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I’ll admit it – I wasn’t sure what to expect when I booked my first ever trip to the Maldives in December 2024. The paradisiacal archipelago is known for its remote resorts with picture-perfect white sand and ocean views for miles – so far, so heavenly – so my holiday goals originally fell firmly into the category of ‘fly and flop’. Surely there wouldn’t be much to actually do there?
I chose to stay at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa for this very reason – just a ten-minute boat ride away from Velana International airport, it really does define how indulgently easy a trip to the Maldives can be. Many of the Maldives’ atolls – or groups of islands – are only accessible via seaplane, but not the Sheraton. Not long after we’d stepped off the plane, my husband and I were gratefully mopping our brows with the cool towels provided and whizzing across the ocean towards our home for the next few nights – thanks to the hotel’s very own swanky speedboat.
The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, at a glance
- Situated on the North Malé Atoll, a short boat ride away from Velana international airport
- Rooms range from deluxe guest rooms to overwater villas
- Dine at six a-la-carte restaurants as well as a buffet option for breakfast and dinner
- Children stay and eat for free
- Choose from half board, full board or fully all-inclusive
- Private island spa with treatment villas, hydrotherapy pools and a yoga pavilion with regular classes for guests
- Full programme of excursions and activities including water sports, diving and snorkelling
As is customary in the Maldives, Sheraton guests are welcomed to the beat of traditional Boduberu drums and a host of team members that gather to greet you. To be honest, I was a little overwhelmed at first – I’m a social anxiety sufferer and practically allergic to any form of attention – but as I shook the hands of the hotel’s head chef (the recently-appointed Maksat Zhulovchinov) as well as friendly faces across the resort’s marketing, management and activities teams, it dawned on me that perhaps Maldives hospitality is much more than its luxury resorts and overwater villas. I instantly felt at ease.
Taking the road less travelled.
The room
We stayed in one of the Sheraton’s beach view cottages, found a short walk from the resort’s main hub. Inside, our room was, well, roomy – with a huge, mega-comfy super-king bed and beautiful views of the lagoon outside. I wasn’t expecting the outdoor bathroom and shower, a common fixture in the Maldives, which undoubtedly made for one of the most magical parts of our stay. Each night, I showered under the stars to the sounds of local wildlife – something I’ll never forget. (Side note: it does get very hot during the day, so daytime showering isn’t quite as refreshing as it could be. That wasn’t a dealbreaker for me, but there are plenty of other rooms available with indoor showers, if you prefer.)
We were more than thrilled with our little cottage, technically defined as one of the mid-range rooms at the Sheraton Maldives – which you could describe as charming in decor, with dark woods and rich colours. If the budget doesn’t stretch to an overwater villa, a beach cottage or ‘villa’ is often an option at most Maldives resorts; and honestly, we felt just as spoiled by the ocean views. I swam in the nearby lagoon every afternoon, while early evenings were spent taking in the candyfloss skies on our terrace. Heaven.
The food
Like many resorts I’ve visited in the past, there were numerous restaurants to choose from at the Sheraton Full Moon Maldives – but what I wasn’t expecting was the quality, despite the quantity. The hotel has a popular buffet, Feast, where we enjoyed a fresh, alfresco breakfast each morning; but for lunch and dinner there are a number of à la carte restaurants to try, too.
Frankly, it’s tough to pick a favourite. We had a particularly beautiful dinner by the water at Sea Salt, the hotel’s Italian seafood restaurant, where we watched tiny crabs scuttling on the beach and local reef sharks skim along the nearby shallows from our candlelit table. All the seafood was delicious, but the buttery lobster served with freshly-made pasta was a highlight.
For lunch, I was a serial returner to beach-side eatery Kakuni Hut, where the tuna ceviche had me in a daily chokehold. Served alongside fresh smoothies at shady tables, toes-in-sand, all that was left to do was to watch the water lap at the nearby shore. We had equally delicious dinners at Baan Thai and Chopstix, the hotel’s Thai and Asian offerings – I’m still thinking about the ultra-tender Mongolian beef.
