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The Best Luxury Resorts in the Maldives, 2020
We can’t claim to have the right answer for every traveler, but regular visitors to TravelPlusStyle.com should by now have a sense of what we dig. If your idea of the perfect resort involves great design, unostentatious luxury, and personalized service, if your best possible time off involves utmost exclusivity and authentic experiences, look no further: this list is for you. From simple island life to a sprawling luxury playground — these fifteen have one thing in common: they are all the best luxury resorts in the Maldives.
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“It’s not easy to truly stand out in the Maldives, the destination teeming with the most attractive resorts in the world. Yet Joali does it, and effortlessly.”
— from our review of Joali Maldives.
Quietly fabulous and effortlessly sophisticated, Joali Maldives brought a distinct brand of luxury to a destination that has seen it all. The resort emphasizes the essentials of luxury experience, craftsmanship, and service, honed to perfection.
We love it for: The resort’s magical architecture, with creations such as a house-sized manta ray picnic shack or the wave-like welcome lounge.
Pro tip: The difference between the two standard categories of over-water villas (other than the nightly rate) is simply more space, i.e., an additional lounge and the larger outdoor sun deck.
See the review from our stay: JOALI Maldives, Maldives.
Alternatively, book JOALI Maldives via:
Expedia | Agoda | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © Joali
Top hotels and resorts for the new decade
In Jani, the philosophy and the aesthetics of the Soneva brand come together to shape what is a nearly-perfect escapist resort. The resort is situated off a large island and is surrounded by the endless shallows of one of the largest lagoons in the country. The architecture and interior design are tuned to the idea of barefoot beach vacations, celebrating a dreamy whitewashed style, while the seamless service makes every day here special.
We love it for: The massive overwater villas, each with a private infinity pool and a movable roof above the bedroom (so you can sleep “under the stars”). Many villas have water slides — and they are so much fun!
Pro tip: Make sure to visit the chocolate & ice cream parlor, open from noon until late. It’s free; you can come here as much as you like!
See the review from our stay: Soneva Jani, Maldives.
Alternatively, book Soneva Jani via:
Tablet Hotels | Expedia | Agoda or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © Soneva
“Laamu has all the ingredients of the perfect holiday, not least of which is the resort’s genuine barefoot luxury, presented in a pure atmosphere of carefree relaxation.”
— from our review of Six Senses Laamu
Our regular readers will remember that we are huge fans of the Six Senses’ concept of rustic chic. After recently visiting Six Senses Laamu, we concluded that the chain’s Maldivian outpost is perhaps the best example yet of the philosophy that masterfully combines beautiful remote locations, eco-living, and uncompromising luxury.
We love it for: Our absolutely favorite thing about this resort was the wonderful Ocean Water Villa—spacious, with innovative features, and designed in a style perfectly aligned with the experience of a paradise destination.
Pro tip: All guests have bikes at their disposal. And if you are a returning guest, or if you book the Laamu Water Villa category and up, your bikes will be personalized with wooden name tags. Nice touch!
See the review from our stay: Six Senses Laamu, Maldives
Alternatively, book Six Senses Laamu via: Tablet Hotels | Expedia | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos (including the leading shot at the top of the article) © Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas
Soneva Fushi was the first resort created by Sonu Shivdasani and his partner Eva, a hospitality industry power couple and the driving force behind the idea of back-to-nature, barefoot luxury holidays. Soneva Fushi is the original desert island hideaway in the Maldives — it practically invented the “castaway chic” fashion all on its own.
Seriously eco-friendly, its low-key, intelligent luxury turns a hotel stay into a magical experience. Plus, Soneva’s No-news No-shoes concept it’s not just on paper, as you are likely to go barefoot for the entire stay. We did.
We love it for: The villas, many designed in a “treehouse” style. These beautiful hideaways are well camouflaged by lush greenery. Ah, and also, Soneva Fushi has a fully-fledged night-sky observatory!
Pro tip: On the seaplane journey, one thing came in handy — noise-canceling headphones. Among all the headphones we tried, we can recommend the Sony WH1000XM3 as the best. Ad
See the review from our stay: Soneva Fushi, Maldives.
Alternatively, book Soneva Fushi via: Tablet Hotels | Expedia | Agoda | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos (including the leading shot at the top of the article) © Soneva
“[St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort] wows with its contemporary design, set against the pristine beauty of its secluded lagoon location.” — from our review of St Regis Vommuli
St Regis Maldives Vommuli wows with striking architecture envisioned by WOW Architects. For Vommuli, the Singapore-based design studio created a number of sleek, almost abstract structures and buildings — such as the bar inspired by a whale shark or the spa that evokes the shape of a lobster. The bold architecture of the resort extends to the guest accommodation, especially in the sharp silhouettes of the over-water villas. The villas feature generous sun decks with private swimming pools — best captured in this video on our Instagram page.
