The Maldives is one the most alluring destinations on the planet for the discerning traveller, blessed with immense natural beauty and out-of-this-world luxury hotels. With white sands, swaying palm trees and crystal blue waters, it's a picture of paradise.
But with so many hotels offering the highest standards, it can be difficult to decide where to stay. Here we take a look at five of the best luxury resort in the Maldives.
W Maldives Resort & Spa
At the very top end of the style spectrum is the fashionable W Maldives Resort & Spa, which will appeal to very discerning clientele in search of an exclusive address for their special holiday. Located via 25-minute seaplane transfer from Male, the hotel focuses on creating a mood exclusive to its brand, so you’ll see no expense spared when it comes to design, furnishings and state-of-the-art facilities.
This is a real jet-setters paradise with ‘Fish’, its signature seafood restaurant, and ‘Fire’, its authentic al-fresco BBQ, the dining highlights. A cool underground nightclub, ’15 Below’, also features guest DJ’s. The W’s lead-in room type here is the outstanding Beach Oasis, which features a plunge pool, 42” plasma TV and wine fridge to name jus a few of the inclusions.
One&Only Reethi Rah
The One&Only brand really is something special in the luxury travel market and its offering here is no different. Set over 44 hectares and featuring 12 beaches with ‘safe swimming’, guests have the freedom of the island – and some breathtaking luxuries in resort. Lead-in Beach Villas are enormous, with a personalised private bar, 24-Villa Host and a gorgeous bathroom with oversized tub and cascading shower.
There’s an adults only lap pool, daily yoga classes and a bunch of water sports, from wakeboarding to parasailing. By night, enjoy modern Japanese at Tapasake, seafood at Chef’s Garden or unwind with a Mediterranean speciality on the beach at Fandhita. The resort also features dedicated activities for those aged 12-17.
Shangri- La’s Villingili Resort & Spa
This delightful offering from Shangri-La will satisfy escapists and adventurers alike. Private self- contained villas offer direct beach access and their own encapsulated slice of heaven, while the wider resort lends opportunity to walk and cycle the length of the island via a promenade, where guests can also reach five other islands nearby.
One of the many other highlights here is the amazing Tree House Villa with Private Pool, perched on stilts above the ground. With soaring views over the Indian Ocean, it features an abundance of outside space. Although guests will be equally happy in the amazing lead-in Pool Villa with combined indoor and outdoor luxury living. Resort facilities include a CHI Spa, tennis courts and some sensational restaurants showcasing cuisine from Vietnam, India and Arabia.
Six Senses Laamu
Six Senses Resorts are renowned for their combination of great spa facilities and service, and it delivers this emphatically at this superb hotel on the privately owned island of Olhuveli in the Laamu Atoll.
Lead-in Beach Villas are allocated fabulous space and include private beach access, an outdoor covered bathroom with rain shower and a gorgeous viewing deck to soak up the rays. The hotel prides itself on its eco-friendly approach to further enhance its appeal to the environmentally conscious customer.
Niyama – By Per AQUUM
Niyama is a stunning paradise spanning not one but two islands – and featuring Subsix, the world’s first underwater nightclub which was officially opened last year and graced by a concert from Tinie Tempah. The club is joined to the resort’s floating signature restaurant, which is accessible only by boat, giving an air of exclusivity.
Guests can choose from beach or over water villas, some with fibre optic lit pools and all featuring a personal Thakuru (butler), a plasma TV, in-room deli style snacks and stepping-stones to your personal waterfall. All meal plans except all-inclusive are available here meaning you can get the very best out of the eight restaurants and bars on site.
These five luxury resorts were signalled out for praise by specialist luxury holiday provider Destinology
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