Following our flight back to Malé and a connection in the opposite direction to the island of Kooddoo, a speed boat transfer took us to our second Maldivian home of The Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, where we were greeted on the jetty with a typically warm Park Hyatt welcome.
We were taken by buggy to our Park Pool Villa where our luggage was already waiting for us.
There was something a little James Bond about it from the outside. A sleek design of dark timber and glass, nestled secretly amongst the vegetation, yet just footsteps away from what looked like paradise with an endless stretch of uninhabited sand. It was like our own little desert island home – just with room service and a private pool.
The interior was Balinese in style with warm earthy tones and silk draped doors which led to our private plunge pool and decking area.
Behind the bedroom lay a vast glass-walled bathroom with an outdoor bath and shower; enabling you to cool off amongst the wildlife should the mood take you.
The in- room iPad containing all of the resort info, menus and daily weather forecast gave a slick touch to a resort that is quite traditional in many aspects and the Wi-Fi was remarkably great for such a remote location too!
Lying on our sunbeds with just white sand, clear waters and palm trees as far as the eye could see, I could imagine Daniel Craig emerging from the sea following some underwater espionage. Despite the distinct lack of 007, it took little imagination to see Paradise when glancing around at the deserted shoreline and dazzling shades of aqua.
Intent on pure relaxation for the last few days of our trip, we focused on enjoying the incredible backdrops and doing as little as possible.
We spent our days lounging by the pool or beach drinking fresh coconut water from the shell and ice cold watermelon slices that the attendant always seemed to bring at the most opportune moment.
The resort of Hadahaa is a lot smaller than many of the Maldivian islands yet the landscape is quite varied, so most afternoons we went exploring, often breaking for a cocktail or a photo opportunity in my favorite spot along the way!
The Dhoni is the focal point of the resort with its unusual architecture (made in the style of an up-turned boat) and a great place for escaping the hot afternoon sun or a post dinner night cap on the way back to your villa, which we took advantage of on several occasions.
The food at the Park Hyatt was one of the standout factors for me. Both selection and quality of the dishes served were outstanding and no element of customisation was ever too much trouble for the staff. Milly being a coeliac often causes issues with her options or highlights lack of knowledge with staff, yet this couldn’t have been more different here – even so far as the chef preparing a selection of cakes and pastries especially for her and taking her breakfast order early to ensure she got exactly what she wanted.
The Park Hyatt breakfast is served at the poolside restaurant with views out to the ocean.
The buffet selection is small (but tasty), however this is just an added bonus to the extensive cooked to order options that are available on the main breakfast menu.
My favorite was the chilli egg on avocado toast which was an interesting twist on the London staple.
Milly was introduced to an Indian Dosa by the chef and requested one every morning, along with a selection of accompanying fresh chutneys – it was not your standard breakfast selection, although all of the classics were also available on request.
One of the highlights of my trip was exploring the house reef with instructor Vanessa. I had heard that the house reef at Hadahaa was one of the best in the Maldives, and it truly was spectacular.
Hadahaa is situated in one of the world’s largest and deepest atolls and its surrounding area has been relatively untouched by tourism, meaning the reef is healthy and the marine life thriving.
As soon as we stepped in we were circled by beautiful schools of brightly coloured tropical fish who were coming to see who we were – Vanessa explained that the marine life around there is very inquisitive and like to be nosy when ‘visitors’ arrive….it really was like nothing I had ever seen before.
On our expedition we even saw some reef sharks, but thankfully these were less inquisitive and we kept a respectful distance from each other.
As one of the USP’s of the resort, The Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa fantastically caters for guests who want to explore the water (they would be missing out if they didn’t). The dive center provides a vast selection of equipment and dry towels and refreshments greet you as soon as you emerge on to the jetty; just another example of the seamless experience that the Park Hyatt deliver here.
For dinner there are several choices depending on what you are looking for; but our night at the Island Grill was probably my favorite of the entire trip, with the dining room a treat in itself.
Situated on the beach, the restaurant is open sided with tables surrounding a big open kitchen grill, so you can watch the chefs in action whilst taking in the fresh sea air, twinkling stars and sand beneath your feet.
The menu is regional, with ingredients locally sourced.
The Island Grill’s speciality, as the name suggests, is grilled meats and seafood, of which our favorite were the Indian spiced tiger prawns and the Salt Bush lamb cutlets which were flavoursome and tender.
We went on a fairly quiet evening, yet the bustling kitchen and beach setting created an upbeat atmosphere that made for a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable dinner for our last night.
With food always high up on our holiday agenda, we attempted to escape a storm on our final day by taking refuge in the bar, ordering some delicious tapas dishes and tropical looking cocktails to bid farewell to our dream trip in the most fitting way possible.
For more Information on Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa visit their website >
The Luxe Life was a guest of the resort but all views my own.
Nightly rates at Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa start at USD 830 per villa, inclusive of breakfast. Meal plans up to all-inclusive are available.