HomeIsland staysSouth Malé AtollBeach Stone
Beach Stone
Beach Stone is a four-star guesthouse on an inhabited local island in South Malé Atoll, scoring 4.7 out of 5 from 55 reviews, with a private beach listed and a pool on site. The main trade-off is the local-island setting: alcohol is not served and village dress norms apply, but the transfer is a straightforward speedboat or public ferry about 22 km from Velana. Guests should note the record does not confirm a house reef or snorkelling from shore.
- Local island
- South Malé Atoll
- 4-star
- 4.7 / 5
- Speedboat
Decide
Who Beach Stone suits
- Stay typeLocal island
- AtollSouth Malé Atoll
- IslandNot named in the record
- Star class4 stars
- Guest score4.7 / 5 (55 reviews)
- TransferSpeedboat or public ferry
- From Velanaabout 22 km
- Live sampleBookable on 5 of 5 sampled stays
- Relative price bandValue
Suits
- Travellers who want a local-island base with a pool and private beach listed among the facilities
- Divers and anglers, since diving and fishing are listed facilities
- Guests arriving late, as speedboat transfers can run day and night in South Malé Atoll
- Families, with family rooms and a cot listed
- Value-conscious guests: reviews describe good value and a large, clean room with a sea-view balcony
May not suit
- Travellers who want alcohol with dinner, as alcohol is not served on inhabited islands
- Guests expecting a confirmed house reef or shore snorkelling, which the record does not support
- Anyone wanting resort-style privacy, since this is a guesthouse on a populated island
- Sunbathers who dislike rules: swimwear is confined to the designated bikini beach and shoulders and knees are covered in the village
Live availability
Seen bookable on 5 of 5 sampled dates
- Mon, 30 Nov 2026, 1 night: returned
- Mon, 30 Nov 2026, 2 nights: returned
- Mon, 28 Dec 2026, 1 night: returned
- Mon, 25 Jan 2027, 1 night: returned
- Mon, 22 Feb 2027, 1 night: returned
Beach Stone came back from the booking search on every one of the 5 sampled stays searched near it, with check-ins on 30 November 2026, 28 December 2026, 25 January 2027 and 22 February 2027. Against the other stays the sample returned, its lowest rates sit in the value band; the site shows no figures, so the booking page gives the rate for your dates.
In the sweep the search returned this stay 33 times across the searches near it. Rates are not shown on this site; the booking card opens them for your dates.
Getting there
Getting to Beach Stone
- Usual transferSpeedboat or public ferry
- From Velana airportabout 22 km, straight line
- Nearest domestic airportMaamigili, about 95 km
The usual transfer is a speedboat or public ferry; the island sits about 22 km from Velana International Airport in a straight line. In South Malé Atoll, speedboats can run day and night, which suits arrivals that land after dark, and guesthouses on the inhabited islands arrange transfers for their guests. There is no need for a seaplane or domestic flight to reach this atoll.
The nearest domestic airport named is Maamigili, 95 km away, which is not the route used here. Seaplanes fly in daylight only and are used for islands further away. Public ferries link some inhabited islands within the atoll on set days, and a ferry connects Malé with the local islands; timetables change, so ask the guesthouse for current ones. The bridge links Malé with the airport island.
More on transfers: getting from Velana to your island.
The island
an inhabited local island
Beach Stone is a guesthouse, not a resort, on an inhabited island in South Malé Atoll; the island is not named in the listing, and 24 guesthouses are listed there. That shapes the stay: alcohol is not served on inhabited islands, swimwear belongs on the designated bikini beach, and shoulders and knees are covered in the village. Reviews describe the island's only beach, Bikini Beach, as a four minute walk away, and a lap around the island as about 1 km if you jog.
