Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa Review: Our Favourite Maldives All-Inclusive, and Why We Got the Score Wrong
Emerald Faarufushi, Maldives
Highlights
- Experience an Incredible All-Inclusive Package
- Savour a variety of à la carte restaurants (lunch & dinner)
- Explore amazing snorkelling right off the house reef
- Enjoy attentive and knowledgeable staff who go above and beyond
- Relax in beautifully designed and well-equipped villas
- Bask in expansive beaches, soft sand and deep blue sea
At the end of our film, our own index gave Emerald Faarufushi 61%. In the same breath, I told the camera it was one of the best stays we’d ever had in the Maldives.
Both things were true. Only one of them was useful.
This is our Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa review, rewritten two years on. We spent nine nights here, all-inclusive, in November and December 2024. We still think it’s the best all-inclusive package we’ve had anywhere. What’s changed is how we measure that. Re-scored on TripWorthIt™, the resort that got 61% now scores 90%, and the reason for the jump says more about Maldives pricing than about Emerald.
The film shows you the island. Watch our Emerald Faarufushi film here. This Been & Scene post does the part the film can’t: what the package actually includes, what each restaurant is like, what didn’t work, and what the numbers say.
One thing first, because plenty of people find our film while searching for its sister. Emerald Faarufushi is not Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa. They’re sister resorts in Raa Atoll, on different islands, and we stayed at Faarufushi. The package is similar; the island, the reef and the villas are not.
Pool Villa with an awesome view
Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa - Key Facts
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where | Faarufushi Island, Raa Atoll |
| Our stay | 9 nights, Nov–Dec 2024 |
| Villa | Beach Villa with private pool, southern beach |
| Board | All-inclusive |
| Price we paid | About £1,000 per night for two, all-inclusive |
| Getting there | Seaplane from Malé, about 40–45 minutes |
| Size | 80 villas on a 7-hectare island |
| TripWorthIt™ score (as a Destination) | 4.48 / 5 (90%) — Excellent |
| Value for money | Beat its price bracket by +0.57 |
| Choose it if… | the food, the wine and the reef are the holiday |
| Think twice if… | you want lively evenings |
Prices are what we paid at the time. Check current rates before you book. Find Emerald Faarufushi on Google Maps.
Why did our score jump from 61% to 90%?
Because the old Holiday Cost of Enjoyment Index was asking the wrong questions.
The Index in the film treated cost as one of the things you enjoy, or don’t. In the Maldives that’s a trap. Every resort is expensive, so every resort loses points for being in the Maldives. As I said on camera, the 61% was “a reflection of how expensive the Maldives is”. That’s an honest sentence, but it isn’t a verdict on the hotel.
My working life was spent in catastrophe risk, pricing things against what they’re likely to deliver. That’s the logic TripWorthIt™ now uses. We score quality first, on five pillars, from 1 to 5. Then, separately, we ask: did this hotel give you more or less than you’d normally get at this price?
Here’s how Emerald scored on quality:
| Pillar | Score |
|---|---|
| Rest & Recharge | 4.9 |
| Location & Access | 4.2 |
| Property & Setting | 4.2 |
| Service & Ease | 4.0 |
| Hotel Offer | 4.9 |
| Overall, as a Destination | 4.48 / 5 (90%) |
We weight it “as a Destination” because in the Maldives the island supplies almost the whole holiday. There’s nowhere else to go for dinner.
And here’s the value test:
| Price per night (all-inclusive, two people) | £1,000 |
| Average quality we scored | 4.44 |
| Quality you’d expect at that price | 3.87 |
| Difference | +0.57 — beat its bracket |
That +0.57 is the widest margin of any Maldives resort we’ve stayed at. Of the 103 hotels we’ve scored so far, Emerald ranks second for quality and 11th for value.
So the old score said Emerald was expensive. The new one says it was expensive and worth more than it cost. Same stay, same notes, a better question. Here’s how TripWorthIt™ works, and why we changed our minds, or score a stay of your own.
