Park Hyatt Maldives is paradise!

The Park Hyatt Maldives is a very special resort for many reasons and is a place worth adding to your bucket list. On a small island in the Indian Ocean, the Park Hyatt is not your usual luxury resort. It offers seclusion, a self-sustaining Eco-friendly footprint, 50 romantic private villas on and off the water, and one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. During your time there, you will feel pampered while having the opportunity to embrace ocean life. You will most likely make a few friends along the way as the intimacy of the island allows for easy conversation with other guests. With breathtaking sunsets, pristine beaches, wonderful dining options, and service above and beyond, you will leave the island feeling spoiled, and contented with great memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Location:

Some important information you will need to know before traveling to the Park Hyatt Maldives: Be prepared that this is a remote island and it is a significant journey to reach it. First you must fly into Male International Airport where a Park Hyatt representative will meet you after exiting airport customs. They do not display your name on a placard for security reasons, however they were easy to spot. Our representative was very accommodating and informative. He escorted us to the domestic terminal (right next door within walking distance) to the Moonimaa domestic airport lounge in Male. This is a large, comfortable lounge for customers to relax in before their next flight within the Maldives. While sitting and enjoying a snack, our Hyatt representative obtained our tickets for our next flight and offered us information about the next part of our journey. It was about an hour wait before we were again escorted to security for a flight from Male to Kooddoo Domestic Airport. We waited another 45 minutes for the small Maldivian Airlines airplane to depart. This was a small prop plane that has 37 seats. The flight was comfortable and takes about 1 hour to get to the Kooddoo Airport.

Upon arrival at the Kooddoo Airport, you are met by another Hyatt representative with a golf cart who assists you with your luggage and drives you a short distance to a covered seating area near the boat docks. After a brief wait, you board a small Park Hyatt boat (which is in very good condition) and are offered a refreshing towel and local fruit juice drink. The boat ride is usually 30 – 40 minutes depending on weather conditions. The boat travels both inside and outside the reef so it can get a little rough. However, the boat is designed to shelter customers from getting wet. Though did we bounce somewhat, we did not get wet. If you are prone to seasickness, it might be a good idea to take some seasick medication before boarding the boat. The ride is beautiful and fun. If you keep your eyes alert, you might see some dolphins and rainbows!

*Note: There is an additional fee charged for transfers to and from the resort. The transfers include assistance at the airport, lounge entrance, one-hour plane and 30-45-minute boat ride. The staff will make all the arrangements and will inform you of these fees upon booking your hotel reservation.

Arrival:

The boat arrives at a private dock where you disembark. Staff members are on hand to assist you. The luggage is taken to your room while you are escorted to the check in area (special structure with a ceiling built as an upside down Dhoni boat). The check in process is well honed. This is a great moment to pause and realize you have reached paradise and it is time to start relaxing after your long journey. You have begun your dream vacation. As the staff escort you to your villa on a golf cart, they provide a tour of the resort facilities and amenities. They offer facts about the unique qualities of this Park Hyatt. You are assigned a lead staff member for the duration of your stay, who is there to answer your questions, help with dinner reservations, excursions, and other activities. Upon arriving at your room, you are given more information about the room and an iPad to be used for dining, tour planning, spa treatments, internet access, etc.

Rooms:

The resort has only 50 villas in four categories: Park Villa, Park Pool Villa, Park Water Villa, and Park Water Sunset Villa. I choose to stay in three different room types during my six-night visit. For the first two nights, I stayed in a Park Pool Villa located in a more secluded area of the island. The following two nights were spent in a Park Water Sunset Villa. For my last two nights, I selected another Park Pool Villa on the side of this small island. I had the opportunity to compare and contrast the three rooms. All rooms offered a unique and special experience.

The Park Pool Villas all have the same interior designs. The obvious difference between the Park Villas and Park Pool Villas is a plunge pool located outside the glass doors. The villas circle the island and offer different sunrise and sunset views.

There are a total of 14 over the water rooms. All the over the water villas rooms are of the same design. The Park Water Villas are the first seven on the pier walkway while the Park Water Sunset Villas are the last seven on the pier. The sunset villas face in such a way that they opportune the wonderful sunset views and offer a bit more privacy. The rooms were all roomy and very nicely designed. The rooms were well cleaned. I was very pleased with my choice to stay in different rooms as each one excited me in different ways. The Park Pool villas were designed to make you feel that you are on a private beach. The plush landscape is situated so that it shelters each villa and you are able to enjoy real privacy. This would be an excellent choice for any romantic getaway! The over the water villas offer spectacular views, over-sized soaking tub with a wonderful view of the ocean, large expansive rooms, and direct access to the pristine water for easy snorkeling. While snorkeling, we saw turtles, small sharks, and an amazing array of colorful coral and fish. The experience of being in the room was such a positive experience that I hesitate in mentioning that the rooms seemed a little worn around the edges. The villas showcase views with large expansive windows. However in our room, the windows were marred (assumed to be the salt water) from weather and didn’t offer the clear glass that I was hoping for. The decks and pilings were in need of refurbishing and/or a little paint. This is something to just be aware of when booking these rooms and your expectation level. These rooms are quite pricey, and though I noticed the need for improvement, it did not reduce my overall pleasure and experience.

