JA Manafaru

Our visit to JA Manafaru was the 17th trip to the Maldives and the 14th resort we have visited. The stay was very nice overall and our expactations have definetly been met. JAM is a solid product and offers a good value for money. As travelling with two children aged 8 and 5 we have chosen to stay in a Deluxe Beach Villa. Compared to other resorts with "1 bedroom villas" where the living area must be used as a provisional 2nd bedroom this is very well solved at JAM. The mobile beds set up in the living area are quite comfortable given the fact that they are mobile ones. Definetly more comfortable than in some other resorts with even higher standards. Have slept well there though you should know that there is a sliding door between the bedroom and the living room but below the ceiling there is an open part between these rooms so you are able to hear each other - it didn't bother us too much but I think it might be important for any of you to know. The outdoor area of the villa at the beachside is huge with plenty of seating and even an amazing hammock. Villa recommendations in this category: villa 302 was our favourite if you look for a very private option Generally I must say that the beach was nicer at the side with the entry level villas but in front of #302 the beach was quite nice with soft sand while further up the sand gets much more coarse on the Deluxe Beach Villa site. #303-#307 were equally nice. Higher numbers I would recommend trying to avoid due to the proximity to the jetty.....and in some parts disturbing rocks at the beachside (right in front of the 2 BDR Beach Villa). The nicest / softest seafloor in the water I have found in the area of villas #100-106. Also #107-109 was good. But please keep in mind that the sand is moving seasonally and the situation described may change significantly depending on the time of travelling. My perception refers to mid April. I know from a friend who has been there in September last year that the situation on the Deluxe Beach Villa site was not so nice then as a lot of rocks have been visible on the beachsite in that season...... A big USP for the resort is the food. We have enjoyed any of our evenings - nice Asian Food in the White Orchid - very good. Our favourite restaurant was the Ocean Grill as you dine with your feet in the sand on the beachside which is so nice in the Maldives but unfortunately not offered by all of the resorts..... also the Asian night buffet dinner and the Seafood BBQ buffet dinner have been very nice! Compliments to the chefs. We have met many friendly people working on Manafaru. Our butler Abdho was very kind, attentive and always available. Any of the staff members were kind and tried to create nice moments. A highlight for the kids was when Martina has offered to show them the kitchen. Very nice!! The resort has a kids club where the kids liked to play very much. After one week on JAM, we have moved on to Hideaway Beach Resort which is only 25min away by speedboat. This combination of resorts is quite nice and could be considered by other guests as well...... Finally I would like to sum up some points. Please come to beautiful Manafaru, IF: - you don`t mind the transfer far up into the north but achieve a good value for money - food quality is important for you - you like a family oriented island which also works well for couples - you prefer to enjoy your private pool privately in the backyard of your villa - you like the style of the old Maldivian resorts which don't need the fanciest style to make you happy - you like an island of medium size that is possible to be walked around on foot On the other hand I wouldn't recommend Manafaru for people who: - focus on ambitious diving; there are divespots but I think, for ambitious diving other areas of the Maldives are better - look for high end resorts and don`t focus on value for money - look for some of the most beautiful Maldivan lagoons - are picky about beaches and look for some of the nicest beaches in the Maldives For us it all worked very well and we have left the island very happy. Every island has it´s pro`s and con`s - f. e. on our next island Hideaway Beach Resort I would say the beach and the lagoon are significantly better but on the other hand the food is definetely on a lower level.....

We spent 5 magical days at JA Manafaru, staying in one of their stunning overwater villas, and every moment was beyond exceptional. From the very beginning—starting at Malé Airport—we were already impressed. The resort had arranged a surprise upgrade for us to arrive by seaplane, giving us a breathtaking aerial view of the Maldivian atolls. We also had access to a private lounge while waiting, which made the journey feel even more luxurious. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by a lineup of smiling staff, who offered us refreshing cold towels and chilled coconut water. A personalized buggy—decorated with our names and custom illustrations—was waiting to take us to our villa. Our luggage was delivered directly to the room without us having to lift a finger. One of the standout aspects of our stay was our dedicated butler, Rizan. Not only did he speak fluent English and Mandarin, but he also surprised us with his Japanese skills. After listening carefully to our preferences, he thoughtfully planned every detail of our stay, from excursions to dinner reservations. Thanks to him, we were able to spot multiple nurse sharks and even dolphins—he knew exactly when and where to go for the best chance to see them. It was truly unforgettable. A particularly memorable experience was the wine cellar tour. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, sharing fascinating stories behind the rare vintages and bottles in their collection. It was more than a tour—it was an elegant and educational journey that added depth to our trip. The staff at JA Manafaru were consistently outstanding. Every team member we passed greeted us warmly, always with a genuine smile. The level of service made us feel like VIPs throughout our stay. Dining at the resort was another highlight. We explored a variety of cuisines including Asian fusion, authentic Japanese, Maldivian specialties, and Italian fare. Most of the dishes were not only beautifully presented but also delicious—only one or two didn’t quite suit our personal taste, which is remarkable given the diversity of options. The dining service was impeccable. Waitstaff followed fine-dining etiquette, serving from the right and staying attentive without being intrusive. They often anticipated our needs before we even asked. JA Manafaru also offers an excellent range of complimentary activities and facilities. Snorkeling gear and pedalos are free for guests, making it easy to explore the stunning house reef and surrounding lagoon at any time. We also enjoyed the many recreational options available, including badminton, tennis, table tennis, billiards, video games, and various board games for relaxing downtime. The overwater villa itself was a dream—spacious, elegantly designed, and offering direct access to the crystal-clear lagoon. We spent hours lounging on the deck, swimming in our private infinity pool, or simply soaking in the endless views. In short, JA Manafaru exceeded all our expectations. The personalized service, breathtaking scenery, diverse cuisine, and world-class hospitality combined to create a truly unforgettable vacation. We left with beautiful memories and already look forward to returning. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a luxurious and soul-refreshing escape in the Maldives.

