Question 1

How do I get from the airport to the resort?

Accepted Answer

Alila Kothaifaru is located in Raa Atoll and is reached by a 45-minute seaplane from Velana International Airport. The seaplane operates during daylight hours only. International flights must arrive in Male with sufficient time to connect with the seaplane before the last daily departure. Arrivals at around 3:00 PM must be at the seaplane check-in counter by 4:00 PM. Transfer fees are USD 670 return per adult and USD 400 return per child aged 2-11 years. Infants under 2 years travel free seated on an adult lap. The resort books all transfers based on guests international flight details, which must be provided at least 7 days before arrival. A TMA VIP lounge with snacks, tea, coffee and juices is available at the seaplane terminal during the wait. A shared seaplane lounge wait of up to 90 minutes is possible at peak times. Tip: Provide your international flight details to the resort at least 7 days before arrival without waiting to be asked — transfers to Raa Atoll operate on a tight schedule and late details can result in a next-day transfer.

Question 2

Is there a house reef and how is the snorkelling?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A house reef encircles the island and is accessible from the beach. The best entry point is in front of the Yakitori Bar, where the reef is most accessible and marine life is dense. The reef also extends to the western side of the arrival jetty, where currents can be stronger — this side is recommended for experienced snorkellers only. Black-tip reef sharks, eagle rays, schools of baby sharks, fruit bats, lizards and birds are frequently encountered on and around the island. The reef was built on a natural island without dredging, preserving the original reef structure. A turtle reef snorkelling excursion (2 hours, USD 145 per person) includes a boat ride to a reef 20 minutes away with a guide. Tip: Enter the reef from the beach in front of Yakitori Bar and let the current carry you along the reef — the water sports team can advise on the direction of current on any given day to make snorkelling easier.

Question 3

What room types are available?

Accepted Answer

The resort has 80 pool villas: 44 beach villas and 36 overwater villas. All villas have private pools. The design is minimalist and nature-integrated, created by Singapore-based Studiogoto. Beach villas are immersed in lush jungle vegetation with private garden pools. Overwater villas have direct sea access and views of marine life from the deck. Eagle rays and baby sharks are regularly visible near overwater villa entrances. Rooms include complimentary WiFi, daily housekeeping and open-air design elements. Beach erosion on the northern coast has affected one section of the island — this is an active environmental management focus and the team implements mitigation measures. Tip: Overwater villas on the western side of the jetty tend to have the most marine activity directly below the deck — confirm the best current positions with the resort at booking as villa assignments can be adjusted on request.

Question 4

How is the food?

Accepted Answer

The resort has five dining outlets: Seasalt (beachside all-day dining, all-day international buffet and a la carte), Umami (Japanese-inspired), Pibati (Italian), Yakitori Bar (Japanese grill and bar) and The Shack (the Maldives first sandbank restaurant with grill, bar, hammock and beach dining). Food quality is consistently described as among the best available in the Maldives at a luxury resort. The Shack on the sandbank is the most distinctive dining experience — a grill, bar and beach dinner on a separate sandbank is a standout memory for most guests. Breakfast is a buffet at Seasalt. Dinner reservations at specialty restaurants are recommended. Tip: Book The Shack sandbank dinner on your first or second day — it is the most memorable dining experience and the most requested, meaning availability is limited later in your stay.

Question 5

What is the villa host service like?

Accepted Answer

Each villa is assigned a dedicated villa host. Hosts are reachable throughout the day and assist with restaurant reservations, activity bookings, room preferences, special occasion arrangements and island orientation. The GM personally welcomes arriving guests. The entire team from GM to maintenance staff is consistently noted for warmth, proactivity and conversation. Tip: Mention any dietary restrictions, room preferences or special occasions to your villa host on arrival day — the team at Alila acts on this information quickly and the personal attention is one of the resort's strongest features.

Question 6

What activities and excursions are available?

