Hi,

I have just booked a holiday to Club Faru in June, and I've managed to find out a fair bit of information about it.

The resort used to be Club Med but it was damaged in the tsunami. It was closed until Dec 05, when it was repoened and holidays are now being offered there by First Choice.

From what I can gather it used to be a 4* hotel, but is currently being offered as 3* Superior until it is listed in their brochure. It is due to be listed in the First Choice brochure from March, hence the very cheap price now (we managed to bargain down to £820 per person all inclusive for 2 weeks, do go back to First Choice directly to book, as they offer a price promise and will better any offer you have for a like for like holiday).

My main concern (apart from the June weather!) was that it is very near the airport, but First Choice have assured me that this won't be a problem, and having done some research it doesn't appear to affect the quality of the island.

I imagine due to the resort having been totally refurbished and only just reopening, it should be of a great standard, and you should get very well looked after, as the last thing they will want is for people to go home and post on sites like this, saying how awful it is!

I have quite a few pictures of the resort as well, if you would like me to send them to you then let me know. The website is due to be up and running in March (and it will be on the First Choice site from then too) and the address will be http://www.clubfaru.net There is a link to their sister site on there, which will give you an idea of the standard Faru will be.

I hope you find this of help and if you go have a great time...I personally can't wait!!

Steph xx

just to say we have booked end of may beginging of june and the web site listed is now working although not completely finished.
it looks great and for any divers there is a link there to the dive school

Hi, I visited Club Faru last week after our First Choice plane broke down. It would not be my first choice of resort in the Maldives. Too much concrete and too close to the airport and Male for us, we prefer the desert island, no shoes islands.

However, it has a nice, if a little small, infinity pool and a very good shop. I didn't get to see the spa or dive school. It also has a nice interior with lots of coconut palms.

One thing I would definately suggest, and that is to request an upstairs room. They have a nice spacious balcony and are nice and airy. The downstairs rooms are very dark, smell damp and many had ant problems.
I am sure they are not all like this, but I would say the majority are.

Get up an upstairs room and I am sure you will be happy.

Thanks, its good to hear from someone who has actually been, rather than just speculation.

Based on info i found about the resort, my partner and I changed resorts a few weeks ago. From your review I'm glad we did as we're now going to a totally isolated island an hour away from Male.

Thanks for the info.

I have been told by a Maldivian friend that there are plans to link Faru to Male (main island) by a large bridge at some point in the future - not that it's on my list of "islands I'd love to visit" anyway - but that would certainly put me off - might as well stay in the hotel on Hulhulhe (airport Island) for all the escapism that would give!!!

Just want to say that Club Faru is quite different from Fihalhohi. Fihalhohi (which i have visited twice recently) has no concrete whatsoever it is a very rustic island. Just wanted to clear that up

Jane

Hi

me my hubby and the baby are heading off to club faru on the 21st may 2 weeks i can't wait i have done alot of reserch and am happy enough the airport won't bother me in the slightest and i'm happy enough to be close to male as its only 7 mins to the island then.

Michelle i was just wondering you said the shop was great what kind of stuff does it sell as we have a lot of things to bring with us as the baby is only 1. was there many cockroches or inscets do you have to walk on the sand at night to get back to your room or are the rooms attached to the hotel(sorry am teriffed of insects)

Thanks gill

We have just returned from two weeks at club faru - we and others there had a great time
The staff are very helpful, any problems tell them and they sort it, there is a great choice of food for all tastes - rooms are large, cleaned twice a day and simple no tv or phones we had an upstairs one (q block)
There is no house reef but the hotel runs snorkeling trips twice a day and plenty of fish to see around the island just off the beach, there is also a good dive school with lots of sites
Overall it is a lovely island not as luxurious as others and for the price good value.

What was the food like? Also if so near Male i assume you can see it, did this spoil your holiday. Was the sea nice and clean

We went to Veligandu in February and loved it and I am looking to go back feb 08 (soon on sale) however with a child it is costly. Not sure if to try cheaper accomodation or just save longer? £3500 for 1 week is steep and we have now done they sea plane and water villa thing. I just want a nice beach/sea and good food. I actually did not sleep well in the water villa so it is a beach bungalow next time

Thanks

Hi - in response to your questions - we found plenty to eat a good choice, the menu is on a 7 day rotate , ie different theme each day its all buffet style
You can just just see Male - as you can Bando and several of the other holiday islands. The nearest island is the extention of the airport island- its not industial and the planes didn't worry us, but you can see it & at night from the beach bar is is quiet pretty with its lights but if you want a total desert island experience its not for you
The back side of the island is very quiet and clean however being close to Male, the front side does get some flotsam floating in by the bar area but the staff clean it up at low tide several times a day and its not where the beach or swimming area is so whilst irratating it doesn't stop you enjoying yourself.
Water visability will depend on the weather but it is very clear when we were there and the beach was cleaned every day - I would try an get an upstairs room in the blocks , very big and we had a great view to the outer reef. Hope this helps

You can see the extension of the airport and male from Club Faru. See photos on the following link http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/2995753 Photo 476 is the view from the back of the island and photo 477 is the view of Male from the front of the island. If this dosent bother you, and I know a lot of people prefer to be close to the airport and capital, (and you can pay a lot more money for other hotels in the same area) then Club Faru is a good value hotel with large spacious rooms and balconies upstairs. I would not, however, stay in a downstairs room and that is the only option for family rooms. I know severeral people who refused to spend a night in these rooms. No one complained about the rooms upstairs.

Hi,

Me and my boyfriend have booked to go to Club Faru from the 31st May for two weeks and are both really excited.
If you go on Trip Advisor and put in Club Faru there are some really good reviews of the hotel on there and pictures also the foum on there is very helpfull.
The hotel does look really nice.
I can't wait to go
Pinky x