The underlying reason for this is simply value for money. You can enjoy the dream of Maldives here at a very fair price.

Club style given way to tranquility

There are also significantly different ways to enjoy it. The Italian market, through Franco Rosso, used to dominate but, since 2005, that is no longer the case. Italian animators do continue to shepherd their guests with welcomes at the entrance to the restaurant, with a series of daily activities and a separate cabaret and disco. But increasingly the club concept is hard to maintain here and will probably be phased out. That is not to say that the Italian market will disappear, merely change.

The majority of guests are now British and Germans enjoying the Maldives the way they like to. That is to say without animators but with plenty of fun and new-found friends in the bar, around the pool and down the beach. Having said that, the place is generally for quiet and relaxation. There are evening entertainments in the bar (bodu beru, crab race and karaoke) but they never take over. Indeed that would be impossible as the bar is so large, with such a high roof, that it doesn't seem to fill up or really generate a great atmosphere.

The same is true of the large restaurant and reception but it doesn't seem to matter much as the food and the service are good. For a change from the three buffets a day there is a reasonably priced fine dining restaurant nearby.

Alongside these two groups of holidaymakers are two more, quite distinct: one in the water bungalow village and the other in the ayurvedic village.

Two new, specialist resorts on the island

The water bungalow village, Adaaran Water Villas, is brand new. It has its own jetty, reception and restaurant and is planned as a separate 5-star entity for a different sort of holiday on the same island. We will have to see how that develops.

The Adaaran Ayurveda Village is certainly something different and, so far, unique to the country. The Sri Lankan company that runs the resort has brought over qualified and experienced personnel to ensure that it is not merely a trendy concept.

The rooms are built in a rustic style and set apart from the rest of the rooms. A consultation with an ayurvedic doctor will give you advice on which package of treatments and massages would be most suitable for you. And then those treatments can be had either within the village or in the ayurvedic area of the public buildings, which is open to everyone. Swiss guests seem to particularly go for this bit of Meedhupparu, but every guest should at least avail themselves of a consultation and some advice.

Simple features in a gorgeous spot

The beach is great most of the way around the island, with just some erosion problems in the southwest corner. At the water's edge, the beach slopes down fairly sharply to give an immediate swimming depth but little width for paddling around. The lagoon bottom is smooth and sandy and the reef drop-off is always within swimming distance. The snorkelling is good but not great.

The same might also be said of the diving. For some reason there doesn't seem to be quite as much to see as in other atolls. As this is the only resort in the atoll, however, the sites are untouched and there is no chance of meeting other dive boats, which is good compensation.

The land rooms are all the same and fine but nothing special, although they do have a tea and coffee maker, hair dryer and safe. Built in C-shaped blocks and surrounded by vegetation not many of them have views to the sea but neither are they far away.

All in all, this is a large, simple resort that doesn’t promise too much but delivers a good package of price and facilities in one of the world’s most beautiful spots.