Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort 4 stars

There are so many options in the Maldives that it took me over two months to research and finally decide on one. All of that time certainly paid off. The Mercure was everything I wanted for a Maldives experience and it checked all of the boxes. We flew into Male and were met when we got off the plane and brought to a comfortable lounge to await our flight to Koodoo. Don’t worry, this plane isn’t too small and is quite comfortable (very common plane I flew on regularly in Alaska). It is an hour flight to Koodoo where there is a runway in the middle of the small island. From there you are greeted by Mercure staff and put into a golf cart to get to the resort. After a warm greeting and quick check in at the office, the cart then brings you to your room. We had a gorgeous overwater bungalow that was everything I imagined it would be and more. We did not get the one with a pool because I didn’t intend to use it and couldn’t justify the price (there is a huge main pool in front of the restaurant). I did see a lot of reviews recommending the sunset side. I didn’t find it worth the extra money either, but we didn’t miss out. We simply walked out the front door and stood on the boardwalk to enjoy it every night. The bungalow was perfect. The room is spacious, the bed is large and very comfortable, and the cherry on top was that floor window. That was definitley a must have on our list. I really enjoyed seeing fish both day and night. The large bathroom was very modern and wonderful (everything is excellent quality). There is an indoor shower, but I always opted for the outdoor shower. There is also a tub outside (these are open roof, but surrounded by a wall for privacy - bungalows are very private regardless). Pro Tip: bring some bubble bath solution for the outdoor tub. The back balcony was perfect with a couple lounge chairs, umbrella, and stairs down to the water. Another tip I read about was to get as close to the edge as possible (for me, this was #521). It is a further walk to go eat or do anything else, but a much shorter swim to the edge of the reef where the deep, blue water is. You should be able to stand when you enter the water. There is coral everywhere and you will see sea life immediately. We saw plenty of sharks (mostly black tip and some larger Nerf). The turtles tended to stay at the edge where that beautiful, deep blue water is. Snorkel to your hearts content and you’ll see all that you want. We did do one snorkel excursion just to mix it up. It wasn’t that much extra and I believe worth it. We also did the dolphin cruise which I recommend. Another highlight was the jet ski. I recommend an hour rental so you can go with the guide and ride with some dolphins (even more magical than the dolphin cruise). We made a stop at a sand bar in the middle of the water. What a cool spot to take in the beauty of that ocean. Don’t miss out on the fun tube (get pulled behind a jet ski - very common to hear the ladies screaming as the gentlemen laughed with excitement) or the kayak and paddle boarding. The one thing I was concerned most about was the dining. I am always sceptical of a buffet environment, but the main restauraunt was awesome. Every meal was like a Dubai Friday Brunch (if you know, you know). Every night was a different theme with many choices. The food was so good, we ate way too much every meal. I got the all inclusive package which I highly recommend. They have delcous drinks they make as well as the usual suspects of beer, wine, and other staple liquors. There is one beer on tap (Carlsberg). Overall, I was very pleased with the selection. The other restauraunt is an Italian one that sits over the water. Awesome location and the food was good. We only ate there one night for my wife’s birthday (they gave her a very delicous and special cake). If I had any recommendations for the Mercure at all, I would think a seafood themed restaurant would be a better option here given the environment. I guess I might have one other recommendation. There is a small gift shop, but I only saw one t-shirt with their logo. Opportunity missed I think. I believe a dry fit shirt with their logo and/or fun scene from the location would sell very well in men/women sizes. There are so many different and beautiful colors of blues and greens of the surrounding water that it would only make sense the shirts capture those (the one shirt was black with basic font white lettering). Other than that, it is a good shop. Super friendly staff and options for gifts are locally made. If you’ve read the sunscreen is expensive, that isn’t an exageration. Do not forget that. Prices of everthing else seemed fair. The resort is also adults only. The entire vibe is complete relaxation, just perfect. The highlight with any resort of this size is the hospitality. The entire staff at the Mercure Koodoo are so very nice and welcoming. You quickly become friendly with them and they are the key to what makes this resort so special. I apoligize for the lengthy review, but just wanted to share the results of countless hours of research. Contact the hotel directly and book your dream vacation today! This was our honeymoon and I can’t imagine it being any more perfect than what it was. Only thing missed, and I highly recommend, is do some scuba time. They have small excursions for those who have never done it as well. I wanted to make sure my wife was comfortable with the mask and fins snorkeling first. The last day was booked so didn’t get her down there (saw video from a fellow guest and it was breathtaking). Thank you to the staff of the Mercure Koodoo! You are amazing! This really was the perfect stay (5 nights).

