Alila Kothaifaru, run by Hyatt's Alila brand, is on an 11-hectare natural island in Raa Atoll, 45 minutes from Malé by seaplane or about 75 minutes by domestic flight and speedboat. Its house reef is easy to reach for snorkelling, and Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, is close by.
All 80 villas have a private pool: 44 on the beach and 36 over the water. Beach Pool Villas (202 m²) sit in greenery steps from the sand, with a separate bedroom and living room and an open-air courtyard bathroom; they sleep two as standard and up to four. The overwater pool villas come in lagoon, ocean and sunset versions, and the Ocean Overwater Pool Villa (125 m²) has an overwater hammock and a ladder into the sea. There are also Sunset Beach Pool Villas, a Two-Bedroom Beach Pool Villa and the Boduge Residence for families and groups.
Seasalt is the all-day restaurant on the beach, with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours and fish from local fishermen. Umami is Japanese with a teppanyaki counter, next to the Yakitori Bar; Pibati Sul Mare is a beach café for Roman-style pizza, coffee and gelato; and Mirus Bar mixes cocktails with herbs from the resort's garden. The Shack is on the resort's own sandbank, five minutes away by boat, for picnic lunches and sunset barbecues. Spa Alila sits among the trees, and there's a yoga space, a gym, the Play Alila kids' club with a games room and a library, and diving on the Raa Atoll reefs.