The 19 Best Maldives Resorts for Every Kind of Traveller
The tropical island nation is chock full of luxury resorts—with more opening every year. Here’s our cheat sheet on 19 top options, categorized by travel personality.
Related articles
Relatively speaking, the Maldives hasn’t been on the vacation radar for that long, but the archipelago nation has made up for that in the last decade or so with a near-constant stream of eye-catching resort openings. To date, there are over 130 resorts in the destination, the majority of which each sits on its own islet, away from any other signs of civilization. With most of the major hospitality names represented, and nearly every resort offering things like overwater villas, secluded beaches, and water-based activities, it can be tough to narrow down which slice of paradise might be best for you. To help, we’ve highlighted 19 properties by the type of traveller they might best appeal to, from the family-focused to the foodie, the romantic to the budding marine biologist.
For the Romantic
The MURAKA’s Undersea Bedroom Photo: By Justin Nicholas
True, pretty much anywhere you choose in the Maldives is going to be romantic, as the dreamy setting—plus things like private decks and plunge pools, secluded dining spots, and champagne-fueled cruises—have helped makes this a top destination for honeymoons and proposals. But some hotels offer a little extra for their coupled-up guests.
Set in a part of the archipelago renowned for diving and surfing, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort is one of the few adults-only options in the Maldives, making it a natural pick for a romantic hideaway. Check in to one of the overwater pool bungalows—each equipped with lots of indoor and outdoor lounging space, easy beach access, and endless views out over the Indian Ocean—then enjoy activities like healing couple’s spa treatments, private dinners on a sandbar, and sunset cruises on the Nirvana yacht. Relax under the stars with a private outdoor movie screening (paired with drinks and dinner), or get the blood pumping with a whale shark snorkelling trip. The resort can also arrange for a pro photoshoot of your trip, so you’ll have plenty to post on the ‘Gram.
Meanwhile, some resorts offer separate couples cocoons within their larger facilities. At the recently-opened Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort near the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the all-club-level set-up (a first for the brand) means that every room comes with a butler, included breakfast, and access to the adults-only Retreat, a standalone, lagoon-side hideaway with a separate pool, restaurant, bar, and plenty of lounging areas; the spot is a particular favourite for pre-dinning cocktails and canapes, which are also included in the rates.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island’s hotel-within-a-hotel, The MURAKA, is set a short speedboat ride away from the main resort, and features just one suite: a two-level residence with a living room, bedroom, and dining and entertainment spaces floating above the ocean, and a master bedroom, bathroom, and lounge area set 16-feet underwater, complete with glass walls so you can take in the vibrant marine life. This first-of-its-kind undersea suite comes with its own 24-hour butlers, who can arrange private seaplane transfers directly to the suite; a private chef, who will lead cooking classes or fishing trips; and access to exclusive activities like guided stargazing excursions and midnight snorkelling tours.
For the Gourmand
Dining in the Vakkaru Maldives wine cellar Photo: Courtesy of Vakkaru
Since guests of Maldivian resorts can only eat on property (with no other hotels or villages around, you’re pretty much marooned), most resorts offer several dining options serving a variety of cuisines, to help keep things interesting. Some spots, though, take things to new culinary heights. Case in point, the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, which earned its foodie cred soon after opening in 2016. In addition to menus that run the gamut from Italian and Japanese to Indian, Korean, Pakistani, and Cantonese, the resort has introduced a Michelin-Starred Chefs in Residence Series, running from November 2019-March 2020. The series will highlight a rotation of some of the most notable and award-winning chefs from around the world, with each chef hosting a seated tasting menu dinner, followed by an intimate cooking class the next day. Some of the chefs already booked include Jonathan Zandbergen of the Michelin-starred Restaurant Hotel Merlet in the Netherlands, British “Master Chef” Marianne Lumb, and award-winning pastry chef David Gil Rovira of Barcelona’s TICKETS.
If wine’s your thing, check in to Vakkaru Reserve, set just a 30-minute seaplane ride from the main island of Male, in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The resort’s wine cellar is stocked with over 6000 bottles from around 400 labels spanning both the Old and New Worlds (among the oldest is a 1974 Château Cheval) and is also equipped space to enjoy a wine tasting or a paired tasting menu dinner. Both will be led by on-site sommelier Stephanie Wiesner, who has also programmed wine-themed experiences for the resort-like meals with visiting winemakers, chefs, and chocolatiers, and wellness-themed organic wine dinner. Wiesner is also a certified Sake Sommelier if you feel like branching out into spirits.
