Kandolhu Maldives

If your idea of paradise is a pristine tropical island with swaying palm trees and pure white beaches surrounded by a fantastic house reef, then Kandolhu should be at the top of your list when visiting the Maldives. We have wanted to visit the Maldives for a long time but with so many islands, which one should we choose? We were recommended Kandolhu by our Travel Agent and we were certainly not disappointed throughout. We were greeted on the arrival by Claudio and Luciana and members of the team and received a warm welcome – this personal attention continued throughout our stay but at just the right level – we are quite private people. We celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary during our 10 night stay and fully appreciated our wonderfully decorated bedroom and gluten-free anniversary cake as welcomed surprises on the day. We ate in all the restaurants but our favourite was Sea Grill as we liked to sit in front of the kitchens and watch the different foods being prepared and cooked. In all the restaurants, nothing was too much trouble and dietary requirements and personal preferences were easily catered for. The Dress Code day and night was really whatever you wanted it to be! We ensured we did not visit the restaurants or bar in swimwear and were modestly dressed when walking around the island. We dressed up a little most evenings, dresses, shirts and shorts and flipflops but it seemed to really be down to personal preference (which we really liked) - and you really only need to take one pair of flat summer shoes, we wore flipflops or went bare feet and the other shoes we had packed remained unworn. We would like to give credit to ALL the friendly, hard working staff across the whole island from the team of people sweeping and clearing the paths and beaches first thing in the morning (which we witnessed when we arose early to watch the sunrise on numerous occasions) to the people working in the offices, bars and restaurants, your team effort ensured we had simply had the best holiday. We would also like to acknowledge a few individuals who particularly stood out for us which include Ameen, Maan, Astrid and Jenny (my spa treatment was amazing). The Doctor was also very professional and helpful when we needed to use his services. As newbie (nervous) snorkellers, we enjoyed our complementary snorkelling session on our first day with the very patient Shard and were delighted to see a turtle and even a large green turtle just beyond the reef (followed by a very interested shark!). We attempted a second snorkel ourselves but as this was a less enjoyable experience, we embarked on another guided tour, this time seeing nine Eagle Rays and octopuses and another turtle, again with Shard and have been delighted with the videos he took on a GoPro (especially as he was able to free dive and really capture some fantastic footage to help us remember the amazing house reef.) We also kayaked around the island one afternoon which was lovely to see the whole

From the moment we stepped off the speed boat and were welcomed by the management team, until the moment we were waved off the pier when left the island, we experienced nothing but 5* luxury. The reception staff explained that our Duplex villa was being prepared for us (we arrived before 10am) and proceeded to show us around the island and took us for breakfast at the Market restaurant, which was delicious. We were then shown to our Villa....Wow, Room 115 was everything we'd hoped for, the duplex rooms have everything you could ask for. The private pool was a must, along with two outdoor sitting areas (one on the upper floor and one on the ground level), these allowed the most amazing views, especially at sunset. The outside shower, bath and toilet seemed strange at first sight, but we loved it (also an inside shower and toilet upstairs). The coffee/tea/soft drinks were replaced daily. My request for Tiger beer in the fridge was granted immediately. The wine chiller and wine selection was astonishing, we barely scratched the surface but loved all we tried. The four spirit bottles were untouched although a welcome sight. The food was a big incentive for us choosing Kandolhu, and we were not disappointed! Surely plenty of choice for anyone. The chefs were in total control, none seemed rushed at all, while the waiting staff were so attentive, and always with a smile. Our favourite was the Sea Grill (we love fish and seafood), the Ata Roa for Ceviche and Tacos at lunch... bliss (you need to book). I'd the most amazing seafood tagliatelli in the Olive, while the Banzai chef provided a wonderful experience. The Market is the standard for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plenty of choice on each menu, while the staff would accommodate any request if you wanted something special (we had a plate of fresh mango one morning). I can honestly say I loved everything we tried, I only wish we had been there longer to experience more. All the guests we talked with, loved the house reef for snorkelling, being afraid of deep water, I was happy to mess about in the lagoon outside our villa, lots of colourful fish even in the shallow waters. The cocktail menu at the Vilu Bar is extensive, every cocktail expertly prepared and delivered by the friendliest of staff. The Spa was unbelievable, my wife enjoyed four treatments, I had reflexology and a full body massage. So, so relaxing. You can choose how intense you want the treatment to be, the young masseuse had me squirming with her strong thumbs. I'd recommend the Ultimate Inclusion package, everything other than lobster and champagne included. I'd also recommend interacting with the staff, they have so many wonderful stories to tell are are so friendly. We are already planning a return visit, this time with friends. Thank you to everyone on Kandolhu who made our holiday so enjoyable.