Hotel Review: Niyama Private Islands, Maldives

[@MaiNasheWashe]

We were struggling to decide where to go for our 18th wedding anniversary. This has sealed the deal. Thank you🤗

[@VoyagerGuru]

Oh that's so exciting! Congrats on your anniversary! If you have any additional questions about Niyama or the Maldives in general, please don't hesitate to reach out to over email at [e-mail] or DM us on instagram 😊

[@DelightfulTravellers]

Oh the Maldives. We so want to go. Great video you guys! - Trevor

[@VoyagerGuru]

Thank you so much!! It's worth the trek- truly beautiful place :)

[@alandannaclark2050]

Thank you for your videos, which are incredibly informative and fun to watch. We’re thinking about heading to the Maldives for a family holiday next year with a tween and teen. We want somewhere with activities for the kids, good food and since we’re travelling from NZ on the NZ dollar, a full board option would be great. Would you recommend Niyama over the Fairmont and is there anywhere else you’d recommend? Anantara Dhigu looks good too. There’s A LOT of options to choose from!

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hi there! thanks so much for reaching out! It's definitely an overwhelming place to choose from! There are so many fabulous hotels in the Maldives, you really can't go wrong. However, I would personally say Niyama over Fairmont as I have heard not so fabulous things about Fairmont's service from a few travelers. Niyama also has the advantage of the underwater restaurant, which really is a unique experience. Dhigu is also a great choice, it's part of a chain of islands and you would also get access to Veli which would be nice for a parents getaway without the kids for the day ;). Some immediate things that come to mind as comparisons are: JA Manafaru (a bit smaller and more quiet, but great for families- could be a little quiet for teens but usually comparable price point), OZEN Life maadhoo (all inclusive property but amazing, fun experience for kids and families), OBLU select lobigili, Pullman is a fabulous deal and is offering a good price through Travelzoo right now if you're looking for something pre summer 2024 (save about 1000 per room compared to direct booking). I'm happy to help you look into other options or plan the trip if you're looking for some assistance- we do have some great partnerships with hotels that provide great perks for free to travelers - if you email me your dates and budget I'm happy to send some recommendations, whether or not you decide to book through us :). [e-mail]

[@alandannaclark2050]

Thanks so much for your response. I’ll send you an email.

[@igcetra]

thanks for the video! it was very helpful in deciding our honeymoon destination last year.. it was an unreal experience! subbed and followed on social, keep up the great content

[@VoyagerGuru]

Thank you so much for your comment AND your feedback on the resort!!! I'm so glad you hear you had a wonderful time and we can't wait to find out where you go next!!! xx - maren

[@igcetra]

@@VoyagerGuru likewise!! Where to next??

[@VoyagerGuru]

We are headed to Spain, the DR and then Norway and Mauritius!!! Can’t wait :)

[@hxmzashorts6696]

Were going and i am so frikin exited thanks for telling me what there is

[@VoyagerGuru]

Yay!!! So excited for you! I hope you love it as much as we did :). Don’t miss sundowners at the little surf shack- it’s stunning!

[@hxmzashorts6696]

Ok and btw i will be leaving tomorrow when we arrive what kind of drinks will they give us

[@VoyagerGuru]

@@hxmzashorts6696 wow so soon!! How exciting! At the property it’s usually some kind of juice or fruity cocktail but in the lounge, they do not serve any alcohol due to the laws on Malé. They have beverages like coffee, tea, juice, sodas and snacks in the seaplane lounge. If you’re curious about the laws and culture in the Maldives btw, we have a destination guide on our website with a few articles linked about what to know :) www.voyagerguru.com/destination-guide/maldives/

[@hxmzashorts6696]

Ye lol i am a kid and a muslim i aint allowed

[@VoyagerGuru]

@@hxmzashorts6696 😂😂😂 well perfect then for you!

[@Arjun-bg5vz]

Hey, nice video. Had a question- which rooms are sunset facing? Is the One BR Overwater Pool Pavilion at the tip of the setup? (Far out at the end of the jetty) If so - where is the 2BR version of this overwater Pavillion?

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey Arjun! thanks for your comment! regarding sunset facing rooms, the only rooms with a true sunset face will be one side of the overwater villas. The western edge of the property has a GORGEOUS sunset, but it is rocky and that's where all the surfing takes place. However, one side of the water villas faces that direction. If that is important to you, I would make sure you contact the hotel in advance to ensure you get the view you are looking for. The two-bedroom overwater is going to be at the VERY tip of the overwater villas, but the one bedrooms are located in a similar spot, with very desirable views. If you take a look on google maps, search for Niyama and then do the "satellite" view - you can zoom in pretty far to check it out :). Let us know if you have any questions!

