Gili Lankanfushi

Style

Walking on water

Setting

Lapis lazuli lagoon

No news, no shoes: that’s the only rule at Gili Lankfanfushi in the Maldives, where the one thing you’ll fret about is whether or not the dolphins show up when you go diving. Here, relaxation is taken very seriously: cue magic 'Mr Friday's, a tranquil spa and delicious dining.

Facilities

Rooms

Forty-five, including 29 suites.

Checkout

Noon; earliest check-in, 2pm (50 per cent of the daily room rate for 6pm check-out and 100 per cent of the daily room rate for all later times, subject to availability).

More Details

Breakfast is usually included in room rates; full-board is from US$185 per person, per night.

Also

You’re already in heaven, but keep on indulging: Meera Spa has six overwater treatment rooms, a yoga or Tai Chi champa, steam and sauna, and an upstairs relaxation room with uninterrupted ocean views; help yourself to tea and water, or try one of the spa mocktails (listed on a menu that details their healing benefits: try a detoxifier, cleanser or energiser). Ask for a massage table with a glass floor, so you can spy on the fish darting around beneath you, or opt for the private, open-air double treatment room on the beach, shielded by greenery.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Beach, cinema, butler service, library, stash of CDs and DVDs, free WiFi throughout. In rooms: TV, CD/DVD player, pre-loaded iPod and iPod dock, minibar, bathrobes.

Our Favourite Rooms

We were seduced by the Villa Suites - you'd never guess that they're the entry-level category. These suites span 210sq m and are open-air, apart from the bedroom (which is also the only bit with air-con; everywhere else gets a sea breeze). Each of these villas has a large living room with day-beds and an overwater sundeck with two sun beds, an umbrella and stairs leading to the ocean. Upstairs, there's a large rooftop sundeck with day-beds and dining facilities.

Poolside

There’s a rectangular swimming pool on the beach, surrounded by leaning palms, white sun loungers and swooping hammocks. Order drinks and refreshments poolside.

Packing Tips

Don’t weigh down your case with toiletries: rooms are stocked with aloe vera gel, insect repellent, after-sun lotion, shampoo and conditioner in ceramic containers (avoiding plastic waste). You’ll also get a toothbrush, toothpaste and basic first aid kit if you need it. There’s a no-shoes policy here; just bring trainers for the tennis courts. Mrs Smiths might want to get a pedicure for holiday tootsies.

Also

Each villa is looked after by a 'Mr (or Ms) Friday', a brilliant butler/companion, who you'll want to take home with you.

Children

Little Smiths are very welcome. Extra beds for under-12s are US$55 a night. A 50 per cent food discount applies to under-12s, and under-6s eat free. Return speedboat transfers for under-12s are US$151 a child; for under-2s transfers are free.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

The one you can't see: be picked up by buggy, blindfolded and taken to a secret spot on the island. Your blindfold will be left on during dinner, so that you can fully appreciate what you're eating. (A waiter will make sure you put it In your mouth.)

Dress Code

Whatever the heck you like, but bring longer hemlines and short-sleeved tops for visits to the neighbouring Muslim islands. Wear sunscreen at all times: the sun is ferocious (you can buy more on the island, if you run out).

Hotel Restaurant

You need a week or two to just do justice to the hotel's array of eating options. Restaurant on the Beach is a sandy setting for breakfast and dinner, with shaded wooden chairs and tables positioned beneath the palms. Breakfast is a vast spread of pastries, preserves, breads and tropical fruit; dinner on some nights features cooking stations (Asian street market, Mediterranean buffet and so on) and live entertainment. By the Sea on the sunrise side of the island serves Japanese food (try the crispy soy-braised pork belly). The restaurant is perched high above the beachside forest, with views of the ocean, and boasts a copper-clad sushi and sashimi bar, sake menu and an open kitchen. At the Over Water Bar, guests can choose from choice cuts of lamb, steak, pork and duck, all cooked on a lava stone grill.

Hotel Bar

The Over Water Bar Is set over a shallow lagoon with 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. It's an idyllic place to admire the sunset. The bar offers a buffet lunch between 12.30pm and 3pm, or you can order pizzas, salads, sushi, burgers and lobster until 6pm. Sip a ginger mint julep (Jim Beam, ginger, lime juice, mint and sugar syrup), or try one of the experimental martinis.

Last Orders

Dinner orders are taken until 10.30pm in the various restaurants; drinks are served until your thirst’s quenched.

Room Service

Pick from an international menu of regional, Mediterranean and Asian specialties between 7am and 11pm. There are a bewildering array of breakfast options – American, Spa, Pre-dive, Asian and a la carte – and for lunch, order salads, sandwiches or pizza.

Planes

The main international airport is at Malé (+960 325511; www.airports.com.mv), central to both the North and South atolls: fly in from the US or the UK via Dubai with Emirates Airlines or connect from an Etihad flight into Abu Dhabi. There are numerous direct charter flights into Malé from the UK. From the airport a speedboat will take you to the island; shared return transfers are US$302 a person (excluding taxes and service charge).

Automobiles

Forget about it; any exploring you do will be by dhoni or speedboat.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Go and say hello to the resident octopus lurking in the lagoon by the overwater bar (he seems to be most sociable around 10am). Gili Lankanfushi offers a holiday’s worth of free activities: start the day with sunrise yoga; go windsurfing, kayaking or Hobie Cat sailing; hit the tennis courts, play table tennis or go jogging. If you’re feeling too lazy to do the above, the hotel has a large selection of boardgames including chess, backgammon and trivial pursuit. You can borrow bikes or ask your Man Friday to pick you up in a buggy and drop you off somewhere on the island (you can easily get around on foot, though). Staff can also arrange day trips and excursions, including: sunset or sunrise dhoni cruises, sandbank picnics, dolphin cruises, trips to Malé and the other local islands, private movie screenings at the Jungle Cinema (or a location of your choice). Have a sushi-making class at By the Sea: the tuna tataki is scrummy.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .