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Location
4.7
Cleanliness
4.9
Service
4.9
Value
4.6
Travelers' Choice
JA Manafaru is a soulful sanctuary and lush private island resort at the most northern tip of the Maldives. Positioned at the pinnacle of the Haa Alifu Atoll, JA Manafaru offers privacy and distance from other islands, sitting idyllically where the Arabian Sea meets the vast Indian Ocean. Steeped in deep multicultural history, the resort emanates an intoxicating blend of Eastern spirituality and Arabic hospitality, offering explorative and authentic tropical island experiences that celebrate Maldivian history. Our multi-award-winning resort and chic enclave features 84 spacious and serene Beach villas, Water Villas and Residences, each with their own private pool and in some cases two. The accommodation options range from 135 sqm to 2000 sqm, providing complete serenity, with even entry level options showcasing a larger area than most deluxe categories in the Maldives. The breathtakingly picturesque accommodations provide a unique experience and create unforgettable memories. With exceptional, personalised service complimenting the natural appeal of the island, JA Manafaru is synonymous with modern wellness – a seamless and serene tropical getaway, where guests experience the ultimate true luxury –rejuvenation of body, soul and mind.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Beach
Badminton
Children's playground
Children's television networks
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Infinity pool
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Private pool
Plunge pool
Shallow end in pool
Yoga classes
Yoga room
Fitness / spa locker rooms
Sauna
Bar / lounge
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Complimentary welcome drink
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Wine / champagne
Poolside bar
Bicycles available
Boating
Canoeing
Diving
Game room
Snorkeling
Tennis court
Water sport equipment rentals
Windsurfing
Billiards
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Patio
Table tennis
Board games / puzzles
Video game console
Indoor play area for children
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids pool
Kids' outdoor play equipment
Highchairs available
Strollers
Airport transportation
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Full body massage
Head massage
Manicure
Massage
Massage chair
Neck massage
Open-air bath
Pedicure
Steam room
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Chapel / shrine
Concierge
Executive lounge access
Gift shop
Mosquito net
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
Butler service
First aid kit
Infirmary
Umbrella
24-hour front desk
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Ironing service
Shoeshine
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Private beach
Coffee / tea maker
Cable / satellite TV
Extra long beds
Bidet
Desk
Dining area
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
Seating area
Separate dining area
Sofa
Telephone
Wardrobe / closet
Bottled water
Laptop safe
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Minibar
Electric kettle
Flatscreen TV
Radio
iPod docking station
Sofa bed
Walk-in shower
Whirlpool bathtub
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Ocean view
Pool view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
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Luxury
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English, Russian, Spanish, Arabic and 8 more
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SeeAllTheWorld. Eventually wrote a review Mar 17
London, United Kingdom19 contributions21 helpful votes
+1
Very little is left to be said about this wonderful resort, but here is our perception. Please note I make no apology for the length of this review. It is earned by JA Manafaru!! Overall venue A truly very pretty island, bigger than some but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. The accommodation is discretely located so as not to be imposing and facilities are undeniably to a high standard. Food Most important. It must be recognised that Chef Moosa is an asset to this resort. The menus and quality of the fayre are testament to his craft. There are four restaurants which provide a diverse array of cuisines. Booking is required, mainly for Ocean Grill. (Your host will assist here). Kakuni is the only location for breakfast. It’s is open, airy and the food is very good. Part buffet, part menu, the choice for that meal to start the day accommodates all dietary needs. Try the Maldivian breakfast, it is truly wonderful. Lunch and dinner are a la carte and the choices are both broad and always flavoursome. The sushi is fantastic (they do need to work out whether it is served as a starter or main and set the portion size accordingly). At any chance, try the Maldivian dishes. They are all truly amazing. Andiamo sits next to the pool and is primarily an Italian restaurant. It is busiest at lunch time but do make your way there for dinner when it tends to be quiet. The pool under the lighting at night makes for a lovely romantic setting. White Orchid offers the picturesque setting on the edge of the island enjoying sunset views over the Indian Ocean. The Asian cuisine menu is primarily made up of smaller but very flavoursome dishes. The food is always of a really high standard. At 