Such a great Koodoo island 🏝️ experience, resort facilities excellent facilities, friendly staff especially chef often ask for food varieties. a. everything I had enjoyed inshallah see you next time ❤️🇲🇻

We felt 'specialled' from the word go - from being greeted and farewelled with caring guides to the right part of the airports. All staff were very friendly and courteous and genuinely wanted to make our holiday as perfect as possible. The resort was perhaps 50% or less full, so we felt very relaxed and chilled with no crowds or noisy people. The food was amazing - the theme was changed nightly so we had a great variety. Plus they catered for gluten-free!

Beautiful resort, very helpful staff, tasty food, comfortable beds, we enjoyed our stay

We loved every minute of our 10 night stay in this small, adults-only, exclusive but low key resort. From greeting us at Male airport and smoothing the way with luggage transfer, to waiting in a private lounge and then the same on the way back, there wasn't a moment when we didn't feel pampered and cocooned. The arrival at the resort was smooth, easy and friendly, which previewed how the rest of the stay would be. Ksenia, in reception was particularly welcoming. Our over-water villa was large, modern, spotlessly clean and luxurious with a little window in the floor to watch the sealife below. The bed was huge and comfy, the a/c worked well, and the wifi was excellent (as in most of the resort). The bathroom was huge, we loved the outdoor shower. Thanks to our hard working and always smiling room attendant Robiul. Our room didn't have a pool, but talking to people who splurged, said it was a real treat. We could walk down to the sea from our deck and join the sharks, rays and cuttlefish (my fave!) to name a few. At the end of our boardwalk (to the left) are steps that are the closest to the reef (about 30 mt). We snorkelled nearly every day (weather permitting) and the reef is one of the healthiest in the Maldives. It is absolutely stunning, thousands of fish, sharks, turtles. I recommend the full face masks for visibility and comfort. Sign up for the free reef tour with Christina, the wonderful, passionate marine biologist. She also accompanied us on the free sunset cruise, where a large pod of spinner dolphins (her speciality) joyfully joined us for most of the trip. We also did an early evening fishing trip (part of our package) which was fun and we had a stunning sunset. There are other trips out but we were happy with the reef. The large,infinity pool is usually nearly empty and is a great place to relax and look out at the stunning view. The food at this resort is superb, both the buffet and the delicious, authentic ala carte Italian Vista (make a reservation). All-inclusive is definitely the way to go here, wouldn't be good value in the Maldives to do B&B. For such a small and not full resort, the buffet choice was amazing and different every day. Always fresh pancakes and omelettes for breakfast with fruit, pastries, breads, yogurts. Dinners had a new theme every night and all were excellent with impeccable, friendly service with a smile. The pastry chef was a real star, providing us with an amazing selection of cakes and pastries, even homemade ice cream! We were touched on our last night to be escorted by the wonderful front of house manager, Jo Anne, to a specially decorated table. All the restaurant staff were so friendly and helpful - Made, who would see us coming for breakfast and bring out our tea, also Ali and Arif. Sorry, didn't get everyone's names! The freshly made cocktails (no cheap, watered down spirits here) and wine/beer choice at the bar were excellent. Thanks to the friendly, smiling bar staff, Kamal, Kasan, Pradeep and Pobudu. We had wonderful, relaxing massages at the spa with fragrant essential oils. Special mention to Peter, the gentle, very zen yoga teacher, who made every lesson a new and spiritual experience. Even the departure was smooth, no long wait at the airport on the island. Luggage is picked up from your room, you have lunch and the buggy takes you to the mini airport in 5 minutes, with the manager and reception staff waving you off. No stress allowed on Kooddoo! Can't fault the resort, it was incredible from start to finish. One thing to note - this island is not party central, most of the Maldives is similar. Lots of honeymooners and couples seeking tranquillity. If you want discos and karaoke, try 1 of the larger resorts.