Kuramathi – Maldives – Hotel Review
Kuramathi Maldives is a 5-star luxury resort in the Maldives and part of the locally owned Universal Resorts group. The resort offers an experience that is slightly different from other resorts we have been to in the Maldives so far as it’s one of the biggest resort islands in the Maldives you can stay at. Kuramathi can accommodate couples, friends, honeymooners, big families and all their needs. Read on to hear more about Kuramathi’s highlights and features, our personal experiences and what to expect when vacating there.
DISCLAIMER: WE WERE HOSTED ON A PRESS TRIP AT THIS HOTEL, WHICH DOES NOT INFLUENCE MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS AND REVIEW ABOUT THIS HOTEL. ALL EXPRESSED OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. I MAY RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION FOR PURCHASES/BOOKINGS MADE THROUGH THESE LINKS, AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.
The Location
Kuramathi is set in the Rasdhoo Atoll and about 56km away from Velana International Airport. The resort is one of only five resorts in this tiny atoll, but one of the biggest resort islands in the Maldives. The island is 1.8km long from top to bottom, which is huge compared to other resort islands where you can walk around the island in 10-20 minutes. Kuramathi even provides a buggy service to get you from A to B on the island.
Due to its size, the resort is divided into three villages which all have their own amenities. No matter in which village you stay, you can swim in blue waters, walk along extensive stretches of white sand, including an endless sandbank, and wander through lots of green vegetation. The resort village setup, as well as its natural environment, reminded us of our trips to Thailand and Indonesia.
The Transfer & Check-in
Coming from another resort, we first arrived at the international airport in Malé and then went to the Universal Resorts counter in the arrival hall where we were expected by a friendly staff member. Unfortunately, the first speedboat to Kuramathi departed about 30 minutes before our arrival, so we had to wait for the next one to depart later that day. Luckily, we have a membership for airport lounges around the world which made the waiting time tolerable – otherwise, we personally would have found the waiting time too long because you cannot do anything at the airport in Malé.
You can travel to Kuramathi either by seaplane or by speedboat. The seaplane takes about 20 minutes, while the speedboat transfer takes about 90 minutes. Be aware that the speedboat runs at set times only.
The speedboat transfer took us about 80 minutes. We were a tad faster than the mentioned time above because we didn’t travel with Kuramathi’s big speedboat (which is more of a ferry) but with a smaller one because only two other couples traveled with us. On the way back, we traveled 90 minutes with the big speedboat.
At Kuramathi, we were welcomed by a group of staff members and led to the reception for our check-in. The paperwork was done very quickly. We then enjoyed our welcome drinks and were given lots of information about Kuramathi and the island. Shortly after, we were brought to our villa with a buggy and the staff showed us different amenities along the way.
The Property & Amenities
As mentioned before, Kuramathi is a huge island. The resort has 360 villas on the island and over water as well as 21 restaurants and bars, which are divided amongst the villages to accommodate everyone.
The buildings are a mix of modern style and Maldivian architecture and elements. The main lobby for arrivals and departures is an open-space area with multiple seating options and also the lobby for one of the villages. The other two villages have smaller reception areas.
The extensive resort offers three pools, two of which are infinity pools with beautiful ocean views. We always went to the infinity pool at the Thundi village because it was the closest one to our villa. It has a beach-club vibe as it is located at a bar and there is music playing in the background. It is also a great place to soak in the sunsets and watch reef sharks passing by. In addition, the resort also has an island disco if you are a party animal.
Sports enthusiasts can get their heart pumping in the gym, on the tennis court or on the football field. You can also snorkel along the house reef on the southern and eastern side of the island which is accessible through specific channels. In addition, the resort has a dive center, a water sports center and an excursion center. There is also a medical center (including a hyperbaric chamber) in case you hurt yourself accidentally partaking in any of the mentioned activities.
As a contrast to the sports activities, you can also visit the island spa for a treatment or one of the available boutiques for some retail therapy.
Moreover, there are multiple nature walks, an Eco Center and a hydroponic garden on the island. I really loved the lush vegetation with so many different plants and flowers on the whole island.
