Latest Reviews for Meemu Atoll

On the outbound flight, we flew from Heathrow T4 direct into Male and the flight was only half full, no complaints, good entertainment onboard with seat-back screens, cabin crew very attentive and friendly.
On arrival at Male, there was no sign of the Virgin rep but the helpful Kuoni rep assisted us to the correct desk for the onward sea-plane transfer.
After a short mini-bus ride to the Maldive Air Taxi terminal, we checked in and paid $16 excess baggage for our dive gear, which is very reasonable, as this covered both trips.
The sea-plane flight was excellent and we made 1 stop at a nearby Island before we had the plane to ourselves for the last hop to Hakuraa. The pilot even did a flight round the Island, so I could film the landing !
We had the welcome drink from Raj, the manager in reception and transferred to room 162, our home for the next 3 weeks.

We had room 102 last year and had the sun on our deck until mid-day so we opted for the other end this year to get the sun in the afternoon.
There are 170 Water bungalows, each with sundeck and steps into the lagoon and 10 beach bungalows.
Rooms are spacious and have a glass panel in the floor to watch the fish through, there is even a light to use after dark.
TV and mini-bar,soft drinks and water included, huge bed and storage space for clothing are all here waiting for the weary traveller.
The roomboy visits twice daily, towels and bedding changed every day and the bed sheeting was arranged in different patterns every night. Rooms and bathroom very clean.

It took about 15 minutes to walk round the island, but if you cut across, it's only about 5 minutes, pathways are swept everyday by the staff, who are all so friendly and all say hello to you.
The restaurant is all-inclusive buffet style with a great variety to please the fussiest eater. Soup, salad-bar, curry, pasta, roast fish and meat every evening along with other choices, we were very impressed with the choices available even including ice-cream one nght!
Water shoes are a must for the lagoon side as there is broken coral, from the Tsunami, outside the water bungalows but the beach is fine sand and fine to walk on in bare feet.
Various excursions are offered, Dolphin Safari, Night fishing, Island hopping, Snorkelling, all charged at $30 and last about 3 hours. There is an Adam and Eve trip for about $200 where a couple are taken by boat to an uninhabited island with a picnic basket of food and drink ( there is a table set out for the meal) and a mobile phone and you have the place to yourselves until you are ready to return, when you just phone for the boat.
They also have a romantic meal on a dhoni boat for 2 , or on the beach at night.

The diving is operated by Dive and Sail who offer 50+ dive sites from the island. 2 tank boat dives at 0830 and 1 tank dive at 1430 every day, even if you are the only person booked.
The also offer night dives at 1730, early morning at 0515 and some Saturdays a 3 dive all day trip to further reefs.
Prices are $50 for all equipment and $42 if only tanks and weights are needed.
If you take your PADI open water course with them, they offer the Advance course absolutely free if you book an 8 dive package.
They also offer a free Nitrox course, just pay $130 for certification, which again, is excellent value.
Snorkelling equipment is supplied free for the duration of your holiday as well.
The Instructors, Adam, Ruth, Bruno and Magic are all excellent. My partner took a resort dive last year and returned this time and passed her PADI open water course with Ruth, so many thanks to her for her friendly help and advice.
The weather was Scorchio, we had 1 storm which lasted about 3 hours and uprooted a palmtree and 2 other showers which lasted about 20-30 minutes but other than that, the weather was beautiful.
For entertainment in the Bar, which is open-air and built over the lagoon, they offer bingo, hermit crab racing, disco, local drummers/dancers and an acrobat show.
We were just content to sit and look out over the water and watch the Stingrays, baby black-tip sharks, turtles and fish swimming about, you can't beat that for entertainmnet in my book!

All standard drinks, beer, spirits,wine are included, together with a selection of a few cocktails but they also have a list of cocktails for $9 each.
Cigarettes are available for $4 for 20, if you're that way inclined.
There is a small souvenir shop on the island selling cards, t-shirts and basic toileteries but it's quite expensive.
There is a jewellery shop but I never ventured inside so don't know any prices.
Just for your info, theduty free shop at Male is very reasonable, cigs $22 for 200 and $34 for 400. 1 Ltr scotch $16, Vodka $14.

All in all, it was fantastic, our best holiday ever.
Did we feel bored ? No.
Will we return?? Hell yeah!

If you want a total chill out holiday then this is definately the place to go. Make sure you have plenty of reading material and remember to take that ipod with you to complete the chill out experience as you soak up the sun and gaze across the bluest of seas.