3pm daily, go feast on a quintessentially British feeling ‘Afternoon Tea’. Bottomless Prosecco and a three tier meal of scones (served with clotted cream!), egg sandwiches (with the crusts cut off!!) and a selection of fruits and macarons. Truly, a decadent way to spend the afternoon. Ocean Grill is the much sought after dinner venue. Sitting on the beach, the breeze helps cool as you tuck into all the riches of the ocean. We were particularly taken with the luxurious lobster bisque. The daily fish choice is amazing and given, the location, you can guarantee freshness. Service To a man, the service is impeccable. Housekeeping, gardening, hosts, bar staff, table service, you name it. This lot really keep you fuelled and satisfied. No task and no ask is too much. If it can be accommodated, they’ll deliver it. Just be ready to wish each one a good morning, good afternoon, good evening or any other salutation you see fit to apply. They deserve your appreciation and you’ll soon learn why. Accommodation It doesn’t matter which type of accommodation you go for, you get a pool, you’re on the beach, over the sea and, most importantly, absolutely always in paradise. The prevailing wind changes with the weather so a breeze one day becomes still air the next. Big shower, spare shower, lovely views,privacy, big bed, fresh linen and towels regularly. It all adds up to being better than some swanky high end hotels. We were in a beach villa close to Andiamo. Handy for lunch and the sea breeze helped keep us cool whist sunbathing. Activities Watersports are of course the top, middle and bottom of the list. We took an excursion to Snorkel at an uninhabited island nearby. Weather was a little inclement but it didn’t stop us enjoying it. There is a host of other toys to play with if you so desire. From kayaks to jet skis, from deep sea big fish angling to scuba diving. It’s all here and the centre is tooled up to deliver what you need. We did some Scuba diving and the dive instructor, Tibo, was patient, supportive and calming with novice divers. It made the experience all that more rewarding. Snorkelling on the house reef is a must of course but it is a little lacking in colour and needs investment to make it more appealing. This we understood is planned so in the future it will be better. Nurse sharks, squid, turtles, moray eels and a whole kaleidoscope of brightly coloured fish await you. Keep and eye on the tide if it’s breezy. Do go to the Spa. The treatments we had were amazing and we were gifted a chance to take in a steam room in total privacy. We enjoyed a wonderful 90 minute session early in our stay and it set the scene for the remainder of our stay in blissful serenity. Things of note: (at time of writing) Not all food is included in the All Inclusive package. If you want Lobster or Crab or a T-bone steak, it’s extra. Not all alcoholic drinks were included in the All Inclusive package. It’s not a big deal but can be quite costly if you have a preferred brand of spirit. The wine selection was rather limited. We would have liked (and would have paid for) a broader selection of international wines with dinner. The champagne is, understandably, chargeable, but the prices being charged need properly reviewing. It’s just too cost prohibitive to make it tempting. (I will not be adding their prices here) There are chickens. Mosquito’s are about but not to excess. Do spray with deet or the provided product to ward off bites at night. A few mentions: Ghanee, our host, was always helpful when we needed him and organised dinner reservations, excursions and made us feel very welcome. Nizam. Our neighbour and provider of continual drinks and happiness in Andiamo. And finally ‘TOMATO’. (no idea what his name is but they all know him as this) This man has worked on the island for over 17 years and tends to the kitchen garden. He truly is a magical man and visiting his world behind the scenes was amazing. He gave us freshly harvested coconut milk and pulp, showed us his mango and fruit collection and wowed us with his orchid nursery. What a gent and a hidden superstar! Well done JA Manafaru. This resort is brilliant!!!!!!…
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Happy Guest, Thank you for the kind review and so very pleased "Magical Manafaru" truly ticked all your vacation requirements.... the team have worked hard over the last few years to adjust to our more authentic Maldives experience and truly feel at home as for all f us it is our home! On my way to work this morning, It was the team (our garden team sweeping up the roads and beaches before the guests get up) that told me about your kind review... they read them daily (or have them translated) to see if the guests like what they do to look after them and talk with others if names are mentioned.... as you have found for yourself, they are very proud of the island and each other and our heart of house team fully support our face of house team to deliver caring and authentic experiences for our guests. Delighted the cuisine ticked all the requirements and thank you for the suggestions about the beverage product... it is a work in progress given the incredibly high duties and taxes on liquor and that we compensate the pricing on our food products to benefit the guests and for either liquor or food are priced well under similar other resorts. Apologies that it