[@Arjun-bg5vz]

@@VoyagerGuru thank you!

[@oona9874]

Just found your reviews and they are so well put together, informative and to the point-thank you for taking the time to do these! I do have a question about the over water villas- are there better ones in terms of location where the water and snorkeling is better as opposed to villas that have lots grass and algae in the water? I would like to avoid these

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hi Oona! Thank you so much for your comment, and happy new year to you! Niyama has one set of overwater villas (other than a few residences on the far side of the island) so most of the villas will have similar water. Niyama did not have a lot of algae at the time of our review, but typically the ones closer to the beach are going to have the best water because it's primarily sand and shallower. I recall the water outside the villas being very nice and swimmable. Looking at their satellite view on google maps right now, it looks like the best villas will be the first half of the oval closest to the beach. I'm not sure if this link will work, but you can view the satellite view here: www.google.com/maps/place/Niyama+Private+Islands+Maldives/@2.6788051,72.9330846,413m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m8!3m7!1s0x3b47b8448ace6231:0x68f313804bdc0d4f!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d2.68087!4d72.9323654 I hope this helps!

[@mogenerosity1750]

her eyes is on him a lot, what a love.

[@VoyagerGuru]

aww that's a nice thing to notice!! thanks for your comment :)

[@alexanderwhedon6654]

Niyama has so much to offer! How many places in the Maldives have a quality kids’ playground and surfing? The beaches and atoll also look top-notch. What can you say about the house reef? I have had a hard time finding any information on snorkeling and scuba diving at Niyama.

[@VoyagerGuru]

Thanks so much for your comment, Alexander! You're totally right- it's such a unique property and it's huge! Even if you're there more than a week, I don't think you would run out of things to do. It's a great kids spot as well because they have access to so many activities and experiences. We did not personally dive there, but I would definitely recommend an activity. I can't recall the prices at the time, but I did manage to find this through their website (not guaranteed the prices are the exact same but it should give you a good idea): www.niyama.com/~/media/minor/niyama/documents/pniy/activities/niyama_float_water_sport_programme.pdf?la=th Let us know if you have any other questions!

[@karllindberg4830]

What airport do you fly into to take the sea plane to the resort? Also how do you schedule a sea plane to the resort? Do you do that at the airport like a taxi?

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hi Karl! Thanks for reaching out! The primary airport in the maldives is Velana International (MLE). That's where you will fly into from internationally. The hotel will book the seaplane directly for you and they will pick you up at arrivals and take you all the way through to your departure to the hotel. The seaplane terminal is very close to the international terminal and they'll take care of you the whole way :). If you need any help with booking or have questions, feel free to reach out anytime on IG (@voyagerguru) or send me an email at [e-mail] :). - maren

[@karllindberg4830]

@@VoyagerGuru Thanks so much also, how much on average is it for dinner at the different restaurants? Also do you know how to rent a surfboard for the week?

[@VoyagerGuru]

@@karllindberg4830 Hey Karl! If you have a glass or wine or beer with dinner, I would estimate about $250 minimum if you're being very careful. usually dinners run 250-350 after service and tax. The concierge can assist you with renting a surfboard- they rent them at the property they'll make sure you are taken care of. keep in mind renting is probably better than bringing your own because seaplanes are small and your board would likely be delayed in getting to the hotel and cost quite a bit more to check it.

[@karllindberg4830]

@@VoyagerGuru wow dinner is not cheap haha where is the cheapest place to eat?

[@VoyagerGuru]

@@karllindberg4830 haha, yea it's definitely not. I usually recommend a meal plan like half or full board because you end up getting a fairly good deal by doing that and there's less pressure while you're on vacation :).

[@Raven911.]

How many days you booked and what it cost

[@VoyagerGuru]

Thanks for your note, CXB! We were there three days and were hosted by the property. Typical prices will vary by season and occupancy, but range from 500-1500 USD.

[@TTRS7899]

In terms of food, beach, sand and kids club for our 3-year old - is Niyama better than Emeralds or not really? Thanks in advance!

[@VoyagerGuru]

hey there! so i'd say Niyama is larger and more family friendly- it's also a bit higher end in terms of food. Emerald is amazing because of the all inclusive element, though so ultimately it depends on what you want out of your vacation. Happy to help or discuss more if you want to send me an email at [e-mail] :) - xx maren

[@gianduri27]

Hello, thank you for this informative video ! Looking into staying at this hotel in November. Do you recommend the half board or full board package ? Thank you !

