NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort — Hotel in South Ari Atoll

We came here for a week of rest and relaxation after traveling in India and it was just what we needed! We got lucky with the weather so that definitely helped improve our experience. It’s technically monsoon season so we figured we would have a few days of rain. Happily, it was sunny all week! A bonus of it being monsoon season was that there were very few people here. Which was also really nice to hfeel like we had the place almost entirely to ourselves.

The island is tiny and there’s really not much to do at all. You can walk from one end to the other in five minutes. This was exactly what we wanted. If you’re looking for nightlife and lots of restaurant options, you should choose another place. If you’re looking to unplug, come here.

I emailed them in advance and asked if they could do something special for my boyfriend for his birthday when we arrived. They brought a bottle of champagne, sang happy birthday, and decorated our room. He loved it! Then we did the special beach dinner and it was amazing. Pretty expensive but it really was a nice way to kick off our week. John Joseph organized a beautiful dinner and movie for us.

Speaking of cost, everything is pretty expensive. We decided against doing the full board and I’m glad. Our room included breakfast and I ate so much in the mornings that I never felt like eating the lunch buffet. So then we ate a big dinner again at the buffet. Which is expensive but the food is really good. I especially loved when they moved all the tables into the sand and strung up lights for a special pan-Asian cuisine night. The variety of food was overall great.

There was one day that I needed a small snack in the afternoon and tried to order room service. There didn’t seem to be a way to do that so I went down to the Glow bar to ask if I could order something. Eventually he brought me half a small pizza and didn’t charge me and that was perfect.

Pro tip: sit by the Infiniti pool and watch the sunset every night. Relax! The Glow Bar guy is great! (I’m sorry I don’t recall your name.)

Staff greeted us at the airport and led us to the seaplane. Staff then greeted us again at the dock and waved goodbye when we left. I know it’s sorta cheesy, but it made me feel very welcome and cared for.

We enjoyed the water sports. We paddle boarded, which was fun but you can’t really go outside the sea wall so you don’t really get to go very far. Still fun. Lots of fish. I some some stingrays so I was happy to stay on top of the water. Remember to shuffle your feet when going in the water. Tons of fish to see! We also waterskied and wakeboarded. That was a LOT of fun! We went out ont he boat looking for whale sharks twice. Didn’t see anything the first time and was in too much of a crowd to see anything the second time. I don’t think this is the guide’s fault. I think Maldives should have better rules about whale shark viewing. Like in Mexico! The third time we went on the boat to look for Manta Rays, we found them and nobody else was around and it was incredibly to swim with the Mantas just us. Thanks to Jerry and Coco for making that happen! Jerry is a great videographer too and Coco is a great boat captain!

There’s a small gym. I didn’t do any of the spa treatments. There are a few bikes to ride across the island but not sure why you would want to do that. So small! I think that’s about it for activities!

Our beach villa room was delightful. Loved having our own little back porch and direct access to water. We had a small pool too. Wi-Fi was excellent. Plenty of bottles of water were left in the room each day. Laundry was done quickly. Robes were cozy. Clean and comfortable.

I wouldn’t call this a five star resort like the fancy Conrad. But I don’t think that’s what we’re going for here. It was top notch and I recommend Amaya!

The staff were all incredibly friendly and helpful. I’m sorry I don’t remember all the names of everyone who were so wonderful. Thank you, Tuan,...

