Among life’s bucket list items are unique experiences that you can only do every now and then. My travel list happened to include staying in an overwater villa. The Park Hyatt Park Water Villa was built over top of a thriving house reef packed with coral fish. It was an excellent stay experience and something to experience at least once.

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This post is one chapter in our trip to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the Maldives on United Airlines and Etihad Airways. This trip was booked and credited to Aeroplan and Etihad Preferred Guest. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: Park Hyatt Maldives, Hadahaa, North Huvadhoo, Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Republic of Maldives – Park Water Villa and House Reef

“Staying in a Park Water Villa,with a thriving coral reef sprinkled underneath you, made for one of the most memorable stays of our life”

Halfway through our stay, we transitioned from the Park Villa to the Park Water Villa. Our staff took care of relocating our bags while we were out for the day. When the time came, the bags were found in the Park Water Villa. It was our first time in a Park Water Villa, and it turned out to be a really unique experience. The best part about the Water Villas’ at Park Hyatt were that they were all west facing – meaning that you did not have to pay a further premium for a sunset view (or a sunrise view).

Our assigned Park Water Villa was #41. The villa was situated number 4 out of 14 out on the pontoon. The further out you are on the pontoon the better as the privacy increases a little bit the further out you go. Despite this, each Park Water Villa has completely unobstructed views. They are designed in a way that you don’t see another villa intruding into your view.

The Room: A Park Water Villa:

The Water Villas were similarly equipped to the Park Villas, except that there was direct and private access to the corals below. Initially I was not sure whether the additional tariff was worth it. Being out on the water, you get a lapping sound against the silts, instead of the sound of the waves crashing up against the shore that you’d have in a Park Villa close to the beach. The best part, was looking directly below and seeing the first swimming through the corals. Walking out onto an over water pontoon is also pretty cool.

Inside the Park Water Villa:

The Park Water Villas had a slightly smaller footprint than the Park Villa. While the furniture is the same, there is less overall space on the house on stilts.

The bathroom also contained a wonderful bathtub. It also featured the same double vanity sinks as in our Park Villa.

The hotel was also kind enough to offer another bottle of prosecco welcoming us to our new room.

Enjoying the deck of the Park Water Villa:

We spent the balance of the next two days locked within the confines of our villa by sunning and snorkeling away. There are ample sun decks outside the Park Water Villa and all are sun facing thanks to the western exposure.

Snorkelling the Hadahaa House Reef:

Under the Park Water Villas:

During our stay at the Park Water Villas’, we did hit the water as much as 5 times per day. The reef below the Park Water Villas’ were wonderful and there were lots of fish to be identified. The best part about the Water Villa was the direct access to the corals below, as opposed to swimming 10 minutes to get there from the shore.

Around the Hadahaa House Reef:

The Hadahaa House reef was just spectacular. It was easily the best house reef in the world from any resort that I’ve ever been to; at the time of our stay and at any resort that we’ve stayed at in the future to date.

Sunsets on Hadahaa:

The sunsets here at Hadahaa were spectacular. There is something about island sunsets that are always special. Whether it is the clouds and climate intersecting at this particular location, the sunsets qualified for for the “best ever” category.

The Park Hyatt Maldives in closing:

After 50 countries of travel, this resort was the most ultimate resort experience that I’ve ever had. We’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled around the world including to like places such as Fiji, Mauritius, French Polynesia and the Seychelles. The Park Hyatt Maldives handily beats them all in terms of quality exclusivity and excellence of the house reef. It’s the kind of place where there are only 7 tables being served at breakfast, and the chef comes over at dinner to check on whether you like your meal. The General Manager stopped by to introduce himself to us on several occasions. You simply don’t get this kind of attention at other resorts.

The Park Hyatt Maldives offered a small 56 Villa island where the service was excellent. The house reef was the highlight of the trip.

As you can expect, being such a remote location, the food costs are expensive. The transit time in was lengthy, proving that you have to travel to reap the rewards. It was 5.5 hours door to door from the Sheraton Maldives to the Park Hyatt. Lastly, the cheaper wines seem to get sold out and the re-stocking supply seems to be irregular given the distances from Malé. 

“Easily one of the world’s best private island resorts and worth the journey to get here”

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Related Posts:

If you enjoyed this post, you may want to look at these related posts that explore other aspects of the Park Hyatt Maldives by taking a look into these areas:

• The Park Hyatt Maldives Park Villa (and the world class private island of Hadahaa)
• A visit to Gemenafushi Inhabited Atoll

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