Kudafushi resort spa Maldives was our choice for spending 10 days in paradise and it proved to be a very smart decision!

Here is how everything started…

After quite a long wait and many moments of uncertainty, we finally managed to get into the plane and fly to one of the most beautiful destinations on Earth: Maldives.

Now because of COVID things are a little bit more complicated, and you are not sure about anything, so you might think twice before traveling, but trust me, Kudafushi is worth the risk.

We booked our trip almost two years ago, in January 2020 before this pandemia hit us and we had to postpone everything for two years.

During this time we had several tentative plans to get to the Maldives, but each time something appeared and we had to postpone the trip again.

I was in contact with the hotel and they promptly answered all my questions, understood my fears, and each time they agreed to move the reservation to a new date.

I must confess that I hesitated a little bit, but I decided to go and see with my own eyes if the Maldives, this piece of paradise from the Indian Ocean, was as beautiful as people say.

Here is what I imagined before landing in Kudafushi Maldives: a small piece of land in the middle of the ocean, with white and soft sand, turquoise waters, and a lot of vegetation on the shore.

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Oh! And the so famous water villas for which the Maldives is so famous and popular!

And here is what I found once I landed on Kudafushi island, in the middle of the ocean…

How to get from Male airport to resort

The simplest, fastest, and most comfortable way to get from Male International Airport to Kudafushi resort spa on this tiny island from Raa Atoll is by seaplane.

Kudafushi resort & spa transfer is arranged by the hotel, all you need to do is to email the hotel the details of your international flight so they can arrange everything related to the flights transfers.

I have to admit that this was one of the most interesting and exciting experiences I have ever had and it has nothing to do with flying with a regular plane.

The seaplane trip from Velana International Airport to the resort lasts for about 45 minutes and is one of the stressless experiences you have had.

After you get your entry visa and your luggage you will be greeted by a resort representative that will take care of you.

He will guide you inside the airport and you will go together to the seaplane ticket office where your luggage will be weighed and labeled.

After that, you will be invited to hop on a van that will transfer you from the airport to the seaplane lounge.

There you will wait for your seaplane to get you to this magnificent paradise, a unique place in the world.

Inside the seaplane lounge, you will find snacks, coffee, and soft drinks, that I am sure you will appreciate after so many hours on the plane.

When your seaplane is ready for departure you will be invited to embark on a 45-minute ride to the resort.

During this time, somebody will take care of your luggage; the last time we saw them was when you handled them at the hotel representative in the airport and the next time when you will touch them will be in front of your villa in Kudafushi island.

So, the seaplane ride lasts for about 45 minutes and is one of the most scenic trips I have ever experienced.

The resort works with Maldivian Air which is one of the three seaplane companies that operates in the Maldives, together with Trans Maldivian Airways and Manta Air.

The plane is very small, around 12 to 15 seats and you can see inside the cockpit which is quite an interesting experience.

You will land on a floating deck in the middle of the ocean from where a speed boat will take you to the shore. The speedboat ride lasts for about 3 minutes and it is used just because seaplanes cannot land in shallow waters.

You can also get to the hotel via a domestic flight but the price is almost the same as for a seaplane (just about 100 USD dollars less) but it is less spectacular than the seaplane experience.

If you choose the domestic flights instead of seaplane then from Male airport, then you take a 30-minute domestic flight to Ifuru Domestic airport which is the closest airport to Kudafushi resort and from Ifuru you have a speedboat transfer for another 30 minutes.

The prices are almost the same but the time spent for getting there almost triples as for domestic flights you need to be there one hour prior to the flight.

A greeting committee awaits you on the dock to welcome you to one of the most beautiful islands from the Maldives.

The operation manager, Mr. Nasru was the first and the last person we saw when arriving and leaving Kudafushi.

He is the man that takes care of everything and ensures you a relaxing and unforgettable holiday.

And there is one more interesting thing to mention: you have a so-called “Hero” who is a dedicated person, like a personal assistant who will guide and support you during your holiday.

If you want to make a reservation, or if you have a problem just write it on Whatsapp and everything will be solved quickly.

With the help of our Hero, we booked a henna session, the COVID test before leaving and reserved a table at the inside restaurants.

Check-in process at Kudafushi resort spa

We have been asked to send via email our passports so by the time we arrived on the island the check-in process was already done.

Our Hero showed us the villa and a few minutes later our luggage came to the door without any effort from our side.

Kudafushi resort und spa accommodation

Kuda Fushi means in local language “Tiny Island”, but it is big enough to accommodate tourists in water villas, water villas with pools, beach villas, and beach villas with pools.

