The Maldives is that tropical paradise we all dream about and hope to visit someday. The images we saw instantly sold us on making the trip, but how do you pick which Maldives resorts to stay at? We spent 6 weeks island hopping around the Maldives and have put together a review of each property to help determine which Maldive resorts best fit the vacation you’re looking for.
Our first taste of the Maldives was at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon where we spent 3 nights in a superior room on an all-inclusive package.
Getting To Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon
Once in Male getting to Ellaidhoo Cinnamon is super easy and straightforward. It’s a quick 25-minute flight via seaplane or 90-minute speedboat.
- 25-minute Seaplane $398 per person round trip*
- 90-minute speedboat $202 per person round trip *
After immigration go to the kiosks, they will have your name and all your transfer details on file. We were told in advance which kiosk to go to, there are over 60 kiosks and they are all numbered. Once at the kiosk the staff will help you check into the seaplane operator and guide you where to go.
If you choose to take the speedboat they’ll help you take your luggage to the boat that leaves right from the Male airport. We landed at the Male airport 8:20 am, immigration was super quick, found our kiosk easily, and we arrived at the resort just after 10 a.m.
*Note ~ prices of transport to Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon do vary based on season & demand
Why We Loved Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon
House Reef
We loved that you could strap on a snorkel and go out for some of the best snorkeling in the world right from the beach. The house reef at Cinnamon Ellaidhoo will amaze you, no need to take a snorkel trip here. However, if you are diver there are some amazing dive sites nearby to go explore.
Infinity Pool
The infinity pool at Ellaidhoo was the best pool of all the Maldives resorts we visited. We enjoyed relaxing in the infinity pool looking out to the huts over the water. The pool is the best spot to catch the sunset.
Related Article: Overwater Bungalow At Dhonveli Maldives Review
Food
Most all-inclusive resorts the food is just okay and rarely any healthy options. That was not the case at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon. Not only do they have a healthy corner, but the made to order salad bar at lunch & dinner was amazing. Every meal we had a huge healthy and light salad made with my favorite ingredients. And of course, we loved the fact there was ice cream at lunch & dinner and even some of our favorite toppings cashews & chocolate.
Room Types
- Over Water Bungalow ~ bungalow over the water, outdoor bathroom & shower
- Beach Bungalow ~ on the beach, outdoor bathroom & bathtub/shower
- Superior Room ~facing Indian ocean, outdoor bathroom & shower
All rooms have the all the amenities you’d accept in a resort: cable TV, AC, wifi in rooms, etc. There was everything we needed and if we needed anything Ellaidhoo Cinnamon made it happen.
There is a total of 112 rooms and the property never felt crowded. We were always able to get lounge chairs at the beach or around the infinity pool.
Prices
Prices at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon vary based on season and meal package chosen. The best deals can be found during low-season, we traveled in June where it rained for a short while every day, but the room rates were at a huge discount. Water bungalow all-inclusive packages during our stay were $275 per night (July 2016).
- Water Bungalow ~ $230-$275 per night per couple
- Beach Bungalow ~ $200-$230 per night per couple
- Superior Room ~ $185-$215 per night per couple
Check Prices: Agoda | Hotels.com
Meal Options
- Half Board ~ Breakfast & Dinner
- Full Board ~ Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- All-inclusive ~ All meals plus& beverages (alcohol included)
You must purchase a meal package as this is a private island and there are no other dining options available. There are also special meals that can be arranged. We had the staff set us up a romantic seafood dinner on the boardwalk on our last night at Ellaidhoo Cinnamon. Special dinners vary in price based on the meals you choose.
Food At Ellaidhoo Cinnamon
There are 2 main dining halls at Ellaidhoo, one is exclusively for the guests staying in the water bungalows. This dining hall is set right next to the infinity pool looking out to ocean and bungalows over the water. The other dining hall is for all other guests. Meals have a set time: breakfast 7:30 a.m.-9:30am, lunch 12:30-2:30, and dinner 7:30-9:30pm. Snacks are available at the pool bar before lunch & dinner.
The meals were amazing and you’ll leave full. Every night they had different stations set up, but my favorite was the fresh garlic butter naan, Mongolian, pasta, and stir-fried noodles. They have a healthy corner which features an amazing salad bar with made to order salads. They also have gluten-free products available.
Optional Excursions From Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon
There is an amazing house reef at Ellaidhoo Maldives just bring your own snorkel gear or rent it from the dive shop. There are organized snorkel trips available, but you can easily just head out whenever you want for some amazing snorkeling right from the shore.
If you are a certified diver the dive shop requires all divers have a refresher with them at their house reef before they take you out to a dive site. Make sure you sign up for both dives and visit the dive shop the first day on the island. If you aren’t a certified diver Ellaidhoo is a great place for a discovery dive to see if getting dive certified is something you’d like to do. If your vacation allows you can also get open water certified.
There are several excursions that get you off the island for part of the day like island hopping, sunset fishing, or even have a sandbank picnic.
On-Site Amenities
There are enough activities to keep you busy at Ellaidhoo for a two-week holiday or a romantic Maldives honeymoon. There are 3 bars, dive shop, fitness center, spa, pool table, tennis court, kid’s corner, and of course the gorgeous infinity pool. We visited the pool, bars, and the dive shop on a daily basis. Make sure to check and see if there are any activities planned for the evening, I highly suggest going to the beach party it’s a blast.
Don’t Leave Home Without
Everything you need will be made available, but definitely, bring a ton of sunscreen – the sun is intense. There is a gift shop on the island but the prices reflect the location. The outlets in the room were a mix of Indian 3 round prong and British 3 square prong, bring an adapter just in case the front desk runs out.
Don’t forget to pin me for later!
Eugenie Leung
Friday 15th of February 2019
Thanks for such a detailed review! I was wondering about the meal options... my fiance gets hungry after an hour or so post-meals and needs to eat again. Would we be able to visit twice during their lunch hours for example? Or is the meal package literally just three meals a day and that's it?
Adam
Sunday 17th of February 2019
Most meals are buffet style - but if you want to leave and come back you'd have to check with the resort.
Jessie Williams
Tuesday 11th of December 2018
I see they include an adult transfer fee at check in. Is that the same as the sea boat or seaplane fee?
Adam
Monday 4th of February 2019
that would likely be for a boat transfer, not a seaplane. https://www.gettingstamped.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?comment_status=moderated#comments-form
Janet
Tuesday 22nd of May 2018
Hello! Great post. Is there direct access to the water from the overwater bungalow? It is hard to see in pictures since I don't think I see stairs anywhere to get in/out of the water? Thanks!
Hannah Lukaszewicz
Sunday 27th of May 2018
Janet,
Yes you just jump right off your balcony and you are in the water. There are stairs attached to each bungalow so you can get in and out whenever you want.