We flew with Sri Lankan Airways for this trip; our flight was comfortable and briefly connected in Colombo before arriving in Malé for our speedboat transfer.
Malé International Airport
Malé International Airport is in the process of adding final finishing touches to its new terminal, we were able to have a sneak peek before it formally opens later this year. It looked well laid out with plenty of bright airy spaces and modern facilities; I’m looking forward to our clients being able to use it very soon.
All the major island resorts and tour operators have their own kiosk stands set up in the arrivals hall, it’s easy to spot where to go despite being a busy airport. We were greeted by our friendly Kuoni resort representatives who assisted us with our cases and showed us to the speedboat transfer jetty.
Kuramathi
After staring out the window of our speedboat window and taking in the sunshine, we landed at our first resort! The arrival at Kuramathi was very memorable; the resort staff played drums and waved as we walked down the pier, we were offered a cold juice and towel which was greatly appreciated after our long journey. The reception area was impressive, plenty of staff available to help and lots of seating with fans and maps of the resort.
We stayed in a contemporary two bedroom beach house which had a great layout, we had separate entrances to the ground floor terrace room and upper first floor balcony room to allow for extra privacy, as well as having direct access in front of the beach house with our own sun loungers. The rooms are well equipped with huge bathrooms and spacious living areas; I came back to my room one afternoon to find freshly picked coconuts and handwritten note welcoming me to the resort which was a lovely surprise!
Of the three main buffet dining restaurants on the island, ours was just a few minutes' walk along the beach or a 1-minute golf buggy ride (these run fairly frequently for guests to hop on). This was the largest of the islands we visited during our stay, I absolutely loved wandering through the botanical garden area and jungle woodlands. It felt like we were discovering new areas of the island to explore all the time, the beach is easy to access from almost anywhere and the sandbank at the tail of the island is a great scenic spot for photos.
One of my favourite memories is watching the fruit bats gliding through the trees in the evening as the sun was setting, Margarita cocktail in hand and feet in the sand. We had some fantastic meals during our stay including the famous “Steak Diane” which surpassed all expectations, I recommend opting for the all-inclusive “dine around” meal plan to take advantage of the extensive cocktail menus and wider range of dining locations. Our hosts were able to cater for different dietary needs and took great care to make sure we were looked after, as the island is quite large, many of the greens and garnishes are grown locally in their hydroponic gardens instead of being imported so the salads taste extra fresh.
There was a great atmosphere near the beach bars with live bands and music sets performing nightly. We also toured the brilliantly themed kids club with splash park, eco-centre, well-equipped dive facilities and excursions centre. The house reef was easy to access, I enjoyed spotting all the brightly coloured fish and watching herons wading along the shore in the mornings.
I would recommend this resort to anyone who’s not visited Maldives before, couples, families, solos, and friends. I could have spent at least a week there, some guests may even want to split their stay between multiple room types and treat themselves to an overwater villa for part of their stay.
Kandolhu
We visited Kandolhu next via speedboat, this was a very intimate island with luxurious modern rooms but in still in-keeping with island’s aesthetic. The hosts treat their guests like returning family, and have a very high re-booking rate, with some clients staying for over 40 nights!
The island itself only takes 10-minutes to walk around, and the smallest dining venue hosts just 4 tables at a time. I was very impressed by the house reef, the hosts take a lot of pride in their connection to nature and actively avoid inviting private yachts, motorised water sports or seaplanes into their port to preserve the waters for guests and local wildlife to enjoy.
The resort has a quiet evening scene, with no evening entertainment but plenty of scenery and an extensive all-inclusive offering. This is perfect for guests looking for a luxurious home from home, far away from the stresses of work. Look out for the beautiful photograph prints in each room, these were provided by one of their regular guests and his high-tech diving camera!
Ananea Madivaru
Ananea Madivaru is a brand-new resort, with a focus on spacious contemporary rooms and elevated dining. We arrived by speedboat and were greeted by the fantastic resort team, after check-in we were whisked away to our ocean villas with private pools. I was amazed by how much space I had in my room, the high ceilings and panoramic windows really make you feel relaxed straight way. I still miss my villa pool; there was also a netted hammock bed positioned over the water. This resort is carefully designed to make guests feel like they have their own little slice of uninterrupted paradise, the atmosphere in the evening ranges from quiet peaceful beaches to buzzing main bars with live music.
The resort spans two islands, connected by a scenic wooden bridge. We were very impressed by the spa facilities; large kids club with lagoon pool and thoughtfully themed a la carte dining venues. The garden spaces and on the island are manicured, adding to the 5-star rating feel of the resort. One of our top excursions from this resort was the Nurse Shark Snorkelling, our guides were great and made sure we felt safe the entire time. I also loved the Paradise Beach Club on the north island, perfectly placed to watch the sunset. Watch this space as Ananea will grow even more in popularity over the next few months!