seems the Cellar list was not identified as a need for you... we have over 300 labels to choose from from our Cellar selection as well as the ongoing selection on the premier offering as an alternative to the All Inclusive. So very pleased you found Tomato... he really is Island Chief and even I work for him! He is the backbone of the entire island and his team work so hard to keep the island natural and the rest of our departments supported. I am sure he made you promise to come back and see his new Organic Gardens (which I have promised him we are going to complete this year) and I certainly hope you do... and we look forward to welcoming you Home! warmly and with gratitude, Karen on behalf of Soodh, Moosa, Tomato and the entire JAM Family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hotel's Favorite
Wow, what an amazing 8 days in paradise! With the recent award of the "Worlds Leading Honeymoon resort" is a big thing to live up to. Well, they exceeded this billing in every way possible. It was our honeymoon and we were so delighted. It is an idyllic location, as the ONLY resort on the island. this guarantees a beautiful environment and not big at all. Perfect size. And the beaches, sand, water, and house reef were amazing The things that made it amazing, was the personal 1:1 service from our Guest Experience Coordinator Ilona, who was extremely responsive to any request, any time of the day. Also her colleague Rafu, who we first met at the airport, and confidently said, "everything will be perfect, dont worry", and he was so true. Both of them made our visit amazing, (and I don't think either them ever sleep) . And all the staff, nothing was a problem with great service with a smile, and people like Islan at the White Orchid made sure we were happy with special drinks. Fyi, they have a great live music band that were just perfect there. We split out time between a sunset water villa and Beach Villa, and it was a great idea to experience them both. Ilona personally selected our beach villa, just what we wanted. Both had private pools and swimming on the sea was very easy. Great to climb down our ladder and snorkel with many fish right from our water villa. Everything was very clean, great bathroom and products. Everything was so easy and first class and comfortable. And beds were so comfortable to sleep. The other thing that made a difference was the high quality of the food. OMG, everything was expertly cooked and wide selection of local Maldivan food and even a steak that would compete with a New York Steak house. My wife and I had a guest experience cooking class with Exec Chef Mosa, that was so much fun, easy and delicious. It is a must do if you like to cook/eat. There are great things to do. We did the "Castaway" island experience, wow, all alone on an island (with Wilson), great spa and massage,, sea kayaked, and every morning we did yoga at 7am with a new and clean gym. You will not be bored. Also, transfers were easy, their guys at the airport met us and helped us every step of the way, with front of the queue privileges. No stress, first class. There are many resorts and choices to choose from the Maldives. I have to say, this would be very very hard to beat. Every detail is perfection (they even have aroma therapy candles in all the walks ways), and the personal service and food makes the difference. Book with confidence, you will enjoy just as much as we did. We will be back!…
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Date of stay: November 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Suggest split time between water villa and beach villa, great way to experience the resort, both...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
5 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded Nov 19, 2022
Dear Happy Guest, Thank you for the kind words and taking time to share your experience. It's a great motivator for the entire island team not just Rafu, Ilona or Imran. Thank you! We have made decisions over the last few years to shake up our view of hospitality and our entire island team, both the front of house as well as the heart of house teams are all involved in the ideas and suggestions on the island.... in fact the best ideas always come from them. We are very lucky to win industry awards, and although it's so very nice and we are very grateful... it's the guest awards that make everyone on island smile more... We are a natural island, where guest interactions are primarily with the floor team looking after you, to ensure it's personal and with the management team, primarily Saanih, Imran, Waleed, Ashraf, Hasan, Muni, Chef Moosa, Fayaz, Majuma, Kamal, Aashik and of course Soodh and Karim all at your disposal. We love that you love our little island and found it to be just what you wanted (and needed)... we hope to welcome you back to paradise and hope to have some more additions to our holistic environment here on the island for your next visit. Wishing you happy memories of paradise... Robinson Crusoe style (and glad you got to meet Wilson)! with gratitude, Karen on behalf of the entire team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Our family of 8 stayed at JA in early March 2023 and it was a great success. We had 4 x overwater villas which were really well equiped and kept immaculately by the house keeping/ turn down staff; a nightly ritual we came