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Ellaidhoo Maldives offers an idyllic retreat in one of the most renowned diving hotspots in the archipelago. The resort is highly regarded as one of the best couple and family friendly resorts in the country for snorkelling and scuba diving, with 24/7 access to an in-house dive centre that offers daily discovery lessons. Dive into the blue waters hiding shipwrecks and mysteries, explore an exclusive house reef a few steps away from your room, discover glass-clear shallows with coral kingdoms, indulge in sandbank picnics and Balinese spa experiences, or simply watch the ocean collide with the sunset at the bar.
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Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon earns high marks for its immaculate rooms with stunning views, though some guests suggest that soundproofing could be improved. The staff's friendly and professional service frequently receives accolades, enhancing the tranquil experience at this nature-kissed retreat. With its prime beachfront and picturesque setting, the hotel is celebrated for its superb snorkeling and diving opportunities offered by the house reef.
The resort's relaxing vibe is complemented by live entertainment and a commitment to environmental stewardship. While the resort's cleanliness and amenities are praised, opinions on value vary due to additional costs for certain activities.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Welcoming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
World-class
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A dream week in this island paradise. Last year I went to another island but this one is really an island for snorkling, you will have plenty of eyes and diversity every day, the whole thing is to be patient. The reef is incredibly conserved which allows swimming while observing corals still intact which is rare today. Regarding the welcome, what a pleasure to get up every day with a smiling staff and at your disposal for the smallest detail. Special mention to our super Gasim who made our stay even more charming. Joyful reception was also there to help us in all our steps and at the bar the smiling jessicca was there to make us the evenings at the bar fairy. I don't understand why people leave negative comments because everyone is taking care of themselves and bending over backwards for you, the food is super good and varied every day with theme nights. The rooms are cleaned every day provided you put the small signage on the door in the morning. To conclude, do not rely on comments, make your own opinion and go for it, you will not regret it. If you are smiling with the staff and respectful, they will make you 10 times more, it is called education. Thanks for everything.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Ne pas se fier aux commentaires de personnes, faites votre propre opinion
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Very polite and service minded personal . We were surprised by upgrading to Water bungalows. It was fantastic . Everything was clean and food was great. Good driving and snorkling possibilities. We had a great week at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ellaidhoo Team, Guest Services / Front Office at Ellaidhoo Maldives By Cinnamon
Responded 27 Sept 2024
Dear Guest, Warm Greetings from Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon! Thank you for your fantastic review of your stay at our resort. You have beautifully captured the true spirit of our resort and the essence of Maldives with your fabulous review. We are glad to know that you have enjoyed the overall facilities & hospitality including the cleanliness of the room during your stay and your wonderful experience on our beautiful island. We are indeed very grateful for your kind comments and will certainly share your compliments with the team. As always, it has been a great pleasure having you and we are looking forward to seeing you again soon! Thank You, The Management Team.
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We spent two weeks on this island resort and had a lot of positive experiences. When we arrived on the island, we were met by a beautiful girl, Zairina, who explained all the details of her stay on the island, we were offered a welcome drink, handed out named hiking flasks for water, provided with a Wi-Fi password and escorted to the room. The flasks are handed out because the island supports eco-policy, tries to minimize the use of plastic. There are no more drinks in plastic bottles. The flask can be filled in the room where drinking water is brought in glass bottles and in all bars and restaurants. Our room is a Bungalow with its own beach, we immediately loved it: a spacious, large double bed, with very comfortable pillows; a roomy wardrobe where there were many wooden hangers, safety vests and raincoats. The room has a safe, air conditioning, TV, blackout curtains, minibar, kettle. The room is incredibly clean: Adam, a very friendly and attentive young man who could always be approached if things ran out, kept our room clean. They clean the room twice a day! The room offers a magical view of the ocean; there is a private terrace with 2 armchairs and a coffee table. On the beach - two sunbeds and a wooden umbrella.
About the bathroom, there's a lot to work on. We didn't really like the idea of an open room bathroom. It's humid and hot, all the things that only here can be hung to dry, absorb moisture, get wet in the rain, and generally dry badly and then have a bad smell.
