Centara Collection Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives

No complaints whatsoever! Housekeeping twice a day, and bottled water in glass containers was replenished daily without any limits. The Reef Restaurant is fantastic—everything was delicious: seafood, meat, vegetables, ice cream, fruits, and pastries. They bake amazing bread! We had the full board package, which included alcoholic drinks once a day: the beer was great, though the cocktails were mediocre, and they have some decent wines. Always a good variety and everything tasted great! Most importantly—the reef! We saw a huge variety of fish! The manta ray excursion was an absolute hit! Too many people at the shark excursion, though. The grounds are compact, but very well-maintained. There's a heron living on the property, and we also spotted a parrot. The staff are extremely friendly and always helpful. A huge thank you to Alisher!!

A must-visit during National Day holidays: Central Grand Island exceeded all expectations — a true all-inclusive gem! We stayed in an overwater villa with direct sea access and a private deck; opening the window revealed the mesmerizing, gradient-hued 'glass sea.' Stepping off the villa’s ladder into the water for snorkeling was effortless, and the house reef was in outstanding condition — vibrant corals teemed with schools of tropical fish, and we even spotted baby sharks and sea turtles on several occasions. No need to travel far to immerse yourself in an unforgettable underwater world. The island’s dive center is professional and reliable: certified divers can explore nearby wreck sites with awe-inspiring underwater scenery, while guests can also book exciting excursions — dolphin watching, whale shark snorkeling, and semi-submersible coral viewing — all offered daily during National Day, ensuring something new and thrilling every day. Dining was another delightful surprise: the National Day buffet featured an expanded Chinese menu — fried rice, dim sum, hot dishes, and more — thoughtfully tailored to Chinese palates, so no more settling for Western fare day after day. With multiple rotating restaurants and unlimited premium beverages — from breakfast through late-night snacks — there’s always plenty to choose from, with flavors spanning continents. Staff across the island were warm, attentive, and fluent in Mandarin — communication was seamless, requests were addressed promptly, and our butler proactively reminded us of daily activities. Housekeeping even added charming little touches, like romantic beach-themed bed decorations. Thanks to the all-inclusive package, everything felt effortless: most water sports are included, and there’s zero pressure from unexpected expenses. Whether you’re passionate about underwater exploration or simply want to unwind with ocean views, Central Grand delivers exceptional snorkeling, diving, coral encounters, great food, comfortable accommodation, and top-tier service — a perfect National Day getaway. Highly recommended!

We booked the 3-water-villa and 2-beach-villa all-inclusive package, and the rooms were all quite good. The main dining is buffet-style, while other specialty restaurants require reservations. We managed to secure a booking at least once for each of the Thai, Italian, and Japanese Teppanyaki restaurants. The excursion activities were fantastic; we successfully spotted whale sharks, dolphins, and manta rays. Plus, you can watch the shark feeding every evening at 6 PM right next to the hotel bar. Highly recommended!

Snorkeling is top-notch (Grade A): It's renowned as a snorkeling paradise with dense live coral, abundant fish, sharks, and turtles. Snorkeling directly from the water villas is exceptionally good. There's even a shipwreck site nearby. All-inclusive offers great value: It's hassle-free and affordable, costing about 18,000 RMB per person. Typically includes three meals, drinks, 5 excursions, 30 minutes of daily spa treatment, and non-motorized water sports. Diverse dining options: There are multiple restaurants, including buffets, Thai, and Italian cuisine. The buffet has Chinese options, which caters well to Chinese palates, and the Thai food is particularly highly rated. The price difference between the low and high seasons is quite significant.

Ten out of ten, this is my second time here and I'll definitely be back for a third!

The room is a duplex, split over two levels, so naturally, there's plenty of space. However, perhaps due to limited room availability and cleaning time, the toilet and bathroom on the ground floor still had an odor and weren't clean enough. Although the private pool was large, the water was murky, so we didn't use it. The restroom on the second floor is very cramped; even for a larger gentleman, turning around is inconvenient. The best part is probably that the room opens directly onto the beach with clear water and fine sand. It's advisable to check in during the middle of the day so you have more time to enjoy the beach and the natural scenery.

The sand is fine and soft, and the snorkeling is great. Overall, the service wasn't that good. I've been to three islands in the Maldives, and this one is pretty good, but the service is average, especially at the front desk. First, before I went, I asked Ctrip to inquire about several room types, the dive center, and seaplane questions, but they all gave vague answers and no precise replies. Also, to check in, you have to download the hotel app using a Google browser. It didn't work well on three Chinese-brand phones, but it worked fine on an iPhone. It took me an hour. The Chinese female receptionist at the front desk wasn't very warm to Chinese guests; on the contrary, the foreign receptionists were very good. The male manager at the water sports center refused my request to dive the day before, using the excuse of taking a seaplane. He said it was an island rule, but I told him that PADI clearly states that the 24-hour no-diving rule only applies to flights on pressurized aircraft. Seaplanes fly at a low altitude and are not pressurized in the cabin, so there's no such rule. Also, in the main buffet restaurant, the staff assign guests' seats. On the first day, they placed me at the table closest to the main entrance, where I couldn't see any sea view. On the second day, they tried to put me there again. I told them I wanted a window seat with a view, or I would complain immediately. Then they didn't dare to insist. The service on this island is quite peculiar. You can see small sharks swimming near the shore just by walking on the beach. There are many Chinese tourists. The snorkeling section from the dive center to the family water villas is superb. There are many corals and the drop-off is close. Small sharks swim all around you. There's a public ladder on the bridge over the club's water channel, which is a bonus for guests not staying in water villas. The waves there are big, but it's far from the drop-off, with many corals and fish. However, if you're not a strong swimmer, I don't recommend going there due to the big waves. Lynn from Guangzhou, who works at the Centara Grand Water Sports Center, was very enthusiastic and helpful. She helped me with my questions and arranged my diving time, and even reminded me in advance. Her service was top-notch! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 And the new handsome Kazakh guy at the front desk was also warm and attentive. He specially came to see me off when I left the island and even gave me some Kazakh chocolate. My English isn't great, so communication was a bit difficult, but he was very patient and used a translation app to help me. The Italian restaurant is delicious, and the Thai restaurant is also quite good, though the main restaurant is a bit inferior compared to other islands. Make reservations in advance, make reservations in advance, make reservations in advance, or you won't get into the Italian restaurant. I only managed to book it once because I booked as soon as I arrived on the island. What can I say? I went to Centara Grand Island during the rainy season and had five full days of sunshine, with rain only at night, so I truly love this island. After leaving the island, I heard there were several consecutive days of heavy rain. Let me also talk about Ctrip's service. I've used Ctrip for international travel for 10 years. Their prices are becoming less competitive, but their service is getting better and better. Their 24-hour customer service is online, and you can always find a human agent to help communicate with hotels both domestically and internationally, which is very useful for tourists whose English isn't very good.