to love. We booked 3 x sunrise and 1 x sunset and I would highly recommend the sunrise villas over the sunset; our villa became very hot in the afternoon which resulted in my partner closing the blinds on our exquisite view. Our pool also heated up in the Maldivian sun and became too warm to be enjoyed in the latter part of the day. We really appreciated the attention to detail by our butlers Mangal and Ahmed especially considering we were such a large group. Mangal really went above and beyond for our family and our young adult children enjoyed chatting to him and getting to know more about him, his culture and the Maldives. This was a particular highlight for our family and we thank him immensely. During our stay we arranged a drone photo shoot on JA's castaway island and we are delighted with the results although it was a hot and arduous exercise in the afternoon sun; well worth it we feel. The dolphin sunset cruise was outstanding with our boat surrounded by playful dolphins flipping and spinning to show off and we felt this was a great highlight of our trip. The staff on the boat were great in maximising our experience. We had an all inclusive package however upon arrival we discovered there was not as much which was all inclusive as we expected with quite a few restrictions. This was a little disappointing as we have had all inclusive experiences at other Maldives resort which reflected a true All Inclusive package. This would have been nice to know before arriving as this may have impacted my booking. We loved JA, we loved the sunsets at the White Orchid Lounge, we loved the service, we loved the over water villas, we loved Imran and Mangal and all of the staff and we had a wonderful 8 day Maldivian holiday with great food and perfect weather.…
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Sunrise villas over sunset due to heat in the afternoon
Beautiful snorkelling off the...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded 5 days ago
Dear Happy Family, Thank you very much for the beautiful comments and so very happy you loved the island and the team... particularly Mangal whom I fully agree is a star and such a integral part of our family after so many years. It's always lovely to hear when guests share tips for other guests and I know it really helps potential guests understand what is the right choice for them in terms of Villa Choice and island experiences as well as the Guest Experience Host team who look after guests in a very natural and friendly manner, rather than subservient or formal style. I am however very surprised to hear that you were not aware of the All Inclusive offering prior to your arrival at the resort... we go to great lengths to share this with all of our agencies for them to display as well as it having prominent placement on our Website landing page for review as well as download or for guests who choose to book with us directly, it's always sent as part of the reservation confirmation. However apologies on behalf of any of our third parties if it was not evident what was included. There are not many resorts who offer the same offering, some concentrate on all you can eat buffet or beverage... some include excursions.. we preferred to offer our guests the chance to dine in all of our areas from our a la Carte menus with a good selection of premium beverages and offerings and wise to choose resorts with the offerings that work best for your needs. So very pleased the Dolphins obliged and that it was a memory to last a lifetime... this is exactly what we hope for and continue to create at JAM and we hope to welcome you back in the not too distant future. with gratitude, Karen on behalf of Soodh, Mangal and the entire JAM Family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
We stayed at Ja Manafaru for 2 weeks. We arrived on 28th Jan after a super long journey from Manchester. All the smiles and warm welcomes were wonderful and we were soon taken on a buggy for a quick tour of the island before being escorted to our water villa (sunrise). Our Villa was immaculate, it had everything we needed. The decking area and pool were spotlessly clean and we spent nearly all our mornings enjoying the views from the privacy of our own villa. Thank you to Fyaz for looking after our villa and for the cutest towel animal decorations over our stay. Such a lovely person. All the villas have bikes and they arranged a tricycle for me (haha) as I’m not confident on 2 wheels. This made such a difference to our stay as I could get around the island like everyone else. Thank you for offering this to your guests. The food, not sure there are any words to describe how amazing it actually is. If in doubt, ask. The chefs are so accommodating and can make dishes slightly different to suit tastes and allergens. All the restaurants are amazing. Our favourite was Kakuni, the service, menu and general vibes were amazing. Ocean grill came a close second. The beach setting is gorgeous. The adult preferred pool is so peaceful and it was really quiet every time we visited. Sheehan is such a gentleman and entertained us with magic tricks. He’s so polite, attentive and keeps your drinks topped up (which my partner absolutely loved). Thank you Sheehan - we never did find out how you did the magic trick with the card under the glass on the table..the tables changed by the end of our stay to just