Review: Park Hyatt Hadahaa Hotel
Now for something truly exceptional: the former Alila Hadahaa Villas, now a Park Hyatt. Upon first approach you may wonder if the hotel is still under construction due to the visible concrete that peeps out from under the lush green vegetation. But rest assured that it is perfectly finished; the extra few hours to get here are fully worth it. If you want to feel completely secluded and alone in the world but are also looking for something super stylish and slick, the hotel fits the bill perfectly and will wow you as you walk around and get a feel of its particular ambience. Meander around its mangrove jungle, sunbathe by one of its two stunning lagoon-like pools, have a rejuvenating treatment at the exclusive Spa by Mandara, or snorkel in the ocean and admire some of of the Indian Ocean's magnificent table coral and marine life. Don't be surprised if you stumble upon a Vogue photo shoot, it's such a usual sight here that the staff don't even bat an eyelid in the direction of the cameras anymore. The hotel has an understated elegance and is in no way brash or pretentious. Hadahaa is the Maldives' untouched southern atolls first luxury boutique hotel with a big heart at the centre of its philosophy.
Advantages
- The well thought-out uber-stylish design.
- The only Maldivian restaurant in the archipelago.
- Fantastic snorkelling.
- The secluded feeling of the island.
- The impeccable service.
- The peace and tranquility of the resort.
Disadvantages
- Getting there adds another few hours to the journey.
- Unsurprisingly on the pricey side.
Price and availability of the Hotel
The Maldives consists of over a thousand islands arranged into what is commonly-known as atolls, or groups of islands, although the word 'atoll' actually denotes an island made of coral surrounded by a lagoon. The island is located far south in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll so be prepared to spend extra time travelling before reaching your final destination. Once you land at Malé Airport, you have to board a domestic flight (as opposed to a seaplane) and then catch a speedboat for an hour and fifteen minutes once you land at Kaadedhdhoo Domestic Airport, which will take you to the resort. You may be left waiting at the VIP lounge in Malé for an hour or two before boarding but be patient, it is all worth it in the end!
Around 200 islands of the archipelago are inhabited (recorded at the time of our visit in April 2010). Each hotel is set on its own island (unless you stay in the capital or Hulhule, the airport island). Among the 200 or so inhabited islands, few are inhabited by locals only - hotels and locals rarely mix unless in a work environment within a hotel structure. By this, we mean that there are no local villages on the same island as a hotel and vice versa. Tourism and local life are kept separate. This means that there are no cultural activities on hotel islands, although most hotels tend to organise excursions to neighbouring local islands for the day.
Upon arrival at the airport, everything may seem very confusing, with people milling around all over the place looking lost - you will notice a row of hotel kiosks, and a row of Maldivian Air Taxi or Trans Maldivian Airline kiosks behind the kiosks. When you come out of the arrival doors, just look out for your host who should be waving a Park Hyatt Hadahaa placard. Go with him/her. Make sure you have bags of patience, as the wait may last a little longer before you board the domestic flight to Kaadedhdhoo Domestic Airport (up to two hours). Your host will have to collect all the passengers heading the same way as you before checking you in and taking you to the VIP lounge, where you will be served complimentary refreshments while you wait to board the plane; there is also complimentary WI-FI (ask the staff for the access code). The process may seem long, especially after a ten hour flight, but it is definitely worth it! Rest-assured that you will reap the benefits sooner rather than later!
9.5/10
Upon arrival at the island you may need a few minutes to adjust to the minimalist architecture of grey concrete slabs. The architecture might seem cold at first but you will warm to it in no time. As you walk around you will feel the island's veil of peace and tranquillity fall over you. It truly is something special; intangible but powerful.
Designed by award-wining architects, SCDA, Hadahaa is set on an island 10km away from the nearest inhabited island. Here, the aim is to engage the heart, mind and senses with the hotel's bespoke lifestyle 'journeys' (or excursions) tailored to the individual. Alila is also about taking care of the environment and so far is the only EarthCheck certified hotel from the constriction process in the Maldives; the owners have gone to great lengths to minimise the hotel's environmental footprint.
Otherwise, you will notice that the reception is a huge upside down dhoni (traditional Maldivian boat) that was built on site. Light and airy despite its large size, the dhoni has simply been placed on the sand. The staff welcome here is extremely warm. Guests are taken to their villas and showed around by their personal host.
Stroll around the lush vegetation of the island and uncover the hotel's nooks and crannies, including the exclusive Mandara Spa by the stunning fresh water pool surrounded by a carpet of mangrove. The atmosphere here is unbelievably relaxing. The second pool is found on the beach front and is lined by Relish, the main hotel restaurant and Bell's bar. In terms of facilities there is also a diving centre, gym, boutique, library and CD/DVD library. The hostel also has an excellent Leisure Concierge who is more than apt to guide you to the journey that will heighten your senses whilst here.
You will lose yourself in this bubble of tranquillity and will, without doubt, suffer a culture shock as you regain civilisation a week or two later!
9.5/10
In total there are 50 villas here, including 20 island villas with private pools, 16 island villas and 14 aqua villas (over-water accommodation). The villas are extremely spacious and are as peaceful as the rest of the resort. Nestled among the natural vegetation of the island, the villas are equipped with the latest in technology and also look fantastic in their simplicity and clean lines. The designers have ensured that absolutely every feature is ergonomic such as the Japanese vertical sliding blinds. Kitted out in natural timber and stone to imbue the minimalist contemporary design with an indigenous touch, the villas inspire peace of mind. We especially liked the beach villas with private pool as the direct access to the beach is extremely practical. However, if you want to feel even more secluded and alone, then the water villas on the jetty looking out to the ocean are the best choice. Star gazing here on the deck is magical. Due to the island's proximity the equator, there is a truly unique duvet of stars here to fall asleep under.
Every villa is decorated in the same style. The size varies slightly from 100m² (island villas) to 110m² (island villa with pool) , to 120m² (aqua villas). The island villas have a semi outdoor bathroom with bath tub and rain shower - essential if staying in the Maldives and not to be underestimated; rain showers are a dream come true! All villas have large screen televisions, mini bars, writing desks, free WI-FI access, coffee machines, CD/DVD players, ipod docking stations, and anything else you may wish as long as it is legal!
9.5/10
The hotel boasts two fantastic restaurants: Relish, serving an array of gourmet international cuisine at all three meals and Battuta's, sadly the only Maldivian restaurant in the archipelago. For a drink you can stop by at Bell's Bar by the pool. The choice here is varied and the food quality is excellent. Dinner at Battuta's is a must - you can choose to sit at the bar to watch the chefs work their magic, or you can lounge about at the low wooden carved tables placed in the soft sand under the restaurant pavilion; candle lit, with soft music in the background, the restaurant is ideal for a romantic meal.
9/10
The beach is like any other beautiful, palm fringed, white sandy beach, lined by turquoise waters. However the difference lies in the water . The southern atolls of the archipelago are some of the deepest and the difference is apparent straight away. There is no sumptuous lagoon encircling the island here. This means that the water is deep and can be choppy when the weather is bad, but it also means that the snorkelling and diving here are particularly good. Not to miss exploring the ocean floors; you will without a doubt come across a reef shark or two, turtles and even dolphins! Lagoon? Who needs a lagoon?
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