Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives

We spent our honeymoon at Taj Exotica Maldives and absolutely loved our time there. The island is breathtaking — a quiet private paradise surrounded by a huge turquoise lagoon. Every corner looks straight out of a travel magazine. The staff were incredibly warm and courteous. We did have a couple of small hiccups with the room and food at the start, but the team noticed right away and fixed everything quickly. Mr. Jinan, the resort manager, personally checked in to make sure we were happy, and our butler Ahmed took great care of us throughout our stay. The biggest highlight for us was Chef Ashish from 24 Degrees/Equator. He met us before every meal, got to know what we liked, and curated dishes specially for us — every single one was delicious. We genuinely looked forward to mealtimes thanks to him! Our spa session was incredibly relaxing, and every staff member we met — from the reception team to housekeeping and buggy drivers — greeted us with such warmth. The resort does fall on the flight path to Malé, so you’ll hear planes once in a while, but it didn’t bother us at all. Overall, it was a beautiful and memorable stay — Taj Exotica made our honeymoon truly special.

I stayed at Taj Exotica Maldives for two nights as part of a site visit, and while there are definitely some lovely elements, I think it’s important to be realistic about what this resort does and doesn’t offer.||On arrival, it looks beautiful from a distance. The island is large, green and well maintained, and the staff were polite and professional throughout my stay. One real highlight for me was the bathtub overlooking the lagoon in the overwater villa. That part genuinely was lovely, and soaking in the bath while looking out over the water was probably my favourite moment here.||That said, I didn’t quite get that immediate “wow, I’m in the Maldives” feeling overall. One of the main reasons is that Malé city is visible from the resort, which definitely takes away from the sense of isolation and escapism many people are looking for when they come to the Maldives. If uninterrupted ocean views and total seclusion are high on your wish list, this is something to be aware of.||The water around the overwater villas is very shallow, and swimming directly from the villa is limited and very tide-dependent. There’s also quite a lot of dead coral underfoot, which made getting into the water less enjoyable, even with reef shoes. If lagoon swimming or snorkelling straight from your villa is important to you, this may not be the best fit.||The villas themselves look attractive at first glance, but once you spend time in them, some areas felt a little tired, with visible wear in places. Food was nicely presented, although some dining experiences felt more style-led than memorable.||Overall, I think Taj Exotica may suit travellers who prioritise spa time, relaxation and a quick transfer from Malé, which is definitely a plus. However, for those seeking a more classic Maldives experience with vibrant reefs, swimmable lagoons and a stronger sense of barefoot luxury, there are other islands I’d personally recommend ahead of this one.||One final point that’s important to me personally. The resort promotes sustainability and ethical tourism, which I fully support. However, I was disappointed to learn that shark and stingray experiences here involve baiting sharks with food to bring them closer to guests.||For me, forcing wildlife to behave unnaturally by associating humans with food doesn’t sit comfortably with the idea of responsible tourism. I believe animals should be observed respectfully in their natural environment, without encouragement or manipulation. While others may feel differently, this practice didn’t align with my own values and was something I found disappointing.

Our stay at Taj Maldives was truly exceptional, and we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the entire team for making our holiday so memorable.||A special mention goes to Adam, our host, who took care of every little detail with such warmth and professionalism. His prompt assistance, thoughtful recommendations, and constant check-ins ensured that we always felt comfortable and well looked after. Adam truly elevated our experience with his impeccable hospitality.||We would also like to sincerely thank the F&B team. Every meal was beautifully prepared, the service was outstanding, and the staff greeted us with genuine smiles every single time. Their attention to our preferences and the effort they put into creating delightful dining moments added so much joy to our stay.||Thank you, Taj Maldives, for delivering an experience beyond expectations. We look forward to returning soon.

It’s difficult the explain how good this resort is. The top reasons are location, fantastic amenities and warm and extremely helpful staff everywhere you go. The kindest people you will ever meet. It’s great for couples, the resort has a sense of exclusivity. Food menu is rich and there is a variety of cuisine choices. Go full board or half-board. Go snorkeling. It’s real paradise.