For the Family
A two-bedroom beach suite at Jumeirah Vittaveli Photo: Courtesy of Jumeirah Vittaveli
Despite the dreamy romance of the destination, the Maldives offers plenty of spots that cater to multi-generational groups, and that offer fun for all ages of travellers. Case in point: the Jumeriah Vittaveli, which is located just 20-minutes away from Male’s international airport by luxury catamaran (eliminating the need to corral the gang onto a seaplane.) Among the resort’s 90 villas and suites (which range from one- to five-bedrooms) are seven Infinity Pool Ocean Villas equipped with water slides, and a five-bedroom Royal Residence boasting its own spa, gym, an overwater bar, two pools, and private beach. While the grown-ups are at the main spa or enjoying cocktails, kids can retreat to one of the largest children’s clubs in the Maldives (or to the Teen Lounge, if they’re older) for fun like a treasure island scavenger hunt. Another fun perk is the area’s first and only ice rink—where you can glide around, just feet from the Indian Ocean, on state-of-the-art (and sustainable) artificial ice plates.
Over at Niyama Private Islands Maldives Resort, you’ll find the hotel separated into two islands: the more adult-friendly “Chill”, and the family-focused “Play,” home to multi-bedroom villas, the treehouse Nest restaurant, great surfing spots, and a lively kids club. On “Play,” the younger guests are catered two with a wide array of activities, from baby yoga to pizza-making classes and snorkelling “safaris.” Parents can join their spawn on the adventures, or enlist the services of a trained nanny or baby sitter for when they need some quiet time.
The range of kids-only fun is also a highlight of a stay at Conrad Rangali Island. Available for guests aged 3 to 12, the Majaa Kids’ Club offers specifically themed activities each day—think Ocean Tuesday, Little Chef Wednesday, and Pirate Sunday—as well as other sports, games, workshops, and arts and crafts. Also notable are the family-focused treatments at the resort’s Over-Water Spa: in addition to special treatments designed for teens 14-and-over (with parental permission), designated “Father and Son” and “Mother and Daughter” packages encourage bonding time during services like massages, temporary tattoo applications, hair braiding, and more.
For the Wellness Seeker
Yoga on the beach at Anantara Kihavah Villas Photo: Courtesy of Anantara Kihavah Villas
From traditional therapies that draw from the Maldives’ cultural heritage to the latest high-tech beauty treatments, you’ll find it all in the islands. With many guests checking in for at least a week, targeted wellness programs are also big here, with multi-day programs designed to tackle things like detox, stress relief, and fitness.
At Six Senses Laamu, the signature Six Senses personalized wellness assessment uses both diagnostic technology (including biomarker analysis and movement efficiency tests) and one-on-one consultations to create the perfect mix of treatments, workouts, meal plans, and expert sessions to fit your needs; a dedicated program for sleep health—which tracks and analyzes your REM patterns—is also available. (The barefoot-chic resort also has an all-day ice cream parlour dolling out complimentary scoops, if you want to balance the wellness with some indulgence.)
How you snooze is also one of the focuses at One&Only Reethi Rah, where the “Sleep Journey” package—launching this October—includes an assessment, targeted massage, and breathing and visualization sessions. The stellar spa also offers treatments with visiting practitioners who specialize in different disciplines (like herbal medicine, acupuncture, or physiotherapy) and work together with the spa team to craft holistic programs focusing on topics like energy, relaxation, and weight management.
Holistic wellness is also at the core of COMO Maalifushi, the first resort in the pristine Thaa Atoll. In keeping with the COMO brand’s wellness philosophy, the resort helps you decompress and recharge via Asian-influenced treatments in the overwater spa rooms, yoga and meditation in the open-air pavilion, easy access to activities like surfing and diving, and dedicated COMO Shambhala Retreat healthy menus in the restaurants.
At Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, check in to the Deluxe Spa Pool Villa to enjoy both holistic services—including two Ayurvedic programs featuring a mix of treatments, fitness, and healthy eating to target either Longevity or Detoxifying—as well as high-tech treatments like “Vampire” facials, IV therapies, and VelaShape fat-blasting in the Cocoon Medi Spa, the first full medi-spa in the region.
For the Underwater Adventurer
A diving adventure with Baros Maldives Photo: Courtesy of Baros Maldives
Whether you’re an amateur marine biologist or just like swimming with the fishes, these resorts will help connect you to the wild underwater world.
