When you think of the top celebrity vacation spots around the world, St. Tropez, St. Barts, Bora Bora and of course the Maldives probably spring to mind. Comprised of over 1200 coral islands, swaying palms, and paper-white beaches, the Maldives have to be one of the most beautiful destinations you can travel to. Here you can indulge in some serious rest and relaxation, soak up those golden rays, swim with turtles and dolphins, be pampered in exclusive spas and dine on a private island under the stars.
So it comes as no surprise that many popstars, footballers, actresses and even royalty choose to vacation on one of the 110 islands that have Maldives hotels on them. These resorts actually have a rather strict (and fair) privacy policy, where they will not share any information on the celebrities that have stayed at their resorts. Luckily, we now have Instagram and other social media platforms, where many big names like to tag and share photographs of themselves frolicking on some paradise island. Do you want to see where the celebs jet-off to on their Maldives getaways? We’ve done a little detective work to reveal the top celebrity hotspots in the Maldives.
Mega-Chic: The One and Only Reethi Rah
The One and Only Reethi Rah is probably the top choice when it comes to celebrity hangouts in the Maldives. This mega-resort has a whopping 130 rooms, including nine uber-luxurious suites. Each villa comes kitted with its own mobile phone which you can use to call your assigned butler any time of day or night. You’ll also find celeb hair salon, Taylor Taylor, where you can enjoy a cocktail while having your hair cut and styled (perhaps next to a famous face)? It’s also home to the first National Geographic dive centre, where you can get your PADI certification or take a beginner’s course. There are also several tennis courts, 12 beaches, a 24-hour gym, and a huge selection of fitness classes as well as 8 different places to eat.
This resort is so celeb worthy that all the hotel staff wear designer sunglasses, and the boutique sells specially designed wedges that can be worn on sand! There is also a huge staff to guest ratio – with over 800 employees working on the island!
Celebrities that have been known to stay here include David Beckham, Gordon Ramsay, and Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and their families, Tom Cruise, American model and actress Milla Jovovich (who calls Reethi Rah ‘beyond amazing’) and Russell Crowe.
Arguably the best villas 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. Rumor has it that they have actually spent Christmas there three years in a row.
Unsurprisingly, this celebrity spot comes with a rather hefty price tag, although it is certainly worth it it. Rooms get booked up here particular quickly (especially villa 142), so make sure that you plan and book your trip with plenty of time in advance. Click here to see the latest deals at One & Only Reethi Rah.
Laid Back Cool: Anantara Kihavah Resort
Anantara Kihavah Resort is a lesser known celebrity hangout. It oozes a little more of that laidback island life vibe as opposed to the glittering opulence of Reethi Rah, but of course, it’s still luxurious place to stay. What sets this resort apart is that it is located in a UNESCO bioreserve area, so it’s exceptionally beautiful. It also has an underwater restaurant, where you can enjoy your meal while watching turtles, rays, and beautiful tropical marine life dart past the glass windows that surround you.
There are 80 different rooms and villas to choose from, although it’s the overwater collection that holds the crown jewels of their accommodation offerings. If you have a huge budget and you’re traveling with a group of friends or your family then you may want to take a look at the three-bedroom beach pool residence. This enormous space comes with its own spa shala where you can enjoy a massage any time of day or night, as well as your own 24-hour villa host, iPod docking system with a full bose sound system, a huge private pool surrounded by hammocks and daybeds, indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a wine fridge, a pantry and bathrooms that are stocked with Elements Spa products. Click here to check out more photos of Anantara Kihavah Resort and book your stay.
The popstar Ronan Keating says that this is his favorite Resort in the Maldives. He spent a vacation here with his famous fashion designer wife storm, as well as with his children. If you have a lis social media you can check out some of his best holiday snaps! Another person who loves to stay here is quite possibly the biggest footballer in the world, and that is Cristiano Ronaldo.
A Royal Hangout: Cheval Blanc Randheli Resort
This Maldives resort is fit for a King and Queen, quite literally as Prince William, and his beautiful bride Kate chose to stay here back in 2014. Apparently they picked the resort because of it’s incredible complete privacy (yep, it has its own private island).
Cheval Blanc Resort is located in the magical Noonu Atoll, and requires a 40-minute seaplane ride in order to get to. It’s a rather small island compared to some of the other mega resorts, and it features a distinctively different minimal and modern design and decor. There are 45 villas from which to take your pick – some tucked away on the beach and others perched over the glittering lagoon.
But William and Kate chose to go for the ultimate in private luxury – the Cheval Blanc Randheli Private Island. This 1-hectare hideaway features a four-bed villa, large outdoor pool, manicured grounds and even its own private spa area where you can enjoy massages and even treatments from the comfort of your own private island.