The flight in from Male on the sea plane is an experience in itself. Views are spectacular. From the moment you arrive on the island the staff make you feel welcome and very special.

Food is excellent - be prepared to put on a least a stone! You will be allocated the same waiter for the duration of your stay and can be guaranteed excellent service. Nothing is to much trouble for them. Our waiter was named Ibrahim.

We had one of the water bungalows which was stunning. Very clean and well maintained. The room boy visited twice a day to clean and bring clean towels. In the evening he returned to turn down the sheets on the bed - the shapes and patterns were a work of art!

An absolute variety of fish can be seen as you walk along the jetty and can also be seen from the glass viewing area in the floor in the bungalow.

A visit to the spa is highly recommended the staff here are well trained and very professional.
Had a fabulous holiday and can't wait to return.

This is a beautiful island, we went to Meedhupparu last year and thought it couldn't be bettered, but we were wrong.

It is very small but all the facilities are first class. The sea plane is a great way to see the atolls and when you arrive on the island you are greeted with a cold towel and a cold drink. The water bungalows are beautifully furnished and cleaned twice a day by very friendly staff. On our last night our bed was decorated by palm fronds and flowers with a good bye and have a safe journey home message. The water is not very deep outside the bungalows but the fish and rays are clearly visible, and the sea is warm like a bath. Clean beach towels are provided every day.

The food was varied and plentiful with something for everyone. The staff were great and the food trays were topped up constantly. If there is only 2 of you, you get a table for 2 so don't worry about having to share a table. The drinks also were plentiful, with some cocktails being on the A1 deal. You are asked to sign for your drinks but there was no limit to how many you had. Water was also included in the A1 which was a great bonus. The mini bar in the room was charged but the beer was only 2 euro's and wine 3 euro's, not a rip off. We had our laundry done before we came home and that was also very reasonably priced and well worth doing.
The entertainment was very low key.

If you want a chill out holiday, quiet and be able to live in shorts and flip flops then this is the place to go.
The only downside is the monarch flights, next time we will be looking to fly with another company.

We will definately go back,and people we met there are already booking for next year, what more can i say!

We have just returned from the Maldives for the second time. Last year for Honeymoon we were booked to go to the Hakurra, but because of the Tsunami damage, we were changed to the Velidhu Island. So this year we thought what the hell lets go and see what we missed.

THE FLIGHT
We flew with Monarch, but paid for an upgrade, so had Premium class, the seats are bigger, the food was nice and drinks are on tap. We were on our First anniversary, so splashed out. Our flight was from Gatwick, but we had to go to Manchester to pick others up. On the way to Manchester someone was sick, so delayed the flight by a little while, but it wasn't a big deal (poor thing).

We also had the sea plane transfer, which as the island is so far away from Male airport, i think you had to, but if you go anywhere else, it is definatly worth spending that little extra to see the islands as you fly over them.

RECEPTION
When we arrived it was rather cloudy which was nice as it seemed a bit cooler, we were led down the 500M jetty and ended up at reception. In reception the first thing that i noticed was the sand on the floor and immediatly took my trainers off (heaven) but also you couldn't help but notice the amount of flies that were buzzing around. We thought it must have been bacause we had been travelling for a long time and probably gave off a nasty smell!! But we were very warmly welcomed by Raj (who we had met the year before in Velidhu) We were given cold towels (which was a welcome relief) and taken to our rooms.

ROOMS
Ours was 102 which was one of the nearest rooms to everything, if you are not quite as fit as you should be, you will be by the time you return home! Try, if you can get the lower numbered rooms as it's quite a walk to the higher number water bungalows. Our friends were in room 168 and started to leave stuff in our room as they couldn't always be bothered to walk all the way to theirs.

We walked into the air conditioned rooms and both said wow to each other, the rooms are so spacious, and airy, with a glass viewing platform so you can sit and watch the fish under your room. Its a big shame about the coral, as there were strategically placed lumps of coral under each water bungalow, as the coral had broken over the Boxing day tragedy. The coral was very sharp on your feet when you paddled in the water below your steps to the water bungalows, make sure you take some water shoes. When it rains as it did a couple of nights, the rain can be quite loud on the roof of your water bungalow, we sleep with ear plugs most of the time and weren't bothered by the noise, but others had said that it did keep them awake. When you get on the sea plane they give you some ear plugs, so keep them just in case.

