Kandooma Review

Maldives Hotels review - Jo travelled to the Maldives in July 2009

Four star: Kandooma
The Kandooma barnacles greet you as your step off the speedboat – these are giant smooth domes, airy, white, and modern inside. Settled into circular retro-60s chairs, chilled fresh lemon cocktail in one hand, check-in takes place. It is the sort of greeting that makes you look at each other and smile with extreme satisfaction. Kandooma is a new concept for the Maldives, promoting a modern, vibrant, activity and family focused island with hints of luxury. Bean bags, modern sometimes uncomfy furniture, Ikea abounds. Kandooma radio provides background music. Staff are relaxingly friendly. Our favourite idea was that food and drinks were available for take-away at no extra cost if you pick it up yourself. It was so refreshing to be able to enjoy your room and eat alone together looking out to sea. In the mornings, you are encouraged to order you breakfast in – unlike other resorts this does not mean your B&B status is revoked and you have to pay all over again. Instead a $5 charge is added and at the appointed time, hampers of chosen food and drink arrive. Your room has a juicer and oranges to make juice whenever you fancy. We stayed in a Duplex Villa giving us a lovely sandy area with sofa, table, outside shower. These are not pretty rooms from the outside and that is all part of the modern “new concept”. Scattered on the beaches of the island are two storey white concrete blocks. Stairs lead to your room. It is a decent size, smaller than the five star resorts but so well-decorated in clapboard marine style that it immediately feels homely. The bathroom was small in comparison to other islands and lacked a bath. We used the sea anyway! However swimming is not possible at all spots around the island but the pool is undoubtedly one of the best I’ve seen in my travelling life. The food was good – a couple who had been at Kandooma for a week mentioned that it did not vary as much as they’d hoped. We didn’t find this a problem and, amazingly, the food was very reasonably priced (for the Maldives). Activities were also reasonably priced and free snorkel trips are run each day as there is no house reef. You notice other guests on this island, it is not secluded and is the least “idyllic” with other islands very close by and sparse vegetation to offer shade and beauty. It is a great concept and very well-run with a lovely activity feel – we would return with an older child or for a dive holiday (without baby).

Main meal: $20
Drinks: $6 bottled beer (free still water)
Snorkel equipment: Free
House reef: No (but free snorkel trips daily)
Waterski: $25 for 20 mins

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