Taj Exotica Maldives: Precision, Quiet Luxury & Effortless Hospitality Taj Exotica isn’t just a resort, it’s a choreography of detail, privacy, and intuitive service that begins long before you step onto the island. Our journey was riddled with unexpected flight delays, rolling Indigo schedule changes, and late-night uncertainty at the airport, yet Taj handled every update with calm coordination, zero stress, and immaculate timing. The speedboat was waiting the moment we landed, luggage swept away seamlessly, and our welcome felt like exhale-level relief. The Island & Atmosphere • Ultra-private, quiet, and spaced out overwater villas (no density, no crowding, no noise spillover). • Transparent turquoise water in every direction, reef, lagoon, and open horizon in layered color bands. • Ambient wildlife that blends into the rhythm of the island: herons, calm reef fish, tiny lizards, crabs, and cloud patterns that feel cinematic rather than chaotic. • The sunsets here have personality: fiery, layered, slow, and contemplative, never the same twice. The Villa • Overwater layout is optimized for privacy, no balcony-to-balcony exposure. • Seamless indoor–outdoor design, with direct lagoon access and still, mirror-quiet mornings. • The pool alone is worth the upgrade: salt-toned blues against the horizon, often accompanied by a silent heron at sunrise. • Night turndown feels hushed, meticulous, and not rushed. Dining & Experiences • 24 Degrees: wide menu range, tropical-forward flavors; breakfast can be ordered without limitation. • Villa dining is calibrated for both indulgence and balance (especially useful before water sports). • Spa access unlocks full hydro amenities and tranquil zones, ask about what is included, because it’s more than it appears on paper. • The private beach setup we received, complete with a sand-carved heart facing the sunset, was unexpected and deeply thoughtful. Staff & Service Service is anticipatory without feeling performative. Special thanks to Nadim! A few examples: • The butler coordinated delays, arranged arrival timing, and still managed a warm, patient welcome. • Staff delivered food after kitchen closure upon arrival, unprompted kindness, not transactional. • Tipping felt appreciated, not expected; gratitude mattered more than currency. Every interaction had a pulse of humanity — calm, attentive, and unhurried. Weather & Natural Display • Expect cloud drama: gold-blue sunsets, slow-moving rain curtains, sunrise rainbows. • Even on gray days, the lagoon stays luminous, Maldives light physics at its best. • Wildlife is respectful and unobtrusive: lizards sun themselves, herons stand sentinel on infinity pools, and reef life goes about its work beneath you. Final Impression Taj Exotica isn’t indulgence for spectacle; it’s indulgence for stillness, privacy, and the rare feeling of being held quietly by place and people. If you want high-touch detail without noise, curated calm without pretense, and sunsets that truly stop time, this is it. Would return without hesitation.

The hotel is great, spacious and calm and the staff is friendly with 24/7 buggy service, a personal butler that can arrange reservations and book activities and the beach is stunning. I do find it a little crazy that even at $1000 usd a night you have to pay for the shuttle to and from the resort especially when their is no other way to get to and from the resort. The rooms were nice and beautiful we had both a sunrise and deluxe villa. The deluxe villa pool is very small good for small kids but not for adults. The BEST part of the trip by far was the guys at the dive center they were friendly, courteously, well knowledgeable and generous. Matt took me on a solo dive which was amazing and gave me the picture free of charge. If you want to do activities the guys at Kaito dive and watersports are amazing.

The resort is beautiful and well maintained, and the overall facilities and hospitality were good, as expected from a Taj property. The rooms, ambience, and service standards were up to the mark. However, the food experience was quite disappointing. For such a big and premium brand, the dining options were very limited. There was no buffet system, and vegetarian options were especially scarce. As a result, we had to repeat the same dishes every day, which became monotonous. Food is an important part of a luxury stay, and this was the only major letdown in an otherwise pleasant experience. I hope the management improves the variety and dining arrangements, especially for vegetarian guests.

The perfect romantic getaway. Absolutely stunning experience on a gorgeous island. A private resort with breathtaking views - highly recommend the overwater pool suite. Excellent food especially at both 24 Degrees and Moodhu. A special mention to Nadeem, who overlooked our stay. An incredibly nice guy!