Hotel Dengan parking di Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives

It's a great place, with a white, powder-white beach and safe snorkeling. There are two safety officers at each snorkeling spot. The standard sand bungalows are close to snorkeling spots 1 and 2, while the pool bungalows are on the side without the breakwater, making them ideal for photo opportunities. The snorkeling is excellent, with 60cm of water inside the breakwater. Beyond the breakwater, where the ocean meets the channel, there are live corals and schools of fish. The pool bungalows are larger than the standard bungalows, with one bedroom and one living room, and a sofa bed in the living room. Both the bedroom and living room have air conditioning. The deluxe pool bungalows have a large pool, perfect for watching the sunset. Lying in the pool, you can gaze at the glass-like sea; the scenery is unparalleled. However, if you were to enter the water directly, the waves would be a bit high, making it unsafe. There are many activities on the island. We participated in the complimentary dolphin watching tour and saw a pod of dolphins. We also paid for sea fishing. The crew was very friendly and helped us catch a lot of fish, which we could enjoy for free at the restaurant the next day. The only downside is that the food on the island is average. Aque Buffet serves very limited Chinese dishes. The a la carte meals at Welldone are decent, but reservations are required a day in advance, so reservations might not be available. Overall, the cost of living on the island is reasonable, with freshly squeezed juice and non-alcoholic drinks costing around $13 including tax.

Let's start by saying that this isn't a review, but a warning to anyone considering staying at this hotel. The hotel is located on Kudaubadhoo Island, accessible by domestic flight from Male. A roundtrip transfer costs $260, which you'll pay immediately upon arrival to the person arranging your flight. Add this to your stay to get the actual cost of your stay. When booking, it was stated that the accommodation package included an airport transfer, but this is not the case. The hotel and trip.com denied the free transfer, stating that it was only available for a fee. To be fair, the hotel did say they could arrange a speedboat transfer for $70 each way, but this option is very long and inconvenient, and depends on the weather. I figured that if I used it, I'd lose a whole day on this ”beautiful” island. Plus, my arrival in Male was at 7:00 AM, and the boat didn't depart until 1:00 PM, so the journey would take about 3-5 hours. I opted for a flight. By the way, the hotel is non-refundable, meaning if you change your mind, you won't get a refund. I submitted a cancellation request, but they refused. The hotel later wrote that they typically approve refunds if cancellations occur on the day of booking. This is the first point - misleading information about the transfer. The second point is that the photos don't match the ones in the hotel photos - they show photos of the picturesque uninhabited island of Vala, which is a 15-minute boat ride from this island. It really is beautiful there. Clear water, white sand. The trip there costs $75 + $25 for each additional person. So, the hotel posted a photo of a neighboring island, not the one where you'll be staying!!! On Kudauvadhoo Island itself, there are 3 beaches: Sunset Beach, the main public one, where a dress code is required and it's the only beach where you can swim and relax. There's also Bikini Beach, a small, dedicated section of beach where the water is shallow, there's no shade, and it's completely inconvenient to swim. There's also Surf Beach, where the waves are knee-deep and there are tons of rocks, so it's unclear how anyone can surf there. Next to this surf beach, there's a waste incineration plant where they burn trash, and the smell goes to this beach. The hotel manager provides surfboards for free upon request (without fins or footrests). So, in reality, there's only one public beach, Sunset Beach. The water isn't very clean, and one day there was an oily film on the water, and the beach smelled of fuel oil. I fished out a 20-liter canister of oil or fuel oil off the shore. The island itself is completely littered with trash. After that, I left this island for another. There are no tourists on the island; those who arrive realize something's wrong and leave the next day. Naturally, the hotel doesn't refund money. As for the hotel itself: the room is spacious and very clean. The air conditioning cools well, the staff keeps it clean, and they provide access to a shared kitchen where you can get tea, coffee, and use the refrigerator. The mosque is very close, and the sound of prayer is very loud—but this didn't bother me compared to the island's other downsides. The hotel staff is always available via WhatsApp and Telegram, providing meals upon request, and are responsive to all requests and eager to help. There are no entertainment options on the island, no tourists, only locals. Near the island, there are very expensive resorts where tourists go when they come to this island. No one stays on the island itself, as it's not comfortable.