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We did a huge amount of research before choosing the exclusive 5-star Ozen Life Maadhoo resort for our once-in-a-lifetime 10-day holiday to the Maldives. Anyone planning to holiday in the Maldives will have similar problems in refining down hundreds of options into a final selection. The more we researched the more confused we became. There were simply too many options and huge amounts of information to digest from different sources (reviews, YouTube, friends etc). Artificial Intelligence came to our rescue. We typed in dates, budget, flight journeys, types of accommodation (beach and over-water villas) and what we wanted in terms of package (e.g. genuine all inclusive (AI) as so many resorts had packages-with-caveats). We were there to relax after all and didn’t want the sting in the tail bill when it came to checking out. Being able to eat and drink when and where we wanted without being told: “Sorry, this is an additional charge” was a key criterion. We asked artificial intelligence for a shortlist of three 5-star resorts. Having never heard of the Ozen resorts we were initially surprised to find this resort was included in the results.||With this information we narrowed down our research and were quickly assured that the Ozen Life Maadhoo was the closest to our needs by ticking every box. These included: Premium All Inclusive with top shelf drinks, massages, diving, snorkelling and non-motorised water sports, a mini bar in the villa, over-water and beach villas with private pools and sunset views, a wide range of dining options and premium alcoholic beverages in our room. Our preference was also to find a resort that didn’t require an air transfer from Male airport but fast-boat. This would overcome the 20Kg baggage limit on the sea planes.||Ozen Life Maadhoo is a medium sized resort with fewer than 100 villas, roughly 50 beach and 50 over water. Approximately half had their own pool, fortunately almost all sunset facing villas. For early risers some of the sunrise villas had private slides into the aquamarine water below. We decided to split our holiday between 5 nights in the beach villa and 5 overwater. This worked perfectly as gave us the best of both worlds and we would recommend anyone spending 6 nights or more to do the same. The resort never felt busy, there was no need to rush for a lounger or to be first at the bar or restaurant to guarantee service as it was always available and stocks of everything were extravagant.||Focusing on all aspects of this holiday, we will score each section out of 5.|Ozen Life Maadhoo was fantastic in almost every way. We did everything we wanted except dive, as sea conditions were sadly poor due to the lovely monsoon weather and high winds, which we loved. We couldn’t have everything, and this omission gives us the perfect excuse to return in the winter months to guarantee idyllic diving and snorkelling conditions. One point of note, this resort doesn’t have its own house-reef and there is little reef within easy reach of the beaches. The resort offers twice daily snorkelling trips within the package which we tried out early during our stay. Unfortunately, visibility was poor at the location we went to, and although one of us saw a Manta Ray, there was little else to see. The lack of a house reef and the poor sea conditions at this time of year result in 3 out of 5 for underwater activities. We are certain that when we return in March this number will jump up.|Service was outstanding throughout. Every member of staff would innately go above and beyond to ensure that we wanted for nothing. Everyone smiled all the time, greeted you in the most genuine way possible, right from the moment we came into the arrivals hall at Male airport, to the boat and then the magical Ozen arrival experience when we moored at the jetty. Ditto on the way back at the end. ||Communication between staff was seamless and our butler, Shamoon, was always on the end of a WhatsApp should we need anything at any time. He arranged our meal schedule, which was ready on arrival, but flexible enough to adjust as we went along. This is a nice touch as takes the pressure off trying to work out where to eat and when. Service – 5 out of 5.||Great service continued in every restaurant where we experienced world-class catering. Every meal was personalised with senior staff (such as Calvin the head chef, Sunny a senior chef or Shazeen the restaurant manager) seeking us out at either breakfast or lunch to ask what we wanted for dinner. They were all exceptional and clearly took pride in ensuring that our every need was met. It could have been easy to forget there were other guests at the resort, such was their personalised attention to detail.||We simply didn’t have a bad meal, but some were exceptional; the once-per-visit M6M underwater restaurant was the best and most luxurious dinner we had ever enjoyed, coinciding with our 28th wedding anniversary. We were literally eating lobster, prawns, beef tenderloin etc, looking out at a magical underwater scene of marine life that included black tipped reef sharks, trevally and various other colourful fish. A genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience made all the better by the immaculate attention and service of Muskan, our delightful waitress. We also loved the whole Peking duck on our first night – this was an amazing way to start our holiday. Catering 6 out of 5 (that’s not a typo!).||Our villas were elegant, beautifully designed, and luxuriously appointed including high-end London toiletries from Asprey with sun-cream and insect repellent (which we did not need). We had two excellent cleaners, Sharmin and Furugaan, both who ensured our environment always remained immaculate. Sharmin, in the beach villa, would use initiative whilst beaming with the biggest smile we’ve ever seen. We loved the private pool in both villas, especially in the water-villa as could float on our inflatables watching the sun set over the ocean. Truly beautiful and magical. The beach villas had their own private bit of beach and as the resort feels so quiet, we never felt that we were overlooked or invading anyone’s privacy or special time. The water villas were truly extraordinary with glass cuttings in the floor so you could look down into the ocean below, a gorgeous stand-alone bath, a shower facing out to sea with no fear of being overlooked, a deck, double lounger facing the sunset and direct access to the sea below by steps. Truly exceptional and will be extremely difficult to beat in the future. Mini bars were well stocked and refilled daily (at least) whilst the wine and champagne fridge ensured we always had bubbly on the go. Personal villa bikes are available for beach villas only as it could be dangerous to cycle on the walkway to the water villas. Villas 5 out of 5.