Scattered like stepping stones across the Indian Ocean are the celestial Maldivian islands. For many, a trip to the Maldives is the holiday of a lifetime. But with nearly 200 resorts and hotels dotted around the various islands, the choice is nothing short of overwhelming. To help narrow the search, we’ve rounded up some of the best for all budgets…
Affordable
A boho chic vibe runs throughout this long, fish-shaped island. Kanuhura feels wild and pristine enough to have those Crusoe-style moments but small enough to nip back for a forgotten book. Cycle to breakfast beneath a forest of coconut and papaya trees and explore vast empty beaches where hammocks sway between palm trees. The 80 rooms are detached wooden cabins, including 20 built on stilts over the azure shallows, all minimalist whites and pale wood decorated with bright abstract artwork. A 30-minute boat ride takes guests to swim over shoals of bright blue and yellow surgeon fish and four-metre manta rays while the Kokaa Spa’s therapists offer body masks infused with crushed pearl and Himalayan crystal salt or warm mud blended with fresh seaweed, ginger and orange. There’s even a kids’ club where 4-11-year-olds can go on treasure hunts or dress up as pirates and sail to Jehunuhura, the hotel’s island where there’s also a tiny restaurant.
Insider Tip: Head to the tipi tent section of the beach just before sunset to get the most insta worthy pics. The beaded swings at the bar are a great addition to the pics.
Rooms from AED 1,607 per night.
This new five-star resort which opened in October 2021 comes complete with 21 room categories, the Maldives' biggest floating water park and a premium all-inclusive concept. Set across a natural 54-hectares the island is blessed with more than four kilometres of white sandy beaches and six kilometres of house reef. Siyam World is on a mission to bring guests the broadest offering of unique experiences in the Maldives, including the country’s biggest floating waterpark, an array of family-programmes focused on fun-filled learning at the Little Explorers kids’ club, as well as more traditional activities for couples including spa treatments, snorkelling, diving and sunset excursions. The peerless WOW! premium all-inclusive concept allows foodies to enjoy around-the-clock access to dining, with more than a dozen restaurants and bars to choose from spanning authentic Italian and Indian cuisines as well as gourmet vegetarian and vegan dining. Unlimited beverages as well as an alluring selection of health, fitness and wellness activities and excursions are also included in the rate, from watersports to sunset fishing trips.
Insider Tip: The resort is running many opening offers making it a great time to book.
Rooms from AED 2,337 per night
Finolhu is a retro-styled island resort that recalls the glamour of the Sixties jet set, who would fly off to St Tropez for a hedonistic weekend. Every afternoon, by the main pool is a beach party atmosphere, with passed snacks for grazing – some served out of a sky-blue VW camper van – and a mixologist behind the bar. Come sundown, the two-storey DJ platform kicks into higher gear and lasts well past midnight. There are plans for a monthly full-moon tribal party on the sandbar that extends from the main island, and four times a year there will be a blowout extravaganza with global entertainers and big-name DJs spinning for guests. Furnishings in the thatched roof 125 villas are retro-inspired (think colourful rugs that wouldn’t look out of place in That ’70s Show), and there’s a classic Marshall speaker in every room; some villas have record players. There’s not so much room service as “Mojo” service, with a button on the bedside telephone labelled Mojo Magic. Bathrobes are emblazoned with the word ROCKSTAR across the back, and all your in-room information comes in the form of vintage postcards. The other difference, and one reiterated to me by a member of staff, is that no matter how funky the details, this isn’t a room you want to linger in all day. And that’s intentional – Finolhu is a social space.
Insider Tip: Sneak in some me time at The Cove Club, where pastel-coloured treatment cottages are called “divans” and named after Sixties divas, like Cher or Bette (as in Midler) – there’s even a pop art portrait of each woman inside.
Rooms from AED 2,118 per night.