[ROOM]|I spent a week in the Maldives, and it turned out to be one of the most relaxing and fulfilling trips I’ve ever had. We stayed in a Two Bedroom Duplex Beach Villa with a Private Pool, which sounded ideal for our family—and in many ways, it was. The villa was spacious, beautifully designed, and just steps away from the beach. However, the layout and high beds weren’t particularly family-friendly for those traveling with small children like ours (4, 2 and 0 y.o.). With two separate bedrooms across two floors, it wasn’t as practical as we had hoped.||That said, the staff were incredibly understanding and helpful. We mentioned the challenges on our first day, and by the next morning, they had kindly moved us to a different villa—closer to key facilities and with much better beach access; the rest of our stay was smooth, comfortable, and full of great memories.||Every morning, we woke up to the sound of waves and the sight of turquoise water right outside our windows. The peaceful atmosphere, stunning natural beauty, and warm hospitality of the resort made the entire stay feel like a dream. It was the perfect escape to recharge both physically and mentally.||[FOOD]|One of the highlights of the trip was the food. We chose the all-inclusive plan, and even though we stayed for a total of eight days, we never got tired of the meals, especially with only 1 restaurant in the island! In fact, we looked forward to every meal thanks to the wide variety of dishes offered. ||The key was variety—not just in the daily changing menus, but also in the range of cuisines offered. From Asian and Mediterranean to Indian and European dishes, the culinary team managed to create a fresh, exciting experience with each meal. On top of that, twice a week, dinner was served on the beach right next to the restaurant, with tables set up under the stars. These special evenings created a magical atmosphere and made the dining experience feel truly unforgettable.||Our kids were especially thrilled with the desserts and ice cream—they practically made it their main course!||[EXPERIENCE]|We spent a lot of time at the beach right in front of our villa, where we could spot colorful fish, hermit crabs, and even small sharks. The nearby infinity pool was another favorite, offering a stunning ocean view and plenty of fun. For us parents, sipping on a variety of cocktails poolside was the perfect way to unwind.||The resort also had an on-site diving center that offered a wide range of activities, including experiences specially designed for kids. One unexpected highlight was a family adventure on a clear boat/canoe to search for fish and sharks—a spontaneous treat that turned into one of the most memorable moments of the trip. My wife also took some time for herself and joined a snorkeling tour in search of manta rays and whale sharks. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to meet the whale sharks, she was able to see dolphins and to ride on jet ski.||Another unexpected joy was the cultural exchange that happened naturally. Our kids quickly became friends with other children staying at the resort—some from the UK, Qatar, India, and other countries. Watching them connect, play, and learn from each other was heartwarming and inspiring. It became a trip not just for relaxation, but for personal and family growth as well.||[STAFF]|We were also deeply impressed by the kindness and responsiveness of the staff throughout our stay. When we realized, halfway through the trip, that we might not have enough formula for our six-month-old baby, they immediately took action. Although we had brought plenty with us, it turned out to be less than expected. The staff arranged for more formula to be delivered all the way from Malé, turning what could have been a major source of stress into a moment of reassurance...

My husband and I visited Amaya Kuda Rah for our 5 year wedding anniversary - a bucket list trip! Initially I was hesitant to stay at a resort as we've had mediocre experiences at resorts in the Caribbean but Amaya was an absolute game changer. From the moment we arrived we were treated like royalty. The staff greeted us at the dock and escorted us to a small waiting area where they took care of checking us in (zero effort for us) and while we were checked in we were given a brief neck and shoulder massage to relax us after our long journey. Then we were shown to our villa personally and explained all the amenities and where to find things. Our villa was a beach villa with plunge pool (the most modest of the options) and it was dazzling! It had privacy, direct access to a small lagoon, stunning views and everything we could need/want. The one aspect I cannot emphasize enough is how INCREDIBLE the staff are! From the chefs, to the GM to the groundskeepers - every single person made us feel welcome and cared for! I would guess that the staff outnumber guests 2:1 and are always available to help in any way. We have never in all our lives felt so pampered. Next, the food! Meal after meal was a huge spread of the tastiest dishes you could imagine! And the chefs were very open to making modifications if required. At no point did the dining hall feel crowded, we never waited for a single thing and it felt more like dining in a restaurant than a buffet hall. The dive shop: these guys were awesome! So knowledgable and so much fun! This was our first time diving and they made sure that we were comfortable at all times and felt safe. They encouraged us to try various dive sites where we swam with a whale shark, manta rays and a breathtaking amount of the most beautiful tropical fish you can imagine! Speaking of the fish, the house reef around the island is teeming with life so there was no need to leave the island if you chose not to. Every day we watched reef sharks chase little schools of fish from right outside our villa door. The pool/bar area: WOW! Infinity pool overlooking an endless ocean, live music every night and bar tenders who catered to our every need! The pool area never felt crowded and there were plenty of full sun or shade options. Unfortunately I picked up a gastro bug while there and even that experience is overshadowed by the amazing treatment provided by the house doctor. I received daily visits from the doc and the chef even personally delivered soup to me in my room! Being sick sucks, but being sick in paradise isn't too bad! I could go on for days about what an amazing experience we had at Amaya Kuda Rah - truly incredible. Don't just take my word for it, go see...