When the Kuwaiti royal family sent a scout to check out the Maldives on its behalf, he chose One&Only Kanuhura, managed by Kerzner International (which also owns One&Only Le Touessrok on Mauritius and One &Only Royal Mirage in Dubai, anong others). The selection made sense: Kanuhura is the Maldives' glitziest five-star, with multiple restaurants and bars, extensive childcare facilities and an expanse of interconnected pools traversed by Japanese-style bridges. Each day brings a fresh menu of organised activities, including staff-versus-guest beach-volleyball competitions, complimentary stretch and yoga classes, themed buffet dinners, sunset cruises and cigar-and-Cognac 'specials'. The Veyoge Spa is the largest in the Maldives, offering a full range of 40 treatments, including an in-room 'Champagne Bathing Ceremony'. The dress code for the evening is 'smart-casual', which attracts a high count of suntanned female honeymooners in spaghetti-strap cocktail dresses.
As a resort hotel, Kanuhura is smoothly efficient. Even when all the 100 villas (80 on land, 20 over water) are occupied, service remains thorough. Chilled Evian spray is proffered to sunbathers by white-uniformed attendants, and towels are changed with decadent regularity. Golf buggies appear instantly for those too weary to walk. Children aged tow to 11 have the well-equipped KidsOnly Club, open until 10pm, and there is space in all rooms for an extra bed (separate accommodation is compulsory for children aged 14 and older). There's a children's buffet in the main restaurant, and in-room microwaves are supplied in the two beach suites (best for families with babies). For teenagers there is a (soundproofed nightclub), and for the
sportif there is tennis, squash and a large watersports centre. The marine life in these relatively remote northern atolls is rich, with more than 40 local dive sites, including two wrecks.
Apart from distinctly three-star buffet breakfast, the cuisine at the resort's restaurants (International, Mediterranean, seafood and mixed grills) is generally successful. Plus there's Cove's, a restaurant on the undeveloped neighbouring island of Jehunuhura, for barefoot lunching. The beach, while porcelain-white and stretching the one-kilometre length of the island, can be unpredictable. In parts it is sandbagged, blown from the lagoon back to land by hulking machines.
BEST FOR
Honeymooners with 'smart-casual' wardrobes. The island has enough activities to remain interesting for a two-week holiday.
ROOM TO BOOK
Beach villas 127 to 136, on the sunset side of the island, at one remove from the busy arrivals jetty; or beach villas 118 to 126 on the sunrise side, with views to the open ocean. For families, duplex villas 200 to 209, also on the sunset side. If money is no object, water suites 500 and 501 with outdoor Jacuzzis.
BOOKING DETAILS
00 960 230 044; fax: 230 033; email: reservations.dept@oneandonlykanuhura.com; www.oneandonlyresorts.com. Doubles from US$250
The One-Week Package Rehendi Rooms from £1,412 in low season,
£2,035 in high season
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