Distances are short. Maafushi, the busiest local island in the atoll with 85 guesthouses listed, lies 5.8 km away in a straight line; Guraidhoo, quieter and close to the protected Guraidhoo Kandu dive, is 11 km away. Hulhumalé appears twice at 24 km and 26 km. Five resorts sit within 10 km. In South Malé Atoll, guesthouse and resort islands sit side by side, and some guesthouses arrange day visits to a resort where the resort allows it.
Nearest inhabited islands with guesthouses, measured from coordinates: Maafushi about 5.8 km (85 guesthouses listed); Guraidhoo about 11 km (35 guesthouses listed); Hulhumale about 24 km (25 guesthouses listed); Hulhumale about 26 km (7 guesthouses listed); Fulidhoo about 36 km (25 guesthouses listed). Resort islands within 10 km: 5.
House rules by island type: alcohol, local-island etiquette, resort or local island.
Beach and lagoon
Beach and lagoon at Beach Stone
- Private beach listedyes
- Beachfront listedno
- Beach access listedno
- Water sports listedyes
- Diving listedyes
- Reviews mentioning the beach3
- Reviews mentioning a house reef0
- Reviews mentioning overwater villas0
The listing records a private beach and a swimming pool, and reviews mention the beach three times: one describes Bikini Beach, the island's only beach, as a four minute walk away, and another calls the location steps from the beach. Water sports, diving and fishing are listed facilities, and canoe is listed. The record is silent on a house reef and on snorkelling from shore, and no review mentions either, so treat shore snorkelling as unconfirmed.
Atoll levelIn South Malé Atoll, the mix of island types is the point: inhabited islands such as Maafushi, Guraidhoo and Gulhi have guesthouses, village streets, mosques and harbours, while resort islands are private with one property each and alcohol served. Maafushi has a designated bikini beach where swimwear is allowed. Across the atoll, resort islands sit on their own reefs, some near the eastern channels and some inside the lagoon, and some run excursions to channels and sandbanks.
Sea and reef
The sea and reef around Beach Stone
- The Maldive Victory wreck · about 22 kmA cargo ship that sank near the airport island in 1981; deep and current-prone, for experienced divers.
- Hulhumalé beach and the Malé ferry · about 25 kmHulhumalé has a public beach where local dress norms apply, a short taxi ride from the airport, with regular ferry crossings to Malé.
- Banana Reef · about 28 kmOne of the best-known dive sites of North Malé Atoll, dived in both monsoons.
- Lankan Manta Point · about 31 kmA manta cleaning station in North Malé Atoll, reached by boat from nearby islands.
- Alimatha night dive · about 40 kmA night dive off Alimatha in Vaavu Atoll for certified divers, run all year with conditions varying.
- The North Malé reef breaks (Thulusdhoo and Himmafushi) · about 41 kmThe surf season runs roughly March to October, with the biggest swells around June to August.
- The Kuda Giri wreck · in South Malé AtollA small, shallower wreck in southern Kaafu, a more accessible introduction to wreck diving for certified divers.
The nearest named sites are not on the doorstep. The Maldive Victory wreck, a cargo ship that sank near the airport island in 1981 and is deep and current-prone for experienced divers, is about 22 km away in a straight line. Hulhumalé beach and the Malé ferry are about 25 km away. Banana Reef, one of the best-known dive sites of North Malé Atoll and dived in both monsoons, is about 28 km away.
Further out, Lankan Manta Point, a manta cleaning station in North Malé Atoll visited by divers and snorkellers, is about 31 km away; the Alimatha night dive in Vaavu Atoll is about 40 km; and the North Malé reef breaks off Thulusdhoo and Himmafushi are about 41 km. The Kuda Giri wreck, a small, shallower wreck in southern Kaafu, is in the same atoll with no exact position given. Recreational diving is capped at 30 metres.
Seasons
Seasons in South Malé Atoll
The year turns on two monsoons. The northeast monsoon, Iruvai, runs roughly December to April and is the drier, calmer half, which suits crossings and beach days. The southwest monsoon, Hulhangu, runs roughly May to November with more wind, passing showers and choppier crossings. Air and sea stay warm all year, and diving is capped at 30 metres.
