Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

We spent 6 nights in a sunset facing overwater bungalow. We were apprehensive on the cost and booking so long in one place. Luckily the resort exceeded expectations. The room is large, well furnished and maintained and very private. There are some 380 staff for 80 units so there’s lots of help. They are well trained and very friendly. Snorkeling to the house reef was close-in and really good fish viewing. The food was good to excellent. We had one breakfast in the underwater restaurant and it was worth every dollar. We rented the observatory for an hour but the 16” scope is not well used and geared to novices. We hated to leave as this place was the perfect place to relax.

My wife and I stayed for five days and we had an amazing time. The entire vibe/food really lived up to our expectations. The breakfast is also a worthy mention with wide selections of top quality food and excellent service (plus the breathtaking seaside view). The house reef is amazing for snorkeling and the marine life is abundant exceeding our expectations. The staff/crew are all very welcoming and tentative. Especially our villa host Sulhiya, she took extremely good care of us, which made our stay even more enjoyable. If we ever revisit this paradise, we will surely ask for her to be our host again. Shiela and Mike at the recreation center is also amazing, was fun chatting with them and we will definitely have a badminton rematch sometime in the future. Overall, you will not be disappointed if you choose Kihavah as your getaway destination.

We arrived with high expectations after investing a significant amount of time and money to celebrate my partner’s birthday in a truly special way. Unfortunately, from the very beginning, several important details were overlooked, which affected our overall experience. To start, our host, Siham, did not inform us about many of the island’s facilities or activities. We had to learn most things through other couples rather than from him. I had also informed the resort in advance about my partner’s birthday, expecting at least a decorated room, perhaps a cake or a bottle of champagne—basic touches one would expect from a resort of this level. None of this happened, even though I had received email confirmation that everything would be prepared. I had to request it again on the second day, and even then, all they did was place a simple “Happy Birthday” on the bed. The same happened with the bicycles. They were supposed to have our names on them, but nothing was prepared. We had to ask, and the lack of attention to detail turned what should have been a special trip into something fairly ordinary. It was especially disappointing to walk past the sports area and see birthday messages prepared for other guests, while my partner’s birthday was completely ignored. We also faced a major inconvenience when we needed to transfer to another resort. Instead of arranging a direct boat—which would have taken around 50 minutes—the resort did not assist us, claiming it would be too expensive, yet never informing us of the actual price. We had to return to Malé and take another flight, turning what should have been a short transfer into nearly seven hours of travel. We lost an entire day of our holiday because of this. However, when we finally arrived at the next resort, the experience was completely different—and it highlighted even more what had been lacking at the first one. We were welcomed with music, and the staff sang happy birthday to my partner as soon as we arrived. The room was beautifully prepared, as was the bathroom, with chocolates, fruit, and a personalized cake with my partner’s name. During our first dinner, as we entered, we saw “Happy Birthday” engraved on the table. These thoughtful touches made the celebration truly special, exactly as it should have been from the start. Despite the issues with Siham at the first resort, we did have wonderful interactions with truly exceptional staff. The SPA team was absolutely world-class. Nurr and the massage therapist demonstrated an extraordinary level of technical knowledge and professionalism; their mastery of techniques, attention to guest well-being, and approach to service made a significant difference in our stay. The relaxation area—with a Nordic sauna, infrared sauna, steam room, and plunge pools—was extremely clean and state-of-the-art. We enjoyed it every morning. The food and dining experience were also excellent. Chef Joachim and his team delivered extraordinary dishes, with breakfast being one of the highlights of our stay. Aboo was especially attentive during breakfast, always ensuring everything was perfect and making us feel well taken care of. Joachim personally took the time to speak with us and explain the complexity of their operations. His experience and dedication were clearly reflected in the quality of the service. Finally, the team in the games area—especially Shila—made our time there incredibly special. Shila is a highly skilled professional, with exceptional expertise in her role and a deep knowledge of her area of work. Her ability to create memorable experiences and her impeccable guest service demonstrate outstanding talent. The resort is fortunate to have professionals like Shila and Nurr, whose level of commitment and competence adds significant value to the guest experience. Additionally, we want to highlight the housekeeping staff, who did an exceptional job throughout our stay. Every day the room was immaculate, with attention to every detail, which truly contributed to making our experience comfortable and enjoyable. Overall, while the resort is stunning and many staff members went above and beyond, the lack of attention from Siham and the overlooked details during such an important celebration left us disappointed, especially in contrast with the exceptional service we received at the next resort.

We have never been to a place with such a magical vibe to it. The island itself is gorgeous, white sand beaches, impeccable, landscaping preserving nature, attentive, service, and not too many guests. The food was delicious and the snorkeling was breathtaking.

We spent one week at Anantara Kihavah in October. Our room (Beach Villa) was very beautiful, spacious and very clean. The hotel is also very nice and modern. It has several different style restaurants and all of them very good. The underwater restaurant is very unique and awesome, definitely worth a try. The wildlife is amazing around the Island. The staff is amazing in general, everybody is very kind and helpful and also very good in their own profession. First of all I would like to highlight Zidhan, the best villa host ever. He helped us in everything and fulfilled all of our wishes during our stay. Shila, Shok, Jarebi and Mike entertained us and kept us active in the sports center every day. One recommendation; try the Muai Thai lesson with Mike, he is a very good trainer and it was the best cardio workout I have ever had. Akrey made our room nice and very clean every day and helped quickly If we asked for something extra. From the restaurants and bars all chefs, waiters (Zain, Sameen, Aiman, Luisa) and bartenders (Amil and Steve) were also very professional and exceptionally kind and helpful. So in overall I definitely recommend this hotel.