Hotel reviews: Vivanta by Taj Coral Reef

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Around 200 islands of the archipelago are inhabited (recorded at the time of our visit in April 2010). Each hotel has its own island (unless you stay in the capital or Hulhule, the airport island). Among the 200 or so inhabited islands, some 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 which share a hotel's island 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 that. When you come out of the arrival doors, just look out for your host who should be waving a Vivanta Hotel placard. The host will then lead you to the boat jetty from which the speed boat leaves for the hotel.

Previously known as the Taj Coral Reef, the hotel reopened in summer 2009 as Vivanta by Taj Coral Reef after a thorough makeover. Vivanta is supposed to be the group's more contemporary, good-value addition. The hotel attracts are a mix of guests, with a large fraction from the Arabian Peninsula.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Upon arrival via the jetty, guests arrive at the centre of the resort. To the right, guests will find the main bar with the outdoor dining restaurant next to the infinity-edged pool. To the left is the main restaurant and the indoor entertainment area. The island is small and although the hotel has made good use of the space, we felt that it was a little cramped. The accommodation sites alongside the beach and in the centre of the island, like with most islands, are the staff quarters. The island is otherwise fairly green. The beach suffers from erosion and is shrinking fast. The hotel has built a concrete wall around most of the island to slow down the erosion process. The wall might be considered as an eye sore for some guests, but on the other hand it does provide safe bathing for kids. The Jive spa is small and a little drab which is a shame when most hotel spas have been built to make the most of the natural environment. For a hotel belonging to such a high-quality group, a more spacious and relaxing spa wouldn't have gone amiss. The hotel design doesn't work in harmony with nature; it is easy to forget that you are on a remote tropical island at times. The beach is lined with hammocks among the swaying palms that line the white sandy beach. During our visit the building of tennis courts and football ground had started and are to be completed by the end of the year.

Otherwise there is a well-equipped gym and diving centre.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The 62 villas, a mixture of beach and water accommodation, two of which are Beach Villa suites, are all very stylishly designed. Spacious, fresh and bright, the rooms are very pleasant. The bathrooms are well-appointed and although none are exterior, there are exterior rain showers. Every room has all the expected mod-cons such as WIFI (at a charge), flat screen televisions and complimentary tea and coffee-making facilities. The water villas are similarly kitted out to the beach bungalows, but they sit in stilts above the water. Guests will find greater intimacy here, although there is no direct beach access. The decks however, do lead straight into the warm turquoise waters. There are also two deluxe beach villas with their own private pool. The very attractive two floor villas feel very homely with their thatched roofs and enclosed garden. They are ideal for a family of four or a group of friends.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The main bulk of the activity happens at the end of the arrival jetty where the outlets are situated. The bar, Reef, with unusual black walls and smart black rattan furniture is a friendly and lively place to relax in the evenings - it gets very hot in the day, so guests prefer to sunbathe by the infinity-edged pool to the right of the bar. The grill and pizzeria count as additional outlets although they are set up in the evenings. Lunch has to be pre-booked here. The all-day à la carte, Latitude, is very stylish. The menu consists of an array of international cuisine which, although simple, is fairly tasty. To the back of the restaurant there is also a room for private dining which must be pre-booked. Latitude is a rather casual restaurant with white bamboo furniture and driftwood used as lampshades which softens the light and gives the area a cosy atmosphere.

• Z Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The beach here suffers from erosion, so a wall has been built around certain parts of the island to delay the process. Otherwise the beach is pleasant, and although the lagoon isn't the most beautiful of the archipelago, it is very pretty and fairly good for snorkelling. There isn't much intimacy due to the bungalows lining the beach, but there are some very comfortable hammocks ready to welcome tired bodies in need of a good rest!