wood so it will remain a mystery 😊 The spa is dreamy, quite pricey (but aren’t they all) and the product smells and soft music was amazing. It’s tucked away in the centre of the island within a beautiful setting. I would have visited again if it was more reasonably priced. If you are looking for beautiful weather, perfect service, amazing food in a dreamy setting - you can’t go wrong with Ja Manafaru. Special thanks to Farrukh, Shaad, Ishmail, Aiman and Vipan. You are all a credit to the JA Manafaru family and we miss you all so much. Thank you for making our 2 weeks on your island so special. We hope to visit again in the future. From Villa 529 (Jonathan & Danielle - little miss nut allergy)…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Happy Guests, we are so very pleased you enjoyed your time with us in paradise and thank you for taking the time to share your experience. It's wonderful to hear that guests enjoy their vacation and feel a connection to the property and team as well as our very simple philosophy and approach. We try to think about all the things that we would like to experience if we were guests and also what would be important and are always adding to this list to the best of our ability... As I always say the greatest treasure we have on the island is the team... they are kind, considerate and like to have fun and are very glad you enjoyed your interactions.... believe me they will be looking forward to your return. Thank you for choosing us above all others and we look forward to welcoming you back in the fuutre. warmly, Karen on behalf of Soodh and the JA Manafaru Family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We've never been to The Maldives before and after finding this hotel we'll probably never look for another it's perfect. We stayed in a sumptuous beach villa, a plunge pool on site, swimming in The Indian Ocean 30 metres away. Absolutely nothing to fault, the staff; the restaurants; the snorkelling & diving; simply paradise supported but a great team to make the stay as comfortable as could be.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: the path round the island is about a mile and can be walked barefoot through the jungle type...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear Happy Guests, delighted you found your bliss at JA Manafaru Private Island... we are so grateful for you taking the time and effort to share your experience with others... it's always helpful. We hope you return to Maldives in the future, it is a magical place filled with everything needed to feed he soul. warmly and with gratitude, Karen on behalf of Soodh and the JAM Family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Excellent resort . This was out third time in the Maldives but this was by far the best resort . Location , food ,and service were all outstanding . The overwater villa was large , beautiful, with air conditioning and private pool , Sunset villa was amazing, All inclusive package very good value with access to all restaurants and good selection of drinks .Can not recommend enough . We will definitely come back
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Sunset overwater villas, all inclusive package .
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear Happy Guest, We are honoured you loved our little paradise and got everything you hoped for from your vacation with us... it's always lovely to hear that our style and simple approach to an authentic experience is what you were lookin for and that we were a good fit. Thank you for sharing your experience and as we always say it's so helpful for future guests to read if we are the right Maldives choice for them. We are delighted you wish to return and we are so grateful for this and look forward to welcoming you back to Paradise. warmly, Karen on behalf of Soodh and the entire JAM Family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
The resort is just perfect for a relaxing getaway. We were here for 6 nights and couldn’t fault anything. Staff were amazing nothing was too hard for them. They even organised a floating breakfast in our villa pool for our anniversary which was lovely.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: They basically hold your hand when you arrive in Male until to reach the resort.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded 3 weeks ago
Dear Happy Guest, We are very pleased that you found the island perfect for relaxation... thank you for sharing your experience with others... it's always helpful to understand more about whether we are a good fit or not for your Maldives needs. Thank you for choosing us for your anniversary and very glad the team spoiled you... and we hope to welcome you back for many more. Wishing you smile filled dreams of JA Manafaru long into the future. warmly, Karen on behalf of Soodh and the rest of the JAM Family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thank you so much for the amazing adventure we had on this island. It is a beautiful place with a snow-white beach and a very hospitable staff. It offers delicious food and great service at the restaurants. I would like to express special gratitude to Ilona who accompanied and helped us whenever needed. Also I would like to note that waiter Farukh performs duties to the best possible standard. We will definitely be back to visit this paradise. Yelena R.
