Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

This superbly stylish resort is set on two idyllic islands, both dense with palm trees and indigenous flora that create a natural castaway haven. Conrad Rangali serves glamorous luxury in chic surroundings and offers some of the most exciting underwater attractions in the Maldives.

Our experience of the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island began with a seaplane flight, which after only half an hour touched down in a spray of foam and water. The craft then docked to a 500-meter bridge connecting two idyllic islands, both of which belong to the hotel.

Accommodation

We stayed on both islands, first in a beach villa and then in the Deluxe Water Villa. This gave us a taste of two popular choices. The larger island is home to spacious, elegant beach villas, many of which come with private pools. All have bathing pavilions in the garden and are laid out on an open plan, with huge glass walls and high ceilings. The most spacious of all are the Beach Suites (twice the size of most of the other villas). All of these are the favorite choice for families with children.

The smaller island, a little more than a thin strip of land, is designed as a couple’s destination, and with privacy in mind. All the luxury villas here are set on stilts in the sea, and all benefit from great ocean views, even if some are facing the other island. They all also have a sun terrace, with pools or jacuzzis depending on the villa category.

The best villas on this island are the two Sunset Villas, set way away from the island. Each is designed with a partial glass floor, a private butler, designer furnishings, and a private pool.

Under the sea restaurants and more

The most eye-popping accommodation at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is The Muraka. Nestled in a private area off the larger island, it is a first-of-its-kind residence featuring fully integrated living, dining, entertaining — and a stunner of a master suite, located fully underwater.

But this is not the only underwater attraction at the resort. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is home to the first underwater restaurant in the Maldives, Ithaa. Its celebrated dining room is built a few meters below the sea surface, with the curved, transparent acrylic roof and walls allowing for fantastic views of marine life on the reef. The restaurant combines Western and Maldivian cuisine, with a seasonal menu.

In total, there are as many as twelve restaurants and bars in the resort. One of our favorite ones was the Vilu restaurant, which serves breakfast and à la carte and Mediterranean dishes with a hint of Asian. We also loved Koko Grill, mainly with a Japanese menu. Koko Grill is located next to a stunning infinity pool with an adjacent modern chill-out area and bar, where light snacks and drinks are served in a sophisticated ambiance, under a canvas canopy. The resort also boasts a wine cellar, which can be booked for dinner combined with a wine tasting, led by a professional sommelier.

The resort has not one but two spas, both built on stilts. The larger one is the Spa Retreat, where the session villas/room rooms have glass floors, allowing guests to observe marine life during treatment. The deck connects it with a “spa restaurant” and Utopian Spa Villas, set over the water with double treatment rooms.

in our opinion

The luxurious and elegant Conrad Maldives Rangali Island surprises with innovative ideas and puts at ease with its barefoot luxury style. It's more than a beach vacation — rather, a whole destination waiting to be discovered.

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What we love

• The amazing Muraka residence wows with a vast amount of space, suites above water, and a stunning master bedroom underwater. The residence also has a private infinity pool, a private chef and butler, and separate staff quarters
• Conrad occupies two postcard islands. It's like having two islands for the price of one!
• The hotel has two spas. Some treatment rooms are positioned over water and have glass floors, allowing to look at the marine life during the massage.
• There are several gourmet restaurants at Conrad, including the iconic undersea Ithaa, the world’s first underwater restaurant. As we wrote in our write-up, "dining at Ithaa is an experience hard to forget. Its curved, transparent acrylic walls and roof is a fantastic window into the blue Maldivian waters, shimmering with fish, sharks, and turtles."
• Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is designed for both couples and families with children. The two-island setup is perfect for this, with all the children's activities confined to the larger one. Couples can enjoy peace and quiet on the very romantic smaller island. There is a second, smaller swimming pool there, called Quiet Zone, for adults only.
• The interiors. They are quite perfectly made for the style and vibe of the hotel, and the design channels the natural luxury of the Maldives. The rooms are elegant and kept in natural tones of wood, often with added soft whites and shades of lavender. Understated lighting and updated modern amenities underscore the contemporary feel.
• A nice private VIP lounge at the airport allows to relax in luxurious surroundings whilst waiting for the seaplane.

What you should know

• There are seven dining venues, but both Koko and especially Ithaa are so popular we recommend booking way in advance (weeks before arrival!).
• The view of the beach and ocean from the Beach Villas is obscured by vegetation, though this makes them more private
• While diving can be very good, the house reef does not guarantee the best snorkeling.
• The lowest-category Beach Villas are not standalone and unfortunately, neighbors can be heard sometimes. For couples looking for peace and quiet, we recommend booking one of the water villas on the smaller island.
• In high season the larger island, Rangalifinolhu, tends to get crowded and noisy.
• Once you arrive at Velana International Airport (MLE), you'll be escorted by a representative from Conrad Maldives to Rangali Island. The resort is reached by a 30-minute scenic seaplane transfer.