Ultimately, parents who want to have some adult time on Kuramathi can drop their young ones at the Bageecha Kid’s Club where the trained staff will take care of them. Babies, toddlers and kids until the age of 12 are welcome and can spend the day in a wonderful and spacious outdoor area. I probably would have loved this huge Kid’s Club when I was a kid.
Kuramathi makes it also possible for married couples to renew their vows in a beautiful setting.
The Rooms
Kuramathi offers 12 different villa categories which are either located on the island or built into the lagoon. The 360 available villas range from simply designed villas to exclusive water villas with private pools. The villas differ in size, design and furnishing. WiFi is complimentary.
Kuramathi’s island villas are scattered all over the resort and sit either at the beach or are nestled into the lush tropical vegetation. They consist of 12 Garden Villas, 71 Beach Villas, 33 Beach Bungalows, 35 Superior Beach Villas, 31 Deluxe Beach Villas, 35 Two-bedroom Beach Houses, 12 Pool Villas and 2 Honeymoon Pool Villas.
If you prefer staying at a villa built into the lagoon, Kuramathi features 50 Water Villas, 30 Deluxe Water Villas, 33 Water Villas with Pool and 16 Thundi Water Villas with Pool.
We stayed in a Deluxe Water Villa. Let me give you an overview of our spacious villa below:
Deluxe Water Villa
The Deluxe Water Villas are built into the middle of the lagoon on the island’s northern side and are part of the Thundi village. These villas measure 115 square meters and are equipped with a king-size bed, a daybed, air-conditioning and a minibar, including a separate wine chiller (perfect for wine lovers!). The accompanying bathroom features a freestanding bathtub with incredible lagoon views, an indoor shower, twin sinks with mirrors, as well as a wardrobe.
The floor-to-ceiling window doors in both rooms open entirely and give access to the large outside deck, featuring a seating area, two lounging chairs and two sun loungers to soak in the sun. Moreover, the deck has an outdoor shower (which I really loved!) and a ladder leading into the aquamarine lagoon.
The Restaurants & Bars
To cater culinarily to the many guests that can stay on the island, Kuramathi offers 13 restaurants that serve international food and 8 bars. You can also order in-villa dining or experience a private dinner in a romantic setting on the beach.
The three main restaurants Haruge, Malaafaiy and Farivalhu offer buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will dine in one of these three depending on your village area. The food selection is perfect for those looking for western and some Asian/Indian dishes. The various food options at Farivalhu were really delicious, but we personally would have loved to have more local Maldivian dishes and less western food options.
To experience flavors from all over the world, there are nine à la carte restaurants on the island. These venues include the Island Coffee Shop (all-day dining), Tandoori Mahal (Indian), Palm (Mediterranean), Siam Garden (Thai), Duniye (world cuisine and wine), Inguru (Asian fusion), The Reef (fresh fish), Island Barbeque (grill on the beach) and Kobe (Japanese Teppanyaki grill). In addition, Hot Pot & Mongolian Hat shows Far Eastern delicacies in a communal dining experience.
Our dining highlight was our dinner at The Reef which offers an amazing overwater dining experience. We were lucky to get a table at the open front to enjoy our three-course menu to the fullest with a beautiful view. The dishes were absolutely delicious! I can definitely recommend dining at The Reef.
If you fancy a drink, your options are equally endless at Kuramathi. Sand Bar and Laguna Bar are located at the resort’s infinity pools and offer excellent ocean views. Sand Bar is a beach bar with bean bags and movie watching, while Laguna Bar is perfect for a dip into the pool between sips. Pool Bar is located next to the gym and offers healthy fruit blends and tropical mocktails. Fung Bar and Dhoni Bar complete the regular bar offering, while Sky Bar is the perfect venue for a get-together with friends for private bookings.
If you look for a bar with a particular topic, head to the Havana Club Wine & Cigar Bar or the Champagne Loft. The indoor Havana Club offers a wine selection, dark spirits and cigars from Cuba. In contrast, the Champagne Loft offers champagnes, sparkling wines, white spirits and incredible views.
In case you don’t want to worry about the food and beverage prices, you can book one of two all-inclusive packages. The Basic package offers premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, high tea (plus two excursions and snorkel gear), while the Select package further allows you to dine in all nine á la carte restaurants and includes a selection of bottled wines.