For marine life, mantas move to cleaning stations during the northeast monsoon, often on western sides of atolls, while southwest monsoon plankton and currents can draw larger animals into eastern channels. The surf season runs roughly March to October, with the biggest swells around June to August, which matters for the North Malé reef breaks about 41 km away. Seaplanes fly in daylight only.
Month by month: the weather guide and the two monsoons.
Day trips
Day trips and island hopping from here
Island hopping is realistic from this base. Maafushi, 5.8 km away with 85 guesthouses listed, is the busiest local island in the atoll, with a harbour, cafes and dive schools; Guraidhoo, 11 km away with 35 guesthouses listed, is smaller and quieter and sits close to the protected Guraidhoo Kandu channel dive. Hulhumalé, at 24 km, has a public beach where local dress norms apply and regular ferry crossings to Malé.
Five resorts lie within 10 km, and some guesthouses arrange day visits to a resort where the resort allows it, usually for a fee arranged through the guesthouse or resort. Common excursion types in this atoll include a sandbank afternoon, a dolphin cruise at dusk, visiting a local island, kayaking or paddleboarding a lagoon, sunset handline fishing and learning to freedive. The Maldive Victory wreck, about 22 km away, is an option for experienced divers.
Trips like these on this site: house-reef snorkelling, a sandbank afternoon, a dolphin cruise at dusk, visiting a local island, kayak and paddleboard a lagoon, sunset handline fishing, learning to freedive, resort day visits.
Guest reviews
What guests say about the sea and beach
beach
Reviews place the island's only beach, Bikini Beach, a four minute walk away, and one calls the location steps from the beach.
“Bikini Beach, the island's only beach, is a four minute walk away.”David V.
“The location couldn’t be better—just steps away from the beach.”Yoshi
getting there
One review highlights flawlessly organised return speedboat transportation by the hotel staff.
“Return speedboat transportation was flawlessly organized by the hotel staff.”David V.
What guests say about the stay
food
Reviews are mixed: one found breakfast basic but filling at an associated restaurant a few minutes walk away, while another found food across the island merely adequate.
“Breakfast was served at a restaurant associated with the hotel that was a few minutes walk away.”David V.
“But nowhere on this island does good food.”Mat J.
staff and service
Service is consistently praised as friendly, helpful and attentive without being intrusive, and one review notes the return speedboat was organised flawlessly by staff.
“The staff were simply amazing; friendly, helpful, and attentive without being intrusive.”David V.
“What stood out the most was the warm and professional service from the staff.”Yoshi
rooms
Rooms are described as large, clean and comfortable, with a sea-view balcony, effective air conditioning and a clean bathroom; one review notes quiet-loud daytime music downstairs.
“The room I had was large, clean, and opened into a large balcony overlooking the sea.”David V.
“The room was also very clean and comfortable, which made the stay even more enjoyable.”Yoshi
wi-fi
One review reports the Wi-Fi worked with no issues.
“WiFi Great no issues Staff”Mat J.
Practical
Practical island life
Free Wi-Fi is listed for this property, along with a restaurant, room service and breakfast in room; one review notes breakfast is served at a restaurant associated with the hotel a few minutes walk away, with basic a la carte options. Air conditioning, a safe, minibar, refrigerator and laundry service are listed. On local islands generally, mobile data is often more reliable than guesthouse Wi-Fi, and prepaid SIM cards are sold at Velana International Airport and in Malé and Hulhumalé.
In South Malé Atoll, inhabited islands have cafes, shops and markets, and life follows the island day; Friday midday prayers close many businesses for a time, and during Ramadan eating and drinking in public in daylight is avoided. Importing alcohol and pork is not allowed. Mobile coverage is good on inhabited islands and patchy at sea. The listing gives no prices or fees.
