Kanuhura – Maldives

Guests will begin their vacation at Kanuhura’s seaplane lounge, which feels slightly VIP. There are snacks and a welcome drink served here -- such as lychee iced tea -- and then guests will be asked to hand over their passport for an initial check-in. While the transfer is expensive, the seaplane ride offers a rare aerial glimpse of the Maldives, so make sure to snag a window seat and have the camera ready.

After landing, the plane pulls up to the dock and the management team will provide a warm welcome and lead guests to the initial reception lounge for another beverage. It is here where everyone, individually, receives an intro and overview of the property and their specific package (there are breakfast, half board, and full board rates available). Guests are then transported via golf carts down the scenic jetty alongside long stretches of white-sand beaches fronting the turquoise water. Sleek daybeds and lounge areas are spread out and rarely see a crowd. The property was originally a One&Only before it was purchased from Mauritius-based Sun Resorts in 2000, and there is some slight datedness (mostly villa exteriors).

The diverse clientele includes people from all ages including China, Russia, and Europe, but there's not necessarily much intermingling as the island’s unique long shape makes it easy for guests to find privacy. In addition to the ample beach space, a separate picnic island that the resort owns is accessed by regular boat service from Kanuhura's western end. Guests can head there for even more remote beaches and to have fresh seafood lunch on the sand. The water sports area has a bar serving ice cream during the day (popular with kids) that transforms into a romantic spot for pre-dinner cocktails at sunset. After dinner at one of the romantic restaurants, guests often head to the lounge near the pool for drinks and shisha pipes. 

Service is a priority throughout the resort, and members of management are often visible, making their rounds. During departures, a warm goodbye and a special thank you from the staff is literally visible from the seaplane. Touches like these make it easy to see why people often come back. 

After passing through customs at Malé's international airport, guests are met by a representative (look for the man or woman holding the resort sign) and led to a shuttle that makes the quick drive to the seaplane portion of the airport. Kanuhura has its own seaplane lounge with comfortable seating areas, bathrooms, snacks, and drinks where guests can relax while waiting for the departure. Once boarded, the adventurous ride will feel distinctly Maldivian; the seaplane takes about 35 minutes and provides beautiful views of the Indian Ocean dotted with white islands as the plane heads north. 

The Maldives is a distinct nation in the Indian Ocean consisting of 26 atolls and over 1,190 islands. Each resort (there are over 100 of them) is situated on an individual private island, allowing for peace and quiet as well as easy access to the water and incredible marine life. Kanuhura is located in a northern area called Lhaviyani Atoll that lies further from the hub of the Maldives where many resorts are located (which are usually accessed by boat). Kanuhura's island is long and narrow in size and it's possible to walk the entire circumference. The resort offers excellent snorkeling in the house reef (free of charge), a quality PADI dive center, and a private picnic island next door with free boat transfers. 

Though the state religion of the Maldives is Sunni Islam, private islands like these are allowed to serve alcohol.

The resort has 100 villas and five room types. They're scattered across the island either on the shore (some face sunset) or along two overwater jetties. All have simple -- but mostly modern -- decor: wooden floors and furnishings, white linens, and a few colorful accents. They have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, CD players, Nespresso pod machines, tea, and free bottled water. Guests are greeted with a welcome fruit plate, and some VIPs (repeat guests and honeymooners) receive a bottle of bubbly. Minibar items are for a fee but include a nice selection of juice, soda, beer, wine, and snacks. Spacious closets have bathrobes, slippers, life jackets, umbrellas, and a desk area. All rooms have large open-air bathrooms with eco-friendly toiletries, double vanity sinks, a toilet, bidet, and outdoor tub that seems like it hardly ever gets used. The shower is unshaded in a garden setting with terra-cotta tiles and a large fish that acts as a shower head.

Beach Villas have traditional thatched roofs with a glass door that opens up to a small shaded patio with a table and chair in the shade and two private lounge chairs on the beach. Some of these units feel less private than others -- they are separated by natural brush -- and there could be families with kids next door within eyeshot and earshot. Some of these villas face sunset. 

