When we returned from our trip in December of 2020, I was lucky enough to be writing with a gorgeous tan glow after returning from a wonderful 9 day stay at Kagi Spa Island where we had a rejuvenating experience. 2020 had not been easy for anyone, but Neil and I have been very thankful to have our health and employment throughout. After our trip to Oman in March of 2020, we didn’t know when we’d be able to travel again. We spent our summer keeping busy as best we could, and as the months dragged on, we started to keep an eye out for countries where we would be allowed to travel as well as feel safe doing so.
Prior to arrival in MLE, all travelers are required to prove a negative PCR result within 96 hours of their original departure. The Maldives even has a contact tracing app that they ask you to use upon arrival and during any transportation within their country. The Saturday before our Wednesday departure, Neil and I took our first COVID-19 test via a drive-thru location provided by Parkland Hospital in Dallas. The test results came back on Tuesday, we printed them out and were all set. Since it had been so many months since our last trip, I had been packing for weeks and was very ready to go by the time Wednesday rolled around.
The first leg of our travel would take us from DFW to Doha, Qatar, a true long-haul 14 hour flight. Again, after 9 months since our last travels, both Neil and I were looking forward to the flight, no matter how long. We both were armed with neck pillows and sprung for Purple’s travel cushions to improve the economy class seats. I would recommend something like that if you have extra weight and space in your carry-on luggage- they really worked!
We were actually in Doha last year on our way from the Maldives to Italy, where we had a rather quick connection. This time, we had a 9 hour layover and got to experience the swimming pool within the airport! For just under $100 total, we were able to use the facilities for 2 hours to swim and shower and change clothes before the next flight to Male. We also spent some time at the Oryx Lounge and were able to try the SleepNFly pods for the first time, which I’d also highly recommend. I did not sleep much on the 14 hour flight, once we were over the ocean the turbulence didn’t really let up until the last few hours of the flight, so I was beginning to drag. We had a quick 2 hour power nap in the sleep pods and were able to get to our gate with plenty of time prior to boarding. Doha to Male was a truly quick and smooth 4 hour journey.
From the moment we exited the airport terminal at MLE, we were greeted by a Kagi representative who escorted us to the seaplane check-in for Trans Maldivian Airways. We were then taken to the Crown & Champa lounge and had coffee and cold drinks during our wait. The 15 minute seaplane ride took us to an island about another 5 minute boat ride away from Kagi. Upon arrival to Kagi, we were greeted by Maldivian drumming for the short walk to reception. Nazeer, the Operations Manager, welcomed us and showed us around the island and to our overwater ocean suite, 306. The location ended up being perfect for snorkeling, but honestly, all of the rooms are perfect since the entire island is walkable in about 7 minutes.
Quick note about the resort’s COVID-19 precautions: the staff were wearing masks the entire time, guests were asked to use hand sanitizer when entering a new public space (the spa, restaurants, etc.), and guests were encouraged to wear masks in the public spaces unless they were eating or drinking. If we dined outdoors, no masks were necessary. Thankfully, much of the time was spent outdoors so it was a very welcomed relief from spending time stateside.
The main pool was stunning, as is the architecture of the entire resort. Each villa also has its own infinity pool and outdoor shower and tub. After the first day, we didn’t shower inside again! The bath products offered by the resort were citrus scented and were hydrating for your skin and hair. We had some fun in a bubble bath one time too.
The food was phenomenal. We’re still eating a plantbased cuisine and it felt like we had a personal chef during the entire trip. Curries, thai noodles, tofu scrambles on paleo bread, fresh fruit juices…the list could go on! A few times throughout the week, you had the option to take lunch at the Spa Corner and I think that was my favorite food experience. Fresh salads with quinoa, lentils, kimchi, and tofu were flavorfully dressed, while beetroot carpaccio and the mezzeh platter was served with crunchy pepper and carrot strips.
The best thing I ate during the trip had to be the protein bar- peanut butter, seeds, ground oats pressed into a bar and topped with a layer of chocolate…it was so tasty we made sure to eat it as our last dessert before our departure! Since this trip was in celebration of our anniversary, they even surprised us with a vegan cake on the last night of our stay! Banana cake with cream and topped with fruit and nuts; they really did a wonderful job.
Poolside drinks were made from the freshest fruits and Neil said the liquors were perfectly poured by the bartenders. The coffee was made fresh either from a top of the line espresso machine or French press. Neil’s twice daily soy milk lattes did use up their soy milk by the 8th day of our stay, but the fact that this was an offer to begin with was so appreciated.
The spa was even more relaxing since it is located on the water. Our treatment began with a foot cleansing ritual outside over the ocean and then we moved inside for the full body massages. And as if things couldn’t be any more perfect, as we stood up to get dressed, dolphins swam right by our massage room! The gym was located in the spa area and we both did a few workouts during the week, even though it was a little on the warm and humid side in there.
We were never bored. The resort offers group yoga 3 times a week, a sunset dolphin cruise, and many non-motorized watersports all of which are included on the all-inclusive plan. I took a few overwater private yoga sessions and I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to be pushed a bit to improve their postures- the instructor was able to get me to hold a headstand by the end of the week!
We snorkeled nearly every day and saw so many colorful fish, nurse and black tip sharks, starfish, and on the last day a pair of spotted eagle rays. I also brought enough swimsuits on this trip to wear two each day, one for snorkeling and the other for pool swimming. With all the water activities, I made sure to take excellent care of my very blonde hair. Every time before getting into the water, I coated my dry hair in coconut oil and it made a world of difference compared to my hair after our last beach trip. I’d even venture to say that my hair is softer and in better shape than prior to leaving DFW.
After seeing another guest’s post on Instagram, we had to try out the peddle stand up paddle boards. It was low tide at the time, but we were able to squeeze in a quick lap of the island and it was a great, fun workout!
As we left the Maldives in 2019, we said that we would love to visit again sometime in the future, but not anytime soon. Given the unexpected and unprecedented circumstances of 2020, we were very fortunate to experience the magical country for a second time just a year and a half later. Even though we live nearly 2 days’ journey away, every minute of the travel is worth it to get to Kagi.
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