Alila Kothaifaru Maldives Review: Our New Favorite Hyatt
Note: This review is not sponsored in any way and all opinions below are our own
If you’re hoping to stay at a Hyatt property in the Maldives, you currently have two options: the older and more established Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa and the far-newer Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. Both of these resorts offer somewhat similar cash and World of Hyatt point rates throughout the year and provide an incredible luxury Maldives experience.
I recently had the pleasure of staying in one of the over-water villas at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives (abbreviated as “Alila” or “AKM” onwards). With this property being relatively new (launching in just 2022), I found it difficult to discover relevant information when I was planning my stay. Therefore, I was determined to document everything about the resort to help people find out if Alila Maldives was the right property for them and worth their money.
Spoiler alert: While expensive, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives is unbelievable. I want to mention upfront that what you’re about to read is by far the most positive review I’ve ever written; I normally dislike listing positive after positive of any property as I feel it dilutes the value of any praise, but in the case of Alila, it is the most truthful description of my experience. I will do my best to point out the issues I had, but I wanted to set the tone early.
With the background done, let’s jump into the review!
Location/Transport/Getting There
The feeling of luxury from the Alila Kothaifaru Maldives experience begins almost immediately after landing in Malé: a member of the Alila staff met me right outside baggage claim and guided me through the airport, personally getting me checked in with the seaplane company (Trans Maldivian Airways or TMA) and directing me to the seaplane terminal lounge (a ~5-minute drive) which was stocked with complimentary snacks and refreshments. I waited comfortably in the lounge until it was time for my seaplane flight, and a friendly member of the Alila staff again guided me straight to the waiting room for the plane.
I was expecting the seaplane journey to be rough. As someone who doesn’t jump at the opportunity to fly in small planes, this could easily have been the worst part of the trip. Luckily, my worries were largely unfounded. The entire experience ended up being shockingly easy and surprisingly comfortable. The Alila/TMA team handled all my baggage and the 45-minute flight to the island was far more peaceful and smoother than I anticipated. The seaplane can either be direct to Alila or have multiple stops—it entirely depends on who happens to be on your flight (TMA determines all the flight itineraries based on demand).
AKM’s location in Raa Atoll is both a blessing and a curse for travelers; compared to many of the Maldives resorts, the Kothaifaru area is on the further side from Malé. While this means that the journey from Malé to the resort is more of an expedition, it also results in AKM feeling isolated in the best possible way. At no point will you hear anything from any of the other Maldives islands (the nearest resort is miles away and essentially a speck on the horizon), and the remote feel makes the entire experience feel more luxurious. Given how easy the Alila and TMA teams make the process, and the stunning island scenery on the flight, I’d say this is a pretty clear positive.
Score: 4.7/5.0
The Room/Villa
I was lucky enough to stay in a lagoon over-water villa at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. Before even getting to the front door, I was already getting a sense of how special this place was; the quick cart ride to the room was over beautiful white beaches and stunning turquoise water.
There’s no point jumping around it; the room was stunning. While the huge king bed takes up a good portion of the area, there is ample room for an additional couch, chair, and table. The room was designed intentionally to make the most of the space, with the chair/couch in front of the TV, almost dividing the room in two. Even the bathroom of the villa was stunning, with a beautiful view of the ocean, a massive bathtub, and an excellent overhead shower. Almost every piece of bathroom equipment (e.g., hair dryer, shaving kit, etc.) is provided complimentary and refreshed daily, along with massive towels and two types of bathrobes.
See below for pictures of the room:
While the interior is wonderful, the room’s view through the giant glass sliding doors is the clear focus point. Even on the last day of my trip, catching a glimpse of the glistening ocean, the private pool, and the lounge net from the bed evoked a feeling of an almost indescribable tranquility. The proximity of accessible water (through the pools and the ocean) is a big part of the magic of the Maldives experience and the Alila room did an excellent job of never letting you forget how incredible your surroundings are.
My only gripe with the room is the lack of hooks for hanging wet clothes and bathing suits; however, upon casually mentioning this to a staff member, we were immediately brought a clothes rack which perfectly solved the issue. I will note that the internet in the room (and across the island) isn’t particularly fast, but I can’t say it was ever an issue during my stay. However, I would avoid trying to take any video conferencing calls while here as there may be some latency issues.
Overall, I had high expectations of the room/villa based on the pictures and videos on the website, but somehow, it was even more incredible in person.
Score: 4.9/5.0
Food & Dining
Going into my stay, I thought the food at AKM would be decent. At some other all-inclusive places I’ve stayed, I’ve gotten the impression that the resort’s monopoly on food options effects little desire to provide anything that does better than “did the job.” However, my first lunch at the Alila was incredible. And then, so was my first dinner. And then, so was breakfast the next morning. By the end of my week's stay, I realized I could not recall a meal that wasn’t phenomenal.
