Heritage meets architecture at Adaaran Prestige Vadoo
Adaaran Prestige Vadoo which has been part of the Aitken Spence portfolio of luxury hotels in the Maldives since 2009, has some interesting history which we only learned about when we visited this island resort.
The resort houses 50 luxury water villas featuring classic Japanese interior design. It is this connection to Japanese culture that we found most fascinating.
The resort now known as Adaaran Prestige Vadoo was originally built by Japanese owners in the late 1980s. One of the original water bungalows from this time is said to be the oldest in the Maldives. This bungalow, with its Japanese architecture mostly preserved, now serves as the island’s Mandara spa where guests can book a range of holistic treatments including couples massages.
Perhaps to further preserve this Japanese heritage, one of the highlights of this resort is the upscale Kitajima restaurant, one of four main dining choices available.
The menu at Kitajima features standard Japanese cuisine favourites ranging from fresh sushi to flavourful tempura. It is, however, the decor and the intimate dining experience that it creates which made this restaurant stand out for us.
Intimate and luxurious overwater villas
When visiting Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, you can choose your preferred view from their range of Sunset and Sunrise Villas. Both types of villas are the same except (obviously) for the different views.
Four honeymoon villas are larger and offer more space and come with more amenities for that extra special and luxurious touch.
Japanese design influence runs throughout the villa interiors. This influence creates a calming symmetry and harmony between the natural outdoor environment and the indoor space.
Matted curtains, bamboo window shades, and wooden floors were design highlights that stood out for us. In addition, high-quality materials and furniture add to the feeling of luxury. Another highlight for us was the pillow menu (available on request).
Each of the bungalows comes with its own sun deck, plunge pool and jacuzzi. A unique design feature we liked was the bathroom doubling as a separate lounge area, complete with a sofa, minibar, satellite TV and a glass bottom floor for observing random marine life below.
The spacious villas have decent sound insulation while bamboo and thatched fences surround each dwelling, further enhancing the feeling of privacy without obstructing the views of the ocean.
Breakfast-in-bed or a floating breakfast in the outdoor (and private) plunge pool are some of the in-villa dining options available in your hideaway. This can all be arranged through butlers assigned to each villa. These approachable and attentive individuals work day and night to help create a more intimate and personalised experience for guests on the premium all-inclusive package.
Guests on this package also enjoy an elevated level of service and other extras such as sparkling wine on arrival, a complimentary minibar replenished daily, fresh fruit bowls and evening canapés.
Dining options
We have mentioned Kitajama, the speciality Japanese restaurant earlier.
Varifalhu, the main restaurant, offers a mini buffet of Indian dishes. A four-course set menu features à la carte options that change daily. Kakuni is their dedicated seafood beach restaurant with a barefoot dining appeal.
There are two outdoor bars (Dhoni and Kandholi) that serve drinks and offer light refreshments throughout the day. However, it is the chance to relax and enjoy panoramic views that really makes them appealing spots to hang out on the island.
To capture the magical feeling of romance, private dinners on the beach can be curated by butlers (on request). Couples can watch the sunset and listen to the sounds of the ocean while enjoying a special menu featuring an amalgamation of chef-choice dishes.
During our visit, we noticed that the majority of guests were honeymooners and couples from the Middle East and East Asia. This informs the resort’s strong preference that guests dress in a manner that is respectful to other guests.
Activities at Adaaran Prestige Vadoo
In our opinion, this is a resort where you want to really just relax and enjoy the feeling of disconnecting from the world for a few days.
For guests with a bit of curiosity though, excursions available at Adaaran Prestige Vadoo include walking tours of historical attractions and local markets in Malé, the capital city and tours to a local island where guests can experience non-resort life in the Maldives.
For an island of this size, we were surprised at the number of watersports available. For guests who prefer to take things easier, there is also a menu of water-based activities such as morning and sunset fishing, a dolphin safari, sunset dhoni cruises and a sandbank picnic and lunch. All of these are weather (and time of year) dependent and should be booked in advance.
A personal highlight of our stay was being able to step down from our water villa’s private stairway and straight into the lagoon for a relaxing swim in the clear water. Although not a snorkelling paradise, there was some marine life around to keep us entertained around the house reef.
We also enjoyed daily walks around the island including lush and beautifully landscaped gardens that are a theme at Aitken Spence properties.
Adaaran Prestige Vadoo presents couples with an opportunity for a quick retreat and a chance to enjoy a taste of the Maldives.
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How to get there
A 15-20 minute speedboat transfer can be arranged by the resort from Malé International Airport.
For more information about their half-board, all-inclusive and premium all-inclusive packages at Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, visit adaaran.com/prestigevadoo.
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