Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon

I went to Ellhaidoo in February 2026 mainly to dive with “Dive and Sail”, which is based at Ellhaidoo Maldives by Cinnamon. I did 8 dives and a snorkeling trip, and the club was really well organized. SHIFAZ IBRAHIM was a fantastic guide. He took time to understand what I needed as a diver and gave us excellent help at the dive sites. He was patient, professional, flexible, and friendly, so I felt very safe underwater. Thanks to SHIFAZ, I had a great diving holiday and discovered some of the Maldives’ most wonderful underwater places. I’d happily come back for more dives with him. Thank you so much, SHIFAZ! All the best, Katharina

We’ve stayed here four years in a row, and my wife and I still wish we had more time after even a week. The snorkeling and diving are the big draw for us: the sheer number of fish and shoals, plus the variety, is astounding. At other resorts you’d need paid excursions to see what’s right here. We spend so much time in the water that we’ve only passed by the tennis court, gym, and football ground without trying them. The rooms we’ve tried, including several categories and the water villas, have been comfortable, clean, and well equipped. The villas feel more luxurious, while the beach rooms make it easy to pop in and out, handy if you need to check on a sleeping child. Staff are attentive, friendly, always greeting you with a smile and ready to help. Food is another plus: the à la carte lets you revisit favorites, and the buffet has plenty of options and themed dinner nights. There are also two bars, live bands, and DJ nights. It’s our favorite place in the Maldives.

We tried both kinds of bungalow and liked the beach bungalows best, though the water bungalows are great too. The island itself is a dream, and the house reef is the best we’ve experienced in the Maldives so far. The food at the restaurant was very good as well. People everywhere were super friendly, from reception, bar, and restaurant staff to the gardeners and technicians. The only downside was the day visitors and their behavior.

We spent $150 per person for a day trip, and it was the worst money we spent in the Maldives. The beach was small and had no free spots, so we had to sit at the bar or under a tree. There were sunbeds outside vacant villas, but staff wouldn’t let us use them. If the beach has no room, the hotel shouldn’t accept outside guests, and this needs to be coordinated with local tour guides. Service from the staff was poor. I wouldn’t visit this hotel again.