The Beach Villa Duplex contains two connecting villas (suited for families or groups) with en-suite bedrooms and spacious outdoor wooden decks. Water Villas are situated at the end of a two long wooden jetties across from the main reception area. Though these villas are slightly outdated in appearance, they have a private deck with sun loungers and an outdoor dining area. Each villa has a wooden stairway with direct water access from the deck for snorkeling and swimming. Grand Beach Villas are the most spacious units, offering two bedrooms and two bathrooms with jetted tubs, a living room, dining table, and bigger beach terrace. Unlike at the comparable Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa, there are no units with private pools. 

Upkeep is a priority and more renovations are expected to take place in 2016.  

The long stretches of white sand allow sunbathers plenty of privacy, and guests can use free snorkel gear both here and at the private island next door (a small boat makes regular trips during daylight hours). Near the resort's hub, there is an outdoor pool with deep areas for adults and shallow areas for kids. Along this particular section of beach, several sleek white daybeds with canopies and shaded sun loungers are arranged daily. This area stays free of crowds since many are enjoying the beach from their own villas. Drink service from the pool bar is also offered.  

The on-site PADI dive center offers certification courses as well as guided snorkeling trips. The house reef at Kanuhura is great for beginners, and the dive center can arrange trips for small groups to 40 dive sites in the surrounding area. Divers will also have a chance to see two shipwrecks in one trip, accessed by a 45-minute Dhoni boat ride. Night dives are also offered three times a week.

The Sun Watersports Center on the west side of the island offers rentals and lessons for windsurfing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Motor boats are available for waterskiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, kayaking, kneeboarding, and fun tubes. Other activities include beach volleyball, table tennis, billiards and darts. There are two floodlit tennis courts and an air-conditioned squash court. The Lafuz library offers readers a book exchange, and the Lava Lounge is equipped with a cinema for movies and international sporting events. Karaoke events take place here, as well. 

Handicrafts and local souvenirs made on-site can be purchased. 

There is nice range of quality dining options on the island, especially for a mid-size resort, as well as a wine cellar with 800-plus bottles. The main restaurant, Thin Rah, is the open-air buffet that serves breakfast and dinner. Guests can choose to eat outdoors with their feet in the sand or next to the pool, or in the main dining room that is under complete shade. The buffet serves European and Asian cuisine, along with some Middle Eastern fare, as well as regional curries. Themed evenings are common. Those who booked half-board or full-board rates will eat their breakfasts and dinners here. 

Also situated next to the outdoor pool is Olive Tree Restaurant for a la carte lunches and dinners. The restaurant serves Mediterranean food with pasta, salads, meats, and wood-fire pizzas. There are outdoor tables for poolside dining during lunch, and at night, the ambience turns low-lit and romantic. (This is where those who booked full-board rates will eat lunch.)

Veli Restaurant on the other side of the island sits along the shore and serves gourmet Asian fusion cuisine for dinner only. The chef and his core team work from an open kitchen and create daily specials. One standout dish is the coconut and lobster wonton soup -- this may not always be on the menu but guests should ask for it anyway! 

Kandu Restaurant is a hidden gem located on the private island next door. Guests can access this lunch-only restaurant by taking the free boat, which makes regular trips back and forth during daylight hours. There is only outdoor seating in the sand and is therefore the eatery is only open when weather permits. The menu includes grilled meats and fresh seafood, salads, beer and wine, and the ambiance feels very chic and European. 

Kids have their own menu at each restaurant, including a special area of the buffet.  

The main lounge and bar near the pool serves drinks and snacks throughout the day. At night, this lounge turns into the nightlife area with shisha pipes, cigars from Cuba and Dominican Republic, and board games. Another bar is located on the west side of the island for homemade ice cream during the day (pistachio, chocolate, or strawberry). In the afternoon, this area evolves into a chic evening set-up for sunset cocktails and tapas. 

Coverups must be worn over swimwear at all times. Men are asked to wear long trousers at dinner. Private in-room dinners can be arranged. 

A sleek indoor spa sits next to the pool and offers eight treatment rooms -- including couples rooms -- for massages and body treatments. Men and women have separate lounges, each with its own steam bath, dry sauna, hot tub, and cold plunge pool. Beachside treatments are also available. The attached fitness center has modern LifeFitness equipment and a bright classroom where classes are offered daily, including yoga every morning at 7 a.m. Private classes with an instructor can also be arranged.