I stayed at a $3,400-a-night private island resort in the Maldives that's beloved by celebs like Naomi Campbell, and it blew me away - take a look inside
Once I arrived at Male International Airport in the Maldives, I was picked up by Kudadoo staff in a private car. From there, I was escorted to the resort's private lounge, where I waited for the seaplane that would take me to paradise.
The private, 15-seat seaplane ride was operated by Kudadoo's sister resort Hurawalhi, a luxury property known for its underwater restaurant and dive center. From Hurawalhi, Kudadoo is a six-minute boat ride.
Kudadoo Maldives is located in the Lhaviyani Atoll, a group of precious islands north of Malé International Airport. The 40-minute seaplane flight had breathtaking aerial views of islands across the vast Indian Ocean.
At Kudadoo's arrival jetty, I was greeted by a cheerful staff. Every guest is assigned a private butler (my butler was the excellent Kaushur, far right). He promptly escorted me to my residence, where check-in takes place.
Kudadoo is so intimate that guests can walk the circumference of the island in about 10 minutes. The private island resort, opened December 2018, is ultra-luxe and exclusive for adults (15 years or older), so it's a favorite for honeymooners.
The only guests during my three-night stay were two couples (one gay, one straight).
At $3,400 a night, Kudadoo's is one of — if not the highest — starting rate for a Maldives resort, though the rate is high because it's "all-inclusive." Everything truly is included in the rate: all gourmet meals, premium alcohol, activities like water sports, and yes, even spa treatments.
All 15 villa residences are overwater, and only one residence is a two-bedroom. The thoughtful design ensures plenty of privacy: You can't see your neighbors while you're in your residence.
When it comes to the villas, "spacious" is an understatement. All residences are a whopping 1,017 square feet, which is nearly four times the size of my New York City apartment and bigger than most standard Maldives villas I've stayed in.
A sliding glass wall separated the indoor area from the outdoor area, so I could always have that perfect breeze no matter where I sat.
My residence had Japanese-inspired, environmentally conscious design features, and the main area included high ceilings, handmade furniture, a 54-inch TV, surround stereo system, a well-stocked bar, snacks, and automatic curtains.
There was also an iPad, pillow menu and Nespresso machine, and the bed was incredibly cozy.
I was greeted by a variety of snacks (my handmade truffles went fast) and a bottle of expensive Taittinger. All food and beverages are unlimited: If I wanted three bottles of Champagne, it was included in the rate.
It's worth noting that while all premium alcohol is included, there is a separate ultra-premium wine and Champagne menu you can pay for.
In line with Kudadoo's Japanese theme was a Zen-filled bath area with stand-alone tub atop white stepping stones and plenty of green plants. Adjacent to it was an outdoor rain shower. The huge towels that felt like blankets were an added bonus.
It was clear Kudadoo gave a lot of thought to every amenity in the residence. The villa came with custom-made, organic bath products, including shampoo, conditioner, after-sun gel, lip balm, sunscreen and more. There were also soft, luxurious wipes for my sunglasses — a thoughtful touch.
My 144-square-foot, overwater infinity pool was among the largest en-suite private pools I've swum in. It came equipped with a floating bean bag I never wanted to leave.
My patio had a swinging bench, four sunbeds, a glass-bottom deck, and an outdoor shower.
With a 24-hour butler, breathtaking views, complete privacy and the luxury of "all-inclusive" room service — what Kudadoo calls "in-residence dining" — I rarely left my villa.
And guests really can be completely secluded if they prefer.
I was equipped with a cell phone that called my butler directly, so I could have anything delivered to my door and never see anyone, which is why high-profile guests, like Naomi Campbell, love it here.
I found myself jumping into the lagoon from my pool more than once, but there is also a ladder for those who want to snorkel. The water was quite choppy during my visit, though it lent to a great workout and I still saw plenty of tropical fish.
Naturally, the island's white-sand beaches with crystal-clear waters beckoned.
Since there are only 15 residences (in high season, that could mean 30 guests total on the island if completely full) and most guests spend all their time in their residence, the private beaches are virtually empty.