Surrounded by a natural reef, Baros Maldives is home to the first EcoDive centre in the area to be certified by International Reef Check, which monitors, maintains and restores coral reefs around the world. Thanks to this on-site resource, guests can take a coral gardening workshop with the resident marine biologist, in which they’ll learn how to collect and re-attach broken coral fragments to help encourage regeneration. You can also join the biologist on a private snorkelling trip to other reefs in the area, do a guided night dive using specially-filtered lights, or just paddle around with sea turtles, reef sharks and more a few feet from the Baros beach,
At Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, guests of all ages can take advantage of the Citizen Science program, which educates you about marine life and reef conversation, then lets you get your hands dirty helping to plant and resort the reefs; you’ll also get to help monitor fish and shark population and collect data vital to conservation initiatives. Over at the 21-villa Raffles Maldives Meradhoo—which opened this May—the legendary Raffles butler service is taken to new levels (or depths) with dedicated Marine Butlers. Available to all guests, the aquatic experts are available to lead curated snorkelling tours of the resort’s two house reefs, which are home to tropical fish, baby sharks, and sea turtles—the latter of which have been meticulously catalogued by the biologists.
If you’d like to spend most of your vacation in the water, book Original Diving’s tailor-made itinerary Maldives itinerary, presented in conjunction with the Four Seasons Explorer—one of the fastest and most luxurious liveaboard yachts in the Maldives. The nine-day itinerary will have you island-hopping to some of the southern atolls’ most pristine and secluded scuba spots, each rich with marine and coral life; sightings of tiger, thresher, and hammerhead sharks may also be in the cards. In between the secluded dives, you’ll live aboard the luxe three-deck catamaran, which has ten staterooms and a spacious Explorer Suite.
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Recommended for you
New Luxe Hotels Are Reshaping Rome’s Hospitality Scene. Here’s How.
By blending history with modern luxury five-star hotels aren’t just transforming the guest experience, but the Eternal City itself.
November 27, 2023
Zimbabwe’s Newest Safari Lodge Lets You Live Among the Elephants, Giraffes, and Lions
Opened in August, Molori Mashuma is the newest Rora Private Collection safari camp and its nestled within the wildlife-rich Mashuma Pan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
November 21, 2023
You may also like.
You may also like.
First Drive: The Porsche 911 S/T Is a Feral Beast That Handles the Road Like an Olympic Bobsledder
The commemorative model borrows underpinnings from the GT3 RS and includes a 518 hp engine.
The soul of any sports car comes down to the alchemy of its tuning—how the engine, suspension, and chassis blend into a chorus of sensations. The secret sauce of the new Porsche 911 S/T, developed as a tribute to the 60th anniversary of the brand’s flagship model, is more potent than most; in fact, it makes a serious case for being the most driver-focused 911 of all time.
Sharing the S/T designation with the homologation special from the 1960s, the (mostly) innocuously styled commemorative model borrows underpinnings from the more visually extroverted GT3 RS. Yet what the S/T, starting at $290,000, lacks in fender cutouts and massive spoilers it makes up for in directness: a flat-six power plant that revs to 9,000 rpm, a motorsport-derived double-wishbone suspension, and a manual gearbox. It’s a delightfully feral combination.
Whereas the automatic-transmission GT3 RS is ruthlessly configured for maximum downforce and minimum lap times, the S/T is dialed in for the road—particularly the Southern Italian ones on which we’re testing the car, which happen to be the very same used by product manager Uwe Braun, Andreas Preuninger, head of Porsche’s GT line, and racing legend Walter Röhrl to finalize its calibration. The car reacts to throttle pressure with eerie deftness, spinning its 518 hp engine with thrilling immediacy, thanks to shorter gear ratios.
The steering response is similarly transparent, as direct as an unfiltered Marlboro, and the body follows with the agility of an Olympic bobsledder. Some of that purity of feeling is the result of addition through subtraction: Power-sapping elements including a hydraulic clutch and rear-axle steering were ditched, which also enabled the battery to be downsized for even more weight savings. The final result, with its carbon-fiber body panels, thinner glass, magnesium wheels, and reduced sound deadening, is the lightest 992-series variant on record, with roughly the same mass as the esteemed 911 R from 2016.
Driver engagement is further bolstered by the astounding crispness of the short-throw gearbox. The S/T fits hand in glove with narrow twisties and epic sweepers, or really any stretch that rewards mechanical grip and the ability to juke through hairpin corners. The cabin experience is slightly less raucous than the 911 R, but more raw than the wingless 911 GT3 Touring, with an intrusive clatter at idle due to the single-mass flywheel and featherlight clutch. Porsche cognoscenti will no doubt view the disturbance in the same way that hardcore Ducatisti revere the tambourine-like rattle of a traditional dry clutch: as an analog badge of honor.
