Hotel review: Coco Bodu Hithi, The Maldives

A beautiful house reef, beckoning waters, a soothing spa and elevated island-style design combine to make Coco Bodu Hithi a modern Maldives experience

Location

The resort is located in North Malé Atoll, which take around 30–40 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport in the Maldives’ capital, Male. The transfer can be booked as part of your stay. The island sits on a house reef, offering access to fantastic scuba diving and snorkelling sites; try it at night, when you have the best chance of seeing (thankfully harmless) nurse sharks.

The vibe

The look across Coco Bodu Hithi is one of lightweight, laid-back luxury with an Art Deco edge – there’s a strong ‘beach club’ aesthetic, which fits wonderfully with the setting. Even when it’s busy in high season, there’s a sense of privacy; even the main pool, naturally the busiest, never felt too busy, and excursions are only done in small groups – these include snorkelling tours, fishing trips and sunset cruises.

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Bed and bath

There are two types of villas across the resort: 44 island villas and 68 overwater villas, ranging in size. The Coco Residences are the largest, spanning 184 square metres, located on a separate wing of the island. Inside are high ceilings and large picture windows (for looking out to the beautiful blue Indian Ocean), complementing a large king-size four-poster bed (with, of course, a a pillow menu)….