Royal Island Resort & Spa

Overview

Accommodation

Our Opinion

Royal Island Resort and Spa takes a refreshingly traditional approach to the Maldives experience, and for guests who appreciate that classic style alongside genuine value for money, it delivers in spades. The resort is run with impressive efficiency; even at full occupancy the 150 rooms spread across this generously sized island (800 by 220 metres) never feel crowded. There are bigger resorts packed into smaller footprints elsewhere, yet few maintain their grounds to this standard.

The island itself is lush and mature. Dense tropical vegetation and beautifully manicured gardens provide natural shade throughout, and the interior gardens are genuinely lovely. The paved pathways divide opinion. Some will miss the barefoot sand experience, but the resort still feels relaxed and informal. Pack flip-flops and you will be fine.

Accommodation comes in cabin-style villas, all detached, spacious, and finished with varnished wood and decorative bathroom tiles. The look is old-fashioned and wont appeal to everyone, but each villa has its own veranda and dedicated beach sun loungers.

Service across the resort is welcoming and efficient. The All Inclusive programme is fairly basic, which is expected at this price level. Food is varied and of a good standard. You will be assigned a table for the duration of your stay, a practice some resorts adopt to manage service smoothly and one that lets you build a rapport with your waiter.

The house reef is one of the easiest to access at this level of resort, sitting just 8 metres from the shoreline in places and extending to a maximum of 70 metres. The best stretch runs along the arrival jetty side from one tip of the island to the other. Snorkelling equipment is complimentary, collected at 9am and returned by 5pm daily. Expect a morning queue at watersports, but the system keeps the gear in good condition and everyone gets a set.

Royal Island is ideal for a quiet, traditional Maldives holiday that wont break the bank.

Summary

Royal Island sits on the island of Horubadhoo in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, 118 kilometres from Velana International Airport. A 20-minute domestic flight gets you there.

The island is generously proportioned at nearly 800 metres long and 220 metres wide, with substantial grounds that give the resort a spacious, uncrowded feel. Lush tropical vegetation, fine palms and banyan trees create a verdant interior with plenty of natural shade.

The resort has two restaurants and two bars. Maakanaa is the main restaurant, serving buffet-style for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Raabondhi is the speciality seafood restaurant, with tables facing the ocean and a relaxed atmosphere. For drinks, there is the classic beachside Boli Bar, a swim-up Pool Bar offering cocktails and light snacks, and the Fun Pub for late-night entertainment including live bands, DJs and karaoke.

Diving in the Baa Atoll is excellent, and the resort also has a spa and a range of sports and recreation activities. The beaches are generous and well maintained.