Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives: A Perfect Blend of Stunning Underwater World and Lagoon!

🤩 Heavenly Beauty! A Perfect Harmony of Lagoon and Reef
The lagoon here is a masterpiece with its emerald-clear waters and soft sands, making every photo a work of art. Just walking along the beach was healing in itself. However, the true charm of this resort lies in its underwater environment. The house reef surrounding the resort is incredibly well-preserved, allowing for an unforgettable snorkeling experience with vibrant schools of fish and even sharks.

🐠 Snorkeling Tips: Safe and Easy Access to the House Reef
For snorkeling enthusiasts, here are some tips! Accessing the resort's pride, the house reef, is incredibly easy.
• Water Villa Guests (excluding Family Water Villas): You can simply step down from your villa and follow the villa line to experience an amazing underwater world. It felt like having a private aquarium!
• Beach Villa Guests: The safest and most convenient entry point is near the diving center. Go down the stairs behind the diving center and head to the right. ⚠️ Note: Do not go left, as it leads to a boat channel. Safety first!

🦜 Fun Encounters with Parrot Mascots (Caution Needed!)
Around the resort's water sports center, five adorable parrots welcome guests. Their vibrant colors and playful nature make them a must for photos! However, one of them tends to climb onto people or act a bit feisty, so be cautious when getting too close. Even from a distance, they are cute and lovable! 🥰

🍽️ Culinary Delights: Delicious Italian & Thai Restaurants
The dining experience at this resort can be hit or miss. To be honest, **the breakfast restaurant (REEF)** was a bit disappointing, and we only used it for one day.
But! **The Italian restaurant (Mare Azzurro)** and **the Thai restaurant (Suan Bua)** were absolutely delightful. The food was excellent, and the ambiance was perfect, so we alternated between the two every day.
Reservation Tip: Since the two restaurants have alternating off days, it's best to make reservations through the resort's app as soon as you arrive. Notifications and confirmations are sent via the app, so make sure to enable app alerts!

🧼 Room Cleaning and Maintenance: A Slight Letdown
The staff were all incredibly friendly and kind, making our stay enjoyable. However, the one downside was the room cleaning. While it was done, it felt a bit lacking in thoroughness. If this aspect improves, the resort would be truly perfect.

📌 Accommodation Details and Nearby Highlights
• Resort Name: Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives
• Address: Machchafushi, South Ari Atoll, Maldives
• Nearby Activities:
• Fantastic house reef snorkeling and diving
• Water sports center (meet the adorable parrots!)
• Beach relaxation and water activities in the resort lagoon
• Fine dining at Mare Azzurro (Italian) and Suan Bua (Thai) restaurants

One-Line Summary
With its house reef, lagoon, and friendly staff, this is the ultimate resort to enjoy the romance of the Maldives!