We love it for: Other than the resort’s design, the cuisine at St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort was amazing. It was a true highlight of the stay.
What you need to know: The resort is relatively remote. It takes a 40-minute seaplane flight to get here from Malé.
See the review from our stay: The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort.
Alternatively, book St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort via: Expedia | Agoda | Hotels.com | Marriott Bonvoy or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © Marriott International
Planning a five-star holiday in Seychelles? Start here!
Gili Lankanfushi is one of the world’s finest water-villa resorts. Located on a beautiful coral island surrounded by a shimmering blue ocean, this classic Maldivian hideaway epitomizes the “barefoot chic” luxury. It offers a serene experience with an intimate atmosphere, uncompromising standards of luxury and service, and a subtly refined design.
We love it for: The celebrated villas-on-stilts have a real wow factor. Ours stood in vast shallows and sported a romantic bedroom, a pretty sun deck, and a roof terrace where we spent a night in the specially prepared gazebo. Sleeping under the stars was lovely.
Pro tip: If you want to make the stay special, book one of the standalone villas. They are placed away from the resort, on the edge of the coral reef, and they are almost their own islands, accessible only by boat.
See the review from our stay: Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives.
Our photos on Instagram: Don’t miss some of the shots we took at the resort, including this above-and-under water pic of our villa, or this one from our sun deck, and this sunset! And did you hear about the bamboo bikes?
Alternatively, book Gili Lankanfushi via:
Expedia | Agoda | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © HPL Hotels & Resorts
One of our recent trips to the Maldives wouldn’t be complete without a stay at the COMO resort, which we were looking forward to checking out since it launched in 2015. Our takeaway? We’ll pick the perfect combination of peaceful ambiance and pared-down looks of Maalifushi any time.
“Maalifushi is mostly about peace and tranquillity, and as such, it is as serene a destination as you can find.”
— from our review of COMO Maalifushi.
We love it for: This island smells good, thanks to Shambhala, COMO’s own range of high-quality cosmetics, distributed in bathrooms. And the COMO Shambhala Spa was as good as we expected!
Pro tip: The sunset-side water villas are not super-private on the sun decks, as an occasional snorkeler can veer to the shallows just in front.
See the review from our stay: COMO Maalifushi, Maldives
Alternatively, book COMO Maalifushi via: Tablet Hotels | Expedia | Agoda | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © COMO Hotels & Resorts
We could stay at One&Only Reethi Rah for a month and never get bored. Thanks to a wealth of attractions, fabulous style, and a glamorous atmosphere, the five-star Reethi Rah is like a cross between an exclusive country club and a tranquil spa resort. The place feels like a billionaire’s playground.
We love it for: The Beach Villa with Pool we stayed in. Luxurious, sleek, and offering a copious amount of space in and out. We also spent a few days in an over-water villa, but we preferred the sea-front beach one.
Pro tip: Don’t miss the spa. The treatment was one of the best we’ve had. We recommend the 2-hour session to fully appreciate the thing.
See the review from our stay: One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives.
Our photos on Instagram: The Water Villa we stayed at for a few days was very picturesque. It had a multi-level deck surrounded by lounging nets spread over blue shallows. Occasionally, we’d dip into the sea directly from the deck.
Alternatively, book One&Only Reethi Rah via: Tablet Hotels | Expedia | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © One&Only Resorts
“The slope of the beach is so gentle that it seems to have no end. The calm waves of the lagoon gently lap the white, powdery sand.” — from our review of COMO Cocoa Island.
An older sister to the COMO Maalifushi, Cocoa Island offers a pristine island experience and pared-down luxury. There may be no underwater restaurant here and no fancy attractions, but COMO Shambhala spa is superb, diving and snorkeling is great, and the beach is silky smooth. And the villas — styled as local dhoni fishing boats — seduce with a romantic design.
We love it for: The atmosphere of a worry-free vacation. All you need to remember is to pack the swimsuit — and a couple of good beach reads. Ad
Pro tip: Combine COMO Cocoa Island with a stay at its sister property COMO Maalifushi.
More in our review: COMO Cocoa Island, Maldives
Alternatively, book COMO Cocoa Island via: Tablet Hotels | Expedia | Agoda | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © COMO Hotels and Resorts
Designed by the celebrated architect Marcio Kogan from Studio MK27, Patina Maldives seems to speak to contrasts — between nature and technology or between indulgence and deep reflections. The resort offers 20 studios and 90 villas. All exude warm, rustic simplicity. Patina’s restaurants focus on health and ethical dining, vegan menus included. Guests benefit from outdoor pools, Spa, and movie nights at the open-air cinema.
