Review: Moonimaa Lounge, Male International Airport, Maldives
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The Maldives has only one airport, with a number of lounges. We visited the Moonimaa Lounge at Velana Worldwide Airport (MLE) utilizing our Precedence Move. Whereas not essentially the most intensive lounge we’ve skilled, it sufficed for a fast meal earlier than our IndiGo flight to Bangalore. Beneath, you may learn all about our experiences on the Moonimaa Lounge.
Velana Male Worldwide Airport
For those who’re flying to the Maldives, you’ll arrive at Velana Worldwide Airport. Airways like Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airways, Qatar Airways, and British Airways function direct flights there.
Malé Worldwide Airport is a brief taxi journey from Malé, the capital. Nevertheless, most travellers head on to their resorts on close by islands. Many resorts provide speedboat transfers from the airport, whereas others might require a seaplane switch from a separate terminal.
We stayed on the SAii Lagoon Resort – Curio Assortment by Hilton, positioned about half-hour away by speedboat. A assessment of this lovely resort will likely be featured quickly on InsideFlyer. Right here, I’ll focus on the Moonimaa Lounge at Malé Airport.
Entry to the Moonimaa Lounge
You’ll be able to entry the Moonimaa Lounge at Malé airport via numerous memberships, together with Lounge Move, Lounge Key, Dragonpass, Precedence Move, ON Move, and EC Eliteclub. I used my Precedence Move, which comes with my American Categorical Platinum Card. Company may also be introduced in totally free, and youngsters beneath 3 journey free with an grownup.
For those who lack a membership, entry may be bought for $40 per particular person, legitimate for two hours. Fee choices embody money and bank cards (together with American Categorical). The lounge operates every day from 6 am to 11 pm, with peak hours between 4 pm and 6 pm.
Reception
The Moonimaa Lounge is positioned landside within the home terminal, earlier than safety. Upon coming into, flip proper and take the steps to the primary flooring. An elevator can also be out there for baggage. On the prime, flip left to seek out the lounge entrance.
We had been warmly greeted by two workers who scanned our Precedence Move and boarding passes. They supplied a short overview of the lounge amenities and provided to retailer our baggage.
Overview of the Moonimaa Lounge
The lounge options ample seating for round 100 guests in a comparatively small space. Throughout our go to (between 1:00 PM and a couple of:00 PM), it was fairly peaceable. There are separate rooms with bigger chairs for these looking for privateness.
The darkish leather-based upholstery and restricted lighting create a considerably gloomy ambiance, contrasting with the sunny Maldives. Given the posh resorts within the space, we anticipated extra from the lounge.
Along with chairs, there are benches the place company can nap. Whereas some lounges prohibit this, it appears acceptable right here.
Sadly, there are not any energy retailers, which is a big downside, particularly since our IndiGo flight additionally lacked charging amenities.
Behind the lounge, you’ll discover bathrooms and a bathe (with a surcharge). The buffet space is well-lit.
Bar and Buffet
The buffet gives a good choice of meals, drinks, and snacks, together with Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, fruit juices, espresso, tea, and water. Sizzling dishes included Pasta Penne Alfredo, Vietnamese rice, Indian rooster curry, potato curry, and grilled fish with garlic butter. I discovered the pasta underheated, however an worker promptly heated it for me.
The chilly buffet options sandwiches and a salad bar, whereas desserts embody espresso cake, banana bread, bread pudding with caramel sauce, and recent melon salad.
Throughout our go to, lunch was served, with breakfast provided within the morning and snacks/dinner later within the day. Listed below are the service occasions:
| Service | Time |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 6:00 – 11:30 AM |
| Lunch | 12:30 – 2:30 PM |
| Snack | 3:30 – 6:00 PM |
| Dinner | 7:00 – 9:00 PM |
Different Amenities
Along with the buffet, the lounge options bathrooms and a bathe. Reservations for the bathe may be made at reception.
A number of digital screens show flight data, however there are not any bulletins, so control the time. As a landside lounge, bear in mind to consider time for check-in, passport management, and safety, which took us about 10-Quarter-hour throughout our go to.
All company can entry free WiFi, secured by a username and password out there at reception (as much as 5 gadgets). The connection was steady with cheap velocity.
Overview
Good Factors
– Very pleasant and useful workers
– Useful area to retailer your baggage on the entrance
– Loads of seating
– Bogs and bathe within the lounge itself
Unhealthy Factors
– Lounge is positioned within the home terminal constructing
– Not all meals on the buffet is correctly heated
– Darkish furnishings, little daylight and restricted lighting does probably not swimsuit the sunny Maldives
– No/only a few energy retailers to cost your cellular gadgets
Conclusion
The Moonimaa Lounge is a superbly first rate place to seize a fast drink/snack. I discover airside lounges way more stress-free although, as a result of you do not have to fret about potential delays at safety and so forth. Additionally, the darkish inside actually might do with a refresh.