The main bragging right, though, may just be owning one. In a nod to the year the 911 debuted, only 1,963 examples of the S/T will be built. Considering the seven-year-old 911 R started life at$295,000 and has since fetched upwards of $790,000, this new lightweight could bring proportionately heavy returns—if you can be pried from behind the wheel long enough to sell it, that is.
Images by Rossen Gargolov
You may also like.
Gentlemanly Restraint
Art and science collide in the the newly released BR03A watch collection by Bell & Ross.
In keeping with the brand’s design salute to aviation and military equipment, the pared-back face of the Bell & Ross BR03 Automatic takes its cue from the instrumentation in cockpits. It’s unabashedly minimal and confidently masculine style is set to make it a future classic.
Faithful to the codes that underpin the brand’s identity, the new utilitarian offerings sit within a smaller 41-mm case (a slight departure from the original at 42 mm Diver, Chrono or GMT.) and has a reduced lug width and slimmer hands. The changes extend to the watch movement, which has been updated with a BR-CAL.302 calibre. The watch is waterproof to 300 metres and offers a power reserve of 54 hours.
While the new collection offers an elegant sufficiency of colourways, from a stealthy black to more decorative bronze face with a tan strap, each is a faithful rendition of the stylish “rounded square, four-screw” motif that is Bell & Ross’s calling card.
For extra slickness, the all-black Phantom and Nightlum models have a stealthy, secret-agent appeal, offering up a new take on masculine restraint.
Yet even the more decorative styles, like the black face with contrasting army-green band, feel eminently versatile and easy to wear. The 60’s simplicity and legibility of the face is what makes it so distinctive and functional.
For example, the BR 03-92 Nightlum, with its black matte case and dial, and bright green indices and hands, offers a great contrast during the day and emits useful luminosity at night.
A watch that begs to be read, the the BR03-A stands up to scrutiny, and looks just as good next to a crisp, white cuff as it does at the end of a matte, black wetsuit.
That’s a claim not many watch collections can make.
You may also like.
Timeless Glamour & Music Aboard The Venice Simplon-Orient Express
Lose yourself in a luxury journey, aboard an Art Deco train from Paris
Watching the unseen corners of Europe unfold gently outside your train, window can be thirsty work, right? That’s why Belmond Hotels is once again staging a culinary train journey from Paris to Venice, aboard the glittering Art Deco carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient Express.
To celebrate diversity and inclusion in the LBTQ+ community, another unforgettable train ride is slated for 2 November.
On the journey, ample servings of decadent cuisine will be served and live entertainment will play looooong into the night. Trans-DJ Honey Dijon and Dresden’s Purple Disco Machine are both part of the disco-house line-up.
Passengers are encouraged to dress in black-tie or cocktail attire, before they head to the bar and dining carriages to enjoy their night, where they are promised ‘unapologetic extravagance’,.
Negronis, martinis, spritzes and sours will all be on offer as the sunlight fades.
So-hot-right-now French chef Jean Imbert is also in the kitchen rattling the pans for guests.
Imber puts a garden-green-goodness twist on Gallic traditions. He regularly cooks for the who’s-who. Imbert recently co-created a food concept for Dior in Paris, worked with Pharrell Williams to present a dinner in Miami, and he’s even been invited to Cheval Blanc St-Barth to cater luxe LVMH-owned property.
The young chef is vowing to create no less than ‘culinary perfection’ in motion with his own passion for fresh seasonal produce. There’ll be plenty of Beluga caviar, seared scallops, and lobster vol-au-vents.
“I want to create beautiful moments which complement the train, which is the true star,” says Imbert of his hands-on approach to delectable pastries and twists on elegant Euro classics.
“Its unique legacy is something we take pride in respecting, while evolving a new sense of style and purpose that will captivate a new generation.”
Check the timetable for the itinerary of lush inclusions here.
You may also like.
From Electric Surfboards to Biodegradable Golf Balls: 8 Eco-Conscious Yacht Toys for Green and Clean Fun
Just add water and forget the eco-guilt.
Without toys, yachts would be kind of sedentary. There’s nothing wrong with an alfresco meal, sunsets on the flybridge and daily massages. But toys add zest to life on board, while creating a deeper connection with the water. These days, there are a growing number of options for eco-friendly gadgets and equipment that deliver a greener way to play. These eight toys range from do-it-yourself-propulsion (waterborne fitness bikes) to electric foiling boards, from kayaks made of 100 percent recycled plastics to non-toxic, biodegradable golf balls with fish food inside. Your on-water adrenaline rushes don’t always have to be about noise and gas fumes. They can be fun, silent, and eco-conscious.