Malé’s Seaplane Terminal
We waved goodbye to Ananea Madivaru and boarded the seaplane for the final leg of our journey, stopping briefly in Malé’s Seaplane Terminal for a quick tour of the lounge facilities. I was impressed by how calm this terminal was, there were lounges allocated for most resort hotels and a couple of ultra-lux pre-bookable lounges for general guests. We spent most of our time in the Coral Lounge which offered plenty of snacks, drinks and seating, plus a great viewing deck to watch the seaplanes taking off.
The speedboats were great, but the seaplane topped it for us, we had a smooth journey to our next resort with amazing views of the ocean and neighbouring islands below.
Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru
Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru was such a highlight for me! The atmosphere on the island was so relaxed, our hosts had surprised us on arrival with our own ocean villas with private pools (with a very well stocked all-inclusive mini bar). It only takes around between 10 and 15 minutes to complete a loop of the resort, which as someone who finds it difficult to stay still, sounds quite restrictive. However, I could have easily stayed longer than a week and found plenty to do.
There’s great water sports facilities and a range of daily bookable excursions, as well as a luxurious spa - it’s worth upgrading to the all-inclusive dine around meal plan as guests can take advantage of some extra discounts and inclusions.
The main buffet venue was impressive, especially the “dessert room” which was set to a lower temperature and housed a huge variety of sweet treats, ice cream and chocolates. There were a few show cooking stations for pasta dishes, fried rice and other popular options which really elevated the dining experience and allowed for more customisation and a personalised service. The Art I San restaurant has a much more intimate feel with low lighting and à la carte menu. This is just one of the speciality dining venues on site.
Another great addition is the cafe-style bar serving iced coffee and sweet treats throughout the day, this is also where you will find the gift shop which has a good range of local crafts, resort wear and fun souvenirs.
We were taken to their private island at sunset which is just a 5-minute journey away, this is frequently booked up for proposals, blessings and other special occasions so it was a real treat to see it. Our island tour also included the new kid’s treehouse club which made me very envious of people young enough to use it, there is a secret bookcase (which I won’t spoil) and kid’s only entrance with their own doorbell which we loved. A huge tree grows in the centre of the kid’s club which adds a lot of character and charm to the space, it also ties in with the resort's strong commitment to the environment, which is also evident in the coral protection and regeneration projects, marine biology centre and the staff’s extensive knowledge of their local wildlife and ecosystem across both islands.
For older kids, teens and big kids there was a great outdoor games area near to the main pool, buffet and pool bar. There is a choice of ping pong, arcade machines, darts, pool table and mini golf (fam trip approved!).
The variety of room options at the Outrigger allows for twin beds, family size villas over multiple floors or more secluded romantic honeymoon style beach/over water villas with private pools.
It’s a great choice for anyone (couples, families, groups of friends) who are happy to go all out, all-inclusive and have an extra special holiday!
What do I personally look for?
1.) A very ‘inclusive’ experience - Not worrying about which cocktails or snacks I am allowed to try. Ideally not limited to one restaurant.
2.) A focus on nature and wildlife - Knowledgeable staff who can answer all my random questions. Easily accessible reef on site for exploring at leisure, good for beginners.
3.) Varied buffet or main dining venue - Sometimes I just fancy a pizza (although some dressier a la carte options are also welcome).
4.) Activities to do - I’m not great at staying still for too long! Some good excursion options and equipment hire help with this, some atmosphere in the evening is a bonus.
5.) Privacy - Enjoying a quiet walk and feeling like I’m discovering somewhere for the first time.
Favourite moments?
1.) Arriving for the first time at each island - This is partially down to the great hosts who created such a welcoming atmosphere and made us feel extra special. We were greeted with cold towels and fresh juices, our bags and cases were taken to our rooms and any travel stress melted away.
2.) Using my waterproof phone pouch when snorkelling - Being able to capture shots of sharks and other wildlife to show my family at home. (Also seeing a cute turtle on our last day).
3.) Watching the sunset from my private pool - Headphones in and a cool sea breeze. Being able to switch off, which is getting harder to do as I get older.
Anything to look out for?
1.) Beach and sea safety - Snorkelling in pairs or groups and avoiding rocks/coral by floating over or wearing sea shoes.
2.) Airline and routing - Check with your agent about connection times and direct options if you’d prefer to cut down your flying time- similarly how you’d like to reach your resort (seaplane vs speedboat?)
3.) Dining and Inclusions - Prefer to pay upfront and now worry about what’s included on your trip? We can help advise on menus, activities and other extras to ensure you’re visiting the right resort with the right meal plan.
4.) Vibes, entertainment and atmosphere - We want to tailor your visit to your preferences. There’s an island for everyone, so it’s worth researching the size and style of the resorts that you are interested in. All of these resorts have pools, water-sports centres, a choice of rooms and dining options so we like to dig a little deeper and find out what makes you happy on holiday and the price range you are comfortable with. Please do let us know if you’re celebrating, we have great contacts in resort who want to help you have the best time!
A huge thank you to all the resorts and their hosts, as well as MMT and Kuoni’s team for making sure we experienced as much as possible during our trip!
