Ananea Madivaru Maldives

The diving was fantastic. I had great dives at Maaya Thila and Manta Point, and saw lots of mantas on the manta tour. The dive center team was skilled and supportive. I also appreciated the friendly staff, especially Jin, the cheerful Korean staff member I'd met at Lux South in 2020, and Lamiu and Dawood from the airport team, who were a big help to my family. There was a serious issue on the manta tour: a Chinese tourist who couldn't swim went into open water without a life vest to take photos for the whole trip. One guide had to spend all their time looking after that person, so the rest of our group was mostly left without attention. Guests who aren't confident swimmers should be required to wear life vests, and guides need to be able to look after everyone on a group tour. I came to Ananea in October 2025 with my family for a holiday and diving in North Ari Atoll. It was my 12th trip to the Maldives. Since the island has been artificially expanded, the natural setting didn't compare with places I've visited like COMO Cocoa, Lux, Gili Lankanfushi, and Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. Still, for a newly built resort, it offers very good value.

The natural surroundings were well looked after. I saw lots of marine life, especially stingrays and baby sharks, and even a turtle. The food was fresh, and everyone treated us so kindly. I loved the pale colors and the staff's good manners. From the welcome through the transfer to the island, they were all dressed in linen white. The cleanliness, kindness, service, and everything else felt perfect. This is easily the best hotel in the Maldives, and I definitely want to come back with my family.

The deluxe overwater pool villa felt luxurious, was nicely presented and well stocked, and charming Mohamed serviced it twice a day. He even went out of his way to decorate the bed for our anniversary. I came away with a phone full of photos, even though I usually don't take pictures on holiday. The island took my breath away every day, with its soft sand, blue lagoon and sea, and clear sky. Service from everyone was incredible. Nothing seemed too much trouble, and it really felt like the whole team wanted us to have the best holiday. The food was outstanding, with lots of choice, lovely presentation, and great flavors. The entertainment suited the place and was fabulous, though sometimes the small audience made it feel a little short on atmosphere. An app with hotel information and restaurant bookings would have made things easier. I'm sure the team is already developing one. We knew the Maldives would be special, but Ananea and its staff went well beyond what we expected. I'll leave a little piece of my heart here. Thank you all.

The main pool could use more shade and sunbeds. It got busy over Christmas, but the elves showed up within ten minutes. Management also said a new sunshade was on its way in January. They hadn't had this problem before because the island hadn't been so busy. There are plenty of things for families to do, including an amazing kids' club, while adults can find a quiet spot to relax. The island has a modern style but still feels family friendly. Every villa has a huge private pool. My husband and I have been to the Maldives more than ten times, including Kuramathi, the other resort exclusive. We work in travel and can be pretty critical, always looking for perfection. At Ananea, we felt we'd struck gold. Matt, the Operations Director, was outstanding, and every staff member seemed eager to help. The food, service, and accommodation were all excellent, truly five-star. We're very happy guests. Thanks so much to the team.