Holiday Home Kelaa

The room had everything we needed, and the service was good. Meals at the restaurant were tasty and varied, and the staff were attentive and friendly. Holiday Home Kelaa is a great place to stay, with free Wi-Fi, drinking water, bicycles and kayaks. There’s a Smart TV with Wi-Fi, and excursions are available for an extra charge. We only went fishing, and they cooked our catch for dinner. We came for six days to Kelaa, a remote island that still isn’t very popular with tourists. There are only a few activities, shops and eateries, but we knew what we were choosing. Part of the island is fenced off for construction of new guest houses, shops and other facilities. I liked the island and found what I was looking for: palms, white sand, hot sun and turquoise ocean water that never drops below 28 °C. The brief showers came often but didn’t spoil our holiday. It’s fun to swim in the rain. You can also lounge under an umbrella, watch TV in your air-conditioned room, explore, take Instagram photos, read English or Italian books from the shelf, play billiards or throw darts. Midges can be annoying. I could ignore them, but anyone especially sensitive might bring mosquito spray. The management kindly gave us a bottle, or you can buy it at their local store. We were on half board, so for our other meals we ate the nuts, dried fruit and protein bars we’d brought. We bought a fresh coconut every day, though you can also eat at the restaurant or local cafes. Small shops sell sweets and other basics. We found apples, pears, bananas, oranges, cucumbers and tomatoes, and sometimes other fruit and vegetables if we were lucky.

The boat trips were a highlight, especially snorkeling with mantas. We were lucky enough to spot a few dolphins too. We swam, cycled around, went fishing and had a BBQ. The beach was only a three-minute walk from the hotel. Indoors, there’s billiards, football, chess and darts. I’d strongly recommend booking boat trips and excursions through the hotel. The crew were fun, caring and attentive, and helped us discover more of the island and enjoy our time, even though we were locals. We stayed at HHK for a week to relax and explore somewhere new in Maldives, and loved every moment at this beautiful hotel in Kelaa. We found it on Google Maps because we like to stay close to the beach, then contacted Ibbe on WhatsApp. He replied promptly and professionally, and made sure we were well looked after throughout the stay, along with the rest of the great team. On arrival at Kelaa, we were welcomed with cold towels and a refreshing drink, then escorted straight to the hotel. It’s a three-minute walk from the jetty. Check-in was quick, and soon we were in our room on the ground floor. It had everything we needed, from bottled water and bathroom amenities to a kettle for coffee or tea. There was a TV too, though we didn’t use it. We made good use of the outdoor shower, which is unusual in guesthouses we’ve stayed in. Every meal was beyond our expectations: local breakfasts, customized lunches and special dinners. The relaxing music in the public areas made the place feel lively, and Ibbe has a good ear for it. Everyone at Holiday Home Kelaa was friendly and attentive. Thanks so much to Ibbe and the whole team for their kindness and hospitality. We hope to be back soon. Ibbe, Kudabe, Ahmed, Mary, Fazna, Rahuma, Fahumee and Rai, you’re all amazing!

We spent 14 nights on this wonderfully untouched island, fishing, snorkeling and relaxing on the beautiful beach. Ibbe and the team were fantastic, so friendly and always trying to make our holiday the best it could be. We’ll definitely return to Holiday Home Kelaa!

The beach and local attractions are easy to reach from Holiday Home Kelaa, making it a great spot for a relaxing break on Kelaa Island. The guesthouse is cozy and comfortable, with a home-away-from-home feel, and the welcoming staff do their best to make sure guests enjoy their stay.