Milaidhoo Island is causing waves on the luxury travel scene. Hop on over to Tripadvisor, and you’ll see that this paradise island resort sits at the number one spot for best traveller review rated hotel in the Maldives. If you have a browse through the hundreds of reviews, you’ll struggle to find a bad word about Milaidhoo Island Resort. Past guests sing praise after praise, calling this resort “A beautiful slice of heaven on earth”, “beyond expectation”, and “unrivalled luxury”.
So exactly what exactly makes Milaidhoo Island Resort so special? Is it the 50 suburb suites that come with a freshwater pool and are island-vibe decor? Or perhaps it’s the incredible team of smiling staff (apparently there are three staff members available per guest on the island). From pools to pina coladas, we’ve done the detective work to bring you the complete guide to the Milaidhoo Island resort, and what makes it the very best of the best.
Location & Getting There
Milaidhoo Island Resort is spread over a spacious 13 hectares, meaning that you’ll always find a quiet spot of beach to bask on. It’s located in the Baa Atoll, which is a Unesco Bioreserve protected area. Getting there requires a 35-minute seaplane ride, although it’s hardly a chore. After arriving at Male International Airport, you will be guided to the nearby Milaidhoo private lounge where you can sip of champagne as you wait for your plane to paradise.
All you need to do is to provide the resort with your plane details at least 48 hours prior to your arrival, and they will organize everything for you. The seaplane ride is shared with other guests, but concierge will be happy to arrange your own private seaplane transfer if you prefer.
Seaplanes can only depart during daylight hours, but unlike most other resorts, there is another way to get to the resort.. If your flight arrives after 15:30, then you can choose to take a 15-minute flight to Dharavandhoo Airport, and from there a 15-minute speedboat to the island.
Resort Accommodation Options
This Maldives resort provides a truly tropical home away from home with 50 suites to choose from, some on the pristine beach and some over the water. All villas come with a freshwater private pool. The area surrounding the pool is thoughtfully decorated with linen-covered oversized daybeds, comfy loungers with parasols, swing chairs and a spacious sun deck.
If you’re traveling with children, then we recommend staying at the Beach Pool Villas, these beauties come with 180-degree ocean views, and are lined with lush tropical palm trees and greenery to ensure seclusion and privacy. In the room you’ll find a huge flat screen TV, air con, a fully stocked mini-bar, coffee machine as well as delightful custom-made furnishings that perfectly complement the natural beauty outside of your window. The bathrooms are pretty impressive too, and they come with an indoor shower, a deep soak tub, as well as an open rain shower in the garden area so you can shower under the stars. A nice touch is the full-sized luxury toiletries that have been designed by Acqua di Parma.
If you dream about staying on the water, then we suggest booking a stay at the overwater pool villa which are positioned on stilts and crafted from naturally sourced materials. The private pool on these is a whooping for 62 square meters, which makes that one of the largest private pools in the Maldives! Inside, the bed faces the ocean, so you’ll be able to wake up and watch the sunrise or sunset from under the sheets.
A lovely touch is the bathroom which has a glass floor under the tropical rain shower, so you can marvel at the rainbow-coloured marine-life that swims below. When you book a stay here you’ll receive all sorts of extras, including a bottle of champagne on arrival, in-demand movies, a welcome fruit basket, teas and coffees, a turn down service as well as the ability to book a late check-out subject to availability.
And finally, if budget is no limit and you really want to go for the best of the best, then we recommend booking the ocean residence. This overwater gem is nearly double the size of the Ocean Pool Villas at 475 square meters. The Ocean Residence is actually built over two floors, as you’ll find a secret loft deck above the main bedroom which overlooks the ocean. The loft is a lovely spot to enjoy Sundowner or two. The Villa is able to accommodate two adults and one child that is over the age of 9, or it can be set up to host three adults. You will have access to a butler, and a dedicated chef who is able to customize your meals according to your tastes and requirements. You’ll also have a private Outdoor Cinema evening (which is set-up on your deck) during your stay, as well as a VIP greet and meet at the airport, and a free one-day excursion of your choice during your stay.
Restaurants and Bars
Foodies will fare well here as this is a resort that’s serious about food. They provide a focus on crafting light, clean and delicious food with a blend flavors and inspirations. There are three restaurants and two bars that you can choose from. They also have a policy that no shoes are required at any of the restaurants ever, which is perfect for true island-style dining without those pretentious vibes.
Ba’theli Restaurant really stands out as it’s set on a floating Lagoon and set inside of a traditional wooden dhoni boat. On the deck you’ll find the restaurant where you can dine under the Starlit skies. The food is influenced by traditional Maldivian cuisine. Expect freshly caught Seafood with a gourmet twist. They are also able to cater for other dietary requirements including vegan and vegetarian food.
