Choosing where to stay in the Maldives is tricky, as there are many excellent resorts across different atolls. We recently stayed at the 5star Adaaran Prestige Water Villas (Raa Atoll) and it’s one of the best premium all-inclusive resorts I’ve come across.
In this review, I’ll give you an insight into this exclusive resort on Meedhupparu Island, if it’s safe to stay in a water villa and what it’s like diving with the in-house dive centre.
Resort Overview
The Adaaran Prestige Water Villas are a hidden oasis on the same island as Adaaran Select Meedhupparu. Nestled amongst lush tropical gardens, you'll have your own private entrance, exclusive beach, infinity pool not to mention a personal butler and private restaurant. I cannot praise the service & staff enough - they really go the extra mile!
I was a bit sceptical about the idea of a resort within a bigger resort but it works! As a Water Villa guest, you can enjoy all of the facilities and restaurants on the island. However, guests from Adaaran Select are not allowed access to the private resort but can upgrade for a few nights during their stay.
Adaaran Prestige Water Villas | Room View
The first thing that hits you as you enter your water villa, is the breathtaking uninterrupted view of the turquoise ocean, followed by the surprise glass bottom floor - which feels completely unnatural to walk across at first. You really do have your own slice of paradise, with direct access to the house reef and an outdoor jacuzzi to relax in whilst you sip on your complimentary fizz.
The 10 over-water villa huts are split into two separate guest rooms, each with its own entrance – perfect for couples. Adaaran Prestige is adults-only, however, children can stay for a few nights on request.
If you love the ocean, staying in a water villa in the Maldives is worth every penny - it’s an unforgettable experience.
But, Are Maldives Water Villas Safe?
Don't worry about staying in an over-water villa - it's just as safe as any other room! The Adaaran Prestige Water Villas are built on strong pillars in shallow water close to the private beach. Plus, when the tide is low you can even stand in the crystal-clear turquoise water below!
Scuba Diving With Dive Point Meedhupparu | Resident Dive Centre
The Divepoint team is a passionate, international group of divers, led by base leader Andy, offering SSI dive training from beginner to advanced. Their passion for the ocean, knowledge of dive sites and innovative coral planting techniques as well as friendly and relaxed staff, make them one of the best teams we've dived with, in the Maldives. They truly live up to their slogan of “Dive with Friends”!
Diving from their spacious & pristine dive boat every day was a dream! The team took us to some of the best dive sites in the Raa Atoll. We were blown away by anemone-eating turtles, dancing manta rays & the sheer abundance of tropical fish.
The Premium All-Inclusive Package At Adaaran Prestige Water Villas, Maldives
The premium all-inclusive package at Adaaran takes things to a whole new level. As an exclusive guest of the water villas, you will also be allocated your own private butler who is there to help you around the clock, with anything from floating pool cocktails & canapes to restaurant reservations and even helping you capture the perfect sunset photo.
Adam was our butler and he really went the extra mile! A local island family man who wasn’t shy of getting involved in helping us create some entertaining content for our Instagram channel.
Our package included all food and drinks plus alcohol across the resort’s restaurants, one of which is exclusive to water villa guests. You’ll also have a free mini bar in your villa along with access to complimentary snorkelling equipment, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards as well as spa treatment credits and exciting excursions.
Food & Drink
As a guest in the water villas, you can enjoy all restaurants and bars on the island as part of the all-inclusive deal, from buffet to a la carte. Though, we found ourselves spending most of our time at the water villa's private restaurant and lounge, as you can’t beat the over-water setting and delicious food.
From the Indian thali lunches to free afternoon ice cream and evening canapés by the pool, it really is a treat! And don’t forget to order a cocktail from award-winning barman Roshan - he’s a moonlighting fire eater!
One of the things I loved most about the package is that you can choose to have your breakfast served in your water villa as you enjoy the sunrise. Had we not been so eager to scuba dive in the mornings, I would have taken advantage of this every day.
And if you feel like exploring the rest of the island, the beach BBQ with live music as well as a visit to the Albino beach bar that serves over 101 cocktails is a must.
Things To Do At Adaaran Prestige Water Villas - Meedhupparu
You might think there’s nothing to do in the Maldives, but in fact, there are plenty of activities you can enjoy either directly from the water villas or shared with the main resort.
Highlights include:
Scuba Diving with Dive Point Maldives
House reef snorkelling
Mandara spa
Tennis, badminton, windsurfing
Explore the tropical gardens & fountains
Live band, karaoke, fire eating and traditional Maldivian dance shows
How To Get There
The Adaaran Prestige Water Villas are located in the Raa Atoll, which can be reached by a 45mins seaplane ride from Male International Airport. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind the slightly longer journey, a cheaper alternative (nearly half the price) is to take a domestic flight to nearby Dharavandhoo Airport where the resort will collect you by speedboat.
When staying at a resort, for me it’s the small details and staff that can make or break your experience.
The Adaaran Prestige Water Villas team really know how to go that extra mile! We’ll definitely be back!
Our stay was complimentary but all thoughts and opinions are my own.