Isola non plus ultra

2026-06-11

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort. Everything exceeded our expectations, and we couldn’t have asked for a better holiday. The resort is beautiful, the surroundings are like paradise, and the overall experience was fantastic. We enjoyed every moment of our stay, from the facilities to the atmosphere and, above all, the excellent service provided by the staff. We would especially like to thank Bek for his kindness, friendliness and attention throughout our stay. He made us feel very welcome and helped make our holiday even more special.

2026-05-11

We recently spent six wonderful nights at NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort as the first stop on our latest Maldives journey, and I have to say this special island grew on us. By the time we left, I was genuinely sad to say goodbye. After traveling through Greece, Sweden and France before arriving in the Maldives, I was once again reminded of just how difficult it is to find words to describe the beauty of these unique islands. Stunning, breathtaking, peaceful, magical, endless shades of turquoise lagoons, panoramic Indian Ocean views and gorgeous sunsets. There really is nowhere quite like the Maldives, where you encounter that wonderful concept of “one island, one resort!” THE ISLAND & ATMOSPHERE Havodda is a medium-sized island with an unpretentious, relaxed and unassuming atmosphere. You can walk around the entire island along a lovely stretch of soft sandy beach, and the many shades of blues and turquoise in the lagoon are simply gorgeous and unforgettable! One of the things I have always loved about the Maldives, now on our ninth trip, is the feeling that you practically have the island to yourself. We have visited close to 25 resorts, and this is something I have experienced time and again. It is probably why, when I post photos from our Maldives holidays, one of the comments I hear most often is, “Why does it look like you’re the only ones there?” Havodda was no exception. The resort was operating at relatively low occupancy during our visit, which made for a particularly peaceful and relaxing stay. We had the pleasure of meeting General Manager Sonia, who recently arrived from Malta. She was welcoming and approachable. We also had the pleasure of meeting Sales Manager Sony, who really was the “hostess with the mostest!” She took the time to show us around the island and tour the different room categories. We appreciated the warm, personal attention and genuine hospitality, and were especially pleased when she joined us for dinner one evening. ACCOMMODATION & OVERWATER VILLAS We stayed in an overwater villa, number 126, at the very end of the jetty, which is always our preferred location. We loved the wide-open panoramic views, and this villa was perfectly situated for enjoying the breathtaking red sunsets, with only a couple of distant islands on the horizon. The bathroom was one of my favorite features. It is enormous, open to the outdoors above, and includes an outdoor shower. There are also windows that open toward the water, which I particularly enjoyed. The deck is on the smaller side, with a comfortable, cozy round two-person sofa tucked into the corner. There was very little natural shade, which can make spending time outside during the hotter hours less appealing. However, we requested a white sailcloth shade, and the team kindly installed one above our seating area. It worked out perfectly! GM Sonia mentioned that additional shade will be incorporated into the overwater villa renovations, which is welcome news. There are only two overwater villas with private pools, but the resort has a lovely large swimming pool beside the bar. An interesting development during our stay was the beginning of renovations to the single row of overwater villas. I was fortunate enough to see the prototype, and I really liked the fresh, updated color scheme and decor. One improvement I particularly appreciated was replacing the long desk area with a white-on-white sofa at the end of the bed. A much better use of space and a very attractive addition! These renovations should give the villas a lovely refresh. THE REEF & SNORKELING – A REAL HIGHLIGHT! For us, the house reef was one of the biggest reasons to enjoy Havodda. We spent quite a bit of time swimming around the island drop-off, and it was a joy to explore. The snorkeling is above average, particularly when it comes to the coral and marine life. It is like swimming in an aquarium ! We saw several black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, a nurse shark, large lobsters, numerous colorful schooling fish, several large turtles swimming about and moray eels peeking out from the rocks. We also spotted several eagle rays out by the pole area and a huge stingray right beside our villa! I particularly loved the iridescent blue schooling fish against the deep blue of the drop-off. Colorful schooling fish could be found consistently around the island. The large coral formations appear to be recovering nicely following the 2016 El Niño bleaching event, and are especially beautiful around the half of the island near the pole. This was one of my favorite areas to explore. Swimming around the island takes approximately 1½ hours, depending on the current. We found it