What's included in the Emerald Faarufushi all-inclusive package?
More than we’d seen anywhere else, and that includes resorts that cost more.
What drinks are included?
The villa wine cooler was restocked every day with prosecco, red, white and rosé, alongside a fridge of beer and soft drinks. A bottle of champagne was waiting when we arrived.
The wine list ran to 75 bottles, 35 of them white and 25 red. The bar had around 20 classic cocktails and proper gins, including Hendrick’s and Tanqueray. Where other resorts pour a sparkling wine, Emerald offers champagne choices.
When we asked for something that wasn’t on the list, the sommeliers Bona and Ram, with Joseph, went and found it. That’s the moment we stopped thinking of the package as a set menu.
Can you eat at the à la carte restaurants every night?
Yes, subject to availability. This is the line that sets Emerald apart. Many Maldives all-inclusive packages ration the à la carte restaurants to a set number of visits per stay. Emerald doesn’t. You can eat at them nightly, and some at lunch too.
We pre-booked a few dinners before we arrived. By the time we landed, our villa host had filled in every lunch and dinner for the whole stay. If the schedule doesn’t suit you, the resort app or your host can change it in a minute. The app was one of the easiest we’ve used.
What costs extra?
Very little. Motorised water sports such as flyboarding are charged. Our package came with one included excursion, and we chose the Dolphin Sunset Cruise. More on that below.
Which restaurants are worth booking?
All of them, with one exception that wasn’t the food’s fault. Head Chef Moreno is everywhere, and he insists on dishes that taste the way they would at home, wherever home happens to be.
What’s on the menus at Emerald Faarufushi?
Here’s the short version, from our stay. Menus change (Mediterraneo’s was about to when we left), so treat the dishes as a guide to the style, not a promise.
| Restaurant | When it’s open | What it serves | What we’d order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | Breakfast 7:30–10:00; buffet dinners with themed nights | International buffet, patisserie, cooked-to-order eggs | Eggs Royale, the croissants, a themed night |
| The Beach Club | Lunch | Burgers, pizza, local catch | Grilled tuna or the fish of the day |
| Carnivorous | Dinner (the Beach Club after dark) | Grill: ceviche starters, steaks, fish | Brazilian picanha |
| Mediterraneo | Selected evenings, weather permitting | Creative Mediterranean, fine-dining plates | Local sailfish tartare |
| Le Asiatique | Dinner | Sushi, sashimi, Thai, Malaysian | Beef cheek rendang, curry laksa |
| Teppanyaki | Lunch and dinner | Japanese grill, cooked at the table | Go in the evening; the teriyaki chicken |
| Eclipse Bar | Evenings only | Cocktails, wine, sunset | Whatever Bona or Ram suggests |
All of these were included in our all-inclusive package, with no limit on visits.
Aqua: breakfast and themed buffet nights
Breakfast runs 7:30 to 10:00. Order the special, Eggs Royale or Benedict, or build your own from a small but well-chosen buffet. There’s a fruit bar that cuts to order and an omelette and waffle station.
The buffet sits behind sliding doors, air-conditioned, so birds aren’t a problem the way they are at many Maldives breakfasts. You can sit inside or with your feet in the sand, looking out at the piers on the south coast.
The patisserie is where Aqua pulls away. We spend a lot of time in France. The croissants were as good as any we’ve had there.
Then the surprise: we liked Aqua’s themed buffet nights so much that we cancelled two à la carte dinners to go back.
The Beach Club and Carnivorous
Lunch at the Beach Club is exactly what you want on a Maldives holiday: toes in the sand, turquoise lagoon in front, a menu that runs from burgers and pizza to the local catch and tuna.
At night the same spot becomes Carnivorous. A self-service starter table has salads and tuna and fresh-fish ceviche, then the mains arrive: tuna steak, Brazilian picanha. You eat under the stars with the sound of small waves a few metres away.
Mediterraneo: the one to save for a calm night
Mediterraneo sits on a pier at the quieter back of the island. It isn’t open every night, and seating shrinks when the wind is up.
