Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort 4 stars

We have just got back from a glorious 2 weeks at this resort. We stayed in an over water bungalow which was perfect for our needs. The snorkelling was brilliant, we went daily and saw sharks, rays, turtles and literally hundreds of fish species. The resort was clean and well kept, towels and toiletries abundant. Our room was tended by Jabad who did awe inspiring towel, bed and bath art. The food was perfect for us, my husband loves Asian food so tried every curry whilst we were there, if that isn’t your taste there are plenty of other options which are all good quality. The chefs take a lot of pride in their work, we also went to the cooking demos to get tips to make them at home. The restaurant and pool bar staff really made the holiday, they are so attentive and friendly. Dharmika is the deputy manager and nothing is too much trouble. There are many to mention - Alisha, Shafi, Hassan, Ibrahim, Pradeep to name a few, but genuinely they are all so helpful and efficient in their roles it made our stay a dream. The managers are very visible and are very keen to receive feedback throughout your stay. We wouldn’t hesitate to return.

The Mercure Koodoo Island Resort is an absolute gem that promises an unforgettable escape to paradise. My recent honeymoon experience at this tropical haven was nothing short of magical, leaving me utterly mesmerized by its beauty and the exceptional service provided by the staff. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and genuine hospitality, setting the tone for a truly memorable stay. The staff at Mercure Koodoo Island Resort went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our honeymoon was perfect. Their attention to detail was remarkable, and their dedication to making our experience special was evident in every interaction. One of the highlights of our stay was the incredible honeymoon decorations that adorned our room. From the charming towel art to the romantic touches scattered throughout, every detail was thoughtfully curated to create an atmosphere of love and celebration. It was evident that the staff took great care in personalizing our experience, making us feel like the most important guests in the world. Beyond the stunning aesthetics, the resort itself is a true paradise. Surrounded by pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, it's impossible not to feel a sense of awe and wonder at the natural beauty that surrounds you. Whether we were lounging on the beach, snorkeling in the vibrant coral reefs, or simply enjoying a romantic sunset stroll, every moment felt like a dream come true. In addition to the breathtaking scenery, the amenities and facilities at Mercure Koodoo Island Resort were top-notch. From the luxurious accommodations to the delicious dining options, every aspect of our stay exceeded our expectations. Whether we were indulging in a relaxing spa treatment or savoring a gourmet meal under the stars, we were constantly reminded of why the Maldives is renowned as one of the world's premier honeymoon destinations. Overall, our experience at Mercure Koodoo Island Resort was nothing short of perfection. From the incredible staff to the idyllic surroundings, every element came together to create a honeymoon that we will cherish forever. If you're looking for a truly unforgettable escape to paradise, look no further than Mercure Koodoo Island Resort. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

We stayed in the over the water sunset pool villa. The room offered more than I imagined & the pictures online don't do it full justice. Every need is met: super comfy beds, love the glass bottom with so much visible marine life hanging out just beneath us, perfect bathrooms with plenty of space & options (the outdoor shower was SOOOO perfect & the big tub was awesome for soaking. The immediate access off the deck into the water spoiled me & had ample room for me to do my yoga, workouts, and mediation all while peering into the vast ocean (they let you rent a yoga mat & take to your home for this!). Housecleaning always did an impeccable job daily with our rooms & made sure we had extra water. We LOVED no plastic allowed, so all water was purified and provided large glass bottles with teas and snacks in the room. Very clean grounds, too. The resort felt like a community. Everyone we met all agreed how incredible the resort & location was & would certainly go back! It wasn't just the tourist/guest, but the entire staff made you feel like family--genuinely attentive & happy, they took so much pride in their work & ensuring our needs were not only met but surpassed. Never have I had such healthy food options on vacation! From fresh squeezed exotic fruits, so many nut and grain option, tons of vegetables, delicious varietal protein sources, and delicious deserts; my palette & dietary needs were more than met and will be hard to forego on future vacations now as they set the bar so high. The chefs showed such joy & satisfaction as you made your selections. Although buffet style, it was better than any restaurant menu. So loved the different ethnic food nights with Maldivian & Sri Lankan nights the BEST! The spices & authenticity cooked into them are unsurpassed! However, the mocktails were a close second for the pallet! I loved how they offered healthy alcohol free drinks. The Butterfly Pea flower (which also grows on the island) with hibiscus tea was the perfect all day drink to stay hydrated without compromise (but maybe nix the tonic water in it as you'll read below). I can't forego mentioning that on the third day of our 2-week vacation, I got attacked by something in the water that caused a rash on my back, likely "Swimmer's itch". Combined with too much sun, all the mocktails with quinine (known to lower blood platelets), and an unrelated personal stressful situation that sent my immune system into renegade mode, I had to go to the hospital due to my body literally bleeding out & causing a severely low blood platelet count. The resort took immediate action in getting me to the nearest hospital, a 10 minute speed boat ride away to nearby island & provided a nurse liaison, Alli G to communicate & ensure process of meeting with the doctors & getting me treated before we could know what was wrong with me. He stayed with me the entire time (over 7 hours). What a huge service & amenity to have in a different country with a different language. I felt safe & very secure the entire time. After realizing that I would need more significant care, the resort arranged for me to catch the first flight to Male so I could get treatment there ASAP. I was met in Male with 2 people to ensure I got a ride to the hospital. The resort airport representative, Ibrahim drove me to the hospital, and not only made sure I got checked into the ER, he stayed to make sure I was OK all the way to the ICU. Ibrahim was there to make sure I got back to the resort after 3 days in ICU, and saved the day by bringing me a pair of pants since my clothes were ruined--a life saver and such a wonderful human being! (FYI: excellent hospital in Male! The entire staff worked like a perfectly orchestrated symphony in getting me back to health.) Not only is it one of the most beautiful locations, but the people are truly beautiful souls--it's the people that make the Maldives so special. It felt magical & one of the best vacations I've ever had despite the medical emergency. I am beyond grateful & not a day goes by that I don't think of my experience there.