best to turn right when leaving our overwater villa and follow the drop-off around the island. The current can be slightly stronger near the pole at times, so it is worth being mindful of conditions. On our first swim, we spent closer to two hours, and we enjoyed every minute! The colorful marine life can also be enjoyed just a short float from the overwater and beach villas, as the reef is conveniently close by. For those who prefer not to swim around the entire island, there is plenty to see without going very far. Life jackets, fins, snorkels and masks are also provided free of charge, which is a lovely added convenience. We will miss our daily swims around this enchanting reef! DINING & RESTAURANTS Breakfast and most of our dinners were at The Reef, the main buffet restaurant. The setting is lovely, with beautiful views overlooking the water, particularly at breakfast. We experienced several themed evenings, including Indian and Asian nights. We enjoyed the Indian buffet, and the International night was another highlight. Head Chef Kris, from India, was particularly warm, engaging and friendly, and we enjoyed chatting with him. Overall, I would describe the buffet as having good variety and appealing to many nationalities. There was always more than enough options! The breakfasts in particular were tasty and filling and actually held us over until dinner! We had a truly memorable dinner at the smaller, more intimate Surf restaurant! We shared the Ultimate Havodda Surf & Turf, and what an indescribably delicious meal it was! It was one of the best meals we have had in the Maldives. The presentation by Chef Pradeep and his team was beautiful and the portions generous, served on an enormous wooden platter featuring lobster, jumbo prawns, scallops, ribeye steak, rack of lamb, grilled vegetables, potatoes and all sorts of flavorful accompaniments and creative dipping sauces. It was impressive, beautifully and artistically prepared, and absolutely delicious. The atmosphere at Surf in the evening is lovely, too, with its romantic waterside setting. I would definitely recommend experiencing Surf during your stay. Complimentary water, with a choice of sparkling or still, was provided with dinner, which we appreciated. SPA & WELLNESS We thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful 90-minute couples massage during our stay. My therapist, Ulfa, was excellent and gave me one of the better massages I have experienced in the Maldives. I would definitely recommend asking for her! Dean’s therapist was Sahed, he was very pleased as well with his massage and I suspect he may have slept through some of it! OTHER EXPERIENCES Dean particularly enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the resort with the lead engineer. He is always interested in how properties operate, and the opportunity to see some of the back-of-house facilities made for an interesting afternoon. The whole team was accommodating and made us feel welcome throughout our stay. LOCATION & TRANSFERS One practical advantage of Havodda is its proximity to The Halcyon Maldives. We left Havodda around noon and arrived at Halcyon approximately 10 minutes later. For anyone considering a split stay between these two resorts, this is a very convenient combination. MY FINAL THOUGHTS Havodda is a solid five-star luxury resort with a lot going for it. It may not have the over-the-top luxury or elaborate dining experiences of some of the more expensive and perhaps more corporate-feeling Maldives properties, but it has something equally, and in my opinion more, appealing: a beautiful, remote natural island, a gorgeous turquoise mesmerizing lagoon, excellent snorkeling, lovely soft white sandy beaches on an island that you can walk completely around in approximately 10–15 minutes, an attentive well trained staff and a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere. The reef is definitely one of its strongest assets, and the renovations to the overwater villas are an exciting development. The additional deck shade will be a welcome improvement. I would particularly recommend Havodda to travelers who love snorkeling, enjoy a quieter island and appreciate an unpretentious, laid-back, authentic Maldives experience with luxury and understated elegance. If a beautiful tranquil setting, an abundance of marine life, culinary delights, relaxation and friendly hospitality are what you are looking for, Havodda is certainly worth considering and “ checks all the boxes”! We arrived tired after a long journey and left several days later feeling relaxed, refreshed and genuinely sorry to leave. Thank you to Sonia, Sony, our wonderful butler Lyaas who was always ready to assist, Chef Kris, Chef Pradeep, Ulfa, Sahed and the many other kind and accommodating members of the Havodda team who helped make our stay so enjoyable. We will certainly miss those beautiful sunsets and our swims around the reef! The Maldives will grab your heart and not let go! I highly recommend NH Collection Havodda for celebrating that special occasion, enjoying a lovely family holiday, or simply taking time to relax and unwind in paradise!

2026-05-11

The location is perfect! Clean and cozy island with wonderful beaches and water. Reef with so amazing fishes! Sharks were impressive! Delicious food. Staff - top service!