A game of golf isn’t just for land. Guests can play their best handicap from the deck with Albus Golf’s eco-friendly golf balls. The ecological and biodegradable golf balls are 100 percent safe for marine flora and fauna, and manufactured with non-contaminating materials. The balls will biodegrade within 48 hours after hitting the ocean and release the fish food contained in their core. For a complete golfing experience, add a floating FunAir green. From $3100 (FunAir Yacht Golf) and $315 a box (golf balls). funair.com
Fliteboard Series 2.0
The future of surf is electric, and Fliteboard offers an emissions-free and environmentally friendly electric hydrofoil. Flying over the water has never been as efficient and low impact, using new technologies with less than 750 watts of electric power. This second series boasts various performance factors for all riding styles. It also features an increased trigger range from 20 to 40 degrees for more precision and control. Fliteboard designed this series for every possible foiling ability, from newbies to wave-carvers. From $22,000. fliteboard.com
Manta 5 Hydrofoiler XE-1
Hailing from New Zealand and using America’s Cup technology, Manta 5 offers the first hydrofoil bike. The Hydrofoiler XE-1 replicates the cycling experience on the water. Powered by fitness-level pedaling and assisted by the onboard battery, top speeds can reach up to 19 km per hour. The two hydrofoils are carbon fibre, and the frame is aircraft-grade aluminium. The onboard Garmin computer will relay all the stats. The effortless gliding sensation will accompany you through a workout, exploration or just circling the boat. From $950. manta5.com
Mo-Jet’s Jet Board
Imagine five toys in one: The Mo Jet delivers just that. From jet surfing, bodyboarding, and e-foiling to scooter diving. This versatile, German-built toy is perfect for those who cannot decide. The Mo-jet uses a cool modular system allowing you to switch between activities. Whether you want to stand, be dragged around or dive, you can have it all. It even has a life-saving module and a 2.8m rescue electric surfboard. Made from environmentally friendly and recyclable polyethene, it also ticks the eco-conscious boxes. Complete with an 11kW electric water jet, it charges in 75 mins, offering up to 30 mins of fun. Adrenaline junkies will also not be disappointed, since speed surges from 0 to 27 knots in 3 seconds. From $18,000. mo-jet.com
Silent Yachts Tender ST400
Driven by innovation and solar energy, Silent Yachts recently launched its first electric tender, the ST400. The 13-footer has clean-cut lines and is built with either an electric jet drive or a conventional electric outboard engine. The ST400 reaches speeds above 20 knots. From $110,000. silent-yachts.com
Osiris Outdoor ‘Reprisal’ Kayak
Kayaks are ideal for preserving and protecting nature, but they’re usually manufactured with materials that will last decades longer than we will and therefore not too eco-friendly. Founded by US outdoor enthusiasts, Osiris Outdoor has created a new type of personal boat. “The Reprisal” kayak is manufactured in the US entirely from recycled plastics (around 27 kgs) that are purchased from recycling facilities. The sustainable manufacturing process isn’t its only selling point; the lightweight Reprisals have spacious storage compartments, rod holders and a watertight hatch for gadgets. Complete with a matte-black finish for a stylish look. From $1100. osirisoutdoor.com
The Fanatic Ray Eco SUP Paddleboard
Declared as the most sustainable SUP, the Ray Eco is the brainchild of the Zero Emissions Project and BoardLab, supported by Fanatic. Glass and carbon fibre have been replaced with sustainable Kiri tree wood. And you can forget toxic varnishes and resins; organic linseed oil has been used to seal the board and maintain its durability. This fast, light, and stable board is truly one of a kind, not available off the rack. This craftsman’s love for detail and preservation is another first-class quality of the board. From $10,000 boardlab.de
Northern Light Composite X Clean Sailors EcoOptimist
One of the most popular, single-handed dinghies in sailing’s history, the tiny Optimist has undergone a sustainable revival. Northern Light Composites and not-for-profit Clean Sailors have teamed up to launch the first sustainable and recyclable Optimist. Using natural fibres and eco-sustainable resins, The EcoOptimist supports a new circular economy in yachting. OneSail also produces the sail with a low-carbon-footprint manufacturing process. From $6000. ecooptisailing.com
You may also like.
The 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World, According to a New Ranking
The World’s 50 Best organisation gave the Spanish bar Sips top honours during an awards ceremony in Singapore.