We really enjoyed the local all inclusive: three meals and drinks a day at Madi restaurant, where all the staff work flawlessly, but best of all the vibrant Susil. You can also enjoy free lunch and dinner at Malamathi Restaurant. All bars on the island offer free drinks for all inclusive drinks. And Iruohsenee Bar offers you free snacks three times a day. Also, all soda drinks in the minibar except Red Bull are free. Separately about Iruohsenee Bar: we spent a lot of time here, met all the staff. All: Madwa, Nazeer, Asela, Naif, Osanda, Jesica are very friendly and friendly. Special mention of the spa: beautiful massage, treatments are expensive, but all prices are transparent. And also very friendly girls. I want to say separately about the reef - on all sides of the island the reef is full of life and underwater vegetation. A great abundance of tropical fish, you will also encounter sharks, turtles, rays, morays. A little surprised by the expensive local diving center (all their prices are net of taxes), which also offers some excursions, such as snorkeling with mantas. Don't think you'll end up in the water surrounded by mantles. You will be brought to the 1-2 manta habitat, you will swim in the ocean if you are lucky to see the manta and take a photo. Add taxes to the stated excursion price. Actually, the island is magical, we're very pleased we spent a vacation here.
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My sister, our partners and I spent an unforgettable time on the beautiful island of Ellaidhoo in the Maldives from January 12 to 25.
Arrival & welcome
The 90-minute transfer by speedboat went smoothly. Already on arrival we were warmly welcomed – directly at the jetty and accompanied to the reception. There, too, we were kindly checked in and surprised with personalized aluminum drinking bottles, a sign of the island's great commitment to sustainability. Plastic bottles, plastic bags or other disposable packaging are deliberately avoided – an exemplary concept!
Accommodation & services
We had beach villas that were tastefully decorated and equipped with personalized outdoor loungers. A special highlight was the flexibility of the hotel: After finding that our original area was quite windy, the wonderful Mrs. Khushi from the reception a change of rooms to the windier part of the island. Thank you again for this goodwill!
Culinary delights – a treat at the highest level
The food in the main restaurant was varied and varied, with daily changing theme buffets. We would particularly like to emphasize the excellent service of Mr. Sobah and Mr. Alif – always attentive, friendly and accommodating.
An absolute must: the individually prepared salad at the salad bar! Mr. Arjuna prepared it with so much dedication and perfection that watching it alone was a joy. The chefs also delighted us – Mr. Vipula in the main restaurant as well as Mr. Singh in the second restaurant spoiled us with culinary highlights.
Bar & evening atmosphere
After dinner we were regularly drawn to the bar where we were always warmly looked after. Big praise to Mr. Nazeer, Mr. Saddam, Asela and Mrs. Jesica who made our stay even more enjoyable with their hospitality.
Conclusion
Ellaidhoo is a dream island that lives sustainability and convinces with an outstanding team. Every employee is passionate about making guests feel comfortable. If you like diving, this is the place for you – the house reef is spectacular and offers a fantastic underwater world.
We would definitely come back!
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My daughter and I stayed here beginning of Nov for a week, we stayed in a superior room facing the sea front. We arrived on the seaplane which took about 20mins then a bait to the island. On the way back we took the speed boat which landed in Male in just over an hours time.
The room. The room was a superior one, ground floor facing the sea front. Room was cleaned daily by our lovely room attendant, we tipped him every day. The bed was massive and we had an extra bed put in our room, bedding was made up most days and changed at least 2x during week. The toilet area was outside which was a first for us but was great as you felt you were still in nature. Usual bathroom toiletries were supplied. No bath, just a shower but that’s all you needed. Access to room was a swipe card. Location to get to the sea was literally around 20 steps from our room with loungers outside room and on beach in front of room. Rating for room 10/10
Bars We only used the nearest bar located near to our room as we’re not big drinkers so didn’t go there much, a few times we had coffee there, staff very friendly and great view out to sea.
Beach There’s one area we went to daily and spent hours in the sea, this was by the jetty, the sand is so soft and the water so clear, there’s a barrier to keep you safe and the water level inside this lagoon is quite low. Check out the marine life under the jetty, never seen so many fish there, it’s amazing, especially if you’re not a great swimmer as it’s not deep in that area.
The food and Drink We weren’t that impressed with the hot food if we’re honest, it was only on our last 2 days that we actually liked the food served on that day. You’re mostly served at the counter with hot food, there is a self service part as well, but the salad section was not so we couldn’t even take our own salad leaves. There is a large section of dessert though. Drinks are brought to you, if you tip the servers they will remember your tipple, each day, our third day we learned this as it felt like we were being forgotten, we even had to remind the host at the entrance we were still needing our drinks.