In total there are 107 villas hidden in dense vegetation or built in the middle of the ocean, but everything is so well designed that you have the impression that you are alone on the island.

The only place where you meet other tourists is in the bars and restaurants that are spread across the island.

Now let me tell you some words about each of the villas from Kudafushi resort und spa where we stayed, what I liked and disliked on each of them.

First of all, I want to tell you that we decided to split our holiday into 3 and stay in a beach villa, a beach villa with a pool and a water villa ( I left the water villa with a pool and the presidential suite for the next time).

I mean…come on! You cannot go to the Maldives and not stay in a water villa as this is the centerpiece of the hotel concept in these islands.

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Kudafushi resort & spa beach villa

We started our holiday with a few nights on a beach villa with a private patio, a beautiful sandy beach, and our own piece of ocean.

The rooms are spacious and very well maintained with a huge bed, two big armchairs and a small table, a desk, and a sofa.

But what I liked most about the beach villa at Kudafushi resort spa is the bathroom, a beautiful enclosure that exceeded my expectations.

There are outdoor and indoor showers, two sinks, and an outdoor jacuzzi where you can relax while looking on the sky.

Showering outside was simply amazing, and definitely was the highlight of this room and I immediately fell in love with this experience.

On the patio, you have a seating area with a table, 2 chairs and 2 sun chairs, and a small piece of beach hidden between vegetation.

If you go forward to the ocean you will find another 2 sun chairs on the beach, a beach that is only for you together with a piece of the Indian Ocean and direct access to the lagoon.

This private lodging s sun terrace gives you the unique opportunity to enjoy the Maldivian weather from the intimacy of your villa.

If you take the all-inclusive option you have free access to minibar which is refilled daily free of charge.

You have 2 bottles of water each day which is refilled so you don’t have to take anything from the bar or restaurant.

Pros

• The outdoor shower, an interesting experience which you definitely have to try
• The patio that goes into the ocean offers you natural shadow and some privacy

Cons

• The shower toiletries come in a big bottle and are not replaced after each customer,  but the bottles are fully sanitized after each guest and just after that refilled.

I really enjoyed my time spent here as I had my own piece of beach and ocean and from my bed, I could see and hear the ocean.

In just 2 steps I was on the beach and then in the water without feeling disturbed by other tourists.

The reef is very close to the shore and during our snorkeling tours, we saw many beautiful fishes, an octopus, and even an eel morena.

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Kudafushi resort & spa water villa

For the following 3 nights at Kudafushi resort spa we booked a water villa as you cannot go to the Maldives and not stay in a water villa.

It is definitely an experience you have to try together with the beach villa experience and decide on your own which one you like most.

The room is a little bigger than the beach villa and has a very beautiful hall at the entrance with a dressing area.

The bathroom is very big, but everything is indoor: the shower, the bathtub, the sinks but there is a separate unit for the toilet.

You have L’Occitane toiletries in your bathroom which I highly appreciate as I am a fan of these french products.

On the patio, you have a table, 2 chairs, and 2 sun chairs all under a roof and a deck exposed to the sun.

You can enter directly into the ocean from the deck and in a few moments, you are in the middle of the reef.

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Lots of colorful fishes, small and big can be seen in the waters around the water villa. On one night we even saw an eagle ray right near our patio.

In the all-inclusive plan which is highly recommended, you have a free minibar which is refilled daily, and 4 bottles with still water to keep you hydrated.

Pros

• in the middle of the ocean and very close to the reef
• your have direct access to the sea descending your very own private step
• you have l’Occitane amenities

Cons

• The sound of the water splashing the support pillars might be quite disturbing during the night
• It is more expensive than the beach villa
• You don’t have an outdoor shower
• Gets really hot during the daytime and no natural shade

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Beach villa with pool at Hotel Kudafushi resort & spa Maldives

If you are more of a land person and like to feel the sand under your feet then you should consider booking a beach villa with your private pool.

The room amenities are similar to the simple beach villa but there is the pool, your corner of paradise hidden between lush vegetation to guarantee you a complete feeling of privacy.

This is definitely the most intimate villa you can have while staying at Kudafushi hotel Maldives and as a bonus, you can admire the sunset each night from your own private sunchair.

There are only 20 villas of this kind at Hotel Kudafushi resort and spa Maldives and besides the intimate garden with the private pool, they offer your own beach and piece of the Indian Ocean.

These villas also have an outdoor bathroom which I must confess was extraordinary and I would come back again any time just to take another shower outside, under the clear sky.

