MikeArbucci
Google
This was our 6th visit to our island paradise home, and we're already planning the 7th. The biggest reasons why we keep returning? |-Unspoiled, picturesque "living" island with the best house reef you'll find in the Maldives|-The most beautiful beach we've ever seen, with calm, crystal blue water and a secluded vibe|-A staff that treats you like family |-A genuine willingness on the part of the team to ensure guest satisfaction with any small or large request|-Delicious food options|-Hyatt Globalist recognition||That being said, here are the highlights:||While it's a long journey from Male to the island (domestic flight and speedboat), the team at the airport ensures everything is seamless and smooth. Hopefully things will be more luxurious once the new terminal opens, but for now, the basic lounge in the domestic terminal is acceptable. Imran, Tatty, and Hassan did a great job of taking care of us during transfers.||We were met on the dock/jetty by several managers and our host who took us by buggy (golf cart) to our beach pool villa (other than the deluxe beach pool villas, this is our favorite option on the island--even better than the overwater villas, in my opinion), #3. The villa is gorgeous, with dark tone woods, sliding doors that open to ocean views and floor to ceiling windows, a great outdoor shower in the bathroom, and many more creature comforts.||Room attendants Azeem and Ahmed took great care of of our room during our stay. They left yummy treats in the evenings, and kept all toiletries and towels restocked and neat. Heck, they even straighted up our messiness on the bathroom counters. Quite the personal service! ||Our host (who has been a part of our visits one way or another since we've been coming to Hadahaa), Shahum, is the best! He is so kind and humble, and he always wants to ensure his guests are happy and taken care of. He did a great job of doing that for us once again on this visit, and we're super thankful.||Meals were expertly managed by Speedy Nabeel, another long time staff member who ensured we were happy with all of our meals. Speedy brought us several of our favorite drinks throughout our visit and the occasional app or dessert "on the house" which kept the "surprise and delight" experience fresh. We look forward to catching up with him every time we return to the island, and he is very good at what he does.||Speaking of F&B, the island has two amazing head chefs right now: Chef Davide and Chef Manuel. These guys ROCK. We put meals in their hands several times during our weeklong stay, and everything they prepared or arranged was a notch above everything else. Manuel, we're still talking about your flautas, tacos, and Contramar inspired fish. Thanks for all the deliciousness!||Another great meal was at Koi, served by the friendly Aisar (it was his recommendation that we try Koi, so we're glad we did!) and managed by Chef Kiki. Kiki knocked our sushi meal out of the park. His knife cuts were perfect, the fish was fresh and beautifuly presented, and his service was truly from the heart. We look forward to seeing him again on our next visit!||At breakfast, the servers always remembered our drink preferences so that each meal was more efficient and more personalized than the one that preceded it. Special thanks to the friendly Sathi (Satheesan), Suneli, Saeed, and Frisca who not only kept our table managed expertly but also handled every single request with poise and professionalism. Note that the breakfast buffet here is quite good: lots of fresh fruit, Western options, Asian options, Maldivian favorites (these are my personal favorites), and there's an a la carte menu with tons of great options. We ordered 1 or 2 items each day from the menu (included with Globalist benefits), and everything was terrific.||Bartender Sangita kept us hydrated while on the beach; we tend to spend our days on the main lagoon beach, and she always ensured we had water, ice, and whatever other drinks we wanted. She and Lokesh also brought over occasional shooters of granitas that were delicious and refreshing reprieves from the hot Maldivian sun.||Globalist Sundowners (a few small bites and a complimentary drink each) at Happy Hour were a nightly treat we always enjoyed. The sunsets on Hadahaa are very special, and viewing them from the beach outside the pool bar is highly recommended. There are bean bag chairs and cabanas for your relaxation pleasure.||We enjoyed chatting with Esthii and Robin at the Dhoni when it was raining. The resort has a few fun games under the Dhoni (it's an upside down big boat that serves as a lobby or hangout of sorts), and it was fun getting to know these two staff members while playing a few games.||The Vidhun spa is one of my favorite places on the island. The spa pool is often empty, and it's so quiet and relaxing nestled in the greenery. Ask the managers to turn on the jacuzzi jets, and they will. I still wish they'd fix the waterfalls on either side of the pool, as it'd add a lot to the ambiance. I had an outstanding massage from Balinese masseuse Ni. She was so kind and had magic hands that melted away my tension.||There is a small gym available 24/7 with treadmills, yoga mats, free weights, a couple of machines, etc. It's perfectly adequate to keep you energized and engaged during your vacation. Pro tip: there are apples and scented cold towels available in the gym. Great for a quick, healthy snack, and those towels are AWESOME. ||Snorkeling is free, and the Dive Center will provide you with the equipment after you sign a waiver. Go snorkeling. The underwater world around the island is incredible: so many fish, colorful corals, resident seaturtle "Ben," and much more. If you're feeling adventurous, there are lots of boat trips and scuba options, as well.||Managers Asim, Lemon, and Karan stopped by throughout our visit (mealtimes, in particular) to see how we were doing and if there was anything at all that needed doing, they made sure it happened. You can see that the staff meets a few times a day in huddles; it makes the experience seamless for the guests. For example, something about the water tasted funny to me (it doesn't usually, for the record, but during this visit, it did for some reason), and when I brought it up, the entire team was somehow aware within minutes. Every water bottle in our villa was replaced and we were provided with alternate water at mealtimes. It's such a small thing, but this staff TRULY excels at providing exceptional hospitality. Had a few short chats with GM Ansul about the same thing--he has a great team of people working for him, and they are all working very, very hard.||We'll be back next year, and until then, we keep dreaming of the beautiful lagoon, delicious cuisine, and relaxing spa. We look forward to seeing our Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa family again soon.||-Mike & Lauren Arbucci