Stone Beach Club, Dhiffushi

The beach by Stone Hotel is stunning, and we loved it. Breakfast there had plenty of choice, with both Western and local food. The infinity pool was amazing too, with an unforgettable view. Stone Beach Club is run remotely from Stone hotel, a few minutes’ walk away, where the beach is. I didn’t see workers at the beach club apart from housekeeping. The rooms were small but comfortable and modern, and the staff were always very nice. The sewage smell could be strong at times around the pool area and the Stone beach club entrance, enough to make you want to leave. Management has a lot of room to improve that. Island rubbish is burned in the morning, which also causes strong smells. That’s a local practice rather than a hotel issue, but worth considering if you’re bringing kids or care about sustainability. The gym is tiny and has barely any equipment, so that could be better.

The rooms were clean and very good, and the bathrooms are new and comfortable. The balcony was a mistake, though. It’s too small for two people and shouldn’t have been built. The surroundings are messy, like much of the local island. Beach Club Dhiffushi is the smaller sibling of Stone Hotel. There was no one at its reception desk, and service was handled remotely from the other hotel. You have to walk two minutes to Stone Hotel for breakfast and the beach. It’s cheaper to stay here, but don’t expect nice views. If you visit the island, I recommend staying at Stone Hotel rather than Stone Beach Club.

The staff had everything considered and planned, from pickup at the airport through checkout, and they were amazing. We stayed at Stone Beach Club for ten nights and had an amazing time. It’s a separate building from Stone Hotel, but guests can use the same facilities, including all the restaurants, the sky top pool, and Mahi Mahi diving school. Definitely the best hotel on Dhiffushi.

The airport transfer was badly organized. We got confirmation emails, but no clear information about fixed boat times. After a long journey, we waited about 2.5 hours in the sun before boarding a shared local workers’ boat. We arrived late and lost almost a whole day of our stay. The photos are misleading about the beachfront view. That view is directly in front of Stone Hotel, while Stone Club is behind it. The common areas, including the entrance and corridors, aren’t air-conditioned, most lights are off after staff leave, and there’s no elevator. The stairs are steep and uncomfortable, especially when going up and down several times. The hotel didn’t fully meet expectations. It needs more transparency and improvements to basic services.