One of Vika Gazinskaya’s favorite places for the reboot is the Maldives. We asked the designer to name at least five reasons why we should all consider a holiday at the Alila Kothaifar Maldives boutique hotel. In fact, there are many more.
Alila Kothaifaru Maldives is one of the latest projects of the Alila Hotels and Resorts chain, which has worked in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Oman, China and the United States.
The hotel is located in Raa Atoll, close to the UNESCO Hanifaru Nature Reserve and Vaadhoo Island. The latter gained popularity thanks to the phenomenon called “sea of stars” – the neon glow emanating from sea fireflies. And this is not fiction: plankton-covered coasts really glow at night. By the way, Alila collaborates with marine biologists and actively participates in research of the local underwater world, and is also located in the middle of vegetation that did not have to be artificially planted. It was here historically. There is a positive environmental footprint.
Just a 45-minute seaplane ride from Malé International Airport, and right in front of us is the most picturesque Alila Kothaifaru Maldives atoll and resort, designed by Studiogoto with Singapore residency permit. Minimalism and clean lines, along with ergonomics, give the same feeling of not “just beautiful houses in the Maldives”. Alila Kothaifaru Maldives has 80 villas, 44 of which are located along the coast and 36 flaunt majestically over the water. Life in the first and second options is fundamentally different. Therefore, the water location pleases with a design taken care of down to the smallest detail: there is a lot of light, but at the same time absolute privacy. At night, dolphins swim here and in the morning, on the way to the gym, there is a chance to meet colorful stingrays. By the way, all villas are divided into categories: Sunset and Sunrise. As the name suggests, the first is ideal for watching the sunrise and the other for admiring the sunsets.
As for gastronomy in the territory of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, everything is a solid five. Seasalt (breakfast, lunch and dinner) offers Mediterranean cuisine with influences from the Middle East, Maldivian and Indian cuisine. In the latter, buttery lentils (“dal makhani”) and pieces of cheese in tomato sauce (“paneer butter masala”) are ideal. For the Japanese aesthetic, head to Umami and Yakitori Bar. The third restaurant, The Shack, is situated on a small separate island and can only be reached by boat. The trip is accompanied by meals in a josper, rest in hammocks or (for lovers of active recreation) snorkeling and diving.
“Personality is at the heart of the Alila network. I met the chef and took a master class on how to cook Maldivian curries, signature desserts and a very healthy dish from Ayurvedic cuisine – okra. If you are attentive to the food, the hotel will attend to you and carefully follow all the wishes of the guests.”
The gym and spa complex is located in the treetops (they can be admired through panoramic windows). In the latter, it is recommended to try original massages and Alila Living’s own line of organic cosmetics for men and women, produced in Bali. The products are fragrance-free, but have a completely natural composition and aroma.
The love for the art industry as a whole can be seen here not only in the ideal and visually pleasing architecture. For example, the hotel team has run special art classes for children. If you have long dreamed of getting closer to the local culture (Alila Kothaifar Maldives actively supports this), do not hesitate to sign up for the Art of Coconut presentation and master classes on cooking local cuisine.
