Came here after much research to celebrate my son's 13th birthday. This was a first international trip for our little family and, as such, it was monumentally important to make sure everything went smooth. We stayed in Villa 20, a spectacular "Beachfront Suite Pool Villa", which sits in the middle of the resort's own pristine stretch of beach, close to all the amenities. The property is cleverly designed to maximise the view of the ocean, with rolling waves braking down literally at your doorstep. It features a sizable private pool, which provides hours of active fun regardless of weather conditions (the sea was a bit rough for the first two days of our stay). Both the bedroom and the sitting area are very spacious, with 2 indoor and 2 outdoor showers. Amenities are made locally by the resort and are divine - pleasant fragrance and amazing effect on skin & hair. The resort brews its own kombucha, which comes with compliments and is seriously addictive. You can even sign up for a class on how to make one. Guests are encouraged to enjoy barefoot existence following "no news, no shoes" attitude adopted at the resort. There's a cute straw hedgehog and a clay water vessel with a coconut ladle to brush and rinse your feet before entering indoors. My son, who is autistic, really enjoyed all the sensory fun of it. The staff is very friendly. I particularly want to mention our housekeeping duo Gulshan & Jackie and Albin from in-villa dining. But the person who stood out the most to me was our designated GEM (Guest Experience Maker) Rahu. Hailing from the iconic Maldivian Soneva Jani, this tiny but mighty girl brought her impeccable work ethics with her. Always calm & collected, eager to facilitate our requests (of which we had plenty), she worked her magic behind the scenes and ironed out a few situations for us... with grace and a beautiful smile. My husband and I are very picky but we cannot recommend her enough. We also would like to thank chef Derik for treating our family to a proper Omani surf & turf feast fit for royalty. From lobsters to tempura shrimp, to freshly caught local fish, to delicious grilled vegetables grown in the resort's own garden, we simply couldn't ask for more. My son's favourite was a home-made KFC-style fried chicken. I highly recommend you to ask the kitchen to prepare it for you even if it's not on the menu. The chef seems very open to suggestions. Overall, a very serene, pampered and enjoyable stay for the whole family. Be prepared to take loads of photos as the waters and the surrounding mountains are beautiful in every hue and in every weather condition.
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