Compare
Against the 3 nearest similar stays
| Stay | Class | Guest score | Transfer | Distance | Live sample | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Stone (this stay) | 4-star local island | 4.7 (55 reviews) | Speedboat, 22 km | — | 5/5 | Check dates |
| Premier Beach | 3-star local island | 3.9 (111 reviews) | Speedboat, 23 km | 0.1 km away | 3/5 | Check dates |
| Ayala Ocean View | 3-star local island | none yet | Speedboat, 22 km | 0.1 km away | 5/5 | Check dates |
| Arrival Beach and Spa at Gulhi | 3-star local island | none yet | Speedboat, 22 km | 0.1 km away | 5/5 | Check dates |
Facilities listed
- Air conditioning
- Balcony
- Bars
- Bath
- Beach nearby
- Bidet
- Breakfast in room
- Buffet
- Canoe
- Coffee
- Concierge
- Cot
- Diving
- Dry cleaning service
- Express check in
- Family rooms
- First aid
- Fishing
- Free Wi-Fi
- Hairdryer
- Housekeeping
- Internet access
- Iron and board
- Laundry Service
- Lunch
- Market
- Minibar
- Private beach
- Refrigerator
- Restaurant
- Room Service
- Safe
- Shuttle service
- Smoking area
- Special diets
- Swimming pool
- TV
- Terrace
- Toiletries
Questions about Beach Stone
How do you get to Beach Stone?
The usual transfer is a speedboat or public ferry, with the island about 22 km from Velana International Airport in a straight line. Speedboats in South Malé Atoll can run day and night, and the guesthouse arranges transfers. No seaplane or domestic flight is needed for this atoll.
Can you drink alcohol, and what should you wear?
Alcohol is not served on inhabited islands, so none is available at the property or around the village. Swimwear is for the designated bikini beach only; shoulders and knees are covered in the village. Importing alcohol and pork is not allowed.
Is there a beach and a house reef?
A private beach is listed and reviews mention Bikini Beach, the island's only beach, a four minute walk away. The record is silent on a house reef and on snorkelling from shore, and no review mentions either, so shore snorkelling is not confirmed. Diving and fishing are listed.
What does the listing show about meals at Beach Stone?
The facility list for Beach Stone names a restaurant, a bar, breakfast, room service and special diets. Which meal plans are on sale, from room only to half board where offered, depends on your dates and shows on the booking page.
When is the best season to visit South Malé Atoll?
The northeast monsoon, roughly December to April, is the drier, calmer half of the year and suits crossings and beach days. The southwest monsoon, roughly May to November, brings more wind and passing showers. Air and sea stay warm all year. Diving is capped at 30 metres.
Is Beach Stone better for families or couples?
Family rooms and a cot are listed, and the guesthouse is not stated as adults-only, so families are accommodated. Couples get a large room with a sea-view balcony and a pool. The local-island setting means no alcohol and village dress norms, which some couples may weigh up.
What sea or island experience is within reach?
Maafushi, 5.8 km away, is the busiest local island in the atoll with cafes and dive schools, and Guraidhoo, 11 km away, sits close to the protected Guraidhoo Kandu channel dive. The Maldive Victory wreck is about 22 km away, deep and current-prone for experienced divers.
Was Beach Stone bookable in the live sample?
Beach Stone came back on 5 of the 5 sampled stays searched near it (check-ins on 30 November 2026, 28 December 2026, 25 January 2027 and 22 February 2027). Rooms were on sale on every sampled date. Your own dates are checked live on the booking page.
How this page was made: bookability comes from a live sweep of the IMPT booking search on 5 sample stays; facilities, photos and reviews from the IMPT hotel database; distances from coordinates; sea, season and island context from this site's own pages. The written sections were drafted by an AI model from this record only and checked against it.
All stays in South Malé Atoll · All island stays · South Malé Atoll guide · This stay in the hotels section