helpful Tip:  Don’t wear your travel clothes until you get to Malé – it’s too hot.  Pack a spare bag and change when you get to the main airport.  You’ll have a chance to put your other clothes in your checked bags before you go through security. 

Emerald Faarufushi – Nearly Perfect

Emerald Faarufushi is still ‘new-ish’ on the Maldives resort scene, so we didn’t meet any repeat visitors while we were there, but we did meet one family that’s planning their return for next year.  I also imagine Faarufushi will get many repeat visitors in the future as the island is clean, luxurious, and gorgeous, and the service is excellent.

Emerald Faarufushi has already racked up awards, and you can see why.  The GM Patrick has been doing this for almost two decades. 

However, I think it’s important to mention some of the negatives as well, even if there’s nothing major.  When I’m reading reviews, I always want to hear both sides, so here you go:

Groynes – The rock ‘barriers’ are visible everywhere around the island – it’s hard to find a spot without them.  But, they have a purpose (to protect the shore and beach from erosion).  As a bonus, they also attract fish, which is great for little kids (otherwise they have to snorkel a little further out).

No Kids Pool – Not deal breaker, more of a ‘nice to have.’  While we had a pool at our villa, my kids enjoyed the large infinity pool.  I did feel like I had to ‘shush’ them as there were adults trying to relax in peace.  A kids pool would solve that problem.

Beach in Front of Our Villa – It was a little more narrow than what we prefer.  My kids love to play in the sand and would have loved a more expansive beach in front of our villa.

Privacy – There’s not a lot of greenery between the beach and the villas, so if you’re seeking privacy, keep that in mind. 

Hearing motors while walking on the path. And sometimes smell of incinerator.

Evening Entertainment – The singing duo was lovely, but we all felt the evening entertainment could’ve been a little more exciting and varied.  We did dance a couple of evenings, but mostly listened to music, watched soccer, played cards, or chatted in the bar area (while the kids played in the sand or played mini golf). 

Seaplane Departures and Arrivals – We could hear and see seaplane arrivals and departures from the beach in front of our villa.  It wasn’t awful, but we didn’t notice on our last trip.

Local Island Excursion – It would be great to interact with locals (buy something from the little supermarket or order a cold drink and have a 10-min chat at a café).

No Shade in the Morning – We were on the southeastern tip of the island and our patio and pool area was in the blazing sun all morning.  There was no shade except for under the beach umbrellas.  If you’re like me and love to sit outside in the morning before everyone else wakes up, you’ll want to avoid this part of the island.

Making Reservations for Restaurants – I didn’t like having to make reservations before arrival.  There wasn’t much flexibility once we arrived (for example, if we’d really liked a restaurant and wanted to return).  Luckily, we loved the buffet and were happy to eat there (we even canceled a few a la carte meals). 

Making Reservations for Activities – I missed out on a couple of activities (like morning yoga) because I didn’t book soon enough. 

Emerald Faarufushi – A Few More Things to Know

If you’re still reading, you love soaking up info, so here’s a little more for you:

• Faarufushi has QR codes for menus, daily newspaper, snorkeling advice and safety, drone policy, and more.  But hard copies are available for menus (actually they’re on ipads).
• The resort staff was fantastic with birthday celebrations for two of my boys.  I notified them of our first birthday (arrival day), and they even celebrated another son with a birthday on departure day.
• We found the staff to be quiet but helpful.  I appreciated the friendly professionalism from the staff.  They were great at knowing when to chat or offer something and when to let you relax and enjoy the island. 
• We didn’t need as much sunscreen this trip, thanks to our rash guards.  They’re definitely a ‘must pack’ for us from now on.
• We never encountered sandflies.  That’s right – no sandflies.  If you’ve ever been bitten by sandflies, you know how amazing this is to hear.
• Guests can fly drones twice per week for about an hour in a restricted area.  Drones are not allowed anywhere near villas during that short time period.
• Emerald Faarufushi’s app is worth downloading – before you even arrive.  You can see the weekly events, restaurant menus and hours, kids club schedule, etc. 

How to Book Your Trip to Emerald Faarufushi

If you’re interested in staying at Emerald Faarufushi, you can:

• Book directly through the resort’s official webpage – there may be special discounts or offers like free seaplane transfers
• Book using a site like Booking.com – there are often excellent deals on Maldives resorts on the site
• Book a complete package (resort + flight) using a site like Expedia.com or LastMinute.com – Last Minute has some of the best deals I’ve seen, and they’re up to one-year out (not just last-minute)

I hope this has helped you get an idea of whether or not Emerald Faaurufushi is the right island for your family!  We certainly enjoyed our stay and would happily return (if I wasn’t excited for us to try out other islands). 

Enjoy the Maldives!