We love it for: The sophisticated interiors of the villas, envisioned “to soothe your senses and soul.”
Pro tip: Book one of the villas. They are designed for serenity and privacy and have the best locations to face sunrises or sunsets.
Alternatively, book Patina Maldives, Fari Islands via:
Expedia | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © Capella Hotel Group
Romantic and family-friendly in equal measure, this remote resort offers spacious luxury villas spread across a tropical island wilderness. Visitors can expect five-star facilities, world-class cuisine, pristine beaches, and the famous Four Seasons service.
We love it for: The beach or water villas are private, comfortable, well designed, and with private infinity pools. They feature thatched roofs, coral walls, and interiors set in turquoise and sand colors.
Pro tip: Book here and access not one but two luxury resorts. South of the island is the five-star sister property Kuda Huraa, a private island linked by the luxury catamaran Four Seasons Explorer, cruising between the two places. Along the way, it drops anchor at exceptional dive sites, tiny uninhabited beaches, and remote island communities.
Alternatively, book Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru via:
Tablet Hotels | Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © Four Seasons Hotels Limited
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Located a fifty-minute speedboat ride from the Male airport — or a ten-minute seaplane hop — the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is part of a
remarkable “integrated development” project, housing three luxury resorts. The Ritz-Carlton is a fully-fledged five-star resort with one hundred villas (from one- to three-bedroom) and a range of facilities: a spa, dive center, kids club, tennis court, fitness center, and even a photography studio. One of the six restaurants is helmed by a Michelin-starred chef.
We love it for: All guests are cared for by a dedicated personal butler.
Pro tip: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is the third five-star property from the Marriott group in the country, following W Maldives and St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort (both of which we stayed at and reviewed).
Alternatively, book The Ritz-Carlton Maldives via:
Expedia | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © The Ritz-Carlton
Launched on the secluded island of Bodufushi, Joali Being is designed around a concept of transformative wellness. The resort offers a “fully immersive” well-being experience — personalized for each guest — and a range of wellness facilities are ready to realize this promise. Alongside thirty-nine treatment rooms, the spa complex has a salt inhalation room, hammam, water therapies, and even a Sensory Deprivation Room. The resort offers a whole spectrum of treatments and “alternative” health ceremonies; the focus on health also extends to cuisine.
We love it for: The villa design (by the architecture studio Autoban). The villas inspire a sense of harmony and balance. They feature gorgeous swimming pools and lounges that blend outdoor and indoor living.
Pro tip: Combine Joali Being with the stay at its sister resort JOALI Maldives Raa Atoll, one of our favorite resorts in the Maldives (don’t miss our review!)
Alternatively, book Joali Being via:
Expedia or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © Joali
“The [breakfast] spread was lavish, with literally everything on display, including a champagne station. Nothing kicks off the day like a glass of bubbly on the beach.”
— from our review of Vakkaru Maldives.
We were perfectly happy not to do much at Vakkaru other than relaxing by the pool, paying a visit to the overwater spa, or enjoying the beach and the intensely blue water of the lagoon. With beautifully-appointed accommodation, white sandy beaches, and excellent food, Vakkaru Maldives is a wonderful island hideaway set up perfectly for anyone seeking a private escape.
We love it for: The design overall. It artfully combines simple Maldivian themes with contemporary style and a “down-to-earth” feel with sophisticated luxury.
What you need to know: If you have money to burn, don’t hesitate to book the two-floor, overwater Four Bedroom Pool Residence. Decadent and sprawling, it guarantees total privacy and uninterrupted sunset views.
See the review from our stay: Vakkaru Maldives.
Alternatively, book Vakkaru Maldives via:
Tablet Hotels | Expedia | Agoda or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © Vakkaru Maldives
Raffles Maldives Meradhoo is the world-famous Raffles hotel brand’s debut in the Maldives. Located near the equator at the southern edge of Maldives, the exclusive resort comes with only thirty-eight guest villas. Guests benefit from four dining outlets, a Spa, and a fitness center.
We love it for: The standalone over-water villas, set in the shallows apart from the main island. They seem to be afloat in the ocean; the only way of getting to them is by boat.
What you need to know: This is a remote place, accessible by an hour-long flight from Male to Kaadedhdhoo Airport.
Alternatively, book Raffles Maldives Meradhoo via: Tablet Hotels | Expedia | Agoda | Hotels.com or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Photos © Raffles Hotels & Resorts
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Author: Travel+Style. Last updated: 15/09/2022