THE BEACH
The beach was lovely white sand, but again because of the broken coral was sometimes sharp, flip flops are sometimes needed, and water shoes when paddling. We were a bit dissapointed with the swimming situation, even when the tide came in, it was only waist height, so quite difficult to swim in. I took my lilo, that was really relaxing, but in the area by the water bungalows there was quite a current, on the main beach it seemed ok.
We both love snorkling, but because the island was tidal, and it went miles out most mornings, you had to walk, with all of your snorkling gear to the end of that 500M jetty, make sure you were lots of SPF as this is a very open jetty, that takes about 10 minutes to walk it. But when you get to the end, it is well worth it. Frequently we just ran to the end and jumped off!! Because of the coral situation the hotel runs a free dhoni (boat) to the local reefs, this is normal 9am and 3pm. But make sure you check, on our first day the boat went at 10am, the following day, we lugged all our gear to the end of the jetty, only to be told the boat went at 9am. We asked some of the lads on another boat and he said it changes everyday!
We suggested to the lads that lockers are installed at the end of the jetty so that you don't have to carry all your gear with you everytime, they just laughed!

THE BAR
Now this area is quite important to us!! During the day it was a welcome relief to sit in the shade and the breezy bar, after a busy day snorkling you need some liquid refreshment, make sure you take your beach towels with you to sit on, as the seats are wooden slats that get rather uncomfortable if you stay for a while. In the evening, it was very dark if you sat on the outside of the bar, again we suggested that cushions be placed on the seats and candles on the table. If you were planning to meet someone in the bar, you couldn't see them if they were outside the sheltered area. The bar guys were very good, but we were spoiled in Velidhu, as soon as your drink was empty, there was a waiter there with another, at the Hakurra, you had to go and get your own, this wasn't a problem, but if there was a queue, sometimes you could wait a while, and the television behind the bar annoyed my husband as sometimes if there was something on that a certain barman wanted to watch, you could wait longer!

The Restaurant
This was very well laid out, but again the flies were a problem, all of the hot food was covered, but the salad (which i like for lunch) was uncovered so needless to say, i didn't try that. Try to get a table near the edge of the room as it gets very hot. The food was very good, and you could eat as much or as little as you wanted, you have to be a very fussy eater to not find anything you like. At breakfast time there was always a man frying, boiling or scrambling eggs or making pancakes. Most days for lunch and dinner you had a choice of pasta, fish, meat and potatoes, veggys, and rice. The deserts were also very tasty.

THE ISLAND SHOP
This is very good for goodies to bring home, but the shop is crowded if there are any more than 4 people in it. We forgot to take batteries for our underwater camera, we asked if they man could get them, he said in a day or so, three days later, they had arrived from Male. Make sure you take everything you need with you, as there is no provisions for shampoo or belly tablets etc. Our friends picked up 2 bottles of conditioner in England and didn't take shampoo, and my husband forgot to take a razor, luckily i could help her out with shampoo and her husband help mine out with a razor. Agin make sure you take everything with you.

We didn't do any trips, but the Island that they call Robinson Island apparently is very nice, you spend the whole day on your own island with a hamper of food and drink, but there are no toilets!! Take a bucket and spade!! The other isalnd that you can walk to when the tide is out, is lovely, but the side that you cannot see from the Hakurra, is still very untidy (Tsunami damage) and another couple walked through the middle and got lots of mosquito bites.

All the time i was there i didn't see any mosquitos, and believe me, if there were any they would have found me!

The weather was really nice (about 30 degrees)while we were there, one day was overcast and a bit dull, but we spent time learning how to play dominos in bar (on those uncomfortable chairs).

We thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks in paradise, and have booked for a different island next year! Be aware though, if you like each others company and can totally switch off for two weeks, you will be ok, if you need to be 'doing things' the Maldives are not for you. The most challenging exercise we did, was walking to the end of the jetty, a canoe around the island that takes about an hour, and a game of table tennis!! You will see by reading up on the island that it is small, you can walk around it in 15 minutes.

We have just returned from a fabulous fortnight at Hakuraa Club in the Maldives. We were there in October 2004 and it was with a little trepidation that we returned, not knowing what to expect after the Tsunami on Boxing day.

