The Island
Exploring this 122-room resort is like going on an expedition in the bush, because to the lack of concrete paths. Soft sand (including the lobby floor) lies under the feet, and deciduous trees are sprinkled all throughout. You may easily find a secluded spot under the sun at one of the dozens of little beaches tucked away among the woods. You can also find large stretches of beach; all it takes to get around the island is around 10 minutes. Jumping little iguanas and geckos fill the greenery, and a glance into the pristine water will almost certainly reveal a reef shark or a variety of colorful fish. Guests of the adjoining island home to the five-star Taj Exotica are taken snorkeling in Embudu by the house reef because it is so wonderful.
Similar to Maayafushi, this resort's secret ingredient is not a man-made setting but rather a relaxed, welcoming vibe. Relax, there is no need to act formally or hastily. No, you should come here to watch the sun go down, to swim until it gets dark, and to feel the sand between your toes and the salt in your hair. Here, the pace is leisurely and the lifestyle is carefree. Of course, this is helped along by a fantastic team of employees; half of them have been with the company for ten years or more, while Ramsey Pereira's powerful general manager has been in charge of Embudu Village for over twenty. Because they have never wanted to leave this unique island, the Embudu family knows what it's like. The majority of our visitors return year after year, which is not unexpected.
One of the most recent developments was the building of a second main jetty on the other side of the island from the old (for boats during low tide). You no longer need to pass past the attractive bar and flower garden to get to the registration desk, or walk around the neighboring open service area.
The reception/office, café/lounge, and metal-roofed restaurant structure are dull and hot during the day, but come alive in the evenings when turning on the lights and conversing work wonders. The main bar, with its wooden platform above the ocean, comes to life around sunset, and there is now a disco once a week, but it's mostly a quiet nice spot to recharge batteries - especially popular with Europeans - in between snorkeling and diving excursions.
Almost three-quarters of the visitors are German, and one-quarter are French. The remainder are modest British, Italian, and Japanese. German guests are common at the resort, thus there are signs in German (together with English) and five shelves of German literature in the library lobby.
Location
It's not as hard as you may imagine to locate paradise. Embudu Village Resort is accessible by speed boat from Malé Airport, and it is situated on a private island in the South Malé Atoll. A member of the Embudu crew will be ready to welcome you and direct you to the resort's transfer vessel as soon as you land at Velana International Airport. It takes 35 minutes to get there. Coral patches, brimming with vibrant fish and tiny reef sharks, adorn the shallow lagoon. The 160-person workforce spends the whole year living and working on the island.
Villas and Rooms
A basic bed could be all you need if you had a busy day of diving or snorkeling, along with some delicious food and beverages. You may simply get everything you need in Embudu to have a nice stay. The only "old-style Maldives" accommodations are likely its 36 basic rooms. Without air conditioning, the shower has hot water, and the sink has salt water (how nostalgic!). The ceiling fans in the rooms are still in place, and your veranda faces the beach.
Superior rooms close to the beach make up the majority of the accommodations in Embudu Village. Expect to find a balcony, a mini-fridge, and "king" beds—which are really two huge beds that can be separated—inside. Simple fish cartoons, inexpensive wooden furniture, white walls, and no TV characterize the interior. The most exquisite accommodations may be found at Water Villas. The expansive and cozy water bungalows are positioned at the far end of the island, each with an own terrace with an unending view of the ocean and the city of Malé. Apart from standard utilities, the bungalows have glass eyes (about 1.20 x 1.20) on the timber flooring, hydromassage tubs, real king-size beds, and flat-screen TVs.
Embudu's room numbers started to become a bit old, but at last the management made the necessary adjustments with the increased demand for lodging. In 2011, around half of them were given fresh life sentences, while the other half had their sentences modified in 2013.
Dining
On the island, there's a large buffet restaurant that opens three times a day (meals included, but beverages extra). Drinks are served on the beach bar's wonderful terrace overlooking the sea. Full board is preferred by everybody, and the three delectable meals served for breakfast, lunch, and supper are always a treat since the kitchen has never been trimmed. The method is rather straight forward. The chef purchases premium, regional, and local foods; in particular, they take great care to get fresh fish and other seafood from the finest suppliers. There was a big line for the live cooking and separate buffets outside the house. Dining is one of the highlights of the day, with a smiling F&B manager and his crew of servers, lively conversation around dimly lit tables, and, most importantly, genuinely good cuisine. Expect Barbecue Night, Asian Night, Western Night, Chinese Night, Carvery Night, and Italian Night throughout the week as well.
Their à la carte steak and lobster meals, for those seeking something really exceptional, may be savored in the flower garden or at the edge of the lake, with sand between your toes. Remember to join the group at the bar for a beverage while you take in the stunning sunset.
