An idyllic island paradise, a honeymoon hotspot, or simply a vacation destination of a lifetime, whatever you want to call it, the Maldives are one of most beautiful places on Earth. There are over 1200 coral islands speckled across the Maldives, yet only 200 of these are inhabited. In 1972 the first resort, Kurumba Island Resort, opened its doors. Since then, 104 other resorts have sprung up across the Maldives.
Maldives vacations don’t exactly come cheap, so it’s worth spending a little extra time and effort to make sure that you choose the very best Maldives resort for your needs. Some come with a super laid-back vibe and a no-shoes-no-news policy, while others sit more on the fancy and opulent end of the scale. Whatever you like, there is a resort for you. We’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the best of the best when it comes to Maldives resorts, so you can pick your favourite in no time.
The One & Only Reethi Rah
Perhaps one of the most glamorous an opulent resorts located in the Maldives, One & Only Reethi Rah certainly is a celebrity hotspot and tropical playground for the glitterati. Take a look at any of the top 10 best Maldives resort lists and the One and Only is most likely to make an appearance.
This mega-resort has no less than 130 beautifully designed and appointed rooms, including nine incredibly spacious suites (see more photos of them here). A lovely touch, is that each villa comes with its own mobile phone which you can use to call your butler any time of day or night. Arguably the best room of the lot is Grand Beach Villa number 142. This is actually the villa where the Beckham’s and their family booked to celebrate Christmas on several occasions.
Facilities here are second to none, and you’ll find a fancy boutiques which sells some designer brands including Leboutions and Stella McCartney clothing. There’s also the famous London hair salon, Taylor Taylor, where you can enjoy a cocktail while having your locks nourished, cut and styled. It’s also home to the first ever National Geographic dive centre, where you can get your PADI certification or simply try out a begginer’s diving course. There are also tennis courts, 12 beaches, a huge 24-hour gym, and a whole host of fitness classes as well as 8 different places to dine.
If you like your vacations to be incredibly well put together with all the bells and whistles, then the One & Only Reethi Rah is definitely for you. The only downside that we can see is perhaps the cost, as rooms here start from a cool $2,000 a night – and that’s in low season. Rooms also get booked up extra fast, so make sure you book yours with plenty of time in advance. Click here to see the latest rates at One & Only Reethi Rah.
OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo
This relatively new Ozen by Atmosphere Maldives resort is wowing guests with its powdery right sands, dreamy palm fringed beaches, and laid-back vibe. You won’t find an inch of stuffiness or pretentious on this Maldives island resort. Instead, the friendly staff are happy to stop and chat, while many of the dining options are cool and casual.
The Ozen Resort accommodation is divided into two categories. There are the EARTH Villas which are located on the beach, and come with outdoor bathroom, huge monsoon showers, and sunset or sunrise views. Then there are the WIND Villas, which are those placed on stilts out in the ocean. All rooms incorporate a nautical theme with a range of blues and greens that compliment the stunning views outside (click here to see more photos). We particularly love how the WIND Villas feature over water Hammocks and stairs that lead right down into the shimmering turquoise lagoons that surround the island.
There are four main restaurants to choose from, each offering a little something for all tastes. Breakfast is a generous buffet which includes cold cuts, yoghurt, fresh exotic fruit, toast, porridge, and an egg station, and there’s also a cooked to order menu if you fancy something that’s more personalised. The highlight of the restaurants here has to be that underwater M6M restaurant. To enter, guests have to first descend down a beautiful winding staircase into the underwater dining area where you can watch incredible marine life dart around as you enjoy exceptional cuisine. Keep your eyes open for those baby sharks and eels who will probably make an appearance during dinner.
Facilities are also great, with a Spa that offers over water treatments, a fitness Lounge, sauna, steam room, Wi-Fi in all rooms, room service, and a kid’s club too. Overall, this resort is a good choice for families as kids are welcomed, and for anyone looking for a more casual atmosphere on their Maldivian get away. Click here for more photos and to book your stay at Ozen Maldives.
Milaidhoo Island Resort
Head on over to TripAdvisor, search for the best resorts in the Maldives and you will see Milaidhoo Island Resort sitting pretty on the top spot. This truly is a resort like no other, and every aspect has been designed to make you feel like you’re on your own private island. What really sets it apart is that each private villa has its own infinity pool which looks out onto the ocean.
There are just 50 suites on this chic boutique island resort. Each room comes with beautiful decor that features vibrant brights as well as cool tones to create a tropical island sanctuary with all the comforts from home. We love the addition of the outdoor swinging chairs as well, as the plush daybeds and steps down into the water from the villa decking (drool over more photos here) We will say the beach residence has to be the top pick of the lot, although you can’t go wrong with any of the accommodation options on this idyllic Island.
