Sheraton Maldives Resort  – A Review

The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort is actually one of the original resorts in the Maldives. Countless guests have stayed here over the years, and it is not hard to see why. The Sheraton Maldives is located on a lush, green island and includes a lagoon with insane water color, overwater bungalows, and more restaurants than most other resorts. Look no further if you want to spend an amazing couples or family vacation at an affordable Maldives resort.

We spent 3 nights at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort, enjoying the beautiful turquoise waters, trying out all of the activities, and sampling as many of the restaurants as we could to prepare for this Sheraton review to help you decide if the Sheraton Maldives is the right resort for your vacation to the Maldives.

Disclaimer:  Our stay at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort was courtesy of the resort. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and as always, all our opinions on this Sheraton Maldives review and what to do are our own. Please note that some of the links in the below article are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. Click here for the full disclosure statement. Thank you for supporting the businesses that support us!

Sheraton Maldives Location

The Sheraton Maldives Resort is located on the private Furanafushi Island in the North Male Atoll. The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort is approximately 8 miles (12 km) north of Male. Everyone arriving in the Maldives will initially fly into Male International Airport and from there, you will then take a 15-20 minute speedboat ride to the Sheraton Maldives Resort.

If you’re visiting the Maldives for the first time, the whole arrival process can be quite intimidating. It’s a bit of complex organized chaos which always seems to work. It can be a stressful experience, especially if your incoming flight is delayed, but in reality, it will all work out and there’s really nothing to worry about. Check out our Maldives for First-Timers Guide for all of the in’s and out’s of how traveling to the Maldives and the private islands works.

As the only way to reach the Sheraton Maldives Resort is by speedboat, that is how you will be getting there! The cost of the speedboat transfer to the Sheraton Maldives is included in your room rate, so there is no additional charge. This is a welcome change to most other Maldives resorts that can charge significantly for speedboat or float plane transfers.

With the Sheraton Maldives including the speedboat transfer, and with the close location to Male, you will save both time and money getting to the resort compared to nearly every other option! On the flip side, being so close to Male means that you do not have uninterrupted seas views, and you will hear aircraft going in and out throughout the day.

Sheraton Maldives Arrival

When you clear Maldivian Customs & Immigration, grab your luggage and head outside the airport. You will be met with hundreds of representatives from all of the different hotels and resorts, all waving their signs in the air. Look for the friendly Sheraton representative, or if you’re not able to find them you can ask a representative from a different hotel to help you find them. The Marriott property representatives from the other Marriott resorts in the Maldives would be your best bet.

The Sheraton Maldives representative will tell you when your boat is scheduled to depart, and if you are currently waiting on any other guests from your flight. They will then assist you and your luggage to the boat dock.

The boat dock at the airport is located immediately outside the exit, so you don’t have far to walk. You’ll be greeted aboard by one of the Sheraton Maldives crewmembers, provided with bottled water to refresh, and soon enough you’ll be on your way! The boat ride from the airport takes about 15-20 minutes and along the way you will pass by the Male airport and a few other local islands.

Once you’ve arrived at the Sheraton Maldives, it’s just a short walk to the check-in area, where you will be provided a welcome beverage.

As we arrived during COVID-19 times, safety precautions were taken. All staff are wearing masks throughout the resort, however masks are not required to be worn by guests other than when at the buffet.

Check-in was completed quickly, and the layout of the resort, dining options, and other amenities were all explained to us. We were then taken by golf cart along with our luggage to our overwater villa!

Sheraton Maldives Rooms

The Sheraton Maldives has a wide variety of room types available, depending on your budget and preferences. No matter which room type you are staying in on the island you can expect daily housekeeping as well as a daily turn-down service. Bottled water is included in the room complimentary and is replenished each day.

Guest Rooms and Cottages

The Sheraton Maldives has a few different types of guest rooms, cottages, water bungalows, and water villas, depending on what you prefer. Guest rooms are available on ground and upper floors and have either garden or beach views. The on-island rooms are spread throughout the island, whereas the beach cottages are located right along the beach and feature a larger area, perfect for families. The cottages also include an outdoor garden shower and large spacious patio.

Water Bungalows

The water bungalows at the Sheraton Maldives are all located on the western side of the island, facing the sunset. During our stay at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort, we stayed in a Water Bungalow with Pool. There are multiple “pods” overwater where the bungalows are located, and ours was located approximately in the middle, close to the walkway to get back onto the island.

Stepping into the villa, you have a large storage area to the right of the entrance area, perfect to unpack all of your baggage and move in! There is also a mini-bar and coffee station here, with Nespresso machines and a selection of coffee pods. There is a desk area if needed, which then opens into the main bedroom area. The King-size bed was incredibly comfortable, and there was also a couch for relaxing and television, though we didn’t actually use it! The bedroom area has double-doors that open onto your private deck with lounge chairs and a private plunge pool.

Having your own pool in an overwater bungalow is a definite luxury, which we really enjoyed and used daily. Of course, you can also climb down the stairs and snorkel in front of your overwater bungalow!

