Tripadvisor thinks so, but is this really the world's best all-inclusive?

GENEROUS INCLUSIONS

So thorough is Ozen’s all-inclusive plan that the average bill that guests run up on extras is just $65 (£52) per person per stay, Coppetta reveals. “It’s usually for things like laundry or the gift shop,” she explains. “Our price-point isn’t cheap, but the value and quality of experience brings guests back again and again.”

That quality of experience is perhaps most apparent in Bolifushi’s accommodations. Even Earth Pool Villas, the lead-in room type, are unusually vast and come with private pools large enough in which to do laps. Even bigger are the over-water Ocean Pool Suites, which rise out of a turquoise lagoon fringed by vibrant coral reefs. With heaps of indoor/outdoor living space, both categories provide peaceful sanctuaries that guests are often reluctant to leave, so the resort itself rarely feels crowded. 

Most in-demand of all are the Ocean Pool Suites with Slide. “They’re so popular that we added 12 more slides last summer,” says Coppetta. It was certainly a worthwhile investment: the slides are enormous fun. In the interests of journalistic research, I wholeheartedly make the most of mine, trying different techniques to attain greater speeds and more dramatic splash landings. 

Unsurprisingly, the slides make Bolifushi a family favourite. Parents can also take advantage of Kuda Koli Kids’ Club (one of the Maldives’ largest), which offers face-painting, pizza-making and treasure hunts, all included in the price (only babysitting costs extra). And even though the villas are huge, those still requiring extra space can upgrade to multi-bedroom options. 

ZERO CONFUSION

These largest villas do particularly well with multi-generational bookings. “Two-bedroom-plus Maldives villas are always coveted, so early booking is essential,” I’m told by Zoe Saunders, senior product manager at Inspiring Travel. “Clients love the Ozen resorts for their uncommonly large villas and generous inclusions. We can even tailor a booking to request, for example, only white wine and gin in the minibar. Sister property Ozen Life Maadhoo draws a lot of repeat bookings, but we get glowing feedback from both resorts on how friendly the staff are and the great choice of restaurants.” 

At Bolifushi, those restaurants span an international buffet alongside Indian, fine-dining and an all-new Asian concept, while Maadhoo’s fine-dining venue is sunk into the lagoon, with tropical fish and reef sharks swimming past. Both properties also feature sustainability-minded spas with over-water pavilions where the included treatments are excellent. Clients are entitled to one free treatment per four-day stay, but they’re so good that nearly a third of guests splash out on further visits. 

There’s no need to splash out on snorkelling or dolphin-watching tours at Maadhoo (they’re included), while at Bolifushi there are two house reefs for easy-access snorkelling. And if clients don’t fancy swimming, they can gather on Bolifushi’s dock for an evening fish-feed where kitchen scraps attract stingrays, reef sharks, giant trevallies and other impressive species. Given that this takes place near where I’d been swimming with that turtle this morning, I can’t wait to see what I might encounter when snorkelling tomorrow. 

Clearly Ozen Reserve Bolifushi has a winning formula, and agents should leverage its position in TripAdvisor’s spotlight. “We know clients use TripAdvisor to back up our recommendations,” Saunders reveals. “It helps them commit to a choice and thus convert the sale.” 

But there’s one key reason that Ozen ought to be an easy sell. “It’s straightforward,” Saunders adds. “Everything is included, with no restrictions or colour-coded wristbands. All guests benefit from the same generous offering, so there’s zero confusion for agents or for clients in-resort.” 

Book it: Seven nights at Ozen Reserve Bolifushi costs from £5,799pp, including flights, transfers and beach villa accommodation on the ultra all-inclusive basis. The same package at Ozen Life Maadhoo costs from £4,250pp; inspiringtravel.co.uk 

The Ozen Collection snapshot

Smarter: Ozen properties is accessibility by speedboat from Male, bypassing the cost and faff of inter-island flights. Clients are welcomed on arrival at Ozen’s dedicated airport lounge, then whisked directly to the resorts (30 minutes to Bolifushi, 45 to Maadhoo). 

Better: Indulgent clients can upgrade to Bolifushi’s Reserve Villa category: a move that adds more space, in-villa dining and greater access to the signature restaurants. 

Fairer: Clients keen to travel more sustainably will appreciate such initiatives as solar power, onsite desalination for drinking water and the elimination of single-use plastic. Find out more at theozencollection.com/green-initiatives.