Featured
Anantara Kihavah Maldives opens new villas
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas has launched new family-style villas for travelers. Adding to the resort’s collection of multi-bedroom private pool residences introduced earlier this year, these new accommodation options consist of four Two Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villas and eight One Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villas.
Each of the Two Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villas offer 4,435 square feet of space, and is steps from a white sand beach. A 40-foot swimming pool runs alongside an extensive outdoor sun terrace and offers massage jets and submerged seating. There is also a shaded dining sala and outdoor barbecue pit complete with a sunken dining lounge.
The villa comprises two separate bedrooms—one king and one twin—both of which include a day bed, a fully equipped refreshment center and wine fridge, and an en-suite bathroom. There is an outdoor shower as well as an oversized bathtub, along with a waterfall feature in the bathroom. An additional sleeping room suitable for one adult is located within the interconnecting space between both bedrooms, ensuring convenience for parents traveling with children or additional family members.
The Two Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villa can accommodate three adults and two children, or five adults.
The One Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villas offer 2,777 square feet of space. These villas sit amongst natural foliage and coconut palms on the 30-acre island, with direct access onto powdery sands and into ultramarine waters. Ideally suited for families with young children, the villas have separate sleeping quarters suitable for children under 12 years old. The rooms have calming white walls and natural teak wood furnishings, while outdoors, guests can find sun loungers or swing beds.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas – Exterior of One-Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villa
Exterior of a One-Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villa (Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas)
Anantara Kihavah’s collection has two-, three- and four-bedroom pool residences. Each residence has Kajan thatched palm roofs and Balau hardwood flooring on its outdoor decks. Floor-to-ceiling doors of the living and dining room slide open for ocean or jungle views. Each residence is also fitted with its own working kitchen, double-bed spa treatment room and gym with a range of fitness equipment. The resort offers a dedicated Villa Host to attend to every need, and a Wine Sommelier and Personal Chef service on request.
For activities, guests can snorkel or dive at the house reef, home to hundreds of tropical fish, Hawksbill Turtles, Nurse and Reef Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, and Jacks. Experienced instructors, rental equipment, dhonis and reef dive sites cater for both beginners and experienced explorers. In glass-bottomed kayaks, guests can follow the edge of the reef fringing the island for some of the best over water views of the oceanic life in their natural habitat. If staying dry is preferred, guests can choose to hop onboard the Ocean Whisperer for a sunset cruise or dolphin discovery excursion.
Good to know: Catering for children aged six to 11 years old, a trio of marine biology programs is available. Designed to provide an educational holiday, young explorers can join the resident marine biologist on a turtle quest or manta snorkeling excursion or take part in coral transplanting and essential research snorkeling adventures. In addition, named after the beautiful found on the beach, ‘Thiththi Boli Kids Club’ offers complimentary daily supervised programs, fun arts and crafts activities, indoor and outdoor sports, and games for younger guests between four to 12 years old.
There are six restaurants and bars, including SEA, the resort’s signature underwater restaurant and wine cellar. Whether at breakfast, lunch or dinner, all the family will be entranced and entertained by the diverse marine life playing hide-and-seek amongst the coral reefs.
Awards
Kuda Villingili listed in Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives has been nominated in the Resorts category for the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (UK) and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (US), marking a further development in the resort’s international recognition.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on traveller feedback and are considered a key benchmark within the global travel industry. The dual nomination reflects the resort’s presence across international markets and its engagement with guests from different regions.
The nomination follows a series of recognitions for the resort. In 2025, Kuda Villingili was ranked among the Top 5 Overseas Leisure Resorts Worldwide in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards, placing fifth globally. It was also listed among the Top Resorts in the Indian Ocean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 (US). The resort was similarly recognised in the 2024 edition of the awards.
Located in North Malé Atoll, approximately 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers 75 villas and residences, each with private pools and views of the surrounding ocean.
The resort features eight restaurants and three bars, including Japanese-Peruvian dining at Mar-Umi and Teppanyaki by Mar-Umi. Other dining options include Asian cuisine at East and grill offerings at Fire. Additional facilities include a cigar lounge, a large swimming pool, a spa with overwater treatment villas, and a range of wellness and recreational activities such as yoga, sound therapy and surfing.
Amjad Thaufeeg, Commercial Director at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, stated that the nominations reflect feedback from guests across international markets and noted the importance of maintaining consistent service standards.
Voting for the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 is open until 30 June 2026, with results scheduled to be announced in November 2026.
Cooking
Baros Maldives to showcase sustainable dining for Earth Day
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
Awards
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives earns TUI Global Hotel Award recognition
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives has been recognised as a Quality Winner at the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2026, an accolade based on guest feedback from travellers worldwide. The recognition reflects the resort’s delivery of guest experiences shaped by service standards, facilities and alignment with evolving traveller preferences.
Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers a range of accommodation options, with more than 140 units including overwater suites, beach bungalows and duplex garden bungalows. The resort is designed to accommodate couples, families and groups.
The resort features seven dining venues offering a mix of international and local cuisine. Tex Mex serves Mexican and Spanish-inspired dishes, while Dalchini offers an Indian à la carte menu available for lunch and dinner. Raalhu Bar provides a setting for evening refreshments, with views of the sunset.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is also known for Pasta Point, a surf break recognised for its left-hand waves. The resort attracts surfers from international markets who travel to access the location. Surf operations at Pasta Point are managed by Atoll Adventures, with bookings handled through Atoll Travel to ensure a structured approach to surf access.
The TUI Global Hotel Awards are determined by guest reviews, making the recognition an indicator of guest satisfaction. The resort’s inclusion as a Quality Winner reflects its performance in meeting guest expectations within the Maldives tourism sector.
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