You also have a semi-indoor shower, two sinks, and a beautiful bathtub that is also located outside, in the bathroom area.

From your bed, you can see the pool and the beach through the narrow vegetation tunnel that offers you so much privacy when bathing in the pool.

The all-inclusive option gives you free access to the minibar that is refilled daily for free; in the room, you also can find two bottles of water to stay hydrated throughout the whole day.

Pros

• The outdoor shower
• The pool area that is extremely intimate
• You have natural sunshade from the vegetation around the villa

Cons

• The toiletries are not for single-use and are not changed after each tourist, but the bottles are fully sanitized after each guest and just after that refilled.

Kudafushi Maldives water villa with pool

There are also some water villas with pools at Kudafushi resort spa and if you are the kind of person that likes to stay on the water, then you definitely have to try these villas.

The cherry on top at these villas is the pool where you can serve floating breakfast upon request, which is quite an amazing experience.

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Facilities

Kudafushi island resort is not just about beaches and turquoise waters; it also offers a wide range of facilities so that you have a wonderful holiday in this corner of paradise.

Leisure house

This activity center is located right near the main restaurant and the place where you should go if you want to have fun, relax and play some indoor games.

Each night there are different activities: karaoke, team games, and other activities so that you enjoy your time spent abroad.

The list of activities is subject to change, depending on the season and the management decision which always takes into account customers feedback.

During our stay at Kudafushi, on Sunday, starting from 6 p.m. there was a henna painting session and while the girl was painting lady’s hands, a movie about Maldivian traditions was on the screen. I found this a really good opportunity to learn more about the local culture and people.

K Spa

We used K Spa two times: once we had a Maldivian massage and because we like it so much we decided to book a second massage, this time a Balinese one.

Most of the girls from the spa are from Indonesia and they really know what they are doing.

The spa area is extremely beautiful and well maintained and is composed of the main building, a beautiful garden, and cabanas where the massage actually takes place.

Make sure you get to the spa 15 minutes before the starting time as you need to fill in a form about your health conditions, allergies, and type of pressure you want for the massage.

We have been served with a very tasty tea and after feeling the form we’ve been invited to the beautiful garden and to a cabana for the massage.

During our stay here we were lucky as the following offers were available: for each massage, you can choose between the 50 minutes session for which you get another 10 minutes for free or the 80 minutes session which is 15% off.

We chose the 80 minutes sessions both times and it was a really smart choice as the girls are really good at what they are doing.

We left the K Spa really relaxed and with a good state of mind, as the whole process went smoothly and it was a great experience.

The spa menu is quite comprehensive and it includes not just massages but also manicure, pedicure, and reflex therapy.

Restaurants and bars

Kudafushi resort spa has 3 restaurants and 2 bars:

• Restaurants: De North which is the main restaurant where you serve all the three meals; Sea Edge, a Mexican restaurant, and Olive Me, a Mediterranean restaurant
• Bars: Sea Edge is located right near Sea Edge restaurant and Juju Bar is located near the pool and the main restaurant.

The man in charge of Food and Beverages from the entire resort is Mr. Faizam, an open and joyful person that takes care that you will get the best food, drinks, and services each time when you go for a drink or to eat something.

Restaurants

Unfortunately, while we were staying on the normal beach villa we did not have access to Sea Edge and Olive Me, as these two restaurants were available upon reservation only for dinner for the tourists who stay on the water or in a beach villa with a pool and of course, The Presidential Suite.

The main restaurant, where you can serve all three meals, is located right near the pool, the Juju Bar, and the Leisure House and is accessible to all the guests.

The food here is good and diverse; the menu is changed each day based on the chosen theme. Let me explain to you! Saturday you have Maldivian night, Sunday is International Night, then you have Italian night and Spanish night.

But no matter what theme it is you will always have the Pasta Station ( and pasta are really good), and the grill station where you can always choose from tuna, a type of fish, chicken meat, and lamb or beef or pork meat.

You also have all kinds of salads and starters, as well as cooked food which generally consists of rice, curry, potatoes and different types of meat and vegetable stews.

What I like about this restaurant is that the dishes are always hot and you always have something to choose from.

As for the other two restaurants, for dinner, you have an a la carte menu for which you have to pay no matter if you have the all-inclusive plan.

For those staying on water villas, Presidential Suite, and beach villa with pool, regardless of the meal plan chosen (all-inclusive, soft all inclusive) there are 3 menus available: meat, fish, and vegetarian. Each of these menus has a starter, soup, a sorbet, the main course, and dessert.

