Travel At Your Service
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is the country’s first all-inclusive resort. But does it make the cut? Charmaine Tai heads there to find out.
AS DUSK DESCENDS, I lie on the daybed on the patio of my residence, reflecting on my past few nights at Kudadoo Maldives Private Island.
What should one expect when one pays US$3,800 a night at an all-inclusive private island in the Maldives? It’s said to be the country’s first and given its price point – not to mention its positioning as a five-star resort – the bar is exceedingly high. Can it deliver on all fronts? And more importantly, would there be such a thing as an unreasonable request from a highly demanding guest? I mull over these questions as a light breeze rocks the daybed back and forth.
To say that my trip has left me feeling at odds is an understatement. On one hand, Kudadoo feels more like a residence than a resort. In addition to the 15 overwater villas, there is a twostorey reception that houses the spa, games room, restaurant and gym.
On the other hand, my pre-arrival experience was far from that, and unfortunately, I reside in ‘the journey is as important as the destination’ camp. The resort’s transit lounge, in a separate building 10 minutes away from the international airport, feels like an air-conditioned holding pen.
It lacks a private shower facility and bathroom, both of which are important should you be catching a red-eye flight back home.
Kudadoo’s lounge shares the same space – and offers the same refreshments – as its sister property, Hurawalhi resort. A day curtain separates them, but that is all. This may come across as nitpicking, but you have the right to expect better when you’re paying top dollar. The good news is that the construction of a transit terminal is currently underway and each resort will have its own lounge in due course. Perhaps it would be wise to wait it out for a while more.
Surprisingly, I didn’t receive a care pack before I boarded my flight to the island. The provision of water, wet wipes and ear plugs – a norm for other international luxury resort chains – would have made the seaplane journey more endurable. I spotted a Kudadoobranded seaplane, but to my dismay, it was used purely for branding purposes. Airline staff also repeatedly told me that I was flying to Kuredu Island, despite my protests that this was not my destination.
The trip was off to a less than auspicious start. I was left confused, frazzled and slightly irritated. Things thankfully took a turn for the better when I was picked up from Kuredu Island. It mostly had to do with Ishaaq, my butler. I remembered him from my previous visit to Anantara Kihavah in 2016, when he was tasked with looking after me. This felt like a reunion of sorts and it felt that the tide had finally begun to turn in my favour.
And it did.
Upon reaching Kudadoo Island, Ishaaq took me to my residence via buggy. Along the way, he explained the facilities available, including what to do if I felt peckish. Kudadoo offers dining around the clock, adhering to its motto: ‘Anything, Anytime, Anywhere’.
Have I already mentioned that this is an all-inclusive resort?
Not only will your butler gladly arrange a session of wine appreciation, he’ll even suggest the appropriate composition of the accompanying cheese and fruit platters; the walkin cheese room has over 35 varieties and cold cuts, while the wine cellar is stocked with more than 80 labels.
With only one restaurant on the island, every dish that leaves its kitchen has to be perfect. While the dishes did their best to satisfy, the
menu failed to excite with such run-of-the-mill choices as fish and chips, tuna steak, grilled king prawns, barramundi, bolognaise, lobster rolls and club sandwiches. I found myself wondering if guests were getting their money’s worth.
The Chef’s Special dinner left me feeling particularly bewildered. Each dish had extreme hits and misses. The lobster tail was mushy, while its accompanying pea soup was heavenly. The steak was way over-seasoned (I scraped the visible salt crystals to the side), but the thricefried fries were delicious. A dry sponge cake masqueraded as a chocolate brownie, although I enjoyed the chocolate mousse piping to the side of it. How could one meal confuse me to this extent?
All was forgiven, though not necessarily forgotten, once I returned to my residence.
Designed by Yuji Yamazaki Architecture, the residences evoke the spirit of a modern Japanese home with the use of granite stones, smooth pebbles and unpolished cedar.
I enjoyed faint whiffs of the wood every now and then, and was told that the scent gets more pronounced when it rains, making the unwelcome weather just that bit more bearable.
Without the presence of nearby resorts or local islands, you will enjoy an undisrupted panoramic view of the sea, with nary a speedboat in sight. On Kudadoo, guests don’t have to worry about reserving the ‘best villa’. The 13 one-bedroom residences have an area of 310sqm each, while the two-bedroom residences are sized at 390sqm each. You only have to decide if you prefer watching the sunrise or the sunset when in situ.
Views aside, the ingenuity is the way in which Yamazaki, a New York-based designer, designed the residence so that it’s always kept breezy. Simply pull the sliding doors apart to enjoy a constant flow of air. The angled wooden panels allow you to look beyond the confines of your residence, while ensuring privacy between neighbours.
Villas are also kept eco-friendly; part the sliding doors and the smart home system immediately shuts off the air conditioning. In addition, there’s no plastic here; all amenities – from mouthwash right down to face toners and after-sun gel – are stored in glass bottles.
Thinking of how to fill your time? Your butler, who’s on speed dial, will be only too happy to assist. Arrange for a full-day, in-residence spa treatment or better yet, give the water activities a go. You can do whatever you want for as long as you want and if there’s one place that leaves you spoilt for choice, this would be it.
Guests of Kudadoo are also encouraged to visit the adults-only Hurawalhi resort, a threeminute ride away. The badminton, futsal and tennis courts are at your disposal, as is the games room, which offers retro arcade games such as air hockey, pinball and Pac-Man.
Those with cabin fever can also opt to have meals on Hurawalhi at no extra charge, unless you opt to dine at the famed 5.8 undersea restaurant, which is priced separately.
With an abundance of options at your fingertips, you won’t be faulted for making lastminute changes or requests. Ishaaq quietly took care of every aspect of my trip, from the booking of restaurants and arranging for boat transfers, to staying up one night to ensure that I returned safely to my residence.
Come tomorrow morning, I have to bid Kudadoo – and Ishaaq – farewell. The island has left a mark on me. The missteps can definitely be overcome and improved upon, and I wouldn’t be surprised if returning guests choose to stay for a week or longer.
If there’s one place that leaves you spoilt for choice,
this would be it.