About this hotel
General information
Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort occupies the island of Finolhu in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The name means "sandbank" in Dhivehi, and fittingly so: roughly two kilometres of white beach run across four islets, and a sandbank can be walked out to a beach bar in the shallows. Owned by the German group Seaside Collection, the resort has an unmistakably playful character — kaleidoscope-bright interiors, beach parties with DJs, movie nights and themed evenings on a weekly programme.
There are 125 villas on the beach, along the lagoon and on stilts over the water, 79 of them with their own pool. Guests have four restaurants, bars, Fehi Spa, a PADI dive centre, a kids' club and a separate teens' space. Stays are offered with breakfast, half board or one of two all-inclusive plans. The island runs plastic-free: drinking water is made from seawater and bottled in glass, and toiletries come in refillable bottles.
Location
Finolhu sits on the edge of Baa Atoll above a deep channel, among reefs and the small underwater hills known as thilas, home to around 1,200 reef species. From Malé it is a 30-minute seaplane flight, or a 20-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo followed by 30 minutes by speedboat. Hanifaru Bay, famous for its gatherings of manta rays, is 30 minutes away by boat. Island time runs one hour ahead of Malé.
Spa
Fehi Spa works with the Spanish brand Natura Bissé, and its menu covers body wraps, peels and body rituals, facials for every skin type and massages ranging from classic Swedish to Thai. Separate ladies' and gentlemen's hydrotherapy areas each have a steam room, sauna and plunge pool, and a hairdresser is on hand to style hair for a special dinner or a beach wedding.
Sports & leisure
The PADI dive centre, run by the Dive Butler team, sends its dhonis out daily for a two-tank morning trip and a single afternoon dive, with full-day outings in season; night dives, Nitrox, private instructors and courses from a pool try-dive to specialities are all available. From May to November dozens of manta rays gather in Hanifaru Bay, where whale sharks also appear.
- complimentary: kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, windsurfing and catamarans (for certified sailors) at the water sports centre, open daily 9 am–6 pm; snorkelling gear is lent for the whole stay
- motorised: jet skis, including a guided ride in search of dolphins, X-Jet Blade, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and water-skiing, Seabob, banana and tube rides, parasailing, surfing, e-foiling, speedboat with captain
- excursions: guided snorkelling, trips with the resident marine biologist, traditional Maldivian hand-line fishing, big-game fishing and visits to a local village; guests can help grow coral for the house reef and log data on turtles, mantas and whale sharks
- on land: indoor and outdoor gyms with a personal trainer, an open-air yoga and meditation pavilion, a tennis court with a coach, padel, a golf simulator, a multi-sport court for football and basketball, and the Art Lab for painting and pottery
For children
The Oceaneers' Club looks after toddlers and older children from morning until evening, with play, crafts, cooking and baking sessions and guided outings on and under the water. Teenagers have the Teens Hut, with workshops in digital storytelling, photography and ocean conservation, gaming zones, beach bonfires and silent-disco nights. Children aged 8–9 can try Bubblemaker in the pool or a quiet stretch of lagoon, and from 10 they can take the Junior Scuba Diver course. Birthdays are celebrated with the resort's characters Captain Fin and the mermaid Lhu Lhu, and babysitting is available on request.
Restaurants & bars
The island has four restaurants, several bars and a café; a private dinner on the beach or a floating breakfast in the villa pool can also be arranged.
- Beach Kitchen — the main restaurant beside the pool, looking out to sea: buffets at breakfast, lunch and dinner with Maldivian and international dishes, and evening themes from Asian to Italian and seafood
- Kanusan — set on stilts over the ocean, with a sushi counter and an aperitif bar: classic and modern Japanese cuisine
- Arabian Grill — dinners with the cooking of North Africa and the Middle East: mezze, grilled fish, tagines
- Crab Shack — a timber shack under a palm-thatch roof on the sandbank, 20 minutes' walk or 5 minutes by wooden boat: lunch, dinner, a daytime bar and beach parties at sunset
- Beach Club — the hub of the resort's evenings: cocktails and DJ sets on the sand, shisha on the upper deck and an air-conditioned library upstairs
- Milk LAB — a café for milkshakes, protein drinks, coffee and juices, also selling sunscreen and souvenirs
Swimming
Around two kilometres of white beach wrap around four islets, and a sandbar leads on foot to the Crab Shack on its sandbank. The house reef is easy to reach, even for first-time snorkellers. The main pool, up to 1.2 m deep, sits beside Beach Kitchen; 79 villas have their own pools, and each Lagoon Villa has its own steps into the sea.
Rooms
The 125 villas, in ten categories, stand on the beach, by the lagoon or over the water, and 79 have their own pool. Vivid interiors draw on the colours of the sea and tropical greenery, and every villa has an open-air shower.
Each villa has a 2.1 × 2.1 m king-size bed, cotton linen, an indoor bathroom and an outdoor one with a rain shower, a Marshall sound system, satellite TV, a telephone, free high-speed Wi-Fi, a hairdryer, air conditioning and ceiling fans, a safe, a minibar and a wine fridge.
Lagoon Villa
An overwater villa with a timber deck, sun loungers and its own steps into the sea, plus indoor and outdoor bathrooms. Sleeps two adults and two children or three adults.
Ocean Pool Villa
A villa with direct ocean access, a private freshwater pool that seems to meet the sea, sunset views and an outdoor shower. Sleeps two adults and two children or three adults.
Beach Pool Villa
A villa with a tropical garden, a private pool and beach access facing the lagoon, an open-air bathroom and a sofa bed. Sleeps two adults and two children or three adults.
Beach Villa
A beach villa with views from the bed across the garden and beach to the turquoise water, and a bathroom with tub, shower and open-air area. Sleeps two adults and two children or three adults.
Private Pool Villa
A secluded villa at the back of the island with a tropical garden, private pool, sun loungers and an open-air bathroom, with access to the sea. Sleeps two adults and two children or three adults.
Two Bedroom Interconnecting Beach Villa
Two connecting beach villas with two king-size beds, a private garden and terrace and access to the sea; there are only three on the island. Sleeps four adults and four children or six adults.
Interconnecting Three-Bedroom Beach Pool Villa
Connecting villas with three king-bedded bedrooms set in tropical greenery, with a private garden, terrace and access to the sea. Sleeps six adults and four children or nine adults.
Two Bedroom Water Villa with Pool
An overwater villa with a large sun deck, an eight-metre pool, a cabana swing, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious living room, looked after by a dedicated guest host. Sleeps four adults and four children or six adults.
Two Bedroom Beach Villa with Pool
The largest of the two-bedroom villas, set on the white sand, with a ten-metre pool, a large living room, two bedrooms with separate bathrooms and its own stretch of beach, looked after by a dedicated guest host. Sleeps four adults and four children or six adults.
Two Bedroom Rockstar Villa
Set at the very end of the boardwalk, with its own buggy, an eight-metre infinity pool, a private bar, two bedrooms, bathtubs and outdoor showers, a microwave, a large fridge with ice dispenser, an espresso machine and a dedicated guest host. Sleeps four adults and four children or six adults.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.