There is a lot of food so be prepared to eat a lot when you book for one of these 2 restaurants.

I personally prefer the Mediterranean one, but also the Mexican one is good with food a little bit too spicy for my taste.

Both restaurants, Olive Me and Sea Edge are located on the beach and the atmosphere is very intimate.

Upon request, they can arrange a special table to have a special and unique night with your beloved one.

We had a really amazing surprise as one night we got such a table and even if I am not that kind of a romantic person, I still found the experience extremely romantic and beautiful.

You definitely have to try it when going to Kudafushi resort spa and one thing I want to tell you: book your table in advance if you want to get a table.

We generally book two days in advance and there were no problems with tables!

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Bars

Inside Kudafushi resort und spa there are two bars: Juju Bar which is the main bar and the Sea Edge Bar.

Sea Edge Bar is more intimate and offers amazing views of the sunset from the main deck and from the cozy cabanas overlooking the water.

Both bars serve the same cocktails and drinks, the only thing that is different is the view as the one is facing the sunset while the other one is located near the pool.

There are cocktails with or without alcohol to choose from as well as beer, wine, and soft drinks.

Depending on the meal plan chosen ( all-inclusive or soft all-inclusive) you have to pay for some of the cocktails and drinks from the menu.

Experiences

But hey! I did not go to the Maldives just for the beautiful views, great food, and positive vibes! I decided that it was a great opportunity to explore the marine world.

As you might expect, Hotel Kudafushi resort & spa Maldives has a diving center and a water sports center.

Diving at Kudafushi hotel Maldives

As the name suggested the Diving Center is for diving and they organize daily trips to the best diving places from the area. You need a PADI certificate to dive but what I find interesting is that they offer one hour free of diving to see if this activity suits you.

I don’t personally try this activity, but my husband did and liked it a lot!

He discovered a completely new world, full of color and life with many interesting marine species, a great opportunity to get close to this magnificent world.

Snorkeling

The Maldives is definitely one of the best locations in the world for snorkeling and the good thing is that you can see marine life very close to the shore.

We have done snorkeling on a daily basis in the waters around the island and we saw many beautiful fish, an octopus, and even a morena eel which scared me big time!

But the resort organizes snorkeling trips and we decided to book one as we were curious what the Indian Ocean hides.

The snorkeling trip lasts for about 2 hours and you go to a location quite close to the resort where you can see turtles, eagle rays, and sometimes reef sharks.

The experience is unique and you don’t need to have any certificates in order to try it.

You can go snorkeling even if you are not a good swimmer as you receive a life vest and you are constantly supervised by an experienced diver.

Other water sport activities

Besides snorkeling and scuba diving, watersports lovers have a wide range of activities to choose from: paddling, canoeing, water skiing, etc.

Because you are a Kudafushi guest, you have one hour free per day for nonmotorized watersports like canoeing and paddling so you can circle the island and admire it from the ocean as you will get a different perspective of the area.

Spotting marine life from the Diving Center

I want to share with you a thing not very well known among tourists from Kudafushi: if you are passionate about animals and creatures, then you definitely don’t have to miss this night’s event.

Go to the Diving Center dock as each night around 10.30 a strong light illuminates the water and many marine creatures come here attracted by the light.

Here we saw eagle rays, and a couple of reef sharks, not to mention a huge number of different species of fish.

Check out process

The check-out process went extremely smoothly.

We had the plane late in the evening so we left the island with the last seaplane, which departed at 4.30 p.m. Kudafushi time which is 3.30 p.m Male time.

One night prior to the check-out date we received a letter about our departure date: departure time, meeting time, check-out formalities, everything.

Like the check-in process, the check-out went smoothly and extremely easy and quick and the plane departed at the preset hour, leaving behind the beautiful island of Kudafushi.

Kudafushi Maldives review conclusion

The islands of Maldives are more beautiful in reality than what you see in pictures and you have to go there to see the vibe, the colors, and the overall atmosphere.

Kudafushi resort spa is one of the best options when speaking about spending a holiday away from COVID and daily stress.

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A big shut out to the management team, especially Mr. Nasru the Operations Manager, and Mr. Faizam the Food and Beverage Manager who are doing a great job, always watching from the distance and taking care of everything so that you can enjoy a wonderful holiday abroad.

We first chose Hotel Kudafushi resort & spa Maldives because it has the best price-quality ratio but in the end, it proved to be an extremely smart decision.

We found there not just a secluded resort, but also friendly staff ready to help you and trying their best to please you.

As for what room to choose: our advice is to book a few nights on the water and a few on the mainland to see which one you like most.