Spent 10 nights at Mercure Kooddoo Resort with a good friend and it was unbelievable. A perfect setting that provides a sense of peace and rest. The staff were beautiful and so friendly and kind and added personal touches to ensure our stay was perfect. The program on offer was fabulous to fill in our days, but it is also very easy to spend days doing nothing and just soak up the tranquility. The amount of ocean life that we would see swim pst our villa was unexpected and a real highlight. The stay was good for the soul and we felt like we were simply in paradise.

My husband and I stayed in the sunset villa with a pool for 9 days. It was our first time being in the south Maldives and this resort exceeded our expectations. The welcoming when you arrive at Male makes you immediately feel at ease. It was nice to be able to sit in the lounge as we waited for our flight to Kooddoo. We were meet by the resort staff who made our check-in as smooth as possible as we had a long flight and were tired. Our sunset villa was beautiful and loved the pool to soak in after diving or snorkeling. We enjoyed having the viewing window in the room where we could watch the needle fish, picassco trigger fish, surgeon fish and baby black tip sharks. The snorkeling from the villa provided one with the ability to see black tip sharks, nurse sharks, turtles, spotted eagle rays, sting rays-including the cow tail sting ray, pipe fish, trumpet fish and once you got to the house reef the amount of coral and fish were incredible and in really good condition. We enjoyed and appreciated the bed decorations done by our housekeeper, Bawantha. We ate most of our meals at the Alida restaurant which had a wide array of food choices for each individual. We loved how the Alida restaurant provided different ethnic food each evening especially the local Maldivian, Sri Lankan and Asian cuisines. The pastries that were provided each day at breakfast would compete with any Michelin restaurant. The chefs were Anurudda, Desta, Rangana, Amith and Sugath and they need to be commended for the excellent cuisine they provided at each meal. They would come to your table to see if there was anything you needed or wanted. These chefs provided excellent food and were so personable that they made dining an experience each day. A special recognition needs to be given to the staff who work at Alida. The staff are professional, willing to make sure you have your needs met, are friendly and personable and made the dining experience enjoyable. We would like to recognize Dharmika, Abraham, Hassan, Shaheed, Alisha, Stefina, Nakala, and Kamal as these individuals went above and beyond to make sure we were happy and taken care of as well. I know I am missing a few names but the entire staff at Alida and Vista do a remarkable job of providing exceptional customer service. We are scuba divers and the dive shop, Suvadiva Dive Water Sports Center, is a top notch dive operation. Gracia is the manager and ensures that the smooth operation of this center along with it being safe. We dove each day and we had Agus as our dive guide for 6 dives before he left on his vacation. He provided excellent briefings, you knew your dive profile, provided information about each dive site as to what you may see along with the potential currents and dived the way we like to dive. He was very helpful with helping my husband with his BCD as he would put it on in the ocean. Then we had Imir for the remainder of dives. He is like Agus in that he is very experienced, provides excellent dive briefings, communicates effectively about the dive site and dives in the manner that we like to dive. If you are a scuba diver, would we would highly recommend you dive with this dive operation. We also want to give special recognition to our boat captain, Naseer, and boat crew, Motibul and MD:Rukraian. They did an excellent job in getting us to the dive sites and picking us up. We enjoyed the diving as it is very different than North Maldives as it is mostly pelagic. You will not be disappointed as you will see every kind of shark, green and hawksbill turtles, spotted eagle rays, cow tailed sting rays, morey eels, treavalies, jacks, Napoleon wrasse, damsel, fusiliers etc. The water is 30 degrees C and has great visibility. We also partook in the excursions that were offered. We did the dolphin excursion and saw spinner dolphins. We did the snorkeling excursion and were surprised by seeing a 5 m tiger shark! The jet ski experience with Shahid was amazing. He took me out to where we saw 500 spinner dolphins. It was an incredible experience. We would recommend any of these excursions as they are all well run and are very enjoyable. The Mercure Resort was an incredible experience. The assistance at the Male airport was not expected but was appreciated. We had a 40 hour flight back home but the memories of our experiences at this resort made the trip worth it. We will definitely come back for the diving, the staff, the excursions, and the ambience of this resort. Thank you to all of the staff at Mercure Kooddoo and look forward to seeing you again! Diane and Brian