The facilities at Milaidhoo Resort are plentiful; You can head to the spa for a massage, where wonderful therapists use only natural products to relax and rejuvenate the body. If you’re on your honeymoon, then we can highly recommend a couples spa treatment package. This indulgent package includes a special creamy coconut scrub, a wonderful hour long massage, a facial as well as a couples bubble bath. There are no less than three major restaurants on the island, including one which says that traditional Maldivian fare, as well as the wonderful Ocean restaurant which has an enormous Banyan Tree as a centerpiece and offers up a mix of international favourites. A nice touches that room service is available 24 hours, so you can get snacks, ice creams and drinks any time of day or night. There is also a fully-equipped gym which is open around the clock, as well as yoga and fitness classes open to all guests.
It’s worth noting that no children under the age of 9 are allowed at this resort. It does actually have a very adults-only feel, compared to some of the other resorts we’ve listed in our guides. If you are travelling with several young children then we recommend you choose elsewhere for your Maldives vacation. Otherwise, if you’re on a romantic vacation for two, or even a honeymoon, the Milaidhoo Island Resort definitely impresses with its private pools, tropical rooms, friendly service and world-class food. Click here to see more photos and the latest deals on Miladhoo Resort.
How to Choose the Best Maldives Resort: Things to Take Into Consideration
When it comes to choosing the best Maldives resort for your needs, it’s easy to get caught up in endless hours of scrolling through dreamy beach photos. So much so that you can often forget some of the main things you need to take into consideration before you book.
One of the main things that you need to think about is what type of board is offered with your accommodation. Many of the Maldives hotels actually come as an all-inclusive option, which means all meals, drinks and quite often activities are included in your price of your stay. This is a particularly beneficial option for many, as everything has to be imported into the Maldives which means prices can skyrocket – especially for food and drinks. You can also choose to go for a half board option where breakfast and dinner is included in your stay. Some resorts just offer a room-only or breakfast-only option. Make sure that you double check the small print of what’s included with your Maldives resort stay before you book.
Another thing to think about is how to get to your resort. The two main ways to travel from the main international airport to any island resort are by speedboat or by seaplane. While speedboat is often cheaper and quicker, a seaplane journey can be one of the most incredible experiences and certainly adds to the magic. It’s also worth noting that seaplanes don’t travel at night, so you will need to plan your flights around this fact. Seaplanes will often be an additional cost to the resort package, but they can be organized for you.
Finally, one thing that many people forget to think about is the size of the island. If you are planning on a very long vacation for the Maldives, say or 2 weeks or more, you do want to think about how much space you have on the Maldives resort that you are thinking of staying at. Some people report that they actually feel what’s known as ‘Island fever’ because these resorts can often be very small. There are several ways you can get round this, either by choosing a very large resort with a lot of space to move around and explore, or you can even choose to break up your Maldives stay. You can choose a multi-stay option either, staying at two different Maldives resorts, or by stopping off in another country on the way such as Dubai or Singapore.
Tips For Getting the Best Maldives Resort Deals
The Maldives are not known for being a particularly wallet-friendly destination, however, there are a few little things that you can do to save some extra cash off your getaway. You can check out this article too for some of the best cheap Maldives holidays.
The main thing to think about is the time of year that you’re going to visit. High season brings with incredibly high prices as well as busy beaches. If you can go in the low season you’ll be able to score much better prices on Maldives resort deals, as well as get to enjoy quieter beaches with more space to yourself. However the low season does bring with it frequent rainfall, although it can be a rather enjoyable experience having a swim in the sea why the warm rain falls. Check out this article for the best time to visit the Maldives, and click here for some of the best Maldives deals around.
You can also try looking for Maldives package deals. Once upon a time, the only way to book a Maldives holiday was to purchase your flights and book your Maldives accomodation separately. Now, many of the big resorts are teaming up with major airlines to offer discounted Maldives package deals. Have a browse see what’s around before you book. You can even reach out directly to the resort and ask if they have any package deals available.
And finally, if you do want to book your flights and Maldives resorts separately, a good way to find some low-cost flights is to think about breaking up your trip to stop somewhere on the way. There actually aren’t many direct flights to the Maldives, so it’s something you’re going to have to do anyway, so why not build in a stop or choose to visit another holiday hotspot.
While it may seem like a lot to take into consideration, shopping for your Maldives vacation should be a pretty fun and enjoyable process. Take your time, do your research, browse the many photos, and check out some independent reviews and you’ll be sure to narrow down and pick the very best Maldives resort for your next vacation.
Remember, you can’t really go wrong with any of the resorts in the Maldives considering the tropical surroundings and island vibes they have going on there. Have a wonderful trip. Happy travels!
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