Accepted Answer

Water-based activities: snorkelling (guided and independent), kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, diving (PADI), fishing, sunset cruises and dolphin excursions. Motorised water sports are not available — this is a deliberate environmental policy to protect the reef ecosystem and maintain a quiet atmosphere. Land activities: yoga (beach and pavilion), cooking sessions, ocean discovery talks, padel, ping pong, pool, complimentary weekly activities programme. Complimentary activities are listed in the weekly guide published by the resort. The resort is close to Hanifaru Bay and Vaadhoo Island for the Sea of Stars bioluminescence phenomenon. Tip: Pick up the weekly activities guide on arrival and identify the complimentary sessions — the ocean discovery talk, cooking session and guided snorkelling are free and receive consistently strong feedback.

Question 7

What is the island like?

Accepted Answer

Alila Kothaifaru covers 11.2 hectares (27.6 acres) in Raa Atoll, a remote and unspoiled location with minimal neighbouring resort activity. The island was built without dredging, meaning the natural topography and vegetation are entirely original. Lush jungle paths, fruit bats, reef sharks, lizards and birds are a constant presence. A 6-minute walk covers the island end to end. The small size means limited guests on the island at any time — the resort has a boutique feel despite being part of the Hyatt group. The west and east coastlines are exceptionally beautiful. Beach erosion on the northern coast is an ongoing environmental challenge. Tip: Walk or buggy-ride the perimeter of the island at dusk when the fruit bats emerge and the reef sharks become active near the arrival jetty — it is one of the most memorable natural spectacles the island offers.

Question 8

How is the spa?

Accepted Answer

Spa Alila is a treetop spa integrated into the island canopy. It offers reflexology, hot stone massage, body scrubs and standard spa treatments. The treetop setting is a distinctive feature not available at most Maldives resorts. Treatments must be booked in advance. The spa is not included in standard meal plan rates. Payment for all services including spa and restaurants is settled at checkout — the resort does not process payments at individual outlets. Tip: The treetop spa is architecturally unlike any other spa in the Maldives — book it specifically for the morning time slot when the forest sounds and light create the most immersive experience.

Question 9

How is the Wi-Fi?

Accepted Answer

Free Wi-Fi is available in all villas and throughout the resort. Some guests have reported intermittent issues with TV streaming — the resort acknowledged this as a temporary technical issue during certain periods. General browsing and messaging are functional. Remote Raa Atoll location means satellite-based connectivity. Tip: If streaming content is important during your stay, download series or films before departure — the satellite connection is adequate for browsing but less reliable for uninterrupted HD streaming.

Question 10

What is the child policy?

Accepted Answer

Children of all ages are welcome. The resort has a dedicated kids club. Kids meals are available — chicken nuggets, fries and other child-appropriate options are prepared on request. Children under 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian. Infants under 2 years travel free on the seaplane (seated on adult lap). Children aged 2-11 are charged USD 400 return for the seaplane transfer. The resort accommodates families in its two-bedroom beach villa category, which provides separate sleeping areas and larger outdoor space. Tip: The two-bedroom beach villa is the most practical family choice — it provides separate rooms for children and adults, direct beach access and more outdoor space than the overwater categories.

Question 11

What makes the resort different from other Raa Atoll properties?

Accepted Answer

Alila Kothaifaru is one of a small number of resorts in Raa Atoll, making the surrounding waters less dived and less crowded than South Male or North Male Atoll. The absence of motorised water sports (a deliberate environmental policy) preserves a genuinely silent atmosphere on the water. The architecture is designed by a Singapore-based firm without dredging or land reclamation, meaning the natural island remains entirely original. The Shack sandbank restaurant is the only sandbank-based restaurant in the Maldives. Tip: The no-motorised-water-sports policy means if jet skis, flyboards or parasailing are important to your trip, this resort is not the right choice — but if reef conservation and a quiet water environment are priorities, it is a significant advantage.

Question 12

What is the evening atmosphere and entertainment like?

