Big Island, Lots To Do 

The resort is far from the small island ‘settle back and relax’ concept. It's big and it's busy. Yet, because it is a big island, there are different areas with different feels. The small zone around the watersports centre and beach bar is entirely quiet and laid back. 


At 354 rooms this is the largest resort in the country by some way. And yet it is a big and very green island with a full circuit of beach and a long list of activities, so you don't see a lot of your fellow guests except at mealtimes and in the evenings.

Water Bungalows & Presidential Suites

Water bungalows account for 72 of the rooms (of which 4 are over-the-top Presidential Suites). These, as usual, are the premium priced rooms and the interiors are designed to express this. Wood floors and wall panels, a recessed ceiling with cornicing, copper, gold and peach striped textiles, work together to give an aristocratic look and feel.  A sizeable sun deck is half stone tiles and half weathered wooden boards, with sun loungers and sun chairs. Steps lead down to the lagoon.

Half the bungalows face the rising sun and half face the setting sun. Unless you are an early riser, make sure you get a sunset room. None of the rooms have much in the way of snorkelling, however, as the lagoon is uniformly shallow (1 to 2 metres) and without coral. This makes it ideal for pottering about and swimming, of course.

In general, the rooms, like the resort, are solid, straight-lined and visually unsympathetic to their natural setting. 218 of the land rooms are designated Super Deluxe, the remaining 136 merely Deluxe. They are all semi-detached and have a reasonably sized veranda. Inside they are spacious, clean and tidy. But having the soap, lotion and shampoo in wall-mounted dispensers is not classy. Nor is having to pay for each in-room cup of tea or coffee (plus service charge!). The differences between the categories are not critical: the Deluxes are a tiny bit smaller and don't have a bathtub or bidet. They are, however, on the southwest side of the island while the best rooms are those on the east side.

There Are Quiet Zones

At this end of the island it is quieter. You are away from the passing traffic — people walking, cycling and in vans (you call the van for free and hire the bikes). Behind the rooms are the resort's plantation and an area of natural vegetation that was deliberately left untouched during construction. Also at this end of the island is a fine bulge of sand, with the water sports centre and a beach bar in just the right spot. Rooms 211–248 are here and face north but a good area of open sand allows you to spin the sun lounger around to catch the rays. Rooms 249–288 face the sun looking south.

An area of snorkelling is available from off the deck of the Italian restaurant at the end of the arrival jetty. It doesn't look too rewarding but the fish life is surprisingly good, with sightings of rays, turtles, Napoleon wrasses, barracudas and sharks. The dive centre is encouraging and supportive of learner divers and this is a good place to start, with a clear shallow lagoon for the lessons and some world-class dive sites within an hour's boat trip. The Dhigurah Channel and Kudarah Thila to the northeast are world-renowned dive spots. The key attraction these days, though, is diving and snorkeling around whale sharks in the waters just off the resort.

Watersports And All Sports

The water sports centre has the whole gamut of equipment, both motor-powered and wind-powered, all in excellent condition. This is just typical of the island (and Villa resorts in general). You will also find an excellent gym, quality floodlit tennis courts, indoor squash and badminton courts and perfect snooker tables. A set weekly deal will cover these facilities and more, as will the all-inclusive holiday. This is recommended because the individual hire charges are not insignificant (there's even a charge to play darts). And if you are not all-inclusive you will need to pay anther charge for the satellite TV channels.

Alongside the usual island visits, there is an early morning dolphin trip and 3 types of fishing — big game, sunrise line trawling and sunset. Most people do the sunset line-over-the-side fishing and the resort then cooks up the catch for an excellent barbecue that same evening. This is one of the times when people break the ice and friendships are made.

Sadly, the cuisine is one area where the resort seems to have made economies. It is more or less all there on the buffets but it’s uninspiring and the quality is not great. Yet still I found the waiters to be really concerned, helpful and kind.

It's A Friendly Place And A Place To Make Friends

Sun Island is unquestionably a friendly place. The relations between staff and guests are warm and easygoing, and the vibe around the swimming pool and main bar is very good, especially in the evening, as it spills out on to beachside decking. During the day, guests ask the attendant to lay out two cushions and towels on their chosen loungers, either around the pool on the beach under the thatch umbrellas, and there they stay to enjoy a good part of the day, tanning, swimming, drinking and chatting.

Quiet times can be had with private dinners, strolling around the shopping arcade and supping in the golf bar. The putting golf course is now up and running well, with good-looking artificial turf. And not to forget Maldives’ only video games parlour.

The spa has settled and mellowed well into its domain just by the waterbungalow jetty. The Oriental theme of the buildings and decoration looks good and it is no doubt a lovely place to escape the bustle of the resort to calm right down and enjoy a sensual massage. 
 

Review written 28 June 2011