There's a point where the shallow end breaks into the reef, a perfect spot for snorkeling where you can see tropical fish and stingrays.
The heart of the resort, "The Retreat," was steps from my residence. It has a bi-level spa, over-water infinity pool, restaurant, bar, gym, recreation area, and both a wine and cheese cellar.
The roof has 984 solar panels that distribute 319 kilowatts per hour, according to the resort manager, who also says Kudadoo is the only self-sufficient resort (in which the primary source of energy is solar) in the Maldives.
I was living for the structure of "The Retreat," which felt straight from "Game of Thrones." Space abounds at the pool, which was never crowded.
The bar was right there, too — and there's never a bill to sign since everything on the island is included in your $3,400-a-night stay.
The overwater restaurant had both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu, which is the same as the one in your residence, featured various international and local cuisine, like Thai, Indian, Maldivian and Italian by a French chef. I highly suggest the Thai food.
This brings me to the cheese cellar. Kudadoo imports gourmet cheeses from all over the world, with a selection of more than 50 cheeses available. I took full advantage of this: Every morning, I ordered a selection of cheese for in-residence breakfast.
The Retreat has stunning architecture and features a second-floor recreation area with vaulted ceiling and sweeping views solely dedicated to a ping-pong table (which converts into a pool table).
I found the Sulha spa featured a handful of treatment rooms with gorgeous views and an outdoor tub. All spa treatments were included in the stay, so I had two daily massages (the Thai massage was incredible). The spa also offers facials, Reiki, body treatments, and more.
Sulha spa featured an indoor salt chamber, the only one in the Maldives. The walls were lined with imported, Himalayan salt. I got a foot scrub inside and felt all the better for it.
At night, the resort transformed various spots throughout the island into romantic experiences, like candle-lit beach or poolside dinners.
I chose to dine at the arrival jetty (pictured in the distance), which was rendered unrecognizable by night. It was lovely to be under the stars listening to the sound of the sea — and the clarity was unreal.
Hammocks swayed under tall coconut trees in the center of the island. I spent time reading and falling asleep one afternoon. Again, I felt that I was the only person on the island since the other guests rarely left their residences.
Like most guests, I ordered breakfast every morning in my residence.
The menu was extensive, with plating that was always colorful, whether filled with fresh fruit, eggs, smoothies, or pancakes.
Thanks to Kudadoo's "Anything. Anywhere. Anytime." concept, there is no limit to how much you can order. There is also no breakfast buffet at Kudadoo, which amps up the luxury factor.
One morning, my butler brought me a "floating breakfast" to go above and beyond the typical in-room dining experience.
For those looking for a bit of adventure, Kudadoo offers a private sandbar called Dream Island and jet skis for guests. The latter of these are at no extra charge, which is atypical for motorized water sports at other resorts.
The white strip of sand in the image above is Dream Island. It's not too far off of the resort, and parties can book time slots on it for total privacy. I had it all to myself.
There's a small shaded cabana on the island and nothing else, which made it exotic and surreal. I arrived via jet ski, though staff can get you there by boat (less than 10 minutes) if you prefer.
After swimming in the crystal-clear water, I strolled the sandbar, which is so white, you have to squint.
While unlimited amenities, excursions, and activities abound at Kudadoo, I was equally happy just chilling out at my residence, whether it was having a floating breakfast or watching the sunset.
And on the topic of sunsets, yes: The sunsets with unobstructed views were as unbelievable as you'd think. The only thing missing was dolphins flipping out of the water — but, at Kudadoo, that could likely be arranged.
Next Story
I spent 2 weeks in India. A highlight was visiting a small mountain town so beautiful it didn't seem real. 
I quit McKinsey after 1.5 years. I was making over $200k but my mental health was shattered.
Some Tesla factory workers realized they were laid off when security scanned their badges and sent them back on shuttles, sources say
Stock markets stage strong rebound after 4 days of slump; Sensex rallies 599 pts
Sustainable Transportation Alternatives
10 Foods you should avoid eating when in stress
8 Lesser-known places to visit near Nainital
World Liver Day 2024: 10 Foods that are necessary for a healthy liver