We found the menu a little narrow for us at the time, and the chef told us it was about to change. What wasn’t narrow was the cooking. Order the local sailfish tartare. What look like quail’s eggs on top are pearls of Campari and citrus that burst like a yolk. It’s the kind of plate we’d expect in the best restaurants of a major city.
Le Asiatique
For sushi, sashimi, Thai and Malaysian dishes. The Pad Thai, beef cheek rendang and curry laksa all tasted the way they would in Phuket or Kuala Lumpur. Smita looked after us here, and looked after us well.
Teppanyaki — the one that didn’t land
We went for lunch rather than dinner, so it wouldn’t eat into an evening. It was the only meal that disappointed, and mostly not because of the food. The homemade teriyaki sauce on the chicken was outstanding. The beef was fine, the rice and vegetables unremarkable.
The problem was the show. Teppanyaki needs an audience that joins in, and on a bright beach at midday, with the sea calling, nobody at our table did. The chef worked hard for very little back. Book it for an evening, or skip it.
What is the Beach Villa with pool like?
It exceeded what we expected, and the villa wasn’t even what made the stay.
The bed sits in the middle of the room with a sofa at its foot and a desk behind, should you feel inclined. There’s plenty of wardrobe space. The bathroom has twin sinks, strong hot water, and doors out to a private garden with an outdoor shower and a bath. Showering outside first thing, with nobody able to see you, is one of the small pleasures of the Maldives.
Out the back, a deck with a table, a big lounger, a plunge pool and a second outdoor shower. Then the beach.
Which side of the island should you pick?
We were on the southern beach and wouldn’t change it. It gets sun all day, the sunsets are straight in front of you, and you’re a short walk from Aqua and the snorkelling pier. The Eclipse Bar, open evenings only, is right there for sunset.
Sunrise-side villas have longer beaches, but they’re closer to the seaplane arrivals and can catch more wind in the December to May monsoon. Staff told us the west-south-westerly winds we had were unusual for the season.
The island is fighting coastal erosion, as most Maldives islands are. Some paths narrowed while we were there. The team works on it constantly, and the sand moves back when the monsoon turns, but your villa’s position can affect what your beach looks like that week.
How good is the house reef at Emerald Faarufushi?
The best we’ve snorkelled at any Maldives resort.
Swim off the end of the south pier and you’re on the reef edge immediately. The depth goes from two feet to twenty in a few strokes. Over nine days we saw black-tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, eagle rays and a moray eel, in among thousands of reef fish. It felt like swimming through an aquarium.
We waited several days for the conditions, though. The film has the footage from the morning the wind finally dropped, and it does a better job than words.
The Water Sports Centre handles snorkel gear and the paid activities. It was also, we noticed, one of the only places on the island where we met Maldivian staff. Most of the team we got to know came from India and Sri Lanka.
What didn’t work?
We arrived thinking two things would spoil the holiday: the weather, and the size of the island. We were half right about one of them.
The weather
The first few days were wild. Rain, and wind blowing around 20 knots. Our one included activity was the Dolphin Sunset Cruise, and in that swell the only thing we were going to see was white caps. Some guests were very happy to get back half an hour early. If the wind is up, swap it for something else.
The island’s size, on the other hand, was never a problem. It’s 1.2 km round and takes about 20 minutes to walk, longer if you stop at the piers for photos. Every villa has a fat-tyred bike, and the inner paths take about 13 minutes by bike. Despite the resort being close to 80% full, we could take almost any lounger we wanted at the main pool, most mornings.
The sand was its own small pleasure. A team rakes the high-tide line every morning, clearing dead coral, then does it again after the midday tide. After a few days of walking barefoot, your feet come out better than any pedicure.
Evening entertainment
The one real weak spot. The pool bar is where the nightly entertainment happens, and the shape of the space works against it. The live duo we saw were struggling to get anyone involved, and plenty of people at the bar were on their phones instead. For a resort that does almost everything else this well, the evenings deserve more thought. If lively nights matter to you, this isn’t your island.