It goes without saying what an amazing island and location JA Manafaru is but what made it special for us as a family was the staff and the service provided. Not just those you interacted with naturally at meal or villa cleaning times but the interactions with all staff from gardeners to porters. We can’t wait to return. Thank you.

So we stayed at JA Manafaru for Easter Break with our family and it was an unbelievable experience from the time we got there to the time we left! When the plane landed in Male there was a rep from the hotel waiting for you to escort you to the seaplane terminal and lounge. They helped you with everything. The have showers at the lounge by the seaplane area to freshening up a bit. There was food and drinks in the lounge. Lounge sofas and chairs were comfortable to stress out and relax a bit. Btw!! At the seaplane lounge: a rep from JA Manafaru comes over and setup an app on your phone for you to basically checkin your villa so when you get there you go straight to your villa: no receptionist to deal with in the beginning and no long waiting for your villa/ room. They were then ready to take us to board the seaplane and off to HAA Alif: JA Manafaru resort. When we landed at JA Manafaru the welcome was spectacular with singing, welcome drinks, cold washcloth for your face. The golf cart was waiting with you designated Thakur (concierge): HASEEN!! What an amazing service provided by the great Haseen!!! So they make you start up a WhatsApp group with your Thakur upon arrival and everything goes through this WhatsApp group for you and your family only. You make bookings for restaurants, spa, activities, in room dining you name it! So we get to the room and it was simply stunning direct beach front. You can’t even see your neighbors that easily. Private pool and hot tub. They have several restaurants that you dine at and we tried all of them. I would highly recommend tot get the all inclusive deal and not pay as you go. It get very expensive. They have these bicycles that every staying at the resort gets. I didn’t think I would be riding around but make good use of these bikes because that sun is hot to walk around in 85 degrees. The weather didn’t stop us from enjoying the facilities. They have tennis, football (soccer), badminton courts and a very large recreation room with a movie room, yoga studio and table tennis area. Chess area and a cool zone area for very young kids. There are a few names to mention: 1. Pranita ( Kakuni: restaurant) 2. Imran 3. Ashraf 4. Pravin 5. Katchay 6. Mauch 7. Zhadi 8. Martina 9. Udesh 10. Suralshi (spa) If we left anyone out it was really hard to keep track of all the names but after day 2 we stayed we have to say art writing down names as this was a 5 star experience. We celebrated our anniversary dinner with our children and they setup a private dinner on the beach with movie night and local entertainment. It was an experience our children will Never forget. We have been to so many places worldwide but there was consistency in the level of service at every level. The food was great! Breakfast was a mix of western typical breakfast, local cuisine breakfast and a mix of other cultures. We went snorkeling and did a dolphin tour. The last day was very sad. I don’t think I have had that feeling on a tip before where I was genuinely going to miss e time I met!! It was a special trip but the people made it special and it will be an unforgettable trip. I would like to personally thank our travel agent based out of Chicago : LISA Morrison (Departure Lounge) who loaded with Hummingbird travel (UK) who did all the research and gave us multiple choices but as we narrowed down what we were looking we decided on JA Manafaru. Thanks to Haseen and his team again for a memorable experience. expeornxe.

A place like no other! I came with my family for Christmas 2024 ( 2 adults and 2 children). We stayed 5 nights in a beach villa and 3 nights in a water villa. Glad we got to experience both! The kids preferred the water villa but we are beach lovers and to have what felt like a private beach on your back doorstep was just heavenly. Outstanding service especially from Mangal who organised our restaurant reservations and drove us around to the infinity pool everyday. He was so good with the children and always had a smile on his face. All the restaurants were amazing - could not fault any! 5* dining and they would even prepare something special for you if you didn’t want anything from the menu. The freshest fish and even the buffet didn’t feel too chaotic. It was our best Christmas ever! From having a wooden reindeer at our front door step, to our own Xmas tree in the room on Xmas Eve and a chocolate stocking stuffed with sweets especially for the kids just elevated our experience. Then on Xmas day Santa paid a visit and gave the kids an individual sack filled with gifts just topped it off! Do not hesitate to book .. you will not be disappointed!! We wish we could come back every year!!