LUXE
Gili Lankanfushi is an unpretentious resort which will indulge your inner castaway. A 20-minute speed boat ride from Malé lands you at this romantic Robinson Crusoesque resort where a Man (or Woman) Friday is assigned to each guest, catering to your every whim. Here, it’s all about relaxing and embracing your bohemian spirit – going barefoot is encouraged. The resort echos a ‘No news, no shoes’ mantra with a commitment to the subtle details. Bicycles come with cotton pedal covers and cold floors are pre-prepared with hot water bottles for your feet. Rustic palm-thatched villas girdled by blue lagoon waters, silky white-sand beaches, and lush vegetation await your arrival. Gili is one of the Maldives’ most eco-friendly resorts, built with sustainable materials, an organic vegetable garden, and a coral sustainability programme. Plastic is banned, glass bottles are recycled as building materials, food waste is composted, and organic toiletries (offered in a variety on fragrances) come in earthenware containers. Activities are tailored to your mood and rhythm. From yoga sessions in a sea-front champa, to exploring the reef teeming with small sharks, turtles, and rays with the resident marine biologist. Relax at Meera Spa – a haven of peace above the lagoon, and watch fish from glass floor panels while being pampered from one of 30 different treatments. End your evening in the open-air Jungle Cinema. By night the main restaurant turns into a culinary journey featuring virtuoso cooking displays from around the world. At the resort’s Japanese restaurant, By the Sea, chefs conjure up outstanding sushi, sashimi, and Japanese fusion dishes.
Insider Tip: Don’t miss the wine tasting experience in the underground cellar!
Rooms from AED 7,044 per night.
Located on the Shaviyani Atoll, which boasts one of the country's largest resort lagoon, Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi is more than just your personal hideaway. The "secret water island" as dubbed by the locals glistens like a pearl. Poster white sand beaches fringed with swaying palms, kissed by the turquoise waters of the 600-hectare lagoon that gives way to the tranquil blues of the Indian Ocean and a never-ending horizon. Sirru Fen Fushi can be reached from Malé in a spectacular 60-minute seaplane journey. Aside from myriad water-based activities, visitors can take an authentic Maldivian cookery class or head out on a cultural tour of the island to learn about the archipelago’s colourful heritage. The resort has 120 villas, all decorated in a contemporary Maldivian style, but one of our favourites is the Deluxe Beach Sunrise Villa, which includes a modern master bedroom, private plunge pool, and a large garden area surrounded by lush mangroves. Book a treatment at the Willow Stream Spa and eat your way around the many restaurants.
Insider Tip: Be sure to check out the unique underwater art installation — the Coralarium. Designed by award-winning British artist Jason deCaries Taylor, linking the skyline, waterline and seabed and acting as an artificial reef.
Rooms from AED 6,379 per night.
The hotel is a 35-minute seaplane ride north of Malé in the Baa Atoll, a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve that attracts whale sharks and the world's largest gathering of manta rays. For a two-stop trip, the property can arrange a direct seaplane transfer to sister resort Four Seasons Kudaa Huraa in the North Malé Atoll or a leisurely three, four or seven-night journey aboard the brand's liveaboard catamaran, Four Seasons Explorer. This grown-up, sophisticated retreat creates a sense of tropical grandeur with its coconut boulevard leading from the arrival jetty to an enormous two-level open-air reception. Traditional Maldivian architecture is complemented with chic contemporary interiors, while the resort's dazzling white sandbank stretching out into the Indian Ocean adds the wow factor. Service is smooth, friendly and passionate. A unique service at the resort is the ayurvedic consultation where the resident physician analyses your dosha (mind-body) type and gives you diet and lifestyle recommendations accordingly.
Insider Tip: The manta-on-call service is exhilarating – when the research team spot the gentle giants at sea, you're notified and given 30 minutes to grab your kit and head to the speedboat.
Rooms from AED 7,081 per night.