||The all-inclusive package genuinely was all-inclusive. We had more than enough top-quality alcoholic beverages throughout, including any cocktail our imagination could come up with. The Gin Bar, run by the young, bright and knowledgeable Samrat was well worth the experience. All the staff at the Joie-de-Vivre bar and hotel pool were attentive, friendly and ensured our glasses were never empty; pina coladas and long-island iced teas were especially wonderful. The AI included every restaurant except the Crab restaurant which we decided not to frequent as didn’t feel the need. Sea food was plentiful everywhere. Non-motorised water sports included the usual suspects (kayaks, wind surfers, paddle boards), as well as a couple of catamarans which were great fun in the high winds. We took some cheap kites with us and enjoyed flying these during a brilliant wind and rainstorm – bringing back some of our youth. This novelty also attracted some of the staff who had last flown a kite as children themselves. Sunjeewa, the head gardener, was hugely enthusiastic and great at recovering wayward kites – so we left ours with him. The AI package included three vouchers per person which could be exchanged for diving, motorised sports and/or spa treatments. As diving was out, we concentrated ours on three very relaxing one-hour massages that covered the head, shoulders and back. We certainly felt that we got our money’s worth. Our two therapists, Amon and Jaya were fantastic at ensuring we enjoyed every second of these experiences. Combined with the villas, restaurants and service, this AI package was genuinely all-inclusive, and we felt that it was well-priced for the Maldives. There was no sting in the tail when we checked out. All-inclusive 5 out of 5.||Management cannot be faulted. They were ever-present, always checking how we were and looking for ways to make our experience even better. It was abundantly clear that they manage their staff brilliantly as everyone was naturally happy, always keen to help and very friendly, no matter when or how you came across them. Vipin, the resort manager, was exceptional throughout our stay and deserves special mention. Aditiya, the spa manager, should also be highlighted for his initiative and empathy. Elisabeth, the general manager, was away for the first half of our stay but it was immediately obvious when she was back. She was everywhere, chatting to everyone, ensuring that guests were looked after with everything they needed to relax or be provided for. She is also exceptional, and it is obvious that she has the perfect pedigree for this role. It is very clear that everyone is very happy at Ozen Life Maadhoo as most staff have been there for years, some since it opened 7 years ago. Management a strong 5 out of 5.||The resort itself was modest in size. Nothing was too far but spread out enough to ensure that privacy existed in every villa. The beaches were lovely, with contrasting experiences on each side of the island. The prevailing wind was from the West, so the sunset villas had a more typical ocean experience to look out over, with waves and even white caps throughout most the day. The more adventure seeking guests would love sailing in these conditions, and it was a refreshing place to lie and watch the sunset, cooled by a refreshing breeze. On the sunrise side of the island the beach and sea were completely idyllic, the epitome of anyone’s preconceptions of the Maldives. Calm waters made this the perfect spot for paddle boarding and kayaking. A common criticism of the Maldives is that you will run out of things to do and get bored. Obviously, everyone is unique and prefers different things so it’s impossible to speak for them all. We spent 10 nights, and 11 full days at Ozen, and can honestly say we were never bored. We could manage our routine to suit our needs. Plenty of relaxation on our sun decks or in the villa pools, day and night, whilst enough things to do on those occasions when we’d burst with unexpected energy. With two snorkel boat trips and a sunset boat trip away from the island every day, this is not a resort where you would go stir crazy or feel claustrophobic. The AI package also includes a sunset fishing experience on a boat which is another opportunity to get off the island. In terms of aesthetics, Ozen Life Maadhoo is authentic rustic charm at 5 plus star level. Whilst some reviews have commented on the water villas looking a bit tired on the outside, villa interiors are modern and beautifully decorated. This is where you spend most of your time, and you’re looking out at wonderful views day and night. Renovation work is ongoing across the resort, as leadership manages improving the overall feel of Ozen Life Maadhoo with the challenge of keeping it open all year round. The resort 4 out of 5.||Tipping is often an area of confusion and sometimes even a bone of contention, especially when holidaying in other parts of the world. It is testament therefore that the Maldivian way does not expect a tip, let alone demand one. This sums up their beautiful nature. We usually tip, but not in an ostentatious way, but tailored to those who go above and beyond to make our experience as good as it can be. Our dilemma at the end of this wonderful 11-day holiday was that we found it almost impossible to isolate one member of staff from another. They were all brilliant! Whilst we would have loved to give everyone a personalised tip this wasn’t practical. We decided, therefore, to leave some money to be put behind the bar or kitty box at the staff accommodation on an adjacent island. This way, everyone could benefit from our appreciation and thanks. We hope this worked.||Overall, this was a perfect holiday in every way. It is probably the best resort and holiday experience we have ever had, and we have been fortunate to have lived in the Caribbean for 4 years where all-inclusive resorts are the norm. What separates Ozen from these is the innate feeling that you are being looked after by the most attentive and genuine staff we have known. Maldivians have that beautiful charm that separates them from almost everyone else in this world. We loved our time there and can’t wait to return in the winter and to add to these experiences with some world class diving and snorkelling.|Thank you Ozen Life Maadhoo for a once in a lifetime experience. It was so good we’re coming back for another one!!