For reference, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives has a few main restaurants:
Seasalt: The main restaurant (led by Ned, who was incredible and does a phenomenal job) where I had most of my meals. Breakfast at Seasalt was a personal favorite, and I highly recommend both exploring the impressive buffet and getting the French toast and waffles. However, 100% of the meals I had at Seasalt were delicious, and all the staff were both helpful and friendly. Mirus Bar is also right across from Seasalt for any pre- or post-dinner drinks (or a coconut for the pool).
Umami: The reservation-only restaurant located right near the water villas provides a more unique food selection, with a focus on smaller shared plates. The food here was excellent and plays more into traditional Asian food preparation and flavors. I’d recommend asking your host to book you a reservation early in your stay, as the times fill up.
Yakitori: This building leans just slightly more towards bar than restaurant, but they have some unique food selections that are perfect for sharing amongst a group (as well as a great selection of unique cocktails).
Pibati: A small café that offers snacks and drinks. During my stay, they had a complimentary “make your own tea” daily, where you can combine various ingredients to create a concoction of your choosing. The staff then prepares your tea and serves you a variety of small snacks (e.g., traditional chips, mini samosas).
All in all, the food was one of the most unexpected areas of excellence. I expected that the villa would be incredible, and the beaches would be relaxing, but I was not expecting the food to be as good as it was. Honestly, the only “fault” I can find with the food is that it’s expensive across the board, but given the food quality and tastiness, and that I was on a remote island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, I was more than happy to pay the premium. As well, there are half-board, full-board, and all-inclusive rates you can sign up for regardless of whether you booked your stay with points or cash if you want to be able to put price out of your mind.
I recommend trying each of the restaurants at least once during your stay.
Important Note: if you’re someone who likes to snack throughout the day, I recommend bringing a lot of your own; the snacks in the room are overpriced (e.g., a jar of nuts for $20, Coke for $7). Luckily, the meals are large, so I never felt the need to buy any of the snacks.
Score: 4.9/5.0
Activities
Watersports
There is a wide range of activities to enjoy during your stay at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, most of which (unsurprisingly) involve the water; diving, sailing, windsurfing—there are ample options to choose from, and all of them are easy to schedule.
I had a great time kayaking around the island and sailing out in the ocean, and both are activities I’d particularly recommend trying. But the clear highlight of the watersports for me was the snorkeling. While I’m not the biggest diver/snorkeler, I have never seen so many incredible fish in such a small proximity, including stingrays and dozens of unique fish species. Snorkeling is a must-do activity at AKM, and there is no additional charge to borrow the equipment for your entire stay.
If you’d rather just swim and relax in the water, AKM has plenty of options: each of the villas has a private pool, there is an impressive infinity pool located near Seasalt, and the beaches around the island are clean and magnificent.
Spa/Fitness Center
The spa at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives is intricately designed as a treehouse tucked in amongst the roof of the jungle. The design of the spa’s architecture is very unique and the treatment I had was phenomenal. While the various spa options are all expensive, I highly recommend trying at least one of them to allow yourself to be that much more relaxed. If you’re someone who gets sunburnt easily, consider getting a spa treatment early in your stay—there’s nothing worse than not being able to get your treatment because you got a bad burn.
The island’s fitness center is located right below the spa and provides all the standard gym equipment you’d expect: some free weights, some high-tech cardio machines, and a cable pull machine. There’s nothing particular to mention about the fitness center, besides that it does the job well for anyone wanting any additional exercise (and the air conditioning is appreciated).
Games
Throughout the island, and particularly around Seasalt, there are a plethora of games to play, from a giant chess board, to Connect 4, bocci, pool/billiards, and more. These are a very welcome addition to the island and provide a great mid-day break in the shade (and are especially great for entertaining any kids). If you’re interested in a slightly more active game, the resort also has an excellent padel tennis court with night lighting if you want to play while avoiding the sun.
Excursions & Booked Activities
While I didn’t try many of the various paid activities during my time at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, the list on offer is impressive. Options range from extremely romantic dinners and private cruises to activities that would be great for a group or a family (e.g., snorkeling with turtles, dolphin cruises, cooking classes). These vary from reasonably priced for the simpler activities to extremely expensive for the more unique experiences. But if you’re visiting for a honeymoon, or just have the funds available, I highly recommend enquiring about some of the more exotic experiences (e.g., private beach dinner under the stars).
Score: 4.8/5.0
The Service
Everything I’ve mentioned about my experience at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives was wonderful and blew away my expectations; however, the service was what made this property and my stay so special. I recognize how hyperbolic it may come across, but the service I experienced at Alila was undeniably the best I’ve ever experienced from a Hyatt property and matched the best service I’ve experienced from any hotel or resort I’ve stayed at worldwide.
