Canareef Resort Maldives

Great Island and at every bar a very nice base keeper/server (Mahesh/ at dhoni bar a very nice guy from Kenya ) nice weather and everyone is nice to you

Everything about this holiday was fabulous . All the staff , from the reception at Male airport and at Gan airport to the welcome when i got to Canareef couldn't have been friendlier . The island is beautiful , stunning scenery and i was drawn to it by the nature reserve . The restaurant staff and chefs at Kilhi restaurant were very helpful and informative and the food options were varied and very tasty .A special mention to LIa and Joyce at Meera bar who never stopped smiling and remembered my drink preference and room number after my first visit there . The villa was very comfortable , perfect temperature and i especially liked the outdoor bathroom . The housekeeping was very good , friendly and unobtrusive . I couldn't think of anywhere i'd rather have spent my first holiday in 27 years , wonderfully relaxing , the weather was superb . A very quiet location to unwind . I thought it was exceptional value for money considering it was an 18,000 km round trip from home and i would thoroughly recommend Canareef to anyone thinking of going to the Maldives . I have already booked to return in November 2026 and i cannnot wait . Thankyou to every member of staff that i encountered for making a truly memorable holiday .

Canareef is an exceptionally spacious island by Maldivian standards, which offers both unique advantages and minor drawbacks. We truly enjoyed the expansive layout, which is perfect for long strolls, while the reliable buggy service ensures you can get around effortlessly at any time. However, the island's scale means it can accommodate larger groups, which occasionally impacts the typical Maldivian tranquility. Fortunately, our Premium Whirlpool Villa was located far to the south, providing us with a peaceful sanctuary well away from the busier areas. This location also allowed us to enjoy the more intimate atmosphere of the Keema Restaurant. The restaurant staff deserves a special mention; we were greeted with such genuine warmth at every meal. The entire service team was incredibly attentive and efficient, creating a welcoming atmosphere that made dining a true pleasure. Their dedication and friendly smiles really stood out to us. We were somewhat disappointed with the swimming and snorkeling situation. Access to the water is limited to a few specific spots, and the only area suitable for snorkeling directly from the beach is at the very southern tip. Guests staying in the north must commute about 3 km with all their gear to reach this spot. Unfortunately, the rental bicycles were in poor condition and sized more for children, so we only used them when absolutely necessary. On a positive note, we highly recommend the resort's medical services. Due to a persistent cold, we consulted the island doctor and received excellent care and medication for a very reasonable fee. The absolute highlight of our stay, however, was the exceptional staff. We would like to express our deepest gratitude and highest praise for the incomparable Mahesh from Nepal! He is an absolute superstar at the Dhoaraa-Bar. With his infectious warmth, incredible professionalism, and an almost psychic ability to anticipate our every wish, he made our evenings truly magical. He doesn't just serve drinks; he creates an atmosphere of pure joy. Together with his wonderful colleagues, he treated us with such genuine heart. We felt truly pampered. We also want to highlight our room boy, Arafat from Bangladesh, whose creative bed decorations were a daily delight. While we had a lovely stay and felt very welcome, we will likely opt for a smaller, more intimate island for our next visit.