Island Time
On arrival you’re asked to set your watch and phone an hour ahead of Malé. It confuses some apps (our home-monitoring one, for a start), but it works in your favour on departure day. Leaving the resort at 9:00 doesn’t feel early when you gain an hour landing back in Malé.
Who looks after you at Emerald Faarufushi?
A team that clearly knows where it’s going, led from the front by Resort Director Patrick De Staercke.
Faheem, our villa host, organised the whole stay before we’d unpacked. Priyanka, at Aqua and Mediterraneo, was lovely to Mel all week. Bona and Ram matched a wine to every dinner. Vishnu sorted our bookings. At breakfast, at lunch, at the pool bar and at dinner, the standard held. That’s harder than it sounds, and it’s why Service & Ease scored 4.0.
How do you get to Emerald Faarufushi from Malé?
By seaplane, about 40 to 45 minutes to Raa Atoll.
We flew British Airways, landing in Malé at around 9:30am. Emerald’s team met us at arrivals and walked us straight through to the seaplane terminal. The seaplane can’t come right up to the island, so it lands at a floating pontoon, and a launch carries you and your bags the last few hundred metres.
On the way home, the seaplane stopped at another resort first, adding about ten minutes. Whether you stop depends on who else is on board. For our 11:15 BA flight home, we left the resort at 9:00, after a relaxed breakfast.
Seaplanes only fly in daylight, so if your international flight lands late, you’ll need a night near Malé first.
We used one of our British Airways Companion Vouchers for the flights. Here’s how we use BA Avios and Companion Vouchers.
How does Emerald compare with JA Manafaru and Velassaru?
We’ve now filmed three Maldives resorts, and Emerald is our pick of the three.
JA Manafaru runs it close. It’s more remote, gave us the deepest rest of the three (a perfect 5.0 for Rest & Recharge), and it’s where I faced something I’d avoided for decades. Velassaru gave us the biggest villa, a free upgrade, and the weakest value.
What separated them wasn’t the villa. It was what the island gave us beyond it: the reef, the table, the wine list. We’ve put all three side by side, with prices and scores, in our Maldives all-inclusive resort comparison.
Is Emerald Faarufushi worth it?
Yes, if you’re going to the Maldives to stay put, eat well and snorkel.
We thought the storm and the small island would be the story of this trip. Instead, the story was a package so generous we stopped looking at the menu prices, because there weren’t any. And a score that told us, two years late, what we’d known at the dinner table: Emerald was expensive, and worth more than we paid.
If you want nightlife, or a base for exploring further, look elsewhere. If you want the island to be the whole holiday, it’s the one we’d go back to first.
Watch the full Emerald Faarufushi film, and browse all our Maldives reviews.
Watch the Emerald Faarufushi review video here:
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And what about the villas?
We chose a Beach Villa with a pool, and it exceeded expectations. The villa features a central bed with a sofa at its foot, a desk behind, and a well-stocked wine cooler and fridge.
Compared to other resorts, the All-Inclusive Package extends to a wine cooler as well as a fridge.
The spacious bathroom opens to an outdoor shower and a luxurious bathtub in a private garden. The rear sun deck includes a table, chairs, a large lounger, and a plunge pool with a secondary outdoor shower.
Where’s the best spot?
Our villa sat on the southernmost beach, offering uninterrupted views of the sea and the Eclipse Bar. The wide beach and shallow waters added to the charm. This prime location provided easy access to Aqua Buffet and the pier for snorkeling. Plus, we enjoyed spectacular sunsets from our pool or loungers without dealing with crowds.
Sunrise or Sunset?
Sunrise-side villas offer longer beaches but are closer to seaplane arrivals and may experience more wind during the December-May monsoon season. Staff mentioned that our WSW winds were unusual for the season, but it’s worth considering the calmer side for a future visit.