If you want to dine on the soft sand then head to the Shoreline Grill, which serves up delights such as Pacific oysters, wagyu beef, and a river shrimp soup. They have a special Teppanyaki table, where the chefs will come over and ask you exactly what you want to eat, then cook up dishes based on your selections. They also offer wine tasting sessions with the Sommelier. Drinks here are exceptionally good. Try the ‘Oh, Snap’ cocktail, which comes with chili-infused gin, basil leaves and chargrilled tomatoes.
Room service is available on this resort, and it doesn’t just mean someone dropping off your food in your bedroom. The chefs can actually create a very special dinner set-up on your deck, complete with candles, lanterns and even rose petals if you so choose. It’s good to know that the room service here is open 24-hours.
They also offer a very special destination dining menu which includes a set breakfast called the ‘Sunrise Awakening’. This includes champagne with fresh berries, fruit skewers with coconut and lime, mango yogurt and mint, and smoked salmon and caviar, as well as European pastries, Illy Coffee and ann assortment of Twinings Tea.
Facilities, Attractions and Excursions
If you love the underwater world, then you’ll be in your element with a stay here. The nearby reefs are a home to all manner of tropical marine life, including turtles, dolphins, rays, and even friendly sharks! The resort has a five-star PADI Center where you can take part in reef dives, night dives, and nitrox dives if that’s your thing. The knowledgeable team offer diving options for everyone from first-timers to pros.
Another way to enjoy the water is to head to the watersports center and hire a range of non-motorized equipment such as kayaks, windsurfers, catamarans, SUPs and snorkeling gear. There are also stand up paddle boarding sunset tours.
No visit to a Maldivian island resort is complete without a massage or three. The Serenity Spa is perhaps one of the prettiest spas in the Maldives, It features four overwater treatments room that overlook the ocean. The well-thought out holistic menu incorporates natural ingredients and healing African-inspired treatments. If you are holidaying with a loved one (or even on your honeymoon), then we recommend the Romantic Spa Treatment for Couples. This includes a 30-minute tropical coconut sand scrub, a 30minute steam bath for two, and a freestyle deep tissue massage as well as an Elemis facial.
It’s pretty hard to get bored when living in such a paradise, but there are still the range of activities to keep all ages and entertained. You can choose to go on a private cruise where you can dolphin-watch while sipping champagne. There are also starry night cruises for you and your loved one. This Island Resort has a whole list of activities available to choose from, and you can view a more detailed list on their website. You can also email them and they will create dedicated excursion itinerary according to your requests.
A fun and educational feature that you won’t find anywhere else in the Maldives is the marine biologist offering. Sign up to this and you can go under the wing of two resident marine biologists and learn all about the local marine life in the world-famous Hanifaru Bay.
Quite possibly our favorite activity of the lot is the new ‘sleeping under the stars’ experience. The team will set up four-poster lined bed for you in the middle of a deserted sandbank. You’ll have access to a private yacht where you can use the dressing room, shower and bathroom, as well as all of the luxury products that you also have in your Villa. The bed will be surrounded by battery powered lanterns as well as candles, and a sundowner will be served before you are left to enjoy the secluded sandbank with your partner. You will be provided with a mobile phone in case you want to call your dedicated butler at anytime of day or night. The staff can also arrange for a morning yoga session and a full breakfast spread before you are collected and taken back to your villa.
The Gourmet All-Inclusive Plan
You can choose to book an accommodation-only stay here, and purchase all your food and drinks separately, but that can work out to be pretty costly indeed. Another option is to go for their Gourmet Plan, which will include breakfast, lunch at Compass Pool bar and then dinner either at Ocean, or the Shoreline Grill. You will also have unlimited alcoholic or soft drinks from any of the bars, including the house selection of premium wines. The only thing that the gourmet plan does not include are in-room dining and snacks and drinks from the minibar.
Eco-Friendly Initiatives
Like many of the top resorts in the Maldives, Milaidhoo Island Resort has a number of initiatives in place to ensure that they are running an eco-friendly operation that has minimal impact on the environment. They have been offering a coral adoption program for quite some time, which allows guests to be able to plant coral and watch it grow over the years. Another lovely touch that the honeymoon package includes the ability to name a star up in the heavens!
Are you tempted to book a stay at Milaidhoo Island Resort? Us too! Click here to see more photos and find the very latest deals on Milaidhoo Island Resort. If you need a little extra booking a Maldives vacation, then you may want to check out our other favourite Maldives hotels as well as our guide to everything you need to know before you go to the Maldives.
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