JA Manafaru

This has been our third visit to JA Manafaru, but the first one as a family and in May/June. Weather is likely to be rougher compared to February/March (more rain and wind equal more swell and cloudier waters), so you have to accept that - nothing the team on Manafur island can do about it - even though, if they could, they would. Once you have made your peace with that, every other aspect of your stay will shine and sparkle even brighter and indulge you in what makes this destination so very special. Arrival via seaplane was as smooth and effortless as always and the the water villas are kept in great condition and offer the perfect balance of a truly luxurious experience while still making you feel away at home. The food is as outstanding as it always has been and the beverages cater to every need imaginable - we booked the AI plan, which, imho, is recommended - the list of excluded items is getting longer, so this is something to watch out for. All facilities and amenities are kept in great condition and the entire island looks like a picture perfect instagram story, all day, every day. The Spa is a gem in it's own right - the treatments are pricy, but worth every cent. However, what truly sets JA Manafaru apart, are the people that make every aspect of your stay so much more enjoyable - from the gardener that greets you at 6am on your way to the gym, to the restaurant staff that will happily move another table onto the beach, because you really want to show your kids how dining with your feet in the sand feels like. And this is what it really boils down to - we originally went to the Maldives for the turquoise waters and the whitest of white sands, but we are coming back for Megan, Sonam, Shahid, Ayu, Imran, Jack, Raphael, Fayaz, Ashraf, Mr. Soodh and also Signore Mozzarella - just to name a few.

We have stayed at Manafaru before and every time it's special. This time we stayed for a shorter period but it was excellent. We were a family of 13 and came back after 2 years for some of us and 4 years for the rest. Noticed the island was well looked after. The rooms were great, the food was delicious as usual and above all we have seen some familiar faces and new looking after us, always providing the exceptional service. We loved the new additions around the island which uplifts the experience. Our kids enjoyed watching the birds and feeding bunnies. Maldivian cultural performance by the staff was superb. Loved it. From the movement we arrived until we left we were well looked after. Special Thanks to Mr. Soodh, Fayaz, Ashraf and Santosh. Thank you Samantha and Ghanee for being always reachable. Thank you Amir for keeping our Villas well organized and cleaned. Ladies at the Kids club was amazing and super friendly. The Hostess during breakfast who took care of us was very polite and professional (my apologies I couldn't catch her name). Thank You! AW & Family

It was an unforgettable experience and we are really happy that we went with this hotel. Straight from arrival in Male and until going back home we were always assisted by hotel’s staff. The dedicated lounge had drinks and snacks and overall was very comfortable. We had a very warm welcome once we landed on the island, the team greeted us and we met our butler which helped us during our entire stay. Since it was our honeymoon we found a complementary champagne and deserts on our villa as a welcome gift. We booked two types of villa, beach and overwater (5/6 days) each gives unique experiences. If you like sand and want to have a private backyard with pool then choose the beach villa, if you like snorkelling and direct water access then go with overwater one. We are glad we tried both. The food on the island is fantastic, every meal was perfectly prepared no matter what we had ordered. The hotel’s entire team was so friendly and attentive to details, from gardener to the top manager. The attention to details, like the cute “clean my room” turtles or the “see you soon” cakes on our last dinner. Besides all of these there are excursions and spa, and complementary activities. Regarding snorkelling there’s a pretty good reef, the hotel provides you the basic equipment. I really recommend this hotel from all points of view. Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Cleanliness 10/10 Beach 10/10 Territory 10/10 Villa 10/10

We couldn't have been happier with our time at JA Manafaru. From start to finish, everything about this resort was outstanding, and it more than earned its 5 stars. We stayed in an over-water villa, which was simply spectacular. Beautifully appointed and comfortable, it also gave us direct access to the reef — and the snorkeling right off our villa was incredible. The sheer amount of marine life was astonishing; we could spend hours in the water without ever needing to go anywhere else. But what truly set JA Manafaru apart was the service. It was warm, attentive, and incredibly personal. The majority of the staff took the time to learn our names, which made the whole experience feel genuinely special and welcoming rather than transactional. A special thank you to our butler, Meghan, who went above and beyond to make our stay seamless and memorable — her attentiveness and warmth made all the difference. The biggest surprise, though, was the food. When you book All Inclusive, you generally temper your expectations on quality — but the dining here was exquisite. Every meal was beautifully prepared and genuinely impressive, far beyond what we anticipated from an all-inclusive package. We left feeling thoroughly looked after and can't recommend JA Manafaru highly enough. We'll be back!

We had an amazing experience at JA Manafaru. The service, hospitality, and food quality were truly outstanding from the moment we arrived until departure. Every team member made us feel welcomed and cared for throughout our stay. A very special thanks to IVD Ziyaa and pool bar Nizam all the staff for the excellent service and warm hospitality. Your professionalism and friendly attitude made our experience even more memorable. Our personal Front office host Gani was exceptional — always attentive, helpful, and ensuring every detail of our stay was perfect. Thank you for making us feel so comfortable and special during our vacation. We would also like to highly appreciate Housekeeping Digiree (DD) for keeping our villa beautifully clean and well arranged every day. Your hard work and attention to detail did not go unnoticed. A sincere thank you to Food & Beverage Manager Asraf for the outstanding dining experience. The food quality, presentation, and service at all outlets were excellent. Every meal was delicious and perfectly prepared. Overall, JA Manafaru exceeded our expectations in every way. We highly recommend this beautiful resort to anyone visiting the Maldives and look forward to returning again soon.