Is Sheraton Maldives Worth It? A Luxury Hotel Review

Esther Mehesz
Jun 9
9 min read

Updated: Jul 15

If you’re dreaming of a Maldivian escape that’s luxurious yet convenient, intimate yet full of options, the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa just might be your perfect match. I spent my birthday week here (6 nights and 7 days), and from the moment we landed at Velana International Airport, everything felt effortless and seamless—an ideal start to any luxury resort vacation.

Quick note: At first, I was worried about coming to the Maldives in June because normally people come here in December-February during dry season, but this past year, even during dry season, it was raining! But (yes, there is a but) I had a friend visit last June who said that it rains for about 10 minutes and then stops, maybe at max 2x throughout the day, and that's it. So it's really a hit or a miss, but honestly (knock on wood), we had some of the nicest weather during this low season and "wet" season. It rained once during the day for 5 minutes, and twice at night during the week, and that was all. With that being said, let's get right to it!

The Easiest Arrival Ever to the Sheraton Maldives

After a 4-hour, jam-packed flight from Dubai (that could only mean good things if everyone else is going to the Maldives right now, too) to the mainland of the Maldives, we were directed straight from the airport arrivals area to the Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa booth. Within minutes, our bags were tagged, and we were on a speedboat gliding through the bluest of blue waters of the North Malé Atoll.

Unlike many Maldivian resorts that require a hydroplane transfer or a longer speedboat transfer, the Sheraton Maldives is on Furanafushi Island, just a 15-minute boat ride from the airport—making it an ideal spot if you’re arriving in the evening or during the wet season, especially when seaplanes are grounded due to rain or darkness. That's something to keep in mind when booking your Maldives vacation!

Another bonus? The boat transfer is included in your stay (a major cost saver—check that fine print!). Yes, you read that right, not all resorts have the speedboat or hydroplane included in their price; sometimes, there is an additional fee for these.

Check-In with a Birthday Twist

Even though we arrived early (around 9 AM), we were greeted with a welcome drink, a map of the private island, and warm smiles from the staff members. At first, we had booked a Beach Cottage, but asked if there would be an option to upgrade, and for a much smaller fee, we were able to upgrade to either an Overwater Bungalow or an Ocean View Pool Villa - and chose the Ocean View Pool Villa. More on that later, why we chose the Ocean View Pool Villa (but it was a 10/10 choice!) Since our Ocean View Pool Villa wasn’t quite ready, we were given access to a relaxation room—complete with showers and lounge chairs, the perfect refresh after an overnight flight before heading to our room. Granted, if we didn't upgrade last minute, our room would have been ready for our 9 am arrival - which is huge considering that's adding an entire day onto your trip.

Even then, after a little time (by 10:30 am), a golf cart took us to our villa. We seriously got a full day in our villa (not something that would probably happen during high season). And let me tell you: WOW.

As soon as we walked in, everything was already set up to greet me for my birthday! A slice of cake and on the bed, written out Happy Birthday - it was the perfect start to my birthday week!

Why We Skipped the Overwater Bungalows

We had the option for the classic Overwater Bungalows, but ultimately chose the Ocean View Pool Villas as it has a private pool—and it was the best option for us. Tucked on the south side of the island, it felt like we had no next-door neighbors and all the privacy in the world. Also, not only did we hear back from two other people who work on the island, and even they said that the Overwater Villas are a bit "overhyped" and "over-rated". Although they are gorgeous, they did give it that, they are much smaller and very cramped. They promised the Ocean View Pool Villas were the right way to go!

Here’s why we loved it:

A plunge pool with views of the Indian Ocean
Sunrise views from bed
A massive bathroom with windows on every side (the most perfect natural light bathroom), a tub to fit two people, an outdoor shower, and coffee and tea-making facilities
Bicycles to cruise the small island (it’s only 800 meters long by 300 meters wide), but those bikes were a hot commodity! They were exclusive to only the Ocean View Pool Villa guests, but everyone else in the other stays, whether in the beach cottages or the bungalows, wanted the bikes too. And, no need to leave the bike just anywhere, there was designated bike "parking" throughout the island too.

Honestly, this place has some of the largest rooms I’ve stayed in, and everything is designed with beach sunbathing, slow mornings, and luxury living in mind.

Dining & What We Did About Food

Here’s the thing—Maldives prices are no joke, especially for food and drinks. I mean, if you're paying for a Diet Coke, that's going to cost you $ 8 USD. But I do have my 20% off on Food and Beverages with Marriott Bonvoy, but even then, that may have been some of the most expensive Diet Coke I've had. With that being said, we opted out of the all-inclusive package and only booked it with breakfast included. It turned out to be the right decision for us. This really varies from person to person and your needs. With my mom, we're not big dinner people, so for us, splitting an appetizer at 5 pm is perfect for us to call it a day with that if we've had a good breakfast. For us, we don't eat (nor do we drink) that much to justify the cost of an all-inclusive.

What are the options? At the Feast Restaurant, breakfast is a global buffet: live cooking stations, Asian options, Muslim-friendly dishes, pastries galore, and enough fresh fruit to keep your tropical dreams alive. And I am someone who has food allergies, doesn't eat everything, and I was even able to find plenty of options for myself.

Because we don’t drink alcohol and aren’t big eaters during the day, we brought snacks from home (just remember: no pork or alcohol allowed in luggage). For dinner, we’d either split something light or try one of the many dining options like:

Anchorage Bar – ideal for happy hours with live music and a little local flavor
Baan Thai – authentic Thai food on a romantic patio
Sea Salt – beachfront seafood with views of Malé City Island

Activities & Experiences

While most time is spent relaxing, you’ll still find a fair number of items on the activity list. And the best part? You don't even have to break the bank to enjoy activities on the small private island!

