One of the most accessible resorts from the Maldives’ Velana International Airport, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo won Feizal Samath's heart with its butler-serviced villas, scrumptious food and all-inclusive offer.
Location
The resort is just eight kilometres and a 15-minute speedboat ride from the Velana International Airport in the capital of Male. As the gateway to the South Atolls, the resort has its own exotic reef teeming with vibrant aquatic life.
It is currently the resort closest to the anticipated nine-island integrated resort, Crossroads Maldives, due to open in late 2019. The mega-development is within sight of the resort.
Rooms
Stepping into one of its water villas, I was pleased by how the bed was placed, which allows guests to wake up to a sunset view.
The resort offers 50 water villas each with a personal butler. The villas come complete with teak floors, large comfortable beds, sun decks and plunge pools.
I also enjoyed the complimentary Wi-Fi, tea and coffee and the fruit basket. The refrigerator came stocked with a couple of complimentary beers and chocolate bars, which are replenished daily. The bathroom is one of the largest I have seen in a hotel, with twin washbasins, a rain shower, and a Jacuzzi.
An added touch of luxury? Guests can opt to have a sumptuous breakfast served on their private sun deck.
Facilities
Its all-inclusive package means there’s little worry about incurring additional expenses – except when it comes to using the spa, or chargeable activities like fishing or dining at the resort’s Japanese restaurant.
The inclusions are ample, from gourmet-style fare at the Farivalhu Fine Dining restaurant, to free-flow beverages at the Kandolhi bar. Apart from the three main meals, high tea is served at 17.00, with the option of having it brought to your villa.
At a cost, the spa offers a range of treatments and massages including a Balinese traditional massage and an Asian foot massage, while activities include scuba diving, snorkelling, jetskiing, wakeboarding, fishing expeditions and other activities.
Occasionally the resort stages special entertainment like Balinese dance and DJ nights. All activities and entertainment for guests are packed on this one-hectare property.
F&B
The facility has a fine dining restaurant, a Japanese restaurant and two bars, presenting al a carte menus with Eastern, Western, Mediterranean, Indian and vegetarian food.
Our favourite item from the special menu was the grilled rack of New Zealand lamb with mushroom risotto, sautéed greens and garlic oil. Other delightful dishes were the buttered calamari, fish and chips wrap, classic Caesar salad, and steamed filet of reef fish served with seaweed and ginger-soy dressing.
With the all-inclusive package you also have a choice of mixing your meal with an Indian soup, a vegetarian salad, fish and chips and a Mediterranean dessert.
The Japanese restaurant is well-known, sometimes attracting guests from other resorts. Its menu features dishes such as sushi platter; ebi tempura maki (batter fried prawn in a roll of Japanese seasoned rice); teriyaki lamb cutlets; and salmon donburi (grilled salmon steak served on seasoned Japanese rice with house special sauce).
Service
Pleasant, efficient and courteous with your personal butler just a call away after you settle into a comfy villa.
Verdict
Despite the many options for high-end Maldivian resorts, this one is definitely on my list for a second visit.
No of rooms 50 water villas
Rates US$1,040 for the month of August, on a double-occupancy, all-inclusive basis; US$1,005 for September and October, on a double-occupancy, all-inclusive basis
Contact details
Tel: (960) 66 40375
Email: res.vadoo@adaaran.com.mv