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Date of stay: February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear Happy Guest, Thank you for your kindness and so very happy your time wit us was exactly as you wished it to be and more. Delighted that Ilona and Farukh looked after you so well and that you wish to come back to us in the future... we try to make JA Manafaru a home away from home for all our guests and more so in the future. until then... thank you kindly for the review and wishing you happy memories of the island. warmly, Karen on behalf of Soodh and the JA Manafaru Family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Background We had 12 nights in the Maldives based on flights we had booked with BA and wanted to experience a more authentic island for our second visit to the region. JA Manafaru (JAM) looked amazing, but we were worried about not being able to return to Malé on the morning of our departure (and so being forced to spend our last night in town). Consequently, we decided to spend 7 nights there and find another resort that would be more easily accessible for our return. We should not have worried as JAM do provide an alternative seaplane service for early morning departures that leaves around 7am. Indeed, since October 2022, it is now a doddle getting to the island; Manta Air now fly to Hoarafushi island, which is less than 10 minutes away by speedboat. The plan is to eventually get landing lights at the airport, which will make departures after 6pm possible. Location On arrival at Malé, we were greeted, bags checked into the domestic flight and had around an hour sitting in a café watching the boats leave for nearby islands. The domestic terminal is a little chaotic, with loads of locals as well as bewildered tourists catching the numerous Maldivian Airways departures. Eventually, the gate showed our flight number, and a dozen or so people joined us for the ~50-minute flight to the most northerly resort in the Maldives. Louder and hotter than a seaplane, you don’t get quite the same thrill taking off or landing, but the service was excellent, with fruit, drinks and cold towels provided. A line of private cars and taxis were ready to take us the short distance to the quay and, lifejackets secured, we skimmed across the bay for Manafaru. Karen, the lovely resort manager, was on the dock and introduced the various welcoming staff, before we were assigned to Haraj who took us on a tour of the 35-hectare island showing us all the points of interest. There are around 80 units on the island, which could cater for 160+ guests, but the island was probably 60%+ full. You are instantly enveloped in both the warmth of the staff, together with the masses of greenery providing gorgeous shaded paths that circumnavigate the island. Manafaru is a beautiful resort – a jewel of a destination. The resort has seen a number of owners over the years, but Karen and her team have overseen a transformation to sympathetically modernise the facilities, but keen to keep the sense of serenity and wellbeing that envelopes you. For example, the Horizon Fitness Pavilion used to be next to a Chinese-themed restaurant and bar. That has been moved, which allows the space to be used for morning yoga and gym users not to be tempted too early for a cool beer while they workout. There are flowers and plants everywhere and all the paths and beaches are swept early in the morning to provide a pristine look to the island. Bikes are provided free of charge for each villa, so if you wanted to cycle to breakfast (or anywhere else just for fun) you can. Nowhere is more than a 10-minute walk. You can circuit the island on the paths in around 20 minutes, but you can also walk the whole way round on the beaches, which provides breath-taking vistas in all directions. In our view, the beaches on the east and north side were spectacular and gave all the colours of blue you would wish for your holiday snaps. The snorkelling is outstanding, especially from the long “Coral Jetty” pier by Kakuni (or Crab) restaurant. More on that later. One of the keys to JA Manafaru’s success is their staff, many of whom are long-time staffers and who live on the local islands. A number of the bar staff come from Sri Lanka, and their warmth adds to the welcome you will find everywhere on the island. There are two scheduled flights a day from Malé on Manta Air, but most days there seemed to be a 7am departure by seaplane. It turned out that on our last day, we were able to stay in our beautiful room until 2:30, when we caught a seaplane (80 minutes) back. We were staying on another island in the South Atoll, 30 minutes from the airport and room-to-room it only took 3 hours. Rooms What makes the island unique is that every villa has a pool. We splashed out and stayed in the Deluxe Beach Villa with Family Private Pool (which was sumptuous), but all of the residences were delightfully private. Our room was very Balinese in style, with a deep pool with black stone walls and floor. Not just one, but TWO waterfall walls made the backdrop to the pool, so there was the constant trickle of water to soothe the senses. There was a day bed to shade under and two large wooden loungers to soak up the sun. Even the outdoor shower had Elemis soap and shower products. We also had a veranda on the beach side with a coffee table, another day bed, huge hammock and two more loungers from which to watch the sun go down. If only we’d known that we could have returned in the morning of our last