The island It’s beautiful what can I say, it takes around 30 mins to walk around, fantastic views for miles, there are people who sweep the ground clear each day, there’s lots of great opportunities for pictures and lots of sun beds so no need for fighting over them. There’s a souvenir shop near the reception and lots of activitie places along the way. If you’re a diver you’ll love this place.
Overall experience If I’m honest we were ready to leave by day 4, don’t get me wrong, we loved it, it’s the Maldives, our dream holiday, but if it weren’t for the hours we spent in the sea each day, I think we would have been very bored. That’s just our experience, I’m sure others would say different.
Overall rating 7/10
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Date of stay: November 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Tips, you’ll get a better experience if you tip.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Pradeep Ekanayake, Guest Services / Front Office at Ellaidhoo Maldives By Cinnamon
Responded 19 Dec 2024
Dear Anarnunes, Warm Greetings from Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon! Thank you for your fantastic review of your stay at our resort. Your review beautifully captures the true spirit of our resort and the essence of the Maldives. We are glad to know that you have enjoyed the overall facilities & hospitality including the cleanliness of the room during your stay and your wonderful experience on our beautiful island It is a delight to learn that you had a great experience at our cozy island and that you were impressed by the refined experiences we offer at the resort. Our views are breathtaking and yet diverse. Our resort offers guests turquoise-blue lagoons, stunning coral reefs, and panoramic sunsets that are adorable to experience. However, please note that your feedback is greatly appreciated. Feedback like yours can help us identify areas we need to improve and focus on. Rest assured we will look into this matter as our highest priority. Many thanks for the positive feedback on our colleagues' hospitality. Our people go to great lengths to ensure that our guests are given the attention and comfort they deserve. Thank you for praising and recognizing the efforts of our very efficient colleagues. As always, it has been a great pleasure having you, and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Thank You, The Management Team.
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We tried to get to this hotel in the high season - but booking in a short time (1-2 months) did not work - rooms are always occupied! High demand! The hotel pleased - the quality of the rooms, and in any category, really alive and very beautiful reef - we are 4th time in Maldives and there is something to compare. We were given water bottles as a gift when we arrived. Water is always brought to the room in large Bonacqua bottles:) The kitchen was very pleased. Salads are made with you from the products of your choice. So is seafood. Beach towels are changed every night. Cleaning the room is very decent. In August, the season is not high, but the hotel is full. There are people in bars. Very decent diving center!!! Beautiful wifi-free! From all sides of the island is a beautiful sea crossing. We bought a tour - in the ocean to watch the manta. It worked:) we saw them! It was wonderful!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A holiday in the Maldives is a holiday at the best level. In other words, the expectations of a relaxing beach holiday with sun, sand and sea should be met here. And it does. Great in-house reef right 10 meters from the beach. Snorkel to the nose and you can start right away to get to know the sea and its friendly inhabitants (great fish). Every evening many beautiful sharks (1 to 2 meters long) come to their own bay and you can watch them with a cocktail in hand. All this is really great here.
But what's going on with the people, with the staff? A hello, a smile, a friendliness you just don't get from the service staff. It starts at check in, you don't have a welcome feeling. Keep going in the restaurants. The hardworking waiters are really brisk, but the feeling creeps in as if you don't really like doing your job. There is no hello, no please no thank you... If any reaction comes to our welcome it is the question of the room number. And if you order something special, you don’t come “yes ok gladly” or anything, but you answer with the dollar price.
Communication at the dive center is also very monosyllabic. Again, questions are answered with the price list. Unity Nicole has ma a friendly , motivating welcoming word.
The also very diligent craftsmen, gardeners, cleaning people you constantly meet are nicer and friendlier than all those who work in service. They look at you, say hello and have a kind word.
