Sarong or Spice, same same but pricey, Kihaad Maldives

To my past experience, the good parts for not taking the all-inclusive or full board are that you can get to try other restaurants and not necessarily drink those heavy syrup or alcoholic drinks.  The all-inclusive plan usually is at about US$200 per head per day covering 3 meals plus drinks in the resort.  If you don't care about drinking some thrift brand wine, soft drinks, this is good for you.  On full board, it's usually at about US$120-150 per head per day.  However, this resort is crazily charged at over US$250 for All-inclusive.  So I had to forgo it.  Thought that I could find a better variety of food choices.  Turned out even though they have 2 restaurants - one is called Sarong and the other Spice, are serving the same menu with only 5-6 choices for Japanese food and 5-6 choices for Thai food.  Also turned out we were ones of the very few who didn't go for All-inclusive.  So many others are taking the set dinner.  The waiters found that we were giving them a hard time.  Fortunately the food is not that bad, but still very pricey, e.g. a fried rice at US$28 and a beef stir-fried with onion at US$36.  The other  5 star resorts like Niyama and Velassaru charged just US$18-25 for most dishes.  Well, all I can say I am lucky to experience finally what I was told "Maldives is so expensive".  This resort is really making Maldives a shame.

The green, at Kihaad Maldives

As compared to the other resorts in Maldives, I've seen some very big old trees, and feel the strong life force.

The facilities, Kihaad, Maldives

Photo 1/2: the common pool.  3/4: especially for you.  5. the spa.  6. the sand bar

Sunset at Kihaad, Maldives

At night, Kihaad, Maldives

Around the beach, Kihaad, Maldives

Arriving at Kihaad, Maldives

At the check-in, apart from what the HK intern claimed that we fell into a "trap", it wasn't a nice welcome.  No welcome drink, no towel (noticed they had welcome drink and towel to the others during day time) at night time.  Only one buggy serving 6 persons with luggage.  Had to wait for another turn. At check-out, the front desk kept telling "you need to check out at 12 noon, since we don't have room available".  As our flight is at 10pm, we had to pack up all the stuff and leave at the front desk.  However, the front desk repeated another message "you can pay US$200 for a late check out until your departure time".  I didn't reply a word since I need to keep my luggage and didn't want it to be a trouble.  How could a room is not available after 12noon but is available when you pay US$200?  Another reason I don't wanna complain is because I heard the staff (not just one or 2) that they are under pressure to "sell" spa, diving programs…etc.  That means the management trained them to be a slave vampire.