Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort

Let me start this review by saying we came a long way. Utah baby. I mean I really don’t want to calculate all of the travel to get here. It was rough. I mean wow it sucked. There are 8 in our group and we were all grumpy and frustrated by the end. But once we got here. Wow. I mean Wow. If you’re dreaming of paradise, look no further than Mercure Kooddoo Maldives. This place is truly phenomenal in every way! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with a warmth and professionalism that made us feel like we’d stepped into another world. Every staff member we met was incredibly kind, attentive, and beyond professional, truly raising the bar for hospitality. The food? Absolutely spectacular! Every meal was an experience in itself, with a range of flavors and styles that kept each day exciting and memorable. Whether you’re savoring local flavors or something more familiar, each dish felt like a work of art. The snorkeling here was simply the best I’ve ever experienced. The reefs are alive with vibrant marine life, and the crystal-clear waters allowed for some breathtaking encounters. It’s a diver’s dream and an experience I’ll never forget. Our overwater bungalow was a dream come true – high-end, spacious, and packed with excellent amenities. Waking up surrounded by turquoise waters and having direct access to the ocean was truly surreal. They somehow manage to bring such luxury and comfort to the middle of nowhere, with every detail thought of. We splurged on a few excursions, and while they were a bit pricey, each one was more than worth it. The sandbar and snorkeling adventure was especially magical. Every single aspect of Mercure Kooddoo Maldives deserves 5 stars and more. I don’t know how they make it so comfortable, luxurious, and welcoming in such a remote location, but it’s nothing short of a marvel. This is a trip we’ll be dreaming of until we can come back again. Thank you, Mercure Kooddoo, for a truly unforgettable experience! 🌴 This should capture the essence of your

I visited the Kooddoo Resort in early October 2024. The resort was everything I had hoped it would be, and we all got a great deal value wise on our stay. The food, while not outstanding was generally good. We had the all-inclusive package and the bartenders were not shy in making us good drinks. The wifi was exceptionally strong all thru the resort, a bonus for such a remote location. The rooms were great, especially the bathroom. By far the biggest negative of our visit was the weather. We might have had 4 hours total of sunshine the entire 5-night stay, which sort of ruined our trip. Strong winds, and frequent squalls prevented us from doing any of the water activities we were anticipating. The red flag flew the entire time we were there. We were able to briefly snorkel outside our rooms one day, but the seas were still rough. I understand that this is no fault of the resort, but I had no idea the weather could be so bad for so long in a beautiful tropical resort like this. At times, it almost felt like a tropical storm. They called it the monsoon. If I ever visit again, it will be during the dry season of Nov-Apr. Just be aware that weather can really be bad, and for multi day periods.

Everything is great in this hotel. High level of service and privacy. Quality of rooms is great! Food just perfect and every day new meals. This hotel gave us the best experience about diving - there is PADI dive center at the territory of the hotel and their home reef is spectacular - we swam with turtles and sharks, stingrays and manta rays. Water was crystal clear. At the end of September we not face any rain in the day time - just few short rains at night. Special thanks to our diver instructor Agus. Our vacation in this cozy place overcomes all our expectations.

When I think of the Maldives, the overwater villas at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort perfectly match my vision of this paradise. We stayed at another resort prior to Mercure. Both resorts took care of us like VIPs and made sure we were taken care of every step of the way, from the airport drop-off, check-in, lounge escort, security escort, and pickup at the other end... they were with us every step of the way except for the actual airplane ride. The check-in area at Mercure is not air-conditioned and this would have been a nice addition. The staff did however provide cold towels and drinks. I felt as if the check-in process was a bit cumbersome. Their rep (I don't recall her name but her spoken English was difficult to understand) was trying to explain how to use their app. I would have preferred to just get the keys to the my room and perhaps after I settled in, a phone call to my room to explain how to use the app and find out about events. Our room was a bit small and there wasn't a lot of room for our luggage but the view... OMG. We were in room 516 on the sunset side, very close to the house reef. My husband, who loves to snorkel, appreciated that the reef was so close and that the 'good stuff' was only a short swim away. The bathroom was beautiful and I loved the outdoor shower just outside of the bathroom. Of course the best part about our villa was the outdoor pool. It was great to jump in and cool off when it got really hot. Areas for improvement: My husband felt as if the air-conditioning did not get very cold. We had to call about this when we arrived. The resort sent someone from engineering to fix the issue but it didn't really improve it. A few days into our stay, I noticed that the air conditioning leaked into the closet below where my luggage was stored. A lot of my clothes got wet. Again, engineering came out and I don't think the issue was really fixed as it continued to leak. This is an ongoing issue as I noticed rust on the hinges of the closet. The resort graciously laundered my wet clothes at no charge. Food. Options are limited. There are only two restaurants, and one (Vista, the Italian) requires a reservation. You eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Alita and it's always buffet style. We had one meal at Vista and while it was nice to be served (rather than dining buffet style), Vista's food was underwhelming. Alita's breakfast was decent. They had a variety of options from Maldivian staples, congee, fresh fruits, an omelette station, various yogurts, etc. You can also get snacks at the bar from 11am - 4pm. I did not get a chance to try that. Another night, we sprung for a private dinner on the beach. That was very well thought out and put together. The food portions were big and we couldn't finish everything on our plates. We also had a floating breakfast one day... that was a lot of fun! Other areas of improvement that can be made... the ladder that goes into the ocean is slippery. And the rope they wrapped around the handles and the top two steps is rough. I suggest using a ladder like the one that's in the pool, with the grips on the steps... and perhaps make the steps go all the way down into the ground (like the villa's pillars). Though the villas were separate, it did not offer privacy from the deck. I could see all my neighbors and they could see me. Perhaps redesigning the privacy barriers so no one can see anyone without having to lean over the deck or swim in the ocean and look in. My husband and I opted for a snorkeling adventure and it was great! They took us near the next island over and we saw just about everything: sharks, stingrays, manta rays, turtles. We also enjoyed a quick jet ski session one afternoon. I liked that we could borrow snorkeling gear and keep it in our room during the duration of our stay. The staff overall were friendly. Special shout out to Made who we saw every day at Alita. Our 6 night stay didn't seem long enough and we hope to return one day!

We visited in August 2023. The flight over was fairly straightforward. Our first impression of the resort was that it was better than the photos we had seen and the colour of the water was impressive. From the very start all the staff were very helpful and pleasant. We were taken to our room on a golf buggy. We had chosen a villa with a pool and we were not disappointed. It was stunning, so close to the water and with the glass floor you could see the fish swimming underneath. There was plenty bottles of beers, wine and spirits included along with snacks which were replenished daily and you could chose what you wanted. The restaurants on site were all good and the food was second to none. There were different dishes put out every day that we stayed and a great selection. There are tennis courts, canoes and other various sports, leisure activities you can participate in if you want. We went on the dolphin excursion and were not disappointed, there were loads that swam close to the boat. We also went fishing and always felt safe on the boat with the crew. A few of us even caught some fish and of you wanted they could be taken back and cooked by the chef. Overall the resort was fantastic and I would definitely recommend and would stay there again.