For more detailed information and pictures about the villas:

Park Pool Villa

Park Water Sunset Villa

Bathrooms:

The bathrooms in the rooms are designed well. The Park Pool Villas have an outdoor shower and large soaking tub in a garden patio setting with 10 foot walls for privacy. A total delight! The bathrooms have double sinks, two ample sized closets and are very spacious. The Park Sunset Villa has a very large bathroom with an indoor tub that sits next to a floor to ceiling window right above the water that showcases the view. Robes, slippers and a beach bag were provided for your use.

Linens:

The linens were all plush and luxurious.

Spa and Gym:

There is a lovely spa on site called the Vidhun Spa. I had a massage treatment and thoroughly enjoyed the facilities, private pool, and outdoor lounging area. The air conditioned gym was small but well equipped. They also have a separate room designated for yoga. The resort offered complimentary yoga sessions as well as private, paid sessions.

Staff:

In addition to the location, the staff are fantastic, this is where the resort really excels! My vacation experience at the Park Hyatt Maldives was enhanced by the service. Each staff member I encountered was noteworthy. A special nod to the Food Service Manager, Susitha Jayasena. He and his staff went above and beyond with their personal attentiveness to our needs. Rahul at the bar was a special young man who was exceptional! The General Manager, Mariano Silvestri, introduced himself one evening and we had a lovely conversation. A special thank you to all the staff members and managers that work so hard to create a “fantasy island vacation” for every one of their customers!

Pool:

There is an infinity fresh water pool that is situated right next to the beach. A great place to cool down and take a refreshing swim after being in the sun. There are plenty of comfortable lounge chairs surrounding the pool. The staff do an excellent job of providing ice and cold water while offering refreshing complimentary fruit kabobs in additional to pool bar service.

Dive Center:

There is an activity and dive center on site with excellent and qualified dive masters. A variety or programs are offered for an additional fee. The snorkel equipment is included at no charge. A small daily fee applies for the use of swim vests.

Tours:

There are a variety of tours and excursions offered. I would highly recommend the “Behind the Scenes” tour. This is an opportunity to witness how this island accomplishes its self-sustaining and Eco-friendly practices. You have a rare opportunity to see the staff’s dwellings and facilities. It is a special experience.

Dining:

The resort has four ways to dine. The Dining Room is a large contemporary restaurant that is situated behind the pool with views of the pool and beach. The Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast is a beautiful buffet that offers a wide assortment of foods as well as the ability to order a la carte items such as eggs, and local cuisine options. The Bar (aptly named) is a bar situated close to the restaurant and has covered seating as well as cabana’s and chairs on the beach. Make sure to find a seat and order a drink around sunset as the bar area has the best views. The other restaurant is for dinner only and is called The Island Grill. It highlights different themes each night for dining including an excellent seafood buffet on certain nights. The other choice is Private Dining in your room and the menu is provided on the in-room iPad. Throughout the resort, the food was excellent and there was plenty of options and local fare to choose from.

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Final Thoughts:

When traveling to the Maldives I had an expectation that it would be spectacular. Park Hyatt Maldives certainly checked that box for me. From the serene beauty of this island, to its remote location, and above all, the graciousness of the staff, this was a really remarkable experience. The snorkeling was spectacular and has to be experienced in person to appreciate how truly stunning it was. I highly recommend a stay at this special resort. Be sure to prepare yourself for the journey to and from as it can be taxing, but I assure you it is completely worth it.

5 Star Tips:

🌟 If you can try to spend at least one night in the over the water villa – the experience is worth a splurge!

🌟 Request (ahead of time) to stay at the over the water villa number 50 or 51 – they have the best views.

🌟 For a romantic night, you can request the “Romance Bath Time” experience (a reasonable price).

• This package comes with a bottle of sparkling wine, appetizers, and a tub drawn with bubble bath, candles and flower petals. An Always 5 Star winner for a romantic evening!

🌟 Bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat. The resort is located near the equator and the sun can be quite harsh. The sunscreen price in the boutique is quite costly.

🌟 Bring an underwater camera! You will have more pictures than you will know what to do with as everyday will offer something new and unique!

This resort rates an Always 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 – for the incredible water, location and the amazing staff! Cheers!

**I was not compensated in any way for this post. My opinions are completely my own based on my experiences which I paid entirely for myself.

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