When I departed the seaplane at the island, I was welcomed by a friendly parade of smiling staff who rushed to handle my luggage, ask about my trip, and offer all means of refreshments. I was then introduced to my host for the stay, Marey, who took me on a tour of the island before bringing me to the villa (where all my baggage had already arrived). Unlike a typical hotel, you don’t deal with any central concierge during your stay at AKM; instead, all the guests are designated a host to communicate with via WhatsApp for dealing with all questions, issues, and requests. During my stay, Marey (who was excellent) gave me rides around the island, helped me make restaurant and activity bookings, and brought me anything I requested.
Pro-tip: If you don’t already have WhatsApp downloaded, I recommend installing it before your trip.
However, I want to clarify that these hosts are personal, not private. In other words, while you’ll direct all your requests to one person, they are also caring for a selection of other guests on the island besides yourself. Therefore, I recommend planning in some minor buffer time for any requests you make on the island. However, I will say that Marey was exceptionally quick at handling all my requests—especially given that he was caring for other guests as well—and was speedy in looping in another staff member to assist us if he was pre-occupied with another guest. Knowing that any request was only a 5-10 minute wait away was amazing for peace of mind on the island.
It’s hard to beat the scenery at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
But just because you have one designated person to help during your stay does not mean that you can’t ask the rest of the staff; in fact, I highly recommend you do. Every single staff member was incredibly friendly and spoke excellent English. You’ve probably read “friendly staff” hundreds of times in reviews, so let me clarify; the staff at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives were incredible. Every interaction we had with a staff member, be it an hour-long conversation or a quick hello when we crossed paths, was magical. People were so friendly and happy to chat or help in any way they could.
So many people we interacted with genuinely improved our experience, and I wish I could shout them all out here. While a few individuals—Ned, Grace, Nee, Sanjid, and many more—truly elevated our experience, every single staff member I interacted with was lovely and made me leave feeling looked after.
My biggest tip for staying at this property is to ask questions. Engaging with the staff and learning about Maldivian culture was fascinating, and I learned so much about the history of the island and the people who were helping us. I get that some people want to tune everything out on vacation, but it’s hard to overstate how much engaging with all the various staff members improved my time on the island.
I also want to shout out the cleaning staff who I can only describe as the tidy individual’s dream. Every time I left for breakfast or dinner, I came back to an immaculate room, fresh towels, refreshed supplies and water, and a perfectly made bed—and anything I had left out was tidied and organized perfectly. The exceptionalism of the room cleaning was a big part of why it was so easy to relax each day at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives.
Finally, the personalization I experienced during my stay was second to none. In the pre-arrival form, I mentioned once that I am not the biggest fan of spicy foods. Without ever mentioning it, the staff made sure that every meal I had was reduced to a more tolerable spice level. We also mentioned that my partner had a birthday during our time in the Maldives, and the treatment she received was unbelievable: notes at each of our meals, a cake complete with candles after dinner, and kind words from all the staff. It’s these sorts of touches that push my perception of Alila from great to incredible.
One example of the wonderful personal touches
If anyone from Alila management is reading this, you have done an incredible job in finding a group of amazing and talented staff.
Score: 5.0/5.0
Summary
I want to begin my summary by mentioning once again that this review is not being paid for or sponsored by anyone and there is no incentive to me to be so overtly positive. All the praise I’ve listed here is true to what I experienced during my stay. It’s important to recognize that it’s possible that your stay could be dramatically different, but after a week at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, I found myself reluctant to leave and it’s clear that I now have a new favorite Hyatt property.
AKM fits the definition of getting what you pay for. I hope I’ve made it clear that almost everything at this resort—from the rooms, to the activities, to the food—is expensive. The beauty of my stay was that despite spending so much, I still felt like I came away with great value for money. It’s so rare to leave a luxury hotel/resort stay and feel like every dollar was well spent, but that was certainly the case at AKM; when I checked out, the bill was still far lower than I would’ve assumed given the level of enjoyment and luxury I experienced.
At the end of the day, all of these factors came together to cement my time at AKM as one of the most special travel experiences of my life. However, even with the beauty of the rooms and the island, it’s the wonderful staff and personal touches that are why I’ll be recommending Alila Kothaifaru Maldives to everyone I know. If you’re looking to find somewhere to spend a truly special vacation or celebration, AKM is absolutely the place to do it.
Overall Score: 5.0/5.0 (our first-ever perfect score)
We hope this review was informative and helped you decide about booking your next trip to Alila Kothaifaru Maldives! If you’re interested in other luxury Hyatt properties, make sure to check out our reviews of Great Scotland Yard and Carmel Valley Ranch. And if you’re curious about how we funded this luxury trip with our credit card points, make sure to check out our guides on how to book Hyatt stays with points, how to transfer Chase points to Hyatt, our review of the World of Hyatt credit card, and our tier list of Chase credit cards.
Feel free to leave any questions below and we will be happy to answer them.