The Sheraton also offers ‘destination dining’ options – a.k.a. bespoke foodie experiences that feel ultra special – including a ‘lagoon lunch’ set in the ocean shallows. My husband and I had to pinch ourselves as we dined, feet in the cool water, at our secluded table – as we were plied with everything from grilled lobster to fresh prawns with garlic, watermelon and halloumi (a big winner combo, FYI).
The surroundings
I knew the Maldives would be beautiful, but I wasn’t prepared for the abundance of wildlife on every corner of the resort. While the Maldives’ tropical waters are home to endless colourful fish species (best witnessed by grabbing some snorkelling gear at the hotel’s dive centre), I was often joined by countless other creatures on my daily strolls around the island. In the evenings, fruit bats swooped in and out of the trees, while sweet geckos and garden lizards scrambled amongst the gardens – I spotted a sea snake in the shallows during one of my morning walks, too.
Furanafushi Island has been the Sheraton’s home since 1973, when it became one of the first islands used by tourists in the Maldives – though of course, it lay uninhabited for many years prior. As such, the island is overflowing with just as much flora as fauna – and arguably, the resort’s centrepiece is the majestic Banyan Tree which marks the entry point to the hotel amenities, decorated with glittery trailing fairy lights during the Christmas season. Every night, as we walked to dinner, I fell a little more in love with the sparkling canopy above us (which, side note, also makes for a beautiful backdrop for pictures, if you’re so inclined).
Experiences
Undoubtedly, the Maldives is set up for peak relaxation. On every corner of the resort there was somewhere to sit and take in the sights and sounds – be it on a cushy sunlounger, our own terrace or one of the many shaded seating areas around the island – and I could have happily spent my days moving leisurely between each of them.
If ‘fly and flop’ is your aim – and it’s an entirely justifiable one – I can vouch for the hotel’s Shine Spa, which offers everything from massages to facials and body treatments. Found on its own private island, accessed via a footbridge from the main resort, we snoozed off our jetlag with a couples’ massage within hours of arriving. There’s also regular yoga classes held in the outdoor pavilion, overlooking the ocean, for those that like to stretch out after a long flight like I do.
Rather naively, I hadn’t considered that a trip to the Maldives can actually be as action-packed as you want it to be, too. Whether you prefer to be above the water or below it, the extraordinary marine life is there to be experienced. One of our favourite evenings was spent on the hotel’s sunset dolphin cruise, watching huge pods of dolphins leap and flip in front of the orange skies – and there are plenty of scuba diving and snorkelling experiences on offer, too. We even had the opportunity to build our own coral frame to contribute to the rebuilding of the local marine reef, which has massively suffered due to rising sea temperatures and coral bleaching.
The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa: my verdict
When I describe the Sheraton Maldives as ‘low-key luxury’, I really mean it. The welcoming, relaxed vibe was palpable around the resort – and while it’s certainly not the swankiest of hotels on offer in the Maldives, it’s nowhere near the most expensive, either. There was something down to earth about the Sheraton that just felt charming and unpretentious.
With its close proximity to Malé, the ease of travel was a bonus for me, since I’m not the happiest of flyers – but those looking for a more secluded escape in the Maldives might want to venture further via seaplane to one of the more further-flung atolls. It didn’t bother me, but it’s perhaps worth noting that you won’t always get an endless sea view here like other resorts; since the busy capital city island can be seen between the trees surrounding the hotel’s lagoon.
The Sheraton won me over with its warmth – and that includes the climate and the hospitality. In fact, the one thing I didn’t expect to feel about the Maldives was surprised – but as it turns out, there was a lot more to the Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa than I ever could have imagined. I’m already planning my return trip.
After more Maldives content? Discover the best family resorts in The Maldives and the best affordable hotels in the Maldives, and read Fiona's Westin Maldives review.
