Vivanta by Taj Coral Reef

Rooms

There are 62 rooms at Taj Coral Reef, divided into 4 categories. All are beautifully decorated with neutral furnishings, elements of driftwood and trees in the furniture and flooring, and decadent open-air showers plus indoor tubs.

Our favourites are the Premium Indulgence Water Villas. These spacious standalone rooms are located down a pier and raised over the water with direct access to the lagoon from your large private deck. Bedrooms are large and airy, and you get Forest Essentials toiletries and bathrobes.

If you're travelling with kids, go for one of the Presidential Nirvana Suites, which have 2 floors and 2 ensuite bedrooms (1 double, 1 twin; bathrooms have a tub and shower). In addition, these suites come with a private butler, a vast living area, a private plunge pool, a work station and a pantry.

There are also several beachfront villas. Deluxe Delight are the larger category, and these have a large private deck with a daybed and hammock, plus a bedroom, dining area and outdoor shower. The Superior Charm villas are smaller and the least expensive overall, with a sea-facing double bed and open-air shower, plus a private deck.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Minibar/fridge
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is included in the rates; there are also half-board, full-board and all-inclusive options, which offer good value for money. As with many Maldivian resorts, you're limited to what the resort offers in terms of what you can eat - there's nowhere else nearby if you don't like it! Thankfully there is plenty of diversity here, with 2 restaurants and a bar, and reports on the food are positive.

Latitude serves pan-Asian food à la carte: Thai, Indonesian, Maldivian and coastal Indian cuisine. Open The Grill is an alfresco Teppenyaki restaurant with Japanese food, a sushi bar, a tandoor and a wood-fired pizza oven. Expect the likes of Chilli Crusted Swordfish, Australian Lamb Chops with fennel and ginger barbecue sauce or Curried Coconut Chicken.

You can request bespoke romantic and special dining options: candlelit dinners on the beach, picnics on secret sandbanks, in-room BBQs, and private dining in the restaurant's wine cellar. There is also 24-hour room service.

Reef, the resort's bar, has lavish drinks choices: sundowner cocktails, of course, but also a signature exotic-salt tequila, where your glass rim is iced with pink Himalayan salt.

Features include:

• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurant

Activities

• Laze on the white-sand beach, or borrow fins and a mask to go snorkelling over the reef and shipwreck just offshore
  
  
• Don't miss the daily sting-ray feeding. Recent visitors say it's sensational
  
  
• Make use of the watersports centre: go diving or night fishing, borrow kayaks, and have fun on a banana boat. Afterwards, play volleyball, badminton or practise yoga
  
  
• Relax in the Jiva spa with an Indian-inspired massage, body scrub, wrap or facial, then stretch and relax with a yoga class
  
  
• Take a romantic escapade to the Blue Lagoon: a private speedboat trip to a sandbank where you can enjoy Champagne and a candlelit 4-course meal
  
  
• Book an excursion: take a submarine trip to see the underwater world, or a 15-minute seaplane flight over the white sandy atoll and surrounding aquamarine sea
  
  
• Walk around Kuda Bandos, an uninhabited island, then visit a nearby Maldivian fishing village for some local flavour
  
  
• Renew your wedding vows with a special package created by the hotel (book at least 14 days in advance)
  
  
• Do your bit for the planet and help with the hotel's coral regeneration programme
  
  
• Walk on the beach and explore the island from tip to tip. It won't take long!
  
  
• Spoil yourself with private dinners in exotic locales around the resort

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Fishing
• Kayaking
• Scuba diving
• Snorkelling
• Windsurfing
• Yoga

Kids

While the Maldives are known for being a honeymooners' paradise, this resort does cater for children and has 2 suites that are big enough for families. There is plenty to do, of course: the beach, snorkelling, boat trips, board games and DVDs. Note there is a charge for all children.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The Presidential Nirvana Suites are set up for families, with 2 bedrooms (1 double, 1 twin). For those with 1 child, you can add a rollout bed or baby cot to the Deluxe Delight Beach Villas. All rooms have an indoor tub and outdoor or open-air shower.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 45 minutes by speedboat (Male)
• Doctor: Called to the resort on request

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Taj Coral Reef resort is on the island of Hembadhu in the North Malé Atoll, around 32km north of the Maldivian capital and only international airport, Malé.

This hotel can only be booked as part of a package with our Tailormade Tour Operator in Sri Lanka (it's an hour's flight from Sri Lanka to Malé), whose Sri Lanka Maldives itinerary includes 7 nights at Taj Coral Reef. They can also arrange a bespoke stay for a shorter or longer holiday (not necessarily including Sri Lanka) as everything is tailor-made to suit your timing and interests.

By Air
International flights land at the Maldives' Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, either direct from the UK/US or after a scheduled change. Occasionally passengers have to wait up to 2 hours for connecting or delayed flights/baggage.

From the Airport
You will be met in the airport, and a speedboat takes you to the island, typically taking 1 hour (see Rates).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Maldives