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey Gianna! Thanks for your comment!! You will love it- great hotel overall. Half board and full board are similar with the only difference being lunch is included in full board. Half board is breakfast, dinner and non alcoholic beverages whereas full board is breakfast lunch and dinner with non alcoholic beverages. Therefore, go with the option that fits your lifestyle. I don’t usually eat lunch so half board works for me. All inclusive is a meal plan that will include alcoholic beverages so be sure to not get those confused. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@kayzar293]

How was your stay? We are thinking of booking

[@riscapermana9889]

Nice video ❤️

[@VoyagerGuru]

Thanks so much!!

[@vinaysharma3389]

Hello buddy...Thanks a lot for your review..Great work indeed..Just let me know in general..out of 3 properties- niyama, lux and heritance- what would you choose considering all things - just in one go...which property to select...

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey vinay! Thanks for your comment :) so Heritance is the only true all inclusive of those three. It’s a good option if you’re looking for all inclusive - we also just stayed at Emerald (review coming soon) that we liked a lot. Lux is good, lower end than niyama. Niyama is our favorite of the three to be honest :)

[@vinaysharma3389]

@@VoyagerGuru Thanks a ton for ur kind reply...Have you visited Nautilus or ozen reserve bolifushi? If yes then could you please share your experiences..Thanks

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey vinay! Of course, our pleasure. Nautilus is on our list- we visited their sister property, Milaidhoo and it’s one of our favorite properties in the world still. Ozen is actually the old jumeirah- they just took it over. They didn’t change much on property so my bet is that it’s still really wonderful. We have not been yet, but this transition is just a couple months old

[@vinaysharma3389]

@@VoyagerGuru Thanks for your constant assistance..yes you are right.. milaidhoo is such a unique and must visit property it seems. I didn't know that it's sister property of Nautilus..So would you advise milaidhoo over niyama? or both are different in terms of different comparison lists..like size of property , different activities and all...

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey Vinay! So Milaidhoo is typically almost double the price of niyama so it really depends on your budget. Also, Milaidhoo is super small and very private feeling. Niyama is much larger with two islands and they have motorized water sports and it’s a very “fun” destination. Milaidhoo will be much quieter and very romantic

[@ranaalgommer6443]

Hi can i ask u about the cost in one night,I know it’s vary but some think aproxmilty

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey Rana! So it totally depends on the season, but it's around $1000+ depending on the night and time of year. One thing I like to do is to check 3 different dates on the calendar to get an idea of the best prices and when to go. If you go to their website, check out a few dates that you're interested in and you can see the rates: www.niyama.com/en -- they often have great deals too that may include certain meals, etc.

[@guptavipul15s]

Hi Guys, just want to check would you still rate it as 4.9 stars considering this was one of your first reviews and now that there is a lot of competition in resorts?

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hi Vipul! Thanks so much for your comment! You're totally right that this property was one of our early ones. It is definitely possible that the management has changed, or things at the hotel have changed so we'd love to go back and reassess since it's been about 5 years. However, one thing that hasn't changed is our rating system and how we break down hotel categories. We recently had a few folks let us know after their trips to Niyama that it was fantastic so our hope is that the review still is as accurate as it can be! I hope this helps :)

[@Libradad]

Maldives are on my "Bucket List". I was not aware of Niyama until today and your review/vlog just put it up towards the top. I am 67 and single. Family friendly I think may work better for me than the 'adult" couples only places as they cater to the younger more party active types. Been sober 19+ years also so it sounds like a cost saving to me! The underwater restaurant calls to me. Retired Psychologist so it sounds like a perfect place to people watch, try a few new things and chill ax. Can you switch from a few day over water to a few days on land?

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey Larry! nice to meet you and thanks for your comment! Niyama may just be the perfect place for you. We did meet a number of solo travelers at Niyama, some of whom had visited multiple times. There are a LOT of activities, water sports and dining options so you won't get bored. You can absolutely book a few nights over water and a few nights on land - we absolutely loved our beach villa with a pool - it was super private and lovely. We loved being able to people watch, bike around and explore the huge islands. Definitely recommend it. If you make the reservations for over water and beach villa, i would recommend calling to see if they have any deals, you can also make two separate bookings online and then call to combine them, but I might actually check the price for your total number of nights first because there are often deals for stays 7+ nights. Hopefully that helps!

