Angaga Island Resort & Spa

Without a doubt, Angaga's best feature is the island itself. Surrounded by clear turquoise waters and soft sands, with an unusually wide beach on on side, this resort has a terrific natural setting. Unfortunately, most of the resort itself feels worn down, dated, and not worthy of the beautiful land surrounding it. Recent renovations brought a more modern look, but only to specific parts of the property. Other areas, like the lobby and main bar, still sport dated furniture -- think bamboo chairs with muted coral-colored cushions that feel more Florida retirement home than tropical island vacation. The resort is in a sort of halfway state lodged somewhere between old and new (but closer to old), and depending which room you choose, it could greatly affect your experience. Many of the public spaces -- including the lobby, main bar, restaurant, sports fields, TV lounge, and Cyber Cafe -- still feel dated.

Service here is lackadaisical, and this is one of the few Maldives resorts where guests are handled in a primarily hands-off manor. Staff are helpful and kind, but not as welcoming or proactive as at most resorts. However, for its category, Angaga is a pretty good deal. Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is a comparable option -- about the same distance from Male, about the same size, lacking a pool, and also offering great snorkeling -- so it's worth comparing rates. Those who don't mind considering a larger resort (both in terms of number of rooms and island size) should consider Kuredu Island, which is more upscale and has more features -- often for lower prices. If you are just looking for some private time on a reliably gorgeous island, this is a perfently acceptable upper-middle-range option.

Located in the center of the South Ari Atoll just 25 minutes via seaplane from Male, Angaga Island Resort is surrounded by a large lagoon and house reef. In order to protect the large reef, seaplanes do not land at the arrival jetty. Instead, there's a floating jetty several hundred yards out in the ocean where guests deplane and then board a slow dhoni boat to reach Angaga. 

Originally built in 2001 with just the Beach Villas, Angaga added 20 Water Villas in 2006, and 20 Superior Water Villas in 2014. The original Beach Villas unsurprisingly feel the most dated of the bunch, though all rooms are similarly decorated with hardwood floors, high woven palm ceilings, bamboo furniture, and white walls. All 90 rooms come standard with king or twin beds, mini-fridges, raincoats, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels (there are very few English channels), Wi-Fi, and outdoor patios or decks with surprisingly chic wicker patio furniture. Bathrooms have showers and separate tubs, dual vanity sinks, and shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. 

Beach Villas are individual units that circle the interior of the island and come with their own pair of lounge chairs in the sand. It's good to note that several of these units are not actually directly on the beach, but rather in the sandy center courtyards surrounded by leafy trees. Unlike either of the water villas, the Beach Villas' patio furniture includes a Maldivian swing. The dim and large formica bathrooms have a slight motel feel and appear the most dated. Upgrades to the Water Villas get you off the sand and over the water with direct sea access from your personal deck. Superior Water Villas are the largest of the bunch, but have pretty much the same features as the other two categories. 

With a beach that fully surrounds the island and a ample house reef, Angaga guests are privy to a particularly wide stretch of beach on side. Although the beach is unequipped with loungers or sun chairs, there is a volleyball net set up and plenty of space to throw down a towel or two hundred. Two-thirds of the island's house reef is accessible from the shore, so there are myriad spots to strap on your snorkeling gear and explore underwater. 

Angaga may be a small island but it is equipped with all of your standard upper-mid-range resort features. While the island itself may be the chief factor, the abundance of activities may come in a close second. For those who would like to adventure off the island, the English- and German-speaking SubAqua Watersports has kayaks, windsurfing, wake boards, catamarans, and more. There's also a SubAqua Dive Center with diving excursions, classes, and snorkel trips. For on-land activities, there's a fitness room and game room with free ping-pong and darts. You can also hit up the badminton and volleyball courts for free, though if you want to play tennis there is a fee. Daily excursions can be booked at the excursion desk in the lobby, but if you are looking for a pool, it's not here. 

There's only one restaurant, a mediocre buffet where a long, backed up line forms right when the clock strikes dinner. Meal times are set and strictly adhered to, as are the assigned tables. There's also a daily happy hour discount at both the main bar and the overwater Sundown bar (where you'll find a prime sunset spot on the large outdoor deck), though it doesn't include wine or Champagne. Most rates include breakfast, dinner, and welcome drinks, but no alcohol -- for all-inclusive rates that do include alcohol, consider Kuredu Island. 

A small but tranquil spa is located among the trees toward the center of the island and has a small shop, Balinese-style massages, and a variety of beauty treatments. Treatment rooms have small, outdoor garden showers. 

The resort also has a Cyber Cafe with a single computer, a library and TV lounge (that smells of cigarettes), a few shops, and laundry service.