Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas — Hotel in South Maalhosmadulu

If you're looking for the perfect honeymoon or luxurious romantic beach getaway, Anantara Kihava is the perfect island vacation. My husband and I had been dreaming of going to the Maldives for years and decided there was no better time to visit than our honeymoon. After days of research, we landed on Anantara Kihava and we couldn’t have been happier with the decision. From the moment Anantara Kihava received us at the airport until the last minute of our trip, everything was executed and thought-out perfectly, including the most minute of details. Without a doubt, it was the best service we've ever experienced (we’ve traveled to many corners of the world, so this statement holds a lot of weight for us!). Everyone we encountered at the resort was kind, thoughtful, timely, highly professional, and helpful. We always had what we needed and we were never confused on what was happening. If we asked for anything throughout our stay, it was handled quickly and efficiently. It felt like all the employees knew our name, and they all made the whole experience feel intimate and personal. The food was also incredible throughout, no matter which place we chose to dine (morning, lunch and dinner)! There are a few people that were especially exemplary throughout our stay: Our villa host, Ajey, was one of the main reasons our trip felt so special. He was so kind, always responded quickly, was always on time to take us to reservations or activities and he was consistently thoughtful. For example, he knew we loved turtles and heard there were baby turtles hatching on the island and he let us know and raced to pick us up (during his break!) so we could experience the babies hatching first-hand. Also, we had really wanted to do the stargazing activity and night after night the sky was too cloudy to see the stars, but Ajey was adamant that we get to do the experience and was able to set us up with the star-gazing guru at a special time (and it was amazing)! We already miss spending our days seeing Ajey and can’t thank him enough for making all of our honeymoon dreams come true. Our housecleaner, Zubba, made sure that our room always looked beautiful and clean. He came both in the morning and at night and always made us feel taken care of. If he noticed we liked a certain coffee pod, he would give us extra. If he saw that we drank all our water bottles, he would provide more than the last time. He also created a lovely image out of sand one night that said “Good Night” that we saw when we entered the room after dinner. The little details he picked up on made it that much more special! The resort manager, Thomas, made us feel welcomed and taken care of throughout our entire stay. Thomas greeted us upon arrival, would visit us during our dining experiences and was at the dock to see us off when we left the resort. His constant care for the guests’ experience was unique and wonderful. Everyone at the resort made each moment so unforgettable and we wish we knew everyone’s names so we could give them all a huge, personal thank you. The resort itself was absolutely gorgeous, and our over-the-water villa was the most incredible room we could have imagined. Some of the awesome things it included - a private infinity pool, a day bed overlooking the ocean, a hammock suspended over the water, a king-sized bed layed out in front of sliding doors that opened to the patio and ocean view, a glass bottom bath tub and an outdoor shower. We could have spent every minute in the villa and been happy, it was that beautiful. Some of the experiences we did that were absolutely incredible and highly recommend: -Couples massage: had head rests in the spa that looked down through clear glass into the ocean so you get to watch the sea-life while getting a massage, pure magic! -Sunset cruise -Dining by Design Dinner -Snorkeling -Dinner at SEA Overall, the experience was personalized, beautiful every minute, highly private, and perfect. We had the honeymoon of our dreams and it’s all thanks to Anantara Kihava....

From the moment we landed in Male, the experience was seamless. We were escorted to a luxurious seaplane lounge, complete with gourmet breakfast options and immaculately clean shower facilities. Upon arrival at the resort, we were greeted by our dedicated host, Zaheen, who personalized our check-in experience, eliminating any need for a traditional front desk.

The dining options at Anantara Kihavah are exceptional, with the underwater restaurant being a true highlight. Enjoying a world-class meal while sea turtles swim by in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience. The wait staff, particularly Abo, Baba, and Priti, were passionate, attentive, and truly elevated our dining experiences.

One of the standout aspects of our dining experience was our server, Priti, who attended to us most evenings. Her attentiveness and intuition were truly remarkable. Priti had an uncanny ability to remember our preferences and anticipate our desires, often surprising us with personalized recommendations that perfectly aligned with our tastes. It was evident that she and our host, Zaheen, were in constant communication, sharing insights about our likes and dislikes to further enhance our experience. This seamless coordination between the dining staff and our personal host created a level of customized service that we've never encountered before. Priti's genuine passion for her role and her commitment to ensuring our utmost satisfaction made every meal a delightful adventure, contributing significantly to the overall magic of our stay at Anantara Kihavah.

