Adaaran Prestige Vadoo

Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with a fruity drink and guided
to their water villa by a personal butler, who explains the ins and outs of the
island. With 2.8 acres of dry land, Vadoo is one of the smallest island resorts
in the Maldives. It’s so small, in fact, that every room had to be built over
the water for lack of space. The resort claims to have the oldest water
bungalow in the country, erected in the late '80s, which now functions as a small
museum.

The main features on the island are an outdoor pool, spa,
two upscale restaurants, and two bars -- one on the beach and one perched in a
scenic location over the water. Design-wise, the resort has an eco-rustic feel
with hardwood, bamboo, and palapa roofing incorporated into the architecture. At
the center of the island is a beautifully landscaped garden, which is home to imported
bunnies, turtles, and parakeets.

The atmosphere is romantic and upscale, yet casual. Many
guests walk around barefoot during the day and dress up for dinner at night.
(The restaurants are elegant -- the sort where waiters will pull out your chair
and place a cloth napkin into your lap.) The majority of guests are
honeymooners and couples from East Asia.

Prestige Vadoo is only 15 minutes from the airport and 10
minutes from Male city by speedboat, making it one of the most accessible
resorts in the Maldives. Located on its own private island in South Male Atoll,
the 2.8-acre island is especially walkable and easy to navigate. Views of
nearby Male are less than idyllic, but most of the guest rooms look out over
nothing but ocean. An 86-person staff lives at the center of the island.

The resort has four types of water villas: Japanese,
Honeymoon, Sunrise, and Sunset. All have the same luxurious features, but
Honeymoon Villas offer more privacy and have extra-large, bi-level decks. The
Sunrise and Sunset Villas are identical (except for the view), and Japanese
Villas are furnished in traditional Japanese decor. Decor incorporates lots of hardwood (the floors, some of the walls); natural materials (thatched roofs, outdoor bamboo privacy fences, privacy shades of woven fibers); and contemporary style (streamlined furniture, modern bedding). Each villa features a king bed (on a floor-level platform), spacious bathroom,
and a large deck with a daybed, plunge pool, and steps descending into the
lagoon. An outdoor jetted tub also connects to the bathroom, where guests can
soak at watch DVDs on a strategically placed flat-screen TV. Every room
includes a free bottle of champagne, minibar, teakettle, bottled water, and Wi-Fi.

Adaaran Prestige Vadoo may have a small island, but it still
offers a solid range of amenities. Highlights include a pricey spa, beautifully
landscaped garden, dive center, modest fitness center, and a nice beachside
pool with drink service. An on-site reef (wading distance from the beach) is
also a main attraction for snorkelers and divers. For those who don’t like to
get wet, a daily fish feeding show provides ample opportunity to view aquatic
life up close. Other features include a gift shop, volleyball court, and a
small museum (housed within the oldest water bungalow in the Maldives).

Plenty of perks are available for those willing to pay
extra. Guests can arrange private beach dinners, in-room spa treatments, or
choose from a number of excursions (such as fishing trips, tours of Male, or a
submarine dive). Freebies include DVD rentals, in-room Wi-Fi, snorkeling gear,
and a private butler that will do everything from running a hot bath to
bringing room service orders. Nightly dance parties are hosted at the beach
bar, but they tend to be on the small side.

Dining packages include bed-and-breakfast, half-board (breakfast
and dinner), or all-inclusive (all meals and alcohol). The main restaurant, Farivalhu,
has indoor and outdoor seating and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The
food is quite good, with international dishes that range from fresh seafood to Pan-Asian
cuisine. A Japanese restaurant with a sushi bar, Kitajima, also serves dinner,
but it’s not all-inclusive. Evening barbecues are also available at additional
cost. The resort has two bars -- a casual beach bar and the swankier Kanduolhi
Bar, which features panoramic views of the ocean. Finer wines and alcohols may
not be included in the all-inclusive package.

Like most resorts in the Maldives, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo has lovely
white-sand beaches and a clear, turquoise lagoon. Guests can take their pick
from a number of wooden lounge chairs, and staff will provide beach towels upon
request. Some sections of beach are filled with tiny pieces of coral, so those
with sensitive feet may want to wear flip-flops. The best area for snorkeling
is at a reef in front of the Dhoni beach bar. The water temperature was perfect
during our November visit -- cool enough to feel refreshing, yet warm enough to
slip into without a chill. We couldn’t find a speck of trash anywhere.