Accepted Answer

Evenings are quiet and nature-oriented. Staff social receptions are held regularly on the island, offering cocktails and canapés with engagement from the resort team. A weekly activities guide covers scheduled evening events. The resort does not have nightclub entertainment. The Sea of Stars phenomenon at nearby Vaadhoo Island is accessible by boat excursion and is one of the most memorable evening activities in Raa Atoll. Tip: Arrange the Vaadhoo Sea of Stars boat excursion as an evening trip — the bioluminescence is best observed on moonless nights, so check the lunar calendar for your stay dates and book accordingly.

Question 13

What are the main pros of staying at Alila Kothaifaru?

Accepted Answer

Natural island without dredging: the entire island is original, with established jungle, diverse wildlife and a preserved natural reef — a rarity in the Maldives. All 80 villas have private pools: every room category at every price point includes a private pool. The Shack sandbank restaurant: the only sandbank restaurant in the Maldives, and one of the most memorable dining experiences available. Strong house reef: accessible from the beach with black-tip sharks, eagle rays and baby sharks present near the island year-round. Silent water environment: no motorised water sports preserves quiet and protects the reef ecosystem. Part of the Hyatt group: professional international hotel management standards with personalised GM recognition of arriving guests. Proximity to Hanifaru Bay: Raa Atoll location gives access to the world's largest manta ray feeding hotspot from May to November. Vaadhoo Island Sea of Stars: one of the best bioluminescence viewing locations in the Maldives is accessible from the resort. Five restaurants including Japanese and Italian: strong dining variety for an 80-villa boutique property. Exceptionally strong staff culture: consistently described across independent assessments as one of the most genuinely warm teams in the Maldives.

Question 14

What dining plan options are available?

Accepted Answer

The resort offers Bed and Breakfast, Half Board, Full Board and All-Inclusive plans. Half Board covers breakfast plus either lunch or dinner. Full Board covers all three meals. All-Inclusive covers meals and beverages. Under Half Board and above, guests can dine across the five restaurants based on their plan inclusions. Pibati (Italian) is available for lunch and is accessible on a paid basis for guests not on meal plans that include it. All bills are settled at checkout — individual restaurants and the spa do not process separate payments during the stay. Tip: On Half Board, choosing dinner as your included meal gives more flexibility — breakfast is always generous and lunch can be light, while dinner is where the specialty restaurants (Japanese, Italian, sandbank) create the most memorable experiences.

Question 15

What is the Shack sandbank experience?

Accepted Answer

The Shack is a permanent structure on a sandbank adjacent to Kothaifaru island and is recognised as the first sandbank restaurant in the Maldives. It features a grill, bar, hammock area, sunshower and bathroom facilities. Guests are taken to The Shack by boat for lunch or dinner. Evening sandbank dinners under stars are a standout experience. The Shack operates subject to weather and tidal conditions — strong winds or high tides can result in cancellation on short notice. Tip: Book The Shack dinner for the middle of your stay rather than the first or last night — early booking secures the slot and mid-stay timing gives flexibility to reschedule if weather forces cancellation.

Question 16

What makes the resort stand out for divers?

Accepted Answer

Alila Kothaifaru is positioned in Raa Atoll, one of the less-dived atolls in the Maldives. The dive centre offers access to reef sites and thila formations with minimal boat traffic compared to South Male or North Male Atoll. Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and the world's largest manta ray and whale shark feeding aggregation site, is accessible from the resort. The resort's no-motorised-water-sports policy means the waters immediately surrounding the island are consistently calm and undisturbed, which benefits both snorkellers and divers. Tip: For divers visiting between May and November, request a Hanifaru Bay permit-managed dive or snorkel trip as early as possible — entry to Hanifaru Bay is controlled by the Biosphere Reserve management and spots are limited per day.

Stay dates	Number of days before arrival
4/11/2026 - 12/14/2026	19
12/15/2026 - 12/25/2026	26
12/26/2026 - 1/9/2027	65
1/10/2027 - 4/5/2027	26
4/6/2027 - 12/14/2027	19
12/15/2027 - 12/23/2027	26
12/24/2027 - 1/9/2028	65

Cancellation policy

Amenities

Food & drink

Transfer

FAQ

Alila Kothaifaru Maldives