The resort's attention to detail is unparalleled. From providing barely-used tennis shoes(if you forgot them) and new socks at the gym to the swift response to our impromptu requests, the staff consistently went above and beyond. One evening, as we were walking back from dinner, we realized we needed some ice. I sent a quick text to Zaheen asking where we could find an ice machine. We were no more than 200 meters from our villa, but by the time we arrived, there was already ice waiting for us. This level of attentiveness and swiftness in response was truly astounding and perfectly encapsulates the staff's dedication to guest comfort.

During our stay, my wife unfortunately experienced some minor sun poisoning. We started walking to the medical hut to get looked at and guess who pulled up in a golf cart even though we didn't message anyone for help, you guessed it, Zaheen! He immediately sprang into action, escorting us to the medical hut where we received prompt care and a topical ointment. Upon returning to our villa, we were touched to find a beautifully arranged fruit plate—not just any fruit, but a thoughtful selection of fresh, exotic varieties—accompanied by a handwritten get-well note. This gesture went far beyond standard hospitality, demonstrating the staff's genuine care and concern for their guests' well-being. It's these personal touches that truly set Anantara Kihavah apart and make guests feel truly valued and cared for.

For diving enthusiasts, the house reef offers incredible opportunities, and the dive master, Mateo, ensures an unforgettable underwater adventure.

Our dedicated host, Zaheen, deserves special mention. His professionalism, work ethic, and genuine care for guests' experiences are truly exceptional. The WhatsApp communication system made reaching out for any needs effortless and personalized.

In conclusion, if you're considering booking a stay at Anantara Kihavah, don't hesitate. This resort offers an unparalleled experience that redefines luxury travel. It's not just a vacation; it's a journey into paradise that will leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

We loved all the staff, their training rigor and communication was absolutely insane, idk how they can consistently make magic happen! We especially loved the following staff...

Absolute paradise. This resort ticked every box. The level of service is imaginable.

We were greeted in an amazing way, with the General manager Ross and his team all in a line, clapping, ready to welcome us to their island. Another person playing a drum leading the way from the wooden water bridge onto land. We were then given a cold fresh young coconut which was the sweetest coconut juice I have ever tasted. After this our villa host Ismail took us onto his buggy and drove us around the whole island stopping in various locations to explain the different amenities available for us during our stay. This included a sports place where Muay Thai boxing was available (only place in Maldives), badminton, yoga classes and a 24 hour gym. Ismail also showed us the diving centre, spa, restaurants and bars until finally taking us to our water villa where our bags were already there in our own walk in dressing room. The villa was amazing. Our own bikes outside so we could explore the island whenever we wanted to, our own private infinity pool, a very nicely kitted out minibar, his and hers sinks and dressing rooms, and our own hot tub which you could see straight down to the ocean in. This room is extremely spacious and very well thought off as it provides everything you need. Even if you wanted to stay in your villa all day and enjoy the views of the peaceful ocean, you certainly can. Our villa host planned every single day for us, came to pick us up on time and offered us soo much advice about multiple things we wanted to do. Once we finished dinner at Spice (which was our favourite restaurant) we met Shameem who kindly showed us his star observatory which he set up at this resort. The knowledge and passion he has, no-one can match. Even though he had an appointment already with another couple, he took his time and gave us a snippet of how powerful his telescope is. We could see the moon, Jupiter, Saturn and many stars so close up. We we sold and booked in to do the star observatory which later on turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. Thanks Shameem. We will definitely be back to see you soon!

My wife and I love to travel and moreso, we love to stay at nice places when we do. We can both say that Anantara Kihavah is by far the best resort we have stayed at to this date and we were treated like royalty. What really made it special for us was the team. Everyone knew our names and it was never too much to help us out in any way we wanted. The level of service we received was immense. The team there are not just there to work, but you can really see they are a family. Everyday we would love finding out soo much about each team member and learning something new. It felt so nice that they opened up to us and made time to always have fulfilling conversations. From the first day we would be excited to go for breakfast and dinners not only for the food, but to engage with different people and learn about their families and cultures and where they live. Even though we promised that we will try and return every year to Kihavah, it was very emotional to leave such paradise because more than the lovely food, the beautiful sunsets and white sand, we will miss the people that make this island what it is. We want to thank every single member of the team for making our stay exceptional and in particular want to give a big thanks to, Ismail, Teddy, Jenny, Govind, Hafiz, Saman, Humza, Jumbo, Baba and Tom.

This island has soo much to offer. You cannot get bored as there are many things to do. A games room, restaurants, bars, gym, water sport activities, outdoor cinema, under water restaurant ,star observatory, afternoon tea and much more. We were very lucky to have done most of these things and it was an amazing experience.

Ross, your doing a fantastic job and once again, thank you everyone and we will most definitely see you...