Samann Host
Rooftop dining, beach access, and the airport three kilometres away.
A city stay in Hulhumalé
Samann Host is a guest house on Hulhumalé island, roughly 3 km from Velana International Airport via the Sinamalé Bridge. It suits transit travellers and those who want a practical base near Malé without the cost of a resort. The property has an on-site restaurant — O'View, a rooftop venue — and includes breakfast in the room rate. Three room types step up in size from a compact 15 m² double to a 27 m² executive suite, all with soundproofing, air conditioning, and a coffee machine. Google reviewers give it 4.3/5 across 171 ratings.
The honest verdict
A tidy, well-staffed guest house with a rooftop restaurant, free breakfast, beach access, and fast airport connections — suited to transit stays and short city-side breaks rather than classic Maldives resort holidays.
Best for
- Transit and stopover travellers
- Business guests needing airport proximity
- Budget-conscious couples wanting breakfast included
- Day-trip bases into Malé or the atolls
Maybe not ideal for
- Travellers expecting a house reef or overwater villas
- Those wanting an alcohol-inclusive resort experience
- Guests seeking remote-island seclusion
O'View rooftop restaurant
The rooftop O'View Restaurant runs breakfast from 07:00 to 10:00 and a la carte lunch and dinner from 11:00 to 23:00. Room service covers the same lunch-to-dinner window. The menu spans continental, American, full English, Italian, vegetarian, halal, and buffet options.
Beach access and outdoor space
The guest house has direct beach access, along with a garden, picnic area, and outdoor furniture. It is a city-side property on Hulhumalé, so the beach is the nearest public shore rather than a private resort strand.
Room design and facilities
All three room types include soundproofing, individually controlled air conditioning, a rain shower, flat-screen TV, coffee machine, and minibar. The two upper categories add a private balcony. The Executive Suite reaches 27 m² and carries a city view.
Practical guest-house extras
Free parking, a full-service laundry, 24-hour front desk, express check-in and check-out, and a welcome drink on arrival. Conference facilities with an HD projector, sound system, and IT support are available for business travellers.
Rooms & suites
Deluxe Double Room
15 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 large double bed
- Air conditioning
- Ensuite bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
- Soundproofing
- Coffee machine
Super Deluxe Double with Balcony
18 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 double bed
- Balcony
- Air conditioning
- Ensuite bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
- Soundproofing
Executive Suite with Balcony
27 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 large double bed
- Balcony
- City view
- Air conditioning
- Ensuite bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
Experiences on & off the island
Inside Samann Host
Amenities at Samann Host
Great for your stay
- Restaurant
- Parking
- Private bathroom
- Air conditioning
- Free WiFi
- Bath
- Family rooms
- Airport shuttle (free)
Bathroom
- Toilet paper
- Towels
- Bidet
- Towels/sheets (extra fee)
- Bath or shower
- Slippers
- Private bathroom
- Toilet
Bedroom
- Linen
- Wardrobe or closet
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Outdoor furniture
- Garden
Kitchen
- Coffee machine
- Electric kettle
- Refrigerator
Room amenities
- Socket near the bed
- Clothes rack
Getting there
Samann Host sits on Hulhumalé island, approximately 3 km from Velana International Airport. The route is by taxi across the Sinamalé Bridge — no boat transfer is involved. The guest house offers an airport shuttle service. Several cafes and a restaurant are within 150 metres on foot.
An airport taxi is inexpensive — typically MVR 60–100 (about $4–8) on the fixed fares, taking 10–20 minutes; the public airport shuttle bus costs even less. No ferry or speedboat is needed — the islands are connected to the airport by road.
On the map
Where to eat
- wilu breeze cafe 0.05 km
- momo tea cafe 0.06 km
- frengo cafe 0.07 km
- Shell Beans Hulhu'male cafe 0.09 km
- vilu rest cafe 0.1 km
- nova bistro cafe 0.11 km
Service is the most-reviewed topic — 47 of 51 mentions are positive, which is the strongest ratio across all themes. Cleanliness runs close behind at 22 positive out of 24. Breakfast draws good marks (17 of 21 positive). The restaurant and property condition score well overall, and location and transit access are both rated positively by the clear majority of guests.
- Things to do4.7
- Restaurants4.2
- Airport access4.7
Share of positive mentions per theme, from Google reviews.
Good to know
Frequently asked
How do I get from the airport to Samann Host?
The guest house is about 3 km from Velana International Airport. The transfer is by taxi via the Sinamalé Bridge. An airport shuttle is available; check with the property on the current charge, as rates may vary.
Is breakfast included in the room rate?
Yes. A free breakfast is included. O'View Restaurant serves it daily from 07:00 to 10:00 and covers continental, American, full English, Italian, vegetarian, halal, and buffet styles.
What room types are available?
There are three options: the Deluxe Double Room (15 m²), the Super Deluxe Double with Balcony (18 m²), and the Executive Suite with Balcony (27 m²). All sleep two adults.
Does the property have a restaurant?
Yes. O'View is a rooftop restaurant open for breakfast and a la carte lunch and dinner (11:00–23:00). Room service runs through the same lunch-to-dinner hours.
Is there beach access?
The guest house has beach access. Hulhumalé is a city-side island, so this is a public beach rather than a private resort beach. The property also has a garden and outdoor seating area.
Can I go snorkelling or diving from here?
Snorkelling, diving, canoeing, paddleboarding, and other water activities can be arranged as excursions through local operators. Jet skiing and sunset cruises are also on the activity list.
Is parking available?
Free parking is available at the property.
Are family rooms available?
The facility list includes family rooms. Contact the property directly to confirm current availability and configuration, as the listed room types are all described for two guests.
What is the wi-fi situation?
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. In-room listings describe it as high-speed internet access.
Is Samann Host suitable for business travellers?
Yes. The property has conference facilities with an HD projector, sound system, and IT support. The airport is 3 km away, and the 24-hour front desk offers express check-in and check-out.
What dining options are nearby?
Several cafes are within 150 metres, including Wilu Breeze, Momo Tea, Frengo, Shell Beans Hulhu'male, Vilu Rest, Nova Bistro, and Lanka Cafe. Coba Cabana restaurant is roughly 130 metres away.
What is the guest rating?
Samann Host holds a Google rating of 4.3/5 based on 171 reviews. Guests single out service and cleanliness most positively. It has also received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence (2022) and Booking.com Travelers Review Awards for 2020–2022.