Sunset dolphin cruise (book early—our first try was canceled due to low turnout) - this was an additional cost (USD 85/ person), but you're about 95% guaranteed to see dolphins during the hour and a half out on the boat.
Free non-motorized water sports like paddleboarding and kayaking every day for 30 minutes are included in your stay
Snorkeling gear rentals (free for your entire stay)
Excursions to Malé city center - an additional cost. We ended up opting out of this one as it's not every day, and it does get hot in the middle of the day (and that's when they would have taken place).
Spa sessions at the Shine Spa on its own mini-island (bliss!) - also an additional cost
Talks from the marine biologists on the island from Reefescape. Very knowledgeable and sharing all there is to talk about coral reefs and how they are being planted at Sheraton Maldives, and what they are doing to preserve the reefs.

Our favorite activity? We joined the sunset dolphin cruise later in the week, and seeing the pods swimming alongside us was surreal. We also learned that the coral reefs around the island are part of a reef renewal program, which we’ll dive into more in another post—especially the "small" shark and marine life we spotted on our snorkel outing.

Extra Notes That Made a Big Difference

As someone who travels every month somewhere new, there are different ways that you can go about a Maldives Resort stay. You can go all out and spend every last dime, but you can also be smart about it and enjoy this vacation amongst other travels that you may have planned throughout the year. Sheraton Maldives, in my opinion, really is affordable luxury, and sometimes I think we're all looking for that happy medium. But here are some additional things that were extremely nice to have at the Sheraton Maldives, and some things not to be surprised about if you arrive at the Resort.

Check-in time was flexible and early, thanks to great hospitality. Ask for the upgrade possibilities - you may just be in luck and can get a better rate than online.
You get free water daily in your villa (don’t take this for granted in the Maldives!) I've been to plenty of other resorts in Africa and Asia where you're looking for the water filling stations or where you'll be gathering your daily water.
There is room service both in the morning and in the evening. We had one of the nicest housekeepers, who was always a pleasure to run into in the evenings when we were back in the room
The island is one of the third-oldest resorts, so they know what they’re doing. And the best thing, this is not a man-made island, this is an actual island of the Maldives.
The staff is kind and very generous. Willing to get to know you (especially when you're open to them as well). They knew me and my mom as the two who would always be on the bike, saying hi and waving, and it felt like they knew about our travel plans after the Maldives, too
The gym is open 24/7 with updated equipment, and it's spacious
There’s a tennis court, a soccer field, and a lagoon-style pool that everyone can use
Plenty of white loungers around the nice-sized public beach area
Fruit bats are flying overhead during the day and in the early evening, in addition to little geckos running around the Villas' walls outside at night (one or two might sneak in), but they are not harmful!
One last thing that has to be said, the staff - they are willing to go the extra mile. Here's why:

So, what do I mean when I say they go the extra mile? Let me tell you a quick story.

The Staff Went the Extra Mile

I was a little late applying for my India eVisa (I know, careless mistake from me)—we were heading there right after the Maldives—and I only applied two days before we were supposed to arrive in India...oops. Turns out it takes 3–5 business days to process, and weekends or holidays don’t count. I applied on a Saturday… and needed that visa by Monday.

Cue panic.

As we were freaking out (more so me, and less so my calm, cool, collected mom), we happened to run into one of the marine biologists we’d met on our dolphin outing. We explained the situation, and she immediately jumped in to help. She introduced us to a staff member with an Indian background, hoping he might know what to do. And let me tell you—he didn’t just help, he went above and beyond.

He called the Indian embassy, contacted Air India, and even offered to help us get to the main island to physically retrieve the visa if needed (that was plan B to get a visa on time). But here’s the magic: within just 16 hours—on a weekend, no less—our eVisas arrived. At 7:45 am on Sunday morning, I got the best birthday gift: two approved e-visas in my inbox!

That’s what I mean when I say they go the extra mile. This was just one of the many incredible moments during our stay in the Maldives. The staff were always smiling, always waving, and genuinely kind. And yes, I absolutely cried (tears seriously ran down my face) when we had to check out—it really was a week I’ll never forget.

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning a special occasion (like a birthday!), the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort is a luxury hotel with easy access, an intimate vibe, and a team that goes the extra mile.

With that being said, if you’re into plunge pools, ocean views, or just looking for a relaxing getaway on a private island, this resort delivers on every front. The Maldives really was everything I imagined it would be and more.

And honestly? The only thing that’s stopping me from coming back every year is not many things—because even the 9-hour flight from Budapest is worth it for a slice of paradise.

Planning Your Trip?

Don’t forget to:

Book early to score your annual free night’s award
Fill out the pre-arrival form with flight details and special occasion notes (I even received my birthday cake twice, and my bed was decorated with Happy Birthday right at the beginning of checking in)
Pack snacks and essentials (but leave the pork and alcohol at home!)
Bring your credit card (or USD in cash as the island does accept USD)—you’ll need it for any extras that you may want to do or souvenirs that you may want to purchase
Bring mosquito spray, in the evenings, they do occasionally come out, and you'll want to be prepared

Stay tuned for more stories about coral reefs and the next part of the birthday trip in India! And one thing is for sure - I’d happily spend my next birthday here again!

Cheers to another year and many more birthday trips!