Best Luxury Hotels in Maldives

The Kuda Villingli resort is a paradise on earth due to its turquoise sea and lush forests. The hotel’s villas fuse Asian design aspects with traditional Maldivian styles to create elegant and inviting places to stay. Guests have a choice of beachfront villas or over-ocean villas, both of which have Egyptian cotton bed linen and private pools. The Kuda Villingi is home to an exclusive spa, the Maldive’s largest pool, surf spots and exceptional dive spots, guests will simply never get bored. The resort is home to many different dining establishments ranging from the chic Restaurant which serves classic local dishes to Mar-Umi which serves Peruvian Japanese fusion dishes which are bound to excite the palate of even the toughest food critics. It is also home to a beachfront bar, Mediterranean restaurant, Korean restaurant, and Indian-Arabic fusion restaurant.

A complimentary speedboat transfer will deliver you from the airport to this idyll on the private Furanafushi Island in less than half an hour. After getting settled into your thatched overwater bungalow, you can choose whether to visit the Shine Spa, swim in the freshwater pool, play tennis, take a yoga class, book a dive session, or unwind with a beverage at the Anchorage or Beach Bars. When you’re feeling peckish you can snack on dim sum at Chopstix, tuck into steak and seafood at Sea Salt Beach Grill or dine at Baan Thai, eat anytime at Feast and al fresco at the Masaala Hut.

A conch shell will be blown to herald your arrival at this five-star idyll. It boasts a Bamford Spa, activities (arts and culture workshops, a kid’s programme, kayaking, snorkelling, volleyball and tennis) and an amazing circular overwater pool with a terrace of nap pods. Guests can eat at Culinary Island, Grand Sunset Beach and Fari Marina Village, with Italian food at La Locanda, Middle Eastern fare at Arabesque, family-friendly meals at the Beach Shack and Cantonese flavours at the Summer Pavilion. The indoor areas melt into the outdoors in The Ritz-Carlton’s villas and suites, all of which are served by an Aris Meeha personal butler​. The Residence has a private outdoor pool, its own spa room and a full kitchen with a dining room and an al fresco eating area.

The brand’s name reflects its approach to unique resort design. Here 122 thatched villas, many with their own pools and all designed by Jean Michel Gathy, are found beside the beach or suspended over the calm lagoon. One&Only Reethi Rah is found on the North Malé Atoll , with no fewer than twelve powder-like beaches just made for picnics, swims and boating ventures. It’s a deeply romantic place, yet caters for all kinds of groups, with a KidsOnly club offering dynamic activities, including rock climbing and badminton. The resort is home to the Maldives’ first PADI National Geographic dive centre and seven drinking and dining venues.

Land via seaplane and check into your private villa (one of 73) on Muravandhoo. An unspoilt idyll, the resort is committed to maintaining the local ecosystem, having banned single-use plastic and preserved 1000 trees in its build. Joali’s ESPA spa caters to adults and kids alike, and little ones have their own range of activities beyond, with junior chef classes, treasure hunts and native storytelling. You may want a romantic meal for two on your own terrace, or to arrange a BBQ on the beach. But there are also several dining venues onsite: Vandhoo, Bellinis, Saoke, Mura Bar And Lajoi.

Having been around for 50 years, this resort has continually reinvented itself, while maintaining a reputation as one of the finest in the Maldives. Book a villa, a suite, or the Baros Residence, with designer toiletries, a deep free-standing tub, an outdoor shower with palms and plants, 24-hour butler service and a private infinity pool. There are so many places and ways to dine here; consider a romantic meal on the floating Piano Deck, aboard a dhoni at sea or in The Lighthouse. Indulge in some spa treatments, unwind in the Relaxation Sala, or take a class led by the in-house yogi.

Searching for somewhere especially remote? The Thaa Atoll will provide that luxury castaway feel. Take the beautiful 60-minute seaplane journey to the resort (which is a highlight in itself), where you can check into your suite, villa or water bungalow, with up to two bedrooms. Eat the freshest sushi and sashimi at Tai, dine anytime of day at Madi, and enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere at Thila. Menus are based around COMO Shambhala Cuisine, a healthy cooking concept, with gourmet meals available in the privacy of your own accommodation. And guests can take advantage of the wellness options at the resort’s COMO Shambhala Retreat.

Choose from either overwater or beach villas at The Standard. There are 115 in total, with mood lighting and infinity pools, each providing easy access to the protected house reef, for some scuba, snorkel and sailing action. The hotel’s spa has a hammam, a cypress steam room, a meditation studio and aerial yoga classes. And the four eateries include the overwater Maldivian restaurant, Guduguda. The Standard has an inflatable water park, a kids club and a programme of entertainment, such as traditional Maldivian Boduberu, beach movie nights and karaoke.

This minimalist Maldivian paradise features 80 freestanding villas, offering a mix of luxurious beachfront and overwater accommodations, each with its own private pool. The resort’s dining options are impressive, including an overwater Mediterranean restaurant, a beachside churrascaria, and a vibrant teppanyaki grill. The resort’s unique spa is set in air-conditioned treehouses above a grove of palm trees, providing a variety of tropical treatments, from ritual Thai massages to red coral facials. For those seeking adventure, the resort offers a range of activities such as diving, kayaking, and windsurfing, all enhanced by the stunning Indian Ocean backdrop.

Interactive sculptures and curated artworks accent the spaces in this deeply stylish and contemporary beach resort. Guests are accommodated in 90 Beach and Water Pool Villas each with between one and three bedrooms, or 20 Fari Studios. Patina offers 12 dining concepts (including a beach club, an Aegean kitchen on the sands, a tuk-tuk serving gelato and a Japanese-Nordic fusion restaurant. There’s also a Footprints Kids Club, a dive school by Dive Butler International and a watersports centre. And a calendar of events presents the likes of artisanal craft workshops, holistic healing sessions, modern art exhibitions and themed feasts.

Home to the Maldives’ first-ever Medi-spa, this retreat is in the Raa Atoll. Choose from 150 villas, some over-water, duplexes, others on the beach and those best suited to family groups. Depending on the category, you can benefit from butler service and a private pool, with those in ocean suites able to dine at an overwater restaurant and exclusive bar. There are five further restaurants, providing buffets, grilled seafood, Sri Lankan fine dining and a chef’s table, plus several bars with views to die for. Plus there are two swimming pools, a playground, a kids club, futsal fields, tennis courts and watersports.

Occupying a private island in the Haa Alifu Atoll this award-winning resort offers beach and overwater villas, as well as private residences – all categories have their own pools. There are also three main pools, including one designed for children. Ayurvedic treatments are offered at the Calm Spa sanctuary and the watersports centre provides opportunities to explore the surrounding reef. Guests can take meals (including a refined afternoon tea) and drinks at seven venues, one of which provides wine and food pairings in the Maldives’ deepest subterranean wine cave, made from lava stone.