Hotel Review: Royal Island Resort and Spa

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It was a tangerine morning and the salty mist sprayed into the air as I arrived at Royal Island Resort & Spa in Baa Atoll. The sun illuminated the clouds that were acting like nature’s own lamp shades. The crystal waves were crashing against the sandy beaches and with the refraction of the sunlight, it looked as if a billion diamonds were translucently swimming in the ocean’s waves. The resort was fringed by plumes of palm trees with their hanging lacy green leaves, and banyan trees with their giant tentacles.

After departing from the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, it took 20 minutes by airplane to arrive at Dharavandhoo Airport, and 10 more minutes to arrive at the resort via a speedboat from Dharavandhoo. I was welcomed to the island with a drink of coconut water in a young coconut.

The manager received us warmly and gave us a brief introduction of the island. I was impressed by the unobtrusive elegant architecture of the island as I noticed the jubilant faces of honeymooning couples.

There are a total of 150 beach villas and 2 presidential suites on the island. The beach villa we stayed at was beautiful. Our room was well lit, a haven of tranquillity free from stress, complete with an open garden bathroom and free Wi-Fi. The villa’s backdoor provided a direct entrance to the beach.

There are 4 bars and lounges on the resort including the Fun Pub and Boli Bar. The resort ensures that the guests are well amused and entertained. The guests can happily dance to the sounds of boduberu while enjoying a taste of the Maldivian culture or enjoy live music and other entertainment events.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”13549,13550,13551,13544″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Royal Island Resort & Spa has two restaurants; Maakana restaurant and Raabondhi restaurant. Maakana restaurant serves international food in addition to a wide array of drinks. The quality of the food and the spread of the buffet were phenomenal. There was a range of ambrosial cuisines to choose from and I experienced the culinary cultures from different parts of the world. The resort has a different food theme every day.

There’s a variety of sports to choose from; both on land and in water. The exquisite water is perfect for water sports. The golden grains and the barnacle encrusted rocks provide a unique visual treasure and as I submerged beneath the waves into the gravity-free void to snorkel, I saw forests of corals and mosses adorning the rocky ocean floor. The area was swarming with fish. And when I was canoeing against the smooth surface forces, I noticed how clean the water was.

Royal Island Resort & Spa’s Araamu Spa has an entrance that is decorated by hibiscus flowers. The spa offers luxurious treatments for renewing, revitalising and rejuvenating the senses.

The resort is well maintained and spotlessly clean. The island is cleaned two times a day and everyone on the island adheres to a firm no littering rule. The staff members were very generous and compassionate. They were very open about showing me facilities such as the seawater desalination pumps and the sewage plant.

Royal Island Resort & Spa gives off a romantic ambience while capturing the essence of Maldives, and it truly does live up to its name.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]