Too bad, work should be done on this but a positive welcome feeling contributes importantly to the well-being.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Good afternoon It was our first time in the Maldives and we immediately got the hotel right!) I would like to highlight the beautiful and authentic setting of the island! incredibly beautiful nature, the whole island is surrounded by greenery, many birds, a huge reef around the island full of exotic things)) Very cool beach villas with a private terrace and access to the sea, every morning began with an incredible view...! In general, emotions are still overflowing! We had no time to be bored! Every day we swam with masks (by the way, be sure to take them with you, as it costs about $10), rented a transparent canoe ($30), and went for a massage at the local spa! We were delighted! (price range is large), be sure to take a walk around the island for $20 per person. and unlimited alcohol)) watching the sunset on the roof of the boat is incredibly beautiful! Very tasty food, although the choice is not so huge, it was enough! Special thanks to the boss! It was always delicious, clean, the waiters and cooks try to spend time with almost every guest and take into account his tastes and wishes! special thanks for our seafood ravioli)) I would also like to mention the bar, which created a special atmosphere for us after dinner! We would like to say hello to the waiter Nazeer!)) thank you for offering us excellent cocktails every evening, always being positive and creating a friendly atmosphere!))) Thanks also to the entire hotel team! We returned very impressed and with warm memories!)) Sergei and Ekaterina
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed 10 days in August beautiful sea especially for those who love to Snorkel, in fact the reef is rich in fish, sharks trigons sea eagles... unique experience the excursion with manta rays. The thing that excited us most is the village. The cleaning is thorough both in the rooms and in the common areas, we point out the attention to the protection of the planet in fact the village is totally plastic free which we particularly appreciated. As for the food we can say that it is always varied and fresh, every day you can eat fish and other dishes even Italian. In general, the staff is extremely welcoming and kind but we thank in particular the Madawa barman always smiling with particular attention to us Italians, one of the Shaahu waiters who always welcomed us at the restaurant with a smile and was always very considerate, not least the cook who prepared eggs in the morning and the chef who prepared us every day an excellent fresh salad (unfortunately I do not remember their names). Too bad only for the price of excursions and diving experiences a bit too high. I hope we will be back soon.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Couldn’t have asked for a better experience, everything was perfect!
The staff is kind and attentive, a different level of hospitality that goes above and beyond.
From the reception, to the chefs, to waiters and bartenders, including the staff members cleaning the rooms. Everyone is polite, and despite the hot weather carries their duties brilliantly.
The boat trip was well organised from TUI, we had to wait around 20 min from the airport.
One thing to be kept in mind, if you’re planning to upgrade to the floating bungalows: they’re not built in with access to the sea at all. There’s no ladder, or way to get to the ocean without having to exit the villa and reach the nearest beach. The sun beds are also under a big roof, so not much chance to tan on those at all. Overall, a gorgeous setup but nothing else to it.
The rooms with sea view are better, even tho the sun beds are also covered by trees and vegetation so you can’t really sunbathe on them. The sea view can also be limited, depending on where the room is.
Food was delicious, with the a la carte restaurant available for lunch and dinner. This doesn’t have many gluten free options, however, there’s plenty at the buffet. The chef even offered to make me gluten free pancakes for breakfast! The snack bar doesn’t sadly offer any gluten free food, something I’d recommend improving.
The all inclusive cocktail list is extensive, and generous with alcohol measurements
We did the turtle snorkelling activity with a guide. Equipment needs to be rented and paid for on top of the excursion. Overall experience was good, however, for a half day a bit too long spent on the boat, and having to go back to the water after a while wasn’t ideal. We did spot one turtle at the very end!
Pool and beach are both amazing. Sun beds are comfortable and wasn’t too busy so always available.
The gym is spacious and has decent equipment.
Overall, the hotel is well kept and the garden areas are gorgeous and always kept on top of.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Don’t get fooled by how gorgeous the villas are, you can get an equally stunning experience and...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Pradeep Ekanayake, Guest Services / Front Office at Ellaidhoo Maldives By Cinnamon
Responded 6 Feb 2025
Dear Valentinas, Warm Greetings from Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon! We thank you for sharing a review following your recent stay with us and are so happy to read your appreciative comments. We are glad to know that you enjoyed the overall facilities and hospitality, including the cleanliness of the room during your stay and your wonderful experience on our beautiful island. We are very grateful for your kind comments and will certainly share your compliments with the team. Our views are breathtaking and yet diverse. Our resort offers guests turquoise-blue lagoons, stunning coral reefs, and panoramic sunsets that are adorable to experience. Our team is striving hard to provide an exceptional culinary experience for all our guests, and we are so blessed to hear that you have enjoyed it, too. Big thank you for describing every aspect of your stay, recognizing our efforts, and sharing lovely feedback about our colleagues. We will make sure to share your appreciative words with them. As always, it has been a great pleasure having you and we are looking forward to seeing you again soon! Thank You, The Management Team.
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We had this dilemma. In the end we took dollars. At the end of the holiday we tipped our room cleaner 40 dollars, waiter 30 dollars and bar 20. Hope that helps.
There are more places to choose from in the Ellaidhoo Island area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$395 - AU$1,042 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
chaaya reef ellaidhoo hotel north ari atoll, chaaya reef ellaidhoo resort
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo
LOCATION
MaldivesAlifu AtollNorth Ari AtollEllaidhoo Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
112
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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