ULTRA LUXE
Easily one of the most stylish resorts in the Maldives, JOALI is set on the 24-acre island of Muravandhoo, and is easily reached from Malé via a 45-minute seaplane. The enormous villas, exemplary service, exquisite food and fabulous amenities exceed most people’s expectations by some considerable margin. From the first hello to the final farewell, you’ll want for nothing. This is also one of the most sensuous resorts you could hope to visit – it’s all about delighting the senses. Maldivian traditions are melded with contemporary art and high-tech wizardry, resulting in an exquisite expression of form and function. You’ll find pieces by artist Porky Hefer that you can sit on, climb and even dine in, while glassmaker Feleksan Onar and sculptor Seckin Pirim have filled the villas with their striking work. There’s even an underwater sculpture to enjoy. The fantastic staff will remember your name, and you’ll have your own jadugar, or concierge, who’ll see to your every need. Facilities include a kids' club, pool, dive centre with jet-skis, an excellent gym, sea bobs, kayaks, paddle boards and lots more. There’s an Espa spa and outdoor studio where you can do sunrise yoga, and a driver and buggy to transport you to and from your villa.
Insider Tip: If wellness is more your thing, look out for JOALI Being, the property’s sister resort which is set to open later this month.
Rooms from AED 9,275 per night.
Of all the luxurious lairs in the turquoise-fringed, white sanded islands of the Maldives, Cheval Blanc Randheli is the most elegant. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, the 45 villas, some over water, others lining the beach, brim with bespoke, artistic details under thatched, cathedral-like, roofs. In the unspoilt Noonu Atoll, some 40 minutes by seaplane from Malé airport and within easy speed boat reach of some excellent snorkelling and diving spots frequented by spinner dolphins. Villas are vast in scale, yet detail driven, where guests are immersed in sensory hedonism. Vibrant yellow features throughout the resort: found on huge ceramic pots that border sleek swimming pools, as a colour spot above the bath by French artist Vincent Beaurin, and in the candles of Island Chic created for the hotel by Franҁois Demachy, the nose of Christian Dior. The feeling of space and privacy, aided by the lush vegetation, impresses. A dedicated majordomo (butler), looks after you and plans your day, from unpacking your suitcase and ironing crumpled clothes to booking restaurants or diving expeditions to fine-tuning a bath filled with frangipani flowers. Bicycles come with each villa. Facilities include yoga and meditation with Master Puneet, to exercise classes in the gym to tennis courts and a boot camp workout on another island. There is also a golf simulator and water sports from paddleboards to seabobs. The Dive centre runs snorkelling and diving expeditions and dolphin cruises. There's also a Kid’s club with indoor and outdoor activities and a Concept store overflowing with designer brands.
Insider Tip: The only Guerlain Spa in the Maldives sits across the water on its own island, treatment rooms between the palm trees.
Rooms from AED 11,570 per night.
A scenic 45-minute seaplane ride from Malé takes you to an exclusive private island — the perfect place to be stranded. The brilliant turquoise waters go on and on until the house reef off in the distance. There is very little boat traffic and unobstructed views. The 27 villas come in seven categories starting with a One Bedroom Water Retreat (with no slide due to the low tide), up to their brand new Four Bedroom Island Reserve with a massive pool. You’ll never want to leave your spacious overwater villa. A few of the over-the-top features include private lagoon access from the bathroom, hanging swing chairs, high-end wooden fans and a hidden television, made to look like a set of luggage, with 700 film choices. And, of course, there are the signature slides located on the second floor of most villas. The elegant interiors are designed in perfect harmony with their stunning setting, with signature al fresco bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows and large glass portholes into the lagoon below. The staff are friendly and relaxed with your Mr. or Ms. Friday taking care of all your wants and needs. The facilities are clustered in one spot – rent one of the bikes and cycle there from your villa along the wooden path. A 15-minute buggy ride through the connected island’s dense jungle is the overwater Japanese restaurant, serving a four-course kaiseki menu and screening films from the overwater cinema five nights a week. There's also an outdoor observatory with one of the strongest telescopes in the Indian Ocean.
Insider Tip: Opt for the Soneva Jani Unlimited package enabling you to fully experience every facet of the resort to your hearts’ desire within the villa price - including all fine dining and wines, spa treatments, signature experiences and more.
Rooms from AED 9,668 per night.
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