The island faces ongoing coastal erosion, with some paths narrowing during our stay. Maintenance efforts continue, but villa locations may influence your experience.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Emerald Faarufushi all-inclusive package worth it?
For us, yes. It’s the most generous package we’ve had in the Maldives: a daily-restocked wine cooler, a 75-bottle wine list, and unlimited à la carte dining. On TripWorthIt™ it beat its price bracket by +0.57, the widest margin of any Maldives resort we’ve scored.
What’s included in the Emerald Faarufushi all-inclusive?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet and the à la carte restaurants with no cap on visits (subject to availability), most drinks including champagne choices and premium spirits, a daily-stocked villa wine cooler and fridge, bikes, and non-motorised activities. Our package also included one excursion. Motorised water sports cost extra. Check the current package when you book, as inclusions change.
How long is the seaplane from Malé to Emerald Faarufushi?
About 40 to 45 minutes direct. Ours stopped at another resort on the way back, which added about ten minutes. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so a late arrival into Malé means a night near the airport first.
Is Emerald Faarufushi the same as Emerald Maldives?
No. They’re sister resorts, both in Raa Atoll. Emerald Faarufushi is on Faarufushi Island, and Emerald Maldives is on Fasmendhoo Island. We stayed at Emerald Faarufushi.
Which is the best side of the island to stay on?
We’d choose the southern beach again. It has sun all day, the sunsets, and the snorkelling pier on your doorstep. The sunrise side has longer beaches but more wind in the December to May monsoon, and it’s closer to the seaplane arrivals.
Is the house reef at Emerald Faarufushi good for snorkelling?
It’s the best we’ve found at any Maldives resort. Swim off the end of the south pier and the reef drops away within a few strokes. We saw black-tip and nurse sharks, eagle rays and a moray eel. Wait for a calm day — the wind makes a big difference.
What is “Island Time” at Emerald Faarufushi?
The resort runs an hour ahead of Malé. You change your watch and phone when you arrive. It’s mildly confusing for some apps, but it means a 9:00 departure feels gentle, because you gain the hour back in Malé.
Is Emerald Faarufushi good for families?
It can be. There were a few children while we were there, mostly very young, and a kids’ club by reception with a splash pool. It’s a quiet island, though, and the evenings are low-key, so it suits families who want calm over a busy programme.
Why does the film say 61% when TripWorthIt™ says 90%?
The film used our original Holiday Cost of Enjoyment Index, which marked every Maldives resort down simply for being expensive. TripWorthIt™ scores quality first, then tests it against what that price normally buys. Emerald scored 4.48 out of 5 for quality and beat its price bracket. See how TripWorthIt™ works.
Summary
We thought on arrival that the weather and actual size of the resort would put dampeners on an enjoyable holiday. As it turned out, we came away with the view that it was our best destination yet in the Maldives. The rooms are very well appointed and we found it so relaxing just sipping a glass of wine in our own pool. Again, the F&B choices and All-Inclusive package go above and beyond what we have experienced both in the Maldives and elsewhere.
We had amazing sunset views too, so the only thing we missed out on was table service and cocktails. We had one resort activity included during our week and we chose to go on the Dolphin Sunset Cruise. This was a poor choice as it was still blowing 20kts with a reasonable swell, and there was precious likelihood of seeing anything other than white caps. Some guests were very pleased to get back 30 minutes early!
The staff are generous in their welcome and happy to share their stories and hear about our own. There’s a good mix of staff from India and Sri Lanka, but the only Maldivian locals we talked to worked in the Dive Centre or Water sports Centre.
How did we get here? We used one of our British Airways Companion Vouchers to book flights. Read all about how to do that here:
What are other guests saying?
At HindlesWorld, we know that nothing speaks louder than the experiences of fellow travellers. Have you stayed at Emerald Maldives or Emerald Faarufushi? Or another resort in the Maldives? How did it compare?
Real Experiences from Real Travellers
Have a story to share about your time at Emerald Faarufushi? We’d love to hear from you!
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