[@Libradad]

@@VoyagerGuru Indeed. Very Helpful. Just discovered you guys today also. These have been the most helpful travel vlogs I have seen, particularly on this topic. I have subscribed and saved your videos to re-watch. I figure I am at least a year out. Also looking into Bora Bora and other spots.

[@VoyagerGuru]

@@Libradad Thanks so much, Larry! We really appreciate that feedback!! We'll be covering 6 more hotels in the Maldives in September and then heading to Bora Bora/Moorea/Tahaa to cover 6 more hotels there as well in November :) Let us know if we can help in the meantime :)

[@Libradad]

@@VoyagerGuru One thing that is often missed in most of the reviews I have seen, is medical/first aid. Some of us are older. I have type II Diabetes, under good control, but I do use insulin and I can't really run around bar foot like every body else. What kind of support do these resorts have. I can bring my own insulin pens, that is not the problem. But just curious. Quality of emergency services is something I am just starting to think about.

[@VoyagerGuru]

@@Libradad Thanks so much for this info, Larry - that's a really good point you bring up. I'm going to look into including this type of information on our destination guides as you're certainly not alone in this. In terms of the Maldives, I would DEFINITELY contact each hotel you're considering to inquire on specifics of their ability to support you, but I do know that all the luxury resorts have guest clinics and doctors. The extent of coverage, I am not sure. Great feedback though, I will start making sure I acquire this info at the resorts to include!

[@Lrockclimber43]

Would you recommend staying here or the lux from your other video? I am going in Jan for 6 nights and signed up for lux but now I see this and I'm not sure

[@VoyagerGuru]

Laura Perry thanks for your comment! That’s a good question - prices really fluctuate so if you get a comparable rate for Niyama, we would highly recommend it. We absolutely loved our stay there and the service is impeccable! Just like LUX, Niyama has rates that aren’t all inclusive so it kind of depends what type of experience you’re going for. Overall, you can’t go wrong in the Maldives - both properties are beautiful! Feel free to reach out to me directly on Instagram or via email, happy to help!

[@HalalTourismUSA]

Hi, really enjoyed watching your Maldives Videos ... Planning to visit Next month. Love to possibly talk to you guys ... if you guys r free to talk

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hi Adnan, thank you for your comment! Feel free to shoot us an email with any questions- we're happy to help. [e-mail] :)

[@pdxgal1]

Hello Maren and Max! Hoping to book a dream vacation to Maldives next fall. I really appreciate the nuanced, helpful information you provide, especially when you compare different resorts. I've learned a lot. Just curious, when you are being comped by a resort, are you comfortable giving a truly unbiased review? Looking forward to seeing more or your videos.

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey there! Thanks so much for your comment! We appreciate the great feedback. That's a good question and I can confidently say yes :). Not only is it something we explicitly state to our hotel partners, but we often write it into our contracts. We've built our brand on our expertise and commitment to honesty and hotels understand that. Those that don't, we often don't work with ;). At the end of the day, hotels are rarely perfect and they know that so the honest feedback is generally just good for them to know regardless of the channel its coming from - at least that's how we look at it! Stay in touch and let us know if you have any questions about your dream trip! We're heading back next fall as well.

[@raburton816]

Thanks for the great videos covering the Maldives. I've been looking at resorts to stay there and Niyama has been one of them. Did you guys find it easy to transfer from one resort to the other there or did you have to go back to the airport and reroute to the other?

[@VoyagerGuru]

That’s a great question actually! Transferring between resorts can be a real pain in the butt. When looking at resorts, make sure you find out if they use Trans Maldivian air or Maldivian air. Those are the two airlines in the Maldives. As long as you pick hotels that use the same airline it’s super easy. We had a hard time because our hotels used different airlines.

[@susahkabar5915]

Please review The Nautilus Maldives if you have a chance 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️. I really want to go there

[@VoyagerGuru]

Oh my gosh!! Nautilus is on our bucket list!! Have you seen our video of Milaidhoo? That is their sister property and was absolutely incredible.

[@susahkabar5915]

@@VoyagerGuru I haven't. waww, it also must be so interesting journey back there.

[@VoyagerGuru]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 absolutely!!

[@hxmzawyd6140]

Remember me? That hamza kid?

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey!

[@tramjoughin9280]

Can I ask what room number were you in please?

[@VoyagerGuru]

Hey Tram! we were in #5 - it is a pool beach villa - absolutely perfect. I don't think there's a bad location for the rooms. Thanks for your comment!