day to catch our flight at 11:45am, then we would have stayed for 12 nights! The rooms are chic, nicely furnished and with all the comforts you would expect. Tea and Nespresso machine and water is included, as well as all of the mini bar products. On arrival we were also given a bottle of Taittinger champagne and a selection of macaroons. Naeem, our house boy, did an excellent job of keeping our room well-stocked and the wine fridge and minibar full. While all the Maldives is eye-wateringly expensive, this suite was really worth the money. We did want to check out the overwater villas, but unfortunately none seemed available for viewing. Suffice to say that both piers give either sunrise or sunset views. If we were to go back and wanted something a little more economic, then we’d choose a beach villa on the east side, as the beach is so wide; it would be completely private, the swimming is fun and you are closer to the best snorkelling too. Dining The main restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner is Kakuni. The others begin opening at 11am (in line with the All-Inclusive service that runs until 11pm). Hidden in the jungle is Andiamo Bistro and Pool, which sits facing a meandering pool with water cascade features. It is a beautiful environment that serves Mediterranean fare (pizzas, pastas, grills). It is open until 8pm and is wonderfully served by Sathees and his colleagues Nizam, Upul and Imran. All of them made special efforts to make our stay special (and fast-tracked our order on the last day as we were running late). If you want to wriggle your toes in the sand, then Ocean Grill (evenings only) provides the incredible experience of sitting under palm trees and stars, listening to the lapping waves, while splendid local fish or not so local meat is cooked to perfection. Try the Maldivian Baked Fish, which was remarkable. We are deeply grateful to the attention paid by Shaad (who’s been there 17 years?), but also cheeky Nizam and sweet Rose. If you want to just chill and drink, then Infinity Bar, which also catches the sunset, is the place for you. You can sit pool side or down on the beach and Sheehan does a great job keeping the drinks coming and towels cleared from empty loungers. If, by some wonder, you are not stuffed from lunch, you can tuck in to “high tea” at White Orchid lounge. This sits on the arrivals/departures jetty and has the best views of sunset too. The lounge opens at 3pm and stops serving AI drinks at 11pm, but will stay open longer if required. Dharsharna and Raphael keep things ticking over. They also serve Asian style plates in the evening, but it is always busy and food service stops at 8pm. The only recommendation I would make, would be to provide more tables/chairs, but I am sure the capacity to serve food would be overloaded – so treat it like a bar and you won’t be disappointed. All dining, with the exception of breakfast, is a la carte. Breakfast at Kakuni is a treat as you can order from a menu and serve yourself to cereals, juices and continental style food while you wait for your hot order. The quality of food and service is exceptional. It is possible to book online in advance, so we did book two evenings at Ocean Grill to be sure we had something in place. It turned out to be a wise decision as it was deservedly very popular. We went All Inclusive and there was a great selection of cocktails, wines and spirits available. You can pay extra for top shelf drinks and even better wine. The staff are moved around different bars / restaurants depending on how busy things are during peak times, which means all the visitors get an exceptional service experience. Facilities There are plenty of activities that can be enjoyed for free, most notable of which is morning yoga with the excellent yogi Sham, which starts at 7am at Horizon. Lying in “Child’s Pose”, listening to the waves lapping below you was just sensational. I missed one session as I overslept, but what a way to start the day! Best Dives Maldives has an outlet on the island and they can organise free masks and flippers for the duration of your stay. We took the plunge and agreed to try the Discover Scuba Diver course having read another TripAdvisor review of how Tibo managed to get the person over their water fears. I nearly drowned as a teenager, so have sudden panics when I get out of breath in deep water, but Kayla patiently took my wife and I through the basics and I was able to bob around for 45 minutes at a depth of 5m while my wife struggled to find a mask that didn’t leak. It was a real shame as she’s a strong swimmer and it would have been amazing to go further out along the reef edge. Another thing ticked off the bucket list for me though and I will definitely try it again. In terms of snorkelling, there is a huge amount to see in beautifully clear waters at the end of the coral jetty. Some Spanish friends we met, floated almost round the whole island on the current and have some fantastic photos of turtles etc. to prove it. To burn of the ludicrous amounts of calories we ate, I visited the gym most days. It is equipped with good quality and modern equipment and it never seemed to be too busy. Aleem (curiously from the furthest south atoll) was a gentle guide in using the equipment and providing encouragement. In terms of gym location, it is one that is very hard to beat. I even saw an eagle ray jump out of the water while I was on the treadmill. We don’t often use the spa (I begrudge paying so much when you can get a similar experience