South Ari Inn

Such a pretty place, really lovely.

Those trips out were the best part of my stay. Seeing dolphins, turtles, tropical fish, manta rays and even small sharks in the wild was thrilling. The flying foxes, harmless giant fruit bats, were also all over the island's lush greenery. The excursions weren't exactly cheap, though. I was there from December 20th to 27th, 2019. The weather wasn't great, but the island itself was charming. With only 300 residents, it felt like being part of a quiet little Maldivian community. The beach was the disappointing part. It kept filling with plastic, mostly bottles and caps, washed in during storms or left by facilities and boats around the nearby atolls. Even after regular cleanups, it came back and spoiled the tropical setting. Marzia, an Italian who had been running the guesthouse for a year with a local partner, was enthusiastic, though not very open to feedback. She had no hotel experience before taking it on. My room wasn't what I'd expected: there was no separate shower stall, so the bathroom flooded each time I showered. After I changed rooms, the unpleasant smell, broken air conditioning and dead lamp were dealt with. Meals were cooked well by the chef in the local style, but they were a little repetitive and not especially generous, apparently to avoid waste. There wasn't much choice, so anyone with allergies or intolerances should discuss that with the property.

I only came to the island on an excursion and stopped by to ask about possibly staying in the future. The place looked dirty and nothing like the photos. I knocked, and the owner more or less kicked us out. There are other islands to visit, and I won't come back.

Things are good so far. I'll share more after I visit.