Back to the villa, there is a separate entrance to the bathroom which has a large soaker tub, separate rain shower, and all amenities that you will need.

Furthermore, inside your room you will find lifejackets, beach towels, umbrellas, beach bags, and more to make the most out of your stay at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort.

The Water Suite

The Water Suite is the largest accommodation available at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort. The Water Suite is a large 2,200 sq ft (205 sq m) and includes 2 bedrooms, a large living and dining area, kitchenette, and a huge outdoor deck with lap pool and overwater nets.

The Water Suite at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort is perfect for families and large groups that could use the extra space, or for those who prefer additional privacy and service.

Sheraton Maldives Amenities

When you go to any resort in the Maldives it’s important to consider all of the amenities available on the island because you don’t have the option of heading somewhere else if you get bored. The Sheraton Maldives has lots of options to keep you busy, from adventure activities, to boat cruises, and more.

Complimentary Amenities

The Sheraton Maldives Resort has a number of amenities available on the island to keep you busy throughout your stay that are already included. The main pool area is located in the center of the restaurant area, and features lots of lounge chairs, a hot tub, and a waterfall and river flowing into the pool area. This area is surrounded by lush tropical trees and plants. The second main relaxing area is at the northern end of the lagoon on Kakuni Beach. Here you will also find fun activities such as life-size chess, outdoor table tennis, water volleyball, and more.

The Sheraton Maldives Resort also has a Sheraton Fitness gym which is available 24/7 and located near the center of the island. In addition to your typical indoor gym with air condition, there is also a fun outdoor workout area with weights, climbing bars, ropes, and more to exercise outside in the fresh air and sun. If those aren’t enough to keep you active, a tennis court is also available.

For families staying at the Sheraton Maldives Resort, there is a kids club which has daily activities for kids staying on the island.

One of the great things to do at the Sheraton Maldives Resort which is complimentary is going snorkeling! You can check out snorkeling equipment for your whole stay and keep it in your room, which is especially nice if you have an overwater villa. The lifejackets included in the rooms are specifically for snorkeling.

There are a few different snorkeling areas at the Sheraton Maldives Resort. You can snorkel near the welcome jetty, where they have a lot of coral and reefs, out in front of the overwater villas, or in the lagoon on the other side of the island. The lagoon is a more protected area, and doesn’t include any reefs, but is visited by quite a few fish and the odd ray and reef shark! 

Additional Available Amenities

There is also a dive center and Extreme Maldives water sports center on the island. You can arrange a multitude of different dives and dive certifications, including night dives. The water sports center also rents jet skis, windsurfing boards, or you can arrange a boat trip for sightseeing, snorkeling, water-skiing, and more. They also offer guided trips for sailing, fishing, and diving.

We went on the Sunset Dolphin Cruise which was not too far of a boat ride. As soon as we reached the viewing location, we were surprised by quite a few dolphins visiting our boat. The boat is a traditional Maldivian Dhoni, making the cruise special even if you don’t see many dolphins! We were told though that while seeing dolphins is not guaranteed, you can be quite sure that you will get to see some dolphins on every trip!

Additionally, the Snorkeling Safari excursion is worth it if you want to see more diversity when snorkeling. The tour will take you to two different locations close to nearby islands where you will see some rich undersea life. While the water was a bit rough during our trip, we still had an incredible time swimming with the reef sharks, rays, and more fish than we could count!

If you’re looking to add a bit more romance to your trip, you can opt for a private movie night under the stars which is set up on the beach, and includes champagne, popcorn, ice cream, and marshmallows. Alternatively, a special Lagoon Lunch can be reserved where you will dine at a picnic table set up in the ocean! You will select your lunch the evening before so it can be properly prepared, and then you can enjoy lunch with feet in the beautiful turquoise waters of the lagoon.

Lastly, if you’re looking to relax on your trip, the Sheraton Maldives Resort has the Shine spa, which is located on a separate island from the main resort. You can reach the island by overwater walkway, and once you arrive you will instantly feel more relaxed. The Shine Spa offers a variety of services, as well as use of the spa pool and facilities like steam rooms. We enjoyed a couples massage with the treatment room having open doors to the ocean, which was incredibly relaxing.

Sheraton Maldives Dining

No matter where you are staying in the Maldives, you can’t just leave the resort to head out for dinner. That’s why the dining options at Maldives resorts are so important as you don’t have the flexibility of a typical vacation. The Sheraton Maldives is unique in that it has no less than 7 restaurants on the island. With this many dining options, you’re sure not to get bored eating the same food day after day.

Meal Plan Options

It pays to do some research on the dining options available at your selected Maldives resort beforehand, and incorporate that information into your decision of where to stay in the Maldives. At the Sheraton Maldives Resort nearly every paid room rate will already include breakfast.

The Sheraton Maldives also offers options for select packages that include half-board, full-board, and all-inclusive dining packages. The pricing and package specials can change frequently, so be sure to reach out to the hotel if this is of interest to you. We think that any package option can generally represent a good deal because the individual a la carte prices are high, typical of all Maldivian island resorts.