It was fantastic - the newly refurbished water bungalows are absolutely beautiful, light and airy and so spacious. The furnishings are stunning - with a minimilistic slant, giving the impression of yet more space. The air-conditioning was a must after spending time in the sun. Our housekeeper ensured the room was kept exceptionally clean and tidy, and made spectacular designs with the bed linen every evening.

We had a TV (turned it on just once to find out information on the earthquake in Pakistan) a fridge with mini-bar, tea and coffee making facilities (a must for me, as I like a cuppa (or three) first thing in the morning.) The bathroom with washbasin, toilet, bidet and bath with overshower worked perfectly, and the hairdryer was a boon. All electrical items worked without fault.

The bed was huge and so comfortable, the linen service was excellent with clean sheets and towels every other day. The seating area with glass panel in the floor was great, with dozens (in first two days we counted 29 different species) of myriad coloured fishes feeding on the coral, or just passing by. Sometimes it was difficult to drag yourself away from the spectacle.

The island itself is returning to normal, gardens are landscaped, paths of white sand everywhere, a stroll from the comfortable reception, through the gardens, under the palms to the centre of the island, where hammocks were strung between the palms in dappled shade. For the more energetic there was a badminton court under the palms, canoes, a catamaran and wind-surfing was available from the beach, as was beach volley ball (for those with the stamina). Table tennis and darts equipment was available and other games for the beach could be borrowed from reception. A small bookcase for those who wanted to read as they relaxed was available just at the entrance to the dining room

All jetties (both those to the bungalows and that 500M jetty to the diveschool) have been rebuilt, and the walk out to the jetty (we walked after breakfast, before and after lunch and before dinner at night) was exhilarating with sting rays and eagle rays and black tipped reef sharks feeding everyday. The early evening and midnight snacks in the bar were an excuse to chat to fellow guests (and another reason for those walks along the jetty!) A walk down to the coffee shop mid morning and afternoon brought welcome relief from the heat of the sun - with a cool drink before strolling back along the beach.

The restaurant served excellent foot, and Nalin (the Executive Chef) was proud to show us around his kitchens which were immaculate, with separate preparation rooms for fish and meat, bread, pastries, vegetables and fruits. Wow - would put some kitchens in top UK hotels to shame! The speciality theme nights with the Chefs cooking before you added more interest to the evening meals.

Service throughout the resort was excellent, the staff being curteous, attentive to our every need, and friendly. Who could ask for anything more?

Snorkelling trips, dolphin-watching trips and half-day trips to surrounding inhabited islands are all available - as is a day with your partner on ";Robinson Island"; if you are feeling romantic. Snorkelling around the water bungalows or in the lagoon revealed yet more colourful fish, but for the more adventurous there is an excellent dive school (with classroom) at the end of the jetty (we are not that adventurous - but those who dived came back with fantastic tales of what they had seen.)

The occasional evening entertainment was more than sufficient for our needs - we like the ambience of calm - talking to other like minds. We went to Hakuraa in 2004 for a no news, no shoes holiday (but with all the modern conveniences for our comfort) and that is what Hakuraa Club has.

Value for money - well check it out yourself - we think the All-Inclusive deal at Hakuraa Club, with all that it has to offer, has to be one of the (if not THE best) value for money resorts in the Maldives.

We were a little concerned that staff at Hakuraa might think it a little insensitive for tourists to return. On the contrary, they are delighted that tourists are returning to the region as the economy of the area is based on just tourism and fishing. So if you want to visit the Maldives, fly out to Male, take that exhilarating sea plane trip out to Hakuraa then chill.

Barefoot luxury!!! To help compare standards the last holiday we went on was to the Beau rivage, Mauritias and from the maldives we stayed at the one and only Royal Mirage, Dubai.

We can not recommend this resort and our exerience of the maldives enough.

The staffa and people are very friendly and genuinely interested in you and that you enjoy your stay and can not do enogh for you. This included pool side service, restaurant service and bar. The room service was also exceptional.

The food was totally unbelievable and we could not believe that there were facilities on such a small island to produce what they did. You could not eat the same thing twice, everything was fresh and catered for every nationality and taste.
On a typical evening the buffet would include a variety of fresh baked bread, soup, salads, chinese, italian, western , fusion, indian, japanese, fish dishes, and to name but a few and each theme had a different dish every night. not to mention the fresg desserts!!

It was unbelievable that you could have 5 start luxury in such relaxed atmosphere, really back to nature, and obviously no beach hawkers as you never really spotted anyone else on the beach....if you get chance to visit the maldives GO!!!!