We have just returned from four nights at the fabulous Meeru Resort in the Maldives. The transfer from Malé airport was seamless. Within 30 minutes of landing we were on a brand-new speedboat heading to the island. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a line of smiling staff, rhythmic drumming, chilled towels, and iced tea, which was a lovely welcome. We arrived at 12:30 pm, and since our villa wasn’t ready until 2:00 pm, we made the most of our All-Inclusive Plus package and enjoyed lunch. Our villa (704) was ready on time. We already knew from TripAdvisor reviews that some villas are showing their age and due for refurbishment, and this was true. That said, the space was generous, the view spectacular, and having a private hot tub with direct sea views was incredible. Even better, steps from the hot tub led straight into the ocean for an easy swim or fish spotting. If you’re booking an overwater villa, consider whether you’d prefer a sunrise or sunset view, as this determines whether your terrace gets sun in the morning or afternoon. The island offers a variety of accommodation options, from the newer beachfront villas with private pools (built last year) to older garden, beachfront, and overwater villas. We learned that a refurbishment program will begin early next year, but the current state of our villa didn’t impact our enjoyment at all. Meeru is a natural island and one of the Maldives’ original resorts, with over 55 years of history. Some newer resorts are built on man-made islands, so they lack the mature greenery and natural charm that this one has. The lush palms and well-established vegetation provide much-needed shade along the walking paths. We also appreciated that guests can walk through the staff quarters, which were well-kept and showed that the resort values its employees. This clearly translates into the exceptional service. Speaking of service, we were blown away. Every member of staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, especially Ashan, who took care of us during snorkeling and the dolphin cruise. My daughter, a returning guest, noticed that some public areas had already been refurbished, such as the reception and some of the bars with new seating. The All-Inclusive Plus package worked very well for us. There was a good choice of drinks included, and while premium options are available at an extra cost, we never felt limited. Access to all à la carte restaurants was included, and over four nights we tried them all. The Asian restaurant was our favorite, but they were all excellent. We also enjoyed lunch at different venues, thanks to the package flexibility. Staying in the 700s villas placed us close to the adults-only restaurant, bar, reception, overwater spa, and a beautiful beach. We particularly liked the adults-only pool area for its calmer waters and relaxed atmosphere. The package also included house reef snorkeling trips (book these in advance as they fill quickly), a sunset dolphin cruise, a 15-minute photo shoot, and use of windsurfing and kayaking equipment. All of this made the upgrade well worth it. If I had to rate the overwater villas, I would give them 4.5 stars. The brand-new beach pool villas are likely a true five-star experience. If you’re expecting absolute luxury in the overwater villas, you may be disappointed, but if you can look past that, the rest of the resort absolutely delivers. My daughter spent hours trying to find an alternative resort just for variety, but she kept coming back to Meeru. She’s stayed at another Maldives resort on a man-made island, where the villa quality was slightly higher, but the natural beauty here is unmatched. This is something that takes decades to grow and cannot be replicated. We would highly, highly recommend Meeru Resort. It’s a place with charm, character, and a team of people who genuinely care about their guests.