for $10 on the beach in Thailand), but we did this time. It is a beautiful area hidden in the centre of the island, with meandering paths and water. Shri and yogi Sham provided a beautiful 90 minutes of indulgence. In terms of other activities, there is live music most nights at White Orchid. One not to be missed activity is just watching the stars – there is so little light pollution, the sky at night is breath-taking. Summary For us, the highlights included walking barefoot almost everywhere (although some of the walkways on the piers can get a little hot, despite the urns of water provided to cool your feet down!), the extremely friendly staff, the good choice of included food and drinks and the wonderful vistas you can enjoy on the beaches. We chose the island as we wanted classic Maldivian beaches, aquamarine waters, and good choice of restaurants and something a little quieter and more genuine. JA Manafaru does not disappoint. One of the top 3 destinations we have visited. Standout staff for us included: Hajar - our dedicated member of staff, who checked in regularly and catered for our needs. Naeem- our room boy, who kept a well-stocked minibar and tidy room Shaad – Kakuni and Ocean Grill, who quietly provided excellent service (+ Rose just back from Myanmar) Nizam - Ocean Grill (and Andioamo) - always fun Dharsharna & Raphael - White Orchid - hard working and attentive Sathees, Upul, Imran. & Nizam - Andiamo - next level service and friendly Sheehan – Infinity Pool/Bar - kept the place ship shape and looked after us Aleem- Gym; good guidance and empathy Sham - yoga & massage - what a beautiful way to start the day Shri - massage - firm and nurturing …
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Try a beach villa on the east side for best beach vibes and so tranquil
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear Happy Guests, thank you... I am almost in tears reading about your experience and how well everyone tried to look after you and that you remembered so many of them and their names... I am so very touched, and so proud of them as they all work so hard to look after our guests and it's a joy to know they made a difference to your Maldives experience. I have nothing to add only to say thank you for telling our story in the way it meant something to you and very grateful for you sharing it. We hope to be able to welcome you back again in the future. with gratitude, Karen on behalf of Soodh and the entire island family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
For is it was a stay in Paradise, from the first moment we arrived at the island until the last morning we left Home. Food, Drinks, the Sunset Overwater Villa and especially our Experience Host Rafu enabled us a perfect vacation at our 20 year anniversary. The island is the most northern in the Maledives, but the Ressort planned the transfers very well! If yoi are looking for a relaxed and quiet atmosphere, this is the perfect place!
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Let the Ressort plan your transfer to the island. Travel Agents sometime do not know the exact...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Karen Merrick, General Manager at JA Manafaru
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear happy guest, very happy and grateful you enjoyed for you choosing us for your special anniversary and we are always grateful for guests sharing photos of the island... thank you for this also! We are so happy the transfers worked out for your international flight pattern, we try to help guests choose the best connecting international flight to allow you to maximise your time on the island as much as possible and advise future guests to reach out to us to for assistance also, despite booking via a travel agent as sometimes they may not have loaded the most up to date information sent to them. Congratulations again and so very happy that you enjoyed you experience, we hope to welcome you back to paradie again in the future. warmly, Karen on behalf of Soodh and the entire JAM Family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
$580 - $1,319 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
waldorf astoria maldives hotel haa aliff atoll, beach hotel alifu atoll, the beach hotel
LOCATION
MaldivesHaa Alif AtollManafaru Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
84
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Claim Your ListingJA MANAFARU - Updated 2023 Prices & Resort Reviews (Manafaru Island, Maldives)
Frequently Asked Questions about JA Manafaru
What are some of the property amenities at JA Manafaru?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at JA Manafaru?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at JA Manafaru?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to JA Manafaru?
Conveniently located restaurants include White Orchid Lounge, Andiamo Bistro and Pool, and Ocean Grill.
Are there opportunities to exercise at JA Manafaru?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness center, and a sauna during their stay.
Does JA Manafaru have airport transportation?
Yes, JA Manafaru offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is JA Manafaru located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.02 miles away from the center of Manafaru Island.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at JA Manafaru?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, and Indonesian.
Does JA Manafaru have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.