Meeru Island Resort & Spa
by the TopOfHotel team
Meeru is a 5-star resort on a huge 1,200 x 350-metre island with 315 rooms, a 9-hole golf course, and pioneer roots going back to 1978.
Meeru is a 5-star resort on a huge 1,200 x 350-metre island with 315 rooms, a 9-hole golf course, and pioneer roots going back to 1978.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The resort runs 315 rooms across six categories, from the budget-friendly Garden Room up to the high-end Water Villa and Water Front Villa. The crowd favourite is the Jacuzzi Beach Villa, with an open-air jacuzzi on the terrace and a path leading straight onto a long white-sand beach. Spread across a 1,200 x 350-metre island, this is a big property by Maldives standards, with timber walkways running the length of it and coconut palms leaning over the sand.
Food and amenities
Meeru leads with the main Farivalhu restaurant and five more, six in total — the widest spread among the 4-to-5-star picks — covering grilled seafood by the beach, Indian, Asian and Mediterranean. There are several all-inclusive packages, from B&B up to Premium All-Inclusive with drinks all day, and we'd take the top tier for the value. A full PADI dive centre runs manta ray trips out to Banana Reef, and Duniye Spa sits on stilts over the water. Where Meeru really stands apart is its rare 9-hole pitch-and-putt golf course, plus two outdoor pools, a gym, and bike rental to cover an island too big to walk end to end. Real guests score it 8.5 from 137 reviews.
Location and getting there
Meeru sits on the large island of Meerufenfushi in the northeast of North Male Atoll. You reach it on the resort's own speedboat from MLE in about 55 minutes — a little longer than some others in the same atoll, but the trade-off is a far bigger island. It first opened in 1978, making it one of the Maldives' pioneer resorts, and had a major renovation in 2012.
Things to know before booking
The guest score of 8.5 sits below the other 5-star resorts on this list, so come for the activities and the value rather than spotless luxury. The 55-minute speedboat is on the long side and trims time off your first and last days. And some buildings are starting to show their age — no surprise for a resort that opened back in 1978, even after the 2012 refresh.
Our take
Meeru Island Resort & Spa is at its best for families and groups of friends who want a big island with a long activity list at better value than the more remote 5-star resorts. It's the kind of island you can settle into for a full week without running out of things to do.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A 5-star resort on a large 1,200 x 350-metre island — big enough to explore on foot or by rented bike rather than feeling like a single sandbar.
- 315 rooms across six categories, from the entry-level Garden Room up to Water Villas and Water Front Villas, so there's a fit for most budgets and group sizes.
- Duniye Spa, two outdoor pools, a gym, and a rare 9-hole pitch-and-putt golf course you almost never find on a Maldives island.
- Six restaurants led by Farivalhu, covering grilled seafood by the beach, Indian, Asian and Mediterranean, plus several all-inclusive packages from B&B up to Premium All-Inclusive.
- A pioneer resort that first opened in 1978 and had a major renovation in 2012, with a full PADI dive centre that runs manta ray trips out to Banana Reef.
- The guest score of 8.5 is lower than the other 5-star resorts on this list, so it's more about the activities and value than top-tier polish.
- It's a 55-minute speedboat from MLE — a little longer than some neighbours in the same atoll, which eats into your first and last day.
- Some of the buildings are starting to show their age, a reminder that the resort first opened back in 1978.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Insider Tips
- Rent a bike to get around — the island is big enough that walking everywhere gets tiring.
- Go for an all-inclusive package rather than paying per item; it works out far cheaper here.
- Play the 9-hole golf course while you can — it's a rarity in the Maldives.