Stays in Dhiffushi
Dhiffushi is an inhabited island on the eastern side of North Male Atoll, and the stay on this page is not on it: Meeru Maldives Resort Island occupies its own island, Meerufenfushi, in the same part of the atoll. Meeru is reached by a 55-minute speedboat from Velana, so a late international arrival is less of a problem than on a seaplane atoll. The island measures about 1,200 by 350 metres, holds 282 rooms in nine categories, from garden rooms to Jacuzzi water villas, and is the only resort on it. It earns a guest score of 9.3 across more than 1,000 reviews. For families it has the Komas Kids Club, a children's pool and a pitch and putt course, rare on a Maldivian island; divers have a Euro-Divers centre. Dhiffushi itself suits travellers who want a local island with guesthouses, where alcohol is not served and village dress rules apply. The trap: planning to reach Dhiffushi by public ferry on a Friday, when it does not run.
If you searched for Dhiffushi, you are probably weighing a local island against a resort on the eastern rim of North Male Atoll. The resort on this page is Meeru Maldives Resort Island, on nearby Meerufenfushi, 55 minutes by speedboat from Velana. I would choose it for families: 282 rooms, a kids' club, a children's pool and a pitch and putt course on a 1.2-kilometre island. Dhiffushi suits travellers who prefer a guesthouse and village life, with the rules of an inhabited island.
Dhiffushi in numbers
What to expect
- Meeru Maldives Resort Island is 55 minutes by speedboat from Velana, with no seaplane needed.
- Meerufenfushi, Meeru's island, is about 1,200 metres long and 350 metres wide, and Meeru is the only resort on it.
- Meeru has a Euro-Divers centre, the Komas Kids Club and a pitch and putt golf course.
Local tips
- If your flight lands in the evening, Meeru is one of the easier resorts to reach the same day: the transfer is a 55-minute speedboat, not a daylight-only seaplane.
- With children, compare Meeru's family villas and the Komas Kids Club before booking: few Maldivian resorts combine a kids' club with a pitch and putt course.
- Going to Dhiffushi by public ferry? Avoid Friday, when it does not run, and buy the ticket at the Malé terminal rather than on board.
Where to stay
Frequently asked
Is Meeru on Dhiffushi?
No. Meeru Maldives Resort Island has its own island, Meerufenfushi, in the same eastern part of North Male Atoll, and it is the only resort there. Dhiffushi is an inhabited local island with guesthouses. Both are reached by boat from Malé, but they offer very different stays: a full resort on one side, village life on the other.
How do you get to Meeru from the airport?
By speedboat from Velana International Airport, a ride of about 55 minutes according to the resort. No seaplane is involved, so the transfer is not limited to daylight hours the way seaplane resorts are. That makes Meeru a practical choice when an international flight lands in the late afternoon or evening.
Is Meeru good for families?
Yes, it is one of the more family-oriented resorts near Malé. It has 282 rooms including family villas, the Komas Kids Club, a children's pool and playground, a games room and a pitch and putt course. Its island is about 1,200 metres long, large enough for children to move around without feeling confined.