Feast Restaurant

Feast Restaurant is the primary dining place, and only buffet option on the island. It is centrally located just off of the main building and pool area. Here is where you will find the extensive breakfast buffet, with plenty of seating, including a special air-conditioned room if you’re not feeling the heat!

The breakfast buffet display at Feast was extensive, with plenty of hot Western food options, a rotating selection of Asian inspired breakfast items, fresh pastries, an Indian breakfast area, as well as a Maldivian breakfast selection. Lastly, there is a crepe stand where you can have made to order crêpes. Our favorites were the Indian food, Asian breakfast items, and fresh-made omelets and crêpes.

Sea Salt Restaurant

The Sea Salt Restaurant is the flagship restaurant at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort, and offers an extensive seafood menu and a beautiful al fresco dining experience overlooking the lagoon. Tables are spread throughout the beach area, and some tables are located right at the water’s edge. The restaurant features its own tank of freshly caught fish, where you can select what you would like for your meal.

We sampled one of the most impressive meals at Sea Salt, the Spaghetti all-Aragosta which is a lobster in tomato, basil, white wine, and lobster bisque sauce. We also tried La Burrata d’Andria as a starter and the Gnocchi di Patate, which were both excellent. Be sure to save some room for some delicious Italian Tiramisu!

While dining at Sea Salt Restaurant, don’t forget to look out over the water. We saw multiple types of fish and reef sharks swim by as we dined.

Anchorage Bar

Anchorage Bar is the main bar area of the resort, but also serves lunch and dinner in an expansive open-air setting. Anchorage Bar has a stunning view of the turquoise water of the lagoon, and is perfect to enjoy a meal, a drink, or both, while staring in awe at the color of the Maldives water.

We enjoyed a meal at Anchorage Bar and were impressed by how delicious the pizza was, as well as the fish and chips. If you’re staying at the Sheraton Maldives Resort, be sure to have at least one meal at Anchorage Bar!

ChopstiX

The ChopstiX Restaurant is also located near the main pool area, close to the other restaurants. The restaurant has a selection of Chinese inspired favorites, but also other Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese specialties on offer. ChopstiX is open for lunch and dinner, and is fairly small, but is one of the few restaurants to offer plenty of indoor seating, if desired.

We enjoyed a selection of dumplings, dim sum options, a spicy cucumber salad and a personal favorite, drunken noodles!

Baan Thai

As you could have guessed, Baan Thai serves up Thai food. What you might not expect is how delicious it is, prepared by an all-Thai cooking staff. Baan Thai is located off of the main pool area in its own separate building and is only open for dinner. We had wonderful service at this restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed eating some of our favorite Thai dishes, green curry and yellow curry! If you have room, be sure to save space for the mango sticky rice for dessert!

Other Dining Options

Of course, you can also order room-service anytime of the day and enjoy a meal on your private deck, or even have breakfast in bed. Note that in-room dining is not included in any of the meal plans.

Other available restaurants are the Maldivian Fish Market for dinner, which specializes in local Maldivian seafood, served at Anchorage Beach. Kakuni Hut is the dining option that is located on the northern end of the lagoon, away from the main pool and restaurant area. At Kakuni Hut you can enjoy a relaxed dining experience, with your feet in the sand dining under palm trees. Kakuni Hut serves Caribbean style finger food, and international snacks for lunch only. Lastly, the Masala Hut is another dining option for lunch and dinner, offering classic Indian dishes. If you opt for the Lagoon Lunch, you will check in at the Masala Hut Restaurant and dine in the lagoon just in front of it.

Sheraton Maldives Booking Options

With the Sheraton brand being a part of the Marriott portfolio, this Sheraton Maldives review is likely of interest to many Marriott Bonvoy members. In particular, because the Sheraton Maldives is one of the more attainable Maldives properties on points for Marriott Bonvoy members. Award redemption costs start at 41,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and up.

Paid stays predictably vary quite a bit with the high seasonality of travel demand to the Maldives. Low season rates can be found in the high $200 USD range with high season rates costing many multiples more. Upgrades to larger rooms or overwater bungalows come at a premium.

When considering between a points stay or paid stay, note that all paid stays do include breakfast, however points stays do not. However, if you are Marriott Platinum or higher, you can choose free breakfast as your amenity.

You might also be able to score a deal by booking through a site such as Booking.com, check availability and deals for your dates here.

Sheraton Maldives Review Conclusion

Choosing the right Maldives resort for you is incredibly important, as unlike other vacations there is no sightseeing or visiting a city, your resort choice is your vacation destination. The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon resort offers an affordable alternative to many of the very expensive resorts in the Maldives. The Sheraton Maldives is located close to Male, just a speedboat ride away, has a lush green jungle feel on island, and offers a wide selection of restaurants. It is not the right resort for someone looking for uninterrupted sea views on a far-flung remote island. Overall, we recommend the Sheraton Maldives for a traveler that is looking for an affordable Maldives experience.

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