Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, A Hyatt Resort

English is the working language here, with an English-speaking hotel team to keep the practical side of your stay straightforward. Alila Kothaifaru Maldives is a resort built around beachfront living, overwater villas and the useful luxury of having the sea in view rather than on a brochure somewhere.

You can choose between a villa over the lagoon, a beach setting or a larger two-bedroom layout for family trips. The atmosphere is polished but not tied to one particular sort of holiday: couples have private pools and sunset-facing options, while families have a kids' club for children aged 4 to 12, babysitting and children's meals.

The resort has 80 rooms and villas. That is large enough to provide proper dining and wellness facilities, but still keeps the setting firmly in the resort-on-an-island category rather than the small-town-hotel one.

You are in Kothaifaru, Maldives, in the Raa Atoll. The resort sits directly on the waterfront, with a private white-sand beach, clear water, sun loungers and parasols. The beach is not an excursion from the accommodation; it is part of the daily route between villa, sea and lunch.

The island setting is secluded, with the ocean doing most of the surrounding scenery. Nearby restaurants are a long way off by ordinary holiday standards: Benjarong is 27 miles away and Raabondi Restaurant 28 miles away. In practical terms, the resort's own restaurants are where your evening meals happen.

Ifuru Airport is 17 miles away, while Dharavandhoo and Madivaru airports are 31 and 36 miles away respectively. From Velana International Airport, access is by seaplane, with the resort also arranging transfers connected to your international flight timings.

The main decision is not really about a room number; it is about whether you want sand under your feet or water beneath the villa. The Lagoon Overwater Pool Villa, Ocean Overwater Pool Villa and Sunset Overwater Pool Villa keep you above the lagoon, with private balconies and views built into the choice. Pick a sunset category if the end of the day matters as much as the start of it.

Beach Pool Villas make more sense when you want direct beach access and room to spread out. For families or two couples travelling together, the Two-Bedroom Beach Villa with Pool gives you two bedrooms and two bathrooms, which is considerably more civilised than negotiating one bathroom with wet hair and a hungry group.

Air conditioning, soundproofing and daily housekeeping cover the basics of recovery. Inside, you have a seating area with a sofa, a desk, a minibar, tea and coffee facilities, a kettle, a television with satellite and cable channels, and free WiFi. Bathrooms include a bath or shower, bathrobes, slippers, towels and complimentary toiletries. Room service runs around the clock, useful when your appetite arrives at an hour that bears no relation to the restaurant schedule.

Five restaurants give you proper choice on an island where walking out for dinner is not really the plan. The Yuzu handles breakfast, lunch and dinner with international dishes in an air-conditioned setting, while Sea Salt puts breakfast and dinner on the beach, with seafood and international cooking in a more open-air setting. Both restaurants keep the dress code casual, which is welcome after a day in swimwear and a rash vest.

Umami focuses on Japanese food and dinner, with fresh seafood and traditional flavours served indoors with air conditioning. The resort also offers a buffet breakfast, with continental, vegetarian, halal, gluten-free and kosher choices, alongside vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free special-diet menus.

There is one named bar: Kothaifaru Bar, a beach bar serving cocktails and other drinks. A snack bar, coffee house, minibar and breakfast in the room give you further ways to deal with the awkward gap between getting hungry and reaching the dining room. Half-board is the stated meal plan, and room service remains available 24 hours a day.

The Main Pool is a large outdoor infinity pool overlooking the ocean, with a swim-up bar for the days when moving towards a drink feels like unnecessary exercise. The direct white-sand beach adds sun loungers, parasols and a beach bar, so you can choose between salt water and fresh water without making a production of it.

Spa Alila offers massages, facials and body wraps, with couples' massages, foot baths and a relaxation area also available. Yoga classes and a fitness centre give you gentler ways to put your body back in order; the gym is there if you genuinely want to use it, rather than merely admire the idea of it.

On the water, you can book kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling, fishing, boat excursions and equipment hire. On land, cooking classes, local island visits, cultural excursions, wildlife observation and sunset cruises give you something to do when the sea is temporarily off duty. Table tennis, billiards, a games room, live music and broadcast sport cover the less ambitious afternoons, while the kids' club, indoor play area, board games and babysitting help families create separate schedules without requiring a diplomatic summit.

Transfers from the airport are arranged by the resort, either by seaplane or through a domestic flight to Ifuru followed by a speedboat journey. The seaplane takes about 45 minutes from Velana International Airport and operates during daylight hours, from 6.30am to 3.30pm, subject to weather and operational conditions. International flight details and the passport names of all guests are needed in advance so the transfer can be organised.

Seaplane luggage allowances are 20 kg of checked luggage and 5 kg of hand luggage, with excess baggage handled separately. If your international flight arrives late in the day, or departs early, the connection may require an overnight stay in Malé. The resort organises transfers around your flight timings, so the arrival and departure plans deserve attention before you book flights.

Check-in starts at 2pm and check-out is by noon. Bring photo identification and the card used for the booking, and tell the resort your expected arrival time. Private or express check-in and check-out, a 24-hour front desk, concierge service, currency exchange and luggage storage keep the administrative side reasonably contained. Free WiFi covers the resort, and laundry, pressing, room service and an on-site infirmary are available. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and cash are accepted.