The Staff
We didn’t have much contact with the resort staff because the resort’s size makes everything more anonymous than what you experience on smaller islands. But when we got in touch with the team, it was friendly and welcoming. We were always greeted with a smile no matter the position of the staff member.
At the main restaurant Farivalhu, the service was very quick to take drink orders and take away empty plates. However, we oftentimes got only one of two ordered drinks or had ice in it, although ordering the beverages without ice. But after telling the waiter, he quickly took care of it. At The Reef restaurant, the service was fantastic and the staff took really good care of us.
Activities
Kuramathi offers endless options of different recreational activities. You can enjoy non-motorized watersports that include but aren’t limited to windsurfing, catamaran sailing, SUP and kayaking. We got two SUP boards for an hour and had a great time paddling around the lagoon. Besides, the water sports center offers windsurfing and sailing lessons. Thrill-seekers can go wakeboarding, parasailing or ride a banana boat.
To explore the abundant marine life, we could rent fins (and also snorkeling gear if you need it) in a dedicated lounge next to our Thundi village reception. Although the house reef shall be fantastic from what we were told, we didn’t get the chance to experience it. We tried using three different access channels to get to the reef but always had to turn around because the waves were too strong, the water was too cloudy and the sea level wasn’t high enough to get safely over the hard corals. We used the special tide schedule to get in the water as close to high tide as possible, but apparently, we had bad luck with all the factors during the days we visited.
If you want to go diving instead of snorkeling, the island has a PADI/SSI-certified dive center where they offer various underwater adventures and excursions. This includes diving with manta rays and visiting hammerhead sharks which is pretty rare in the world.
For a good sweat, you can play tennis or football.
If you want to do some excursions while staying at the resort, Kuramathi offers multiple tours to choose from like visiting local islands, snorkeling trips, a semi-submarine experience, and other experiences.
Spa & Wellness
To have some time to relax and pause, visit the Kuramathi Spa for treatments that combine ancient rituals from Europe, India, Thailand and Indonesia. The spa offers single and couple treatment rooms located on the island as well as over water. You can indulge yourself in skincare treatments, body care programs and hair care.
You can also enjoy, a steam room, a sauna, an icy plunge pool, a relaxation area and a rainfall shower. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to enjoy one of their spa treatments.
Sustainability
A central focus of Kuramathi is sustainability. The resort has implemented an array of practices to protect the environment and to educate the guests.
The Eco Center is the hub for their sustainability efforts and teaches proper snorkeling etiquette, offers snorkeling safaris and holds presentations about the underwater world.
Besides the Eco Center, Kuramathi has set up different nature walks on the island such as a Botanic Walk, a Banyan Tree trail (including one of the biggest Banyan trees in the Maldives which is around 300 years old), a Nature Trail and a Hermit Crab Walk, educating their guests about the environment as well as local plants. We loved to wander along these trails that include information boards with explanations to learn more about nature and the different uses of the plants.
Additionally, Kuramathi has set up multiple initiatives such as a hydroponic garden to grow salads, herbs and vegetables for their restaurants, as well as a reverse osmosis water plant to filter water before it is processed in the resort’s bottling plant.
Moreover, the resort team walks along the beaches twice a day to collect litter that has been washed to the shore to keep the ocean clean.
The One Unique Thing
The One Unique Thing at Kuramathi is a mile-long sandbank at the North-Western tip of the island. Depending on the tide, you can walk out very far while being surrounded by crystal-clear water on both sides. The sandbank is also a great spot to watch the sunset and take stunning pictures. We visited the sandbank daily and it was one of our favorite spots on the island.
Conclusion
Kuramathi offers a different Maldives vacation experience than other resorts due to its big size and endless options looking at villa types, restaurants and things to do. The resort suits every budget depending on the experience you are looking for. Kuramathi is a great location for couples, friends, honeymooners, families with kids and groups. In our opinion, it’s an excellent place for first-timers in the Maldives that are afraid to get bored in the Maldives and don’t look for a small intimate island experience. All in all, Kuramathi is a wonderful place to spend a varied Maldives vacation that you won’t forget.
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