“I stayed at the Alila Kothaifaru Maldives for a birthday getaway and was thoroughly impressed by the experience. First of all, transportation to and from Malé was set up by the hotel and went seamlessly. They had a very friendly representative meet us at the airport, where she proceeded to escort us to the seaplane terminal. She took care of everything while we sat in the lounge and enjoyed the view with snacks and drinks. Once we arrived to the island via float plane, we we’re warmly greeted by the hotel management and staff, and introduced to our dedicated butler, Mal. Mal was extremely friendly and tended to our every need. She organized all of our activities, transported us, and handled room service orders. She also went above and beyond by hand delivering items that I left behind around the island (I’m very forgetful) Rooms: we stayed in both the beach villa and sunset water villa to get both experiences. The beach villa was breathtaking. Very modern, very private, and the outdoor bathroom is a completely unique experience. If there’s rain in the forecast for your stay, don’t fret… it adds to the ambience and it’s the perfect time to take a relaxing bath while you listen to the rain fall in the lush jungle that is literally surrounding you. The outdoor area is very private and the pool is perfect temperature and has some shade to keep you cool from the sun. And you are steps from the turquoise water if you choose to dip into the salt water. Make sure to bring a tote bag to carry all your beach gear (the hotel provides snorkel gear for free). The water villa was stunning as well. The views are outstanding from every window, and the finishes are very modern and sophisticated. The infinity pool cannot be beat. We did not leave the room once - and decided to order room service for the remainder of our stay. Dining: Sea Salt, the main restaurant was fantastic for breakfast and lunch. The service was amazing and quick, and the menu was diverse. We had something different every day. Mirus Bar was a great place to grab a specialty cocktail and relax by the pool. We also saved Yakitori bar for a Japanese inspired cocktail before my birthday dinner, accompanied by stunning views of the water in all directions. For my special birthday dinner at Umami, I was greeted with a beautiful birthday message on the table made from rice (a very special touch). The sushi and sake was amazing and very fresh. Activities: The Dhoni snorkel tour was hands down the best excursion I have ever taken on a vacation. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, as they took us to a breathtaking nearby reef, where we saw thousands of fish and several sea turtles. The pictures you find online do not do it justice, you MUST see this in person. After the snorkeling, the staff let the group dive off the roof of the boat, capping off the fun trip. We also did a cocktail mixing class at Mirus, where we learned how to make their signature aged coconut Negroni. So fun! Spa: I decided to treat myself to a spa treatment for my birthday and it did not disappoint. Mimi, my massage therapist started off by providing a 45 minute body scrub with the soothing signature recipe. This was followed by an extremely relaxing massage treatment for one hour. A great touch if you’re looking for even more relaxation. The facility is also stunning as it feels like you’re in a modern treehouse in the jungle. Staff: the full staff on this island are 5 star. Everyone is extremely friendly and says hi when they walk by. Everyone seemed to remember our dietary restrictions everywhere we went, and catered. We even received dairy-free versions of the pastries at every breakfast! The villas we’re cleaned when you left for the morning and refreshed at night while you are at dinner. Overall, this was an unbelievable experience. I will definitely be back next time I need a relaxing vacation.”

“Where do I start? The amazing reef just a few meters from the beach, the excellent food, the superb hospitality, the fantastic villas. It is really hard to sum up all that was wonderful for us in Alila. The staff was more like family, we hugged when we left. The reef is one of the best I've seen in Maldives. The food was superb and the chef met with us repeatedly to make sure we have everything that we need. The dive center had great dive instructors and great scuba locations to take us. The villa was simply stunning. Really I can go on for a while, if you're looking to relax, enjoy the sea and sun while being pampered in a heavenly location look no further.”