Guests staying here have access to staff around the clock, (they actually stay on-site), as well as a boat which can be used to explore nearby islands, or to go on fishing and snorkeling trips. The boat is also available to take guests to the main island at any time. Back at Cheval Blanc Resort on the main island, there are no less than five dining options, including the highly awarded Le 1947, as well as the much-loved Deelani Restaurant where you can dine al-fresco. If you look on any rating site you’ll see hoards of rave reviews from pasts guests. From the exceptional service to the world-class food, this resort really does have it all. Clink here to see more photos and to check out the latest deals on this royal Maldives resort.
A Reality TV Star Favorite: Kuramathi Island Resort
Guests staying at the Kuramathi Island resort have a choice to arrive by seaplane or by ferry. If you are thinking of booking a stay here, then we suggest you opt for the seaplane transfers if possible. The views are quite spectacular and you may find it’s a highlight of your trip.
So you probably want to know what celebrities have been spotted here? Well, Made in Essex star, Billie Faiers took a trip here with her fiance and daughter in 2018. Take a look at her Instagram feed back then and you will see a flurry of tropical photos that really show off the beauty of Kuramathi Island Resort. Famous musician, Myleene Klass, also took a vacation here last year and spoke very highly of the resort.
Kuramathi Island Resort really captures the more laid-back vibe of island life. No stuffy, OTT decor here. Instead you’ll finding charming over the water thatched villas, and quaint furnishings that really complement the beautiful natural scenery. There are a selection of beach, water, and honeymoon pool villas to choose from. All come with the mod cons you would expect from some a wonderful resort, including a fully stocked minbar, flat screen TV, loungers, soundsystem, air con, fluffy robes and more.
Kuramathi Island Resort has a rather full and varied activity list to keep guests of all ages entertained. There is a waters ports center where you can pick up things like snorkels and flippers, hire a stand up paddle board or even try your hand at kayaking over the glassy waters. You can also choose to book a hair-raising ride on a banana boat or fun tube.
Kids over the age of 12 (as well as adults) may choose to take part in windsurfing lessons, catamaran lessons and private watersport tours around the island. Excursions here include big game fishing, catamaran sunset cruises, snorkel safaris, island hopping and a semi submarine trip underwater. When day turns to night, you can enjoy movie nights on the pristine beach, live musicians and starlit discos. If sports are your thing, then you’ll love the floodlit tennis courts and the fully-equipped gym. It is also worth noting that this resort is very kid-friendly, and there is an on-site kids club as well as a baby sitting service.
Besides from the wonderful facilities, beaches, staff and villas, another bonus of this resort is that it is rather-wallet-friendly in comparison to the other Maldives resorts that are listed here. Click here to take a look at the best deals on Kurumathi and to book your stay.
How to Get Celebrity-Worthy Maldives Deals for Cheap
One of the best ways to score super low prices on Maldives resorts is to book a trip in the quiet season. The off peak season runs between April and November. During this time, many resorts actually slash the rates of their rooms, so you can pick up a great deal on your Maldives accommodation. The resorts also tend to be less busy during these months too, so you will enjoy a much quieter trip away. Saying that though, the rates lower primarily because the weather changes during these months. You can expect rainfall, sometimes on a daily basis. But every ‘cloud has a silver lining’, and luckily this rain tends to pass quickly, plus it’s lovely and warm so you can still enjoy a dip in the ocean when it pours.
If you absolutely want to travel during the high season when you can expect more hours of sunshine everyday, then it goes without saying that you should avoid the major holidays such as Christmas and New Year. During this time, rates can be inflated by 500%, yikes! Plus they get booked up way in advance.
When it comes to finding cheap flights to the Maldives, it pays to be flexible with the dates that you can go away. Use a flight compare search engine such as Skyscanner to the check the flights over a whole month period for the cheapest flights to the Maldives from your destination. You can also try splitting up your getaway into a multi-stay trip so that you can stop in another beautiful destination on the way.
If you want to learn more about how to get crazy low prices for your next vacation, then check out this article on budget stays in the Maldives. You can also click here to check out the latest deals on Maldives resorts.
While these celebrity hotspots may have all the bells and whistles, truth is, that no matter what resort you choose in the Maldives, you will be sure to have an incredible time. Funny enough, staff at the top Maldives resorts don’t care if you are famous or not – most will treat all guests as royalty. With endless azure waters, those powdery sands, and that friendly Maldivian service, you really can’t go wrong with a trip here. Happy travels.
