Paradise was simply just that, a place where worries disappear, extreme beauty exists, and a hypnotic state of bliss.

Upon arrival, and repeated each morning, roll out of bed and take a dip in our backyard aquarium (water villa 39). Come take a dip with me in the video below!:

http://youtu.be/yJDos5i3MCI?hd=1

http://youtu.be/-PSb7WmUTMo?hd=1

Be careful going down the stairs, the steps can be a bit slippery!

Villa 39 back deck (the couch is very comfy, don't fall asleep if you roll around, hehe!):



We were treated extremely well by most of the staff. Pierre and his staff are quite simply, awesome. Here are the Diamond benefits we received:

Daily, we received a bowl of fresh fruit with exotic dragon fruit, mangosteen, starfruit, mango and other delights:



Also, daily, you can enjoy an evening cocktail and canapes. This is the delicious minty Mojito, dark in color because it is made with brown sugar. The canapes were delicious also, with great variety daily:



Enjoy your cocktail with the sunset:

http://youtu.be/P3beJhnWWDM?hd=1

Everyone receives breakfast, and each morning a nice display of fruit, tuna, and pastries along with your breakfast make a nice personalized touch:



We would have our fresh fruit in the morning and then have a late breakfast, maybe around 10:30 since this was a week where I could care less about time (leave your watch in the room). I recommend the tuna curry for breakfast, deliciously spicy. Also, the fresh carrot juice and frappucino's are excellent.

You can use the dive shop's snorkel equipment free of charge. While the equipment is used (my flipper rubber foot entry tore the first day), it sure makes it nice not to have to pack snorkel gear. Although we did bring our personal masks / goggles.^

We booked the passport escape with the 3 dinners included. Every meal was outstanding with exceptional service. We were able to choose one app, one main, and a dessert.

The seared scallops at Batutta's is excellent. Our server, Hamid, even took the effort to hand write the recipe for us:



Here are the main courses at Battuta's (more images in the gallery):



Be sure to ask if there are any special items not on the menu. We had a ribeye that was delicious and you can even have your fresh catch grilled and served on the beach. Fishing is $150, very reasonable.



A mango and ice cream dessert:



We had a bottle of wine on these nights. I am pretty sure the cheapest bottle is $52 US, and can go up to the $800 range. So if you like to drink wine, expect to pay. All beers were $10, Corona, Tiger, Carlsberg, Heineken.

The workout room has a bose stereo and you bring your own ipod / mp3 player to interface with. Each day I was there, I was the only one in the gym, I guess people don't come here to workout. There is a new piece of cable equipment that I found adequate for just about any exercise and enough weight resistance. There is a bike, elliptical, and treadmill machine with video / mp3.



The infinity pool is one of the best I have ever experienced. Here are a few videos of the area:

http://youtu.be/hwlvkUCUGmA?hd=1

http://youtu.be/rXw5rnMPRkY?hd=1



From the walkway outside of villa 51:

http://youtu.be/W19n5dmT9Cg?hd=1

We were in villa 39, here is another morning swim:

http://youtu.be/7dK3xkSiNeY?hd=1

View back towards villa 38:

http://youtu.be/gmxBK4jizzQ?hd=1

Each day, I took a walk around the island. Sad, but true, one day I counted the number of steps it took, 1650 steps total around the entire circumference. YMMV due to the tide levels.

Villa #1 and #16 were my favorites from the beach view.

Great sounds:

http://youtu.be/v5iajMIvWbk?hd=1



Enjoy the water, and the snorkeling. Here is a video of a swim from the arrival jetty:

http://youtu.be/H34cdF7jGsw?hd=1

The beach lounges are awesome, soft and comfortable, well stocked with fresh white towels.



Best beach ever:



And underneath the water villa walkway, where a school of small fish were hunted by 6 foot long needlefish that would dart in. One of the coolest things I have seen:



http://youtu.be/ty6BToVnwXg?hd=1

Some other snorkel videos:

http://youtu.be/_8UgOoNFDWQ?hd=1

http://youtu.be/x6iDe1n2vXE?hd=1

http://youtu.be/WatsZAuw_rc?hd=1

I took over 48Gb of digital media, over 2K pictures and 200 videos. The internet speed was not too bad during the evening and early morning hours. I highly suggest you bring an underwater camera. Gallery:

http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery/album36

There are 160 staff members on the island. Quite the ratio to guests. You will be treated well, almost too well. During meals, we felt that we were always being watched, in a good way of course.

We were told by staff that they work a max of 8 hours a day. They can work for months straight, and take time off when needed to go back to their home island. We were shared a local chip made of tuna and rice flour, quite spicy!



We were constantly asked if we wanted a ride when passed by a golf cart. We always declined as it was nice not to have to step foot in a vehicle for the week.

The island has its own water desalination facility and generators for power. The staff living quarters are off limits to guests, with private area markers.

None of the bills included a space to charge a tip. We tipped with US cash.

All in all, one of the best trips ever and to a truly unique resort. The best definition of a paradise experience and a magical place on earth.

Now for the bad. We received a confirmation email notification of our transfer expectations and it stated that we would have to wait a max of 2 hours in Male.

Our flight arrived at 7am and our departure flight on Maldivian did not leave until 11:15am. Add on a 3 hour transfer time for flight, boat ride and 1 hour time change and we did not arrive to the resort until around 2pm, 7 hours after arriving in Male. Exhausting after an overnight flight. You may consider this as an expectation.

To make things worse, upon arrival at the jetty, we were brought to villa 34 in a golf cart. I was a bit surprised at this villa since it had a view of green foliage only and was no upgrade as confirmed. I knew something was wrong when the incorrect bags arrived 15 minutes later. They had mistaken us with another couple and brought us to the wrong villa! and insulted me by calling me a Platinum member....me, only Platinum?!?!

I sure felt for the other couple that were brought to water villa 39 and then suddenly told that they were in villa 34!

The arrival experience was not good and no guest should ever have to experience. I was a little shocked that the property has the host greet and take you immediately to your villa. I found this a bit unprofessional and would have preferred a more formal check in procedure by a management type. I presume you would only agree with me if you had the experience we did.

Our departure flight was not until 8pm from Male. The night prior to departure, we were told we would need to leave the resort at 1pm (noon Male time). Evidently, this was due to flight schedules. I spoke to another guest on the boat and his flight was not until 10pm. He was upset since the later flight from Kaadedhdhoo was full and they could not get him on it. A little disconcerting that these arrangements are not made earlier.

Arrival boat footage (bumps included!):

http://youtu.be/s7r_DJEI5MY?hd=1

Arrival jetty:

http://youtu.be/HSCH_u3LvLE?hd=1

Departure boat footage:

http://youtu.be/Kcjdw1yh-B0?hd=1

Flight into Gan:

http://youtu.be/HArQDrXw0-Q?hd=1

And sadly leaving paradise: