Vacation at Club Med Kani, Maldives

Club Med Kani is situated on Kani Island, Maldives. It took us a little more than four hours to fly from Singapore to Male which is the capital of Maldives. Unlike most airports in the world, instead of catching a taxi or a bus, we went straight to the jetty which is just outside the airport to catch our “ride” to the Kani Island. The boat trip from the airport to Club Med Kani took about 40 minutes. It was an exciting and unforgettable experience. Imagine yourself sitting in a speed boat with your life jacket tightly fastened at midnight in almost complete darkness in the middle of the Indian Ocean…sounds exciting? Well, it got even more exciting when the boat came across choppy waves. The ride became very bumpy with our adrenaline constantly flowing thinking to ourselves “Are we going to survive this boat ride?” The waves were very choppy but the driver of the boat skillfully handled the boat that only an experience person could do. Alas, we were all safe when we approached the calmer waters in the Kani Island. As we approached the jetty of Club Med Kani, we could hear the music of Bruce Mars’ “Uptown Funk” playing in the background which woke us up from our anxiety and sleep. There were a number of Club Med’s staff standing in the jetty. Each of the staff was assigned to look after the different groups of guests. We were greeted cheerfully by Lauren who is a “Genteel Organiser (“Go”)” of Club Med. A “Genteel Organiser” is similar to a Guest Relations Officer. Club Med has GOs who speak a diverse range of languages. Lauren who is from Venezuela was assigned to look after us as she speaks English besides her native tongue of Spanish. The moment we stepped onto Club Med’s jetty we were blown away by the black ink beautiful starry sky as there were no city lights to ruin the stars’ glow. It was midnight when we checked into our cozy ‘bungalow’ (connecting rooms). We spent four nights there.

The first thing in the morning after we woke up, we immediately walked towards the beach. We couldn’t wait to explore this island of paradise. Fine white sand was our first view followed by a refreshingly clear shade of blue that surrounded us. The steady rhythm of the waves from the ocean made an instant calming effect. The weather of clear blue skies complimented the view.

This paradise wouldn’t be called a paradise if it weren’t for Club Med’s workers who have worked diligently to upkeep the cleanliness of this island from day to night everyday. The beach is so clean and well kept that if you are an early riser, you would be able to see hermit crabs crawling around on the white sand.

There is another type of accommodation in Club Med Kani which is the villas on stilts that are connected to the island where the occupants are rewarded with the breathtaking view of the ocean. However, be prepared to pay a premium for this luxury and exclusive accommodation.

The main restaurant in Club Med Kani is called Velhi. It features buffet style meals. What captured our hearts the most was the food which tingled our taste buds with its variety and unique flavours. The presentations and the skills shown by the chefs in preparing the food were simply amazing. Maldives is well known for its tuna which is abundant in the Indian Ocean. The tunas came in different sizes but the freshness is rated second to none. The bread and pastries was delectable and were a fusion of different flavours from different cuisines that tingled on the tongue. My mother’s absolute favourite is the chocolate cheese bread that she still gushes over until this day. The meals don’t just limit to the restaurant however as there are two bars situated on the island that serve free flow of refreshing drinks such as cocktails and fruit punch. The drinks compliment the tropical feel to the island. Sometimes during the day there will be snacks served in case you feel peckish.

The food served in Velhi is phenomenal. There are chefs that cook your food on the spot best to your liking. The presentations are modern and simple, encouraging you to take a bite of the mouth watering dishes. The types of food served are endless from Eastern to Western, each prepared to the best of standards. The chefs there strive and work hard to produce such enormous amount of food everyday as well as the waiters who are incredibly hardworking and observant to meet the diner’s needs. Every day for a week the buffet theme changes and every night the Club Med team have a special dress code so keep you eyes peeled! Every Monday there is buffet dinner by the beach if weather permits.

In the morning, the water is usually low tide and the current is calm. You can see clearly the different varieties of corals, rocks and marine fishes beneath the glasslike surface of the ocean with your naked eyes.

My family had organised a trip on our third day to go for a half day tour of shopping around Male, Maldives capital and to board into an actual submarine that will dive 30 metres deep into the ocean to view the ocean’s aqualife. In Maldives, there are many small islands scattered around and the optimal way to travel to the islands, besides plane, is boat. We boarded the boat at Club Med’s jetty for our tour and the journey to the capital was anything but boring as the boat kept bumping up and down and the wind that whipped through our hair. We were enthralled by this as the boat would rock or hit the waves so hard we would almost be falling out of our seats. My parents thoroughly enjoyed the boat ride.    

Club Med Kani is bustling with activities for its occupants. Everyday there is a schedule that fits everyone’s needs. My mum opted for yoga while my dad, brother and I went off to play table tennis and badminton, feet padding across the soft sand. There was sailing as well as snorkelling and kayaking. The most favourite activity of  them all however, was all of us lounging around near the beach, sipping refreshing drinks while we soak in the spectacular view that always takes our breath away as a family. 

Note: The above article was written by our daughter, Ashley Tan. We visited Club Med Kani Maldives from 9^th till 14^th January 2016. We booked our trip through Holiday Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd in Malaysia. The team members in Holiday Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd are very efficient and provide good customer service. You can visit their website at www.holidaytours.com.my