We stayed here 5 years ago and requested to be on the lagoon side as this was where we were before. We got a room where we wanted, which was great-just a couple of rooms along from where we were before.
When we went before the north eastern side had virtually no beach, but now in 2023 this side now has a lovely wide beach. There is some loss on the lagoon/water bungalow side but not as bad as it was on the other side 5 years ago.
They still have the budgies flying free all over the place, but we think regarding the Macaws that they should have a much larger cage so they can fly around properly. The cage they are in is too small for 2 such large birds. Angaga management please consider doing this.
The room was as we remembered and we much prefer the indoor bathrooms to the outside ones on most of the other islands we have been to. Using the bathroom in the middle of the night is not a pleasant experience when open to the elements and wildlife! I also find the heat in outside bathrooms counter productive so that once you have showered and feel clean and fresh, before you get back into the rooms you are hot and sticky again! Please don't ever change to outside bathrooms Angaga!!
The bars and restaurant were also much as we remembered.
We could always find something we both liked in the restaurant, but feel the choices were a bit lacking at times. They don't due themed nights like other places we have stayed and it would have been nice to have some more specific Maldivian dishes on offer more often.
We loved going to the sundown bar after dinner as it was nice and quiet and you usually got a nice breeze there too.
We felt that the reef seemed to be recovering with lots of new growth and plenty of fish too. We saw turtle, black & white tipped reef sharks, octopus, batfish, eel, Anemone fish etc. etc. We did see some rays, but not when we were snorkelling unfortunately.
Keep up the good work Angaga and maybe we'll come and see you again soon
This was the third time we visited Angaga Island. What a beautiful place, even a few weeks later when writing this review, I still remember the holiday with pleasure. We booked half-board, i.e. breakfast/dinner and this was plenty with a super buffet and great service.
We never used our shoes or sandals in the 10 days, with the sand being cleaned daily. Staff at reception was very helpful and polite. The bars were good and surprisingly not overly expensive.
Angaga also offers decent excursions, we participated in the fishing and the snorkelling one.
Now to the not so good parts.... sadly, the reef population has reduced significantly since our last visit which is not a complete surprise. Although Angaga is trying to build artificial reefs, which is very good in itself, access to the reef for snorkelling is rather difficult as the reef is rather high up and the danger to injure yourself therefore increased.
We stayed in the "old" water bungalows (there are some new versions available too), which are lovely inside, and being stood up on wooden posts. It was shocking to see the state of these posts due to water damage. It was shocking as it looked they could collapse when you jump inside the bungalow. I am not comfortable to stay in one of those again.
Apart from the health risk, even if imagined by us, we heard from staff that Angaga plans to build more water bungalows. We therefor also feel the atmosphere of a small "barefoot" island is going to be ruined, so we sadly said our goodbyes. But thanks again for all the great times we had there.
Honestly, Angaga is one of the best resorts I've stayed in the Maldives so far! It is not a fancy luxury property but provides all the amenities you need for a relaxing vacation.
We booked this resort last minute so we did not have time for deep research, but we were not disappointed at all. The main reason to come to Angaga was the house reef; we read mixed reviews about it but I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. The reef is recovering well, you can see newly grown corals everywhere and lots of sea life: we have seen nurse sharks, black tips sharks, white tips sharks, turtles and groups of eagle rays every day beside the common fish species.
We stayed in one of the sunrise-side beach houses (nr 107) which was just perfect for us since the house was right in front of villa. The house was clean and comfortable with an outside seating area and swing. There were some ants in the bathroom when it was raining at night, but it is normal in the tropics and ants spray was provided. The water villas looked a bit outdated, but the ones on the sunset side are currently under renovation and will be completely renewed by the end of the year.
The staff is accommodating without being pushy or disturbing you in any way. Special thanks to the guys at the reception who are always there to assist in case you have any questions or need help, to the chefs at the restaurant who prepare amazing food day by day and to the guys in the bar (especially to Zafran) who serve delicious cocktails in minutes! We'll be back!
the island itself is very nice, but the barrier reef is a bit poor, many corals are dead due to el nino. still quite an amount of fish but not super colored. we staied in the water villa, very nice and clean. about the beach bungalows there are some on the east part of the island where the beach is wider but not so easy the entrance in the water. in this part the sun goes down early. the west part has a norrower beach but with a nicer lagoon. good food. not very exciteed of the diving center, not very flexible.
Much as we remembered