Widely considered the most exclusive holiday destination on the planet, the Maldives embodies the ultimate tropical paradise getaway for honeymooners, sun worshippers, discerning travelers, divers and celebrities.The incredibly beautiful islands are the visible coral tips of an oceanic volcanic range whose outer edges at some points plunge to depths of more than 3 km (10,000 feet). The archipelago is blessed with some of the most amazing beaches in the world, crystal-clear turquoise lagoons, phenomenal underwater wildlife and unrivalled luxury resorts that occupy their own private islands.
Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Maldives
1.Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa ⭐⭐⭐
Located on a private island 400 km (250 miles) south of Malé and 55 km (35 miles) north of the equator on one of the world’s deepest atolls, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Hyatt’s only five-star luxury hotel in the Maldives, blesses its guests with a barefoot luxury resort experience.The elegant interiors of the 50 villas are luxuriously designed and furnished to ensure guest comfort and privacy, while maintaining environmental sensitivity. The accommodations are located within the island’s tropical foliage, just steps from the turquoise waters or perched on the water with panoramic ocean views.All villas have direct access to the beach or ocean and have floor-to-ceiling windows with doors leading to a private terrace, some equipped with a personal diving pool.the complex is framed by a fascinating and vast coral reef with diverse marine life, more abundant and varied than anywhere else in the Maldives.
2.COMO Maalifushi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
COMO Maalifushi is the only luxury resort located on the pristine Thaa atoll of the Maldives, located in the unspoilt southern corner of the archipelago.As a sister property to the much admired Cocoa Island, COMO Maalifushi offers excellent surfing and diving with whale shark sightings and seasonal manta. Designed by Japanese architect Koichiro Ikebuchi, the intimate property not only reflects his sensitive approach to nature and cultural authenticity, but also embodies the spirit of the Indian Ocean and the understated elegance of the COMO brand.The resorts 33 above-water and garden villas are elegantly decorated, with oak floors, decorative netting strips around the beds, and thatch pools. The famous COMO health approach is available here, with delicious spa cuisine from the COMO Shambhala Retreat, which also offers Asian-based therapies, exercise and yoga with a results-oriented agenda.
3.Six Senses Laamu ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Six Senses Laamu is the only resort on Laamu Atoll, deep in the Indian Ocean. A scenic inter-island flight from Malé and a short boat ride will take you to a palm-fringed island paradise of 97 sustainable Maldivian-style villas nestled in the turquoise waters and lush tropical vegetation in front of the lagoon.Yin Yang, the most famous surfing wave in the Maldives, breaks right into the open ocean. There are beginner’s waves nearby and great snorkeling is available at the house reef, where it’s common to see sweet oriental lips, parrot fish and even green turtles as you go. The resorts chefs prepare dishes created from produce grown in the island’s organic gardens, enhanced by the tropical views.The highly skilled therapists and visiting practitioners at Six Senses Spa offer a wide range of award-winning exclusive treatments, rejuvenation and wellness specialties.
4.Velaa Private Island ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Located in Noonu Atoll, 110 miles (187 km) north of Malé, Velaa Private Island is the realization of a dream to create an exclusive hideaway “beyond luxury” where guests are treated like kings.Named after the generations of sea turtles that come here to nest and hatch, Velaa was developed to embody the best of this unique archipelago, bathed by blue skies in the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean. The complex consists of 45 private villas, homes and exclusive residences, with capacity for 1 to 10 people, and also includes a romantic residence with a pool that can only be reached by boat, allowing for greater exclusivity.Each villa has a personal butler, all services offered can be tailored to personal specifications and the attention to detail is impeccable: desert stone flooring in Jordan, Indonesian flower pots, luxury wood panelling from Borneo and shiny Italian marble.
5.The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Located on Dhaalu Atoll, a 40-minute seaplane ride southwest of Malé, the iconic St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is surrounded by dreamlike scenery, thick tropical vegetation, a fine white sand beach, a pristine lagoon and the shimmering turquoise of the Indian Ocean.Combining contemporary design and local craftsmanship with a deep appreciation for the ecological environment, the resort’s 77 luxuriously decorated villas have large private terraces leading to unspoiled beaches and infinity pools with the magnificent Indian Ocean as a tranquil backdrop.The resort also boasts the largest three-bedroom villa on the Maldives, the John Jacob Astor Estate, where guests can savour epicurean delights from around the world in the six restaurants and bars and restore their well-being in the Iridium Spa on the water.One&Only Reethi Rah ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This elegant resort offers a level of style and sophistication unmatched in the world when it opened in 2005 and still presents itself as the Grand Lady of the Maldives archipelago.Located on a partly man-made octopus-shaped island in North Malé Atoll, the resort is blessed with an extraordinary 6 km (3.7 miles) coastline dotted with white-sand coves and turquoise bays. The 130 spacious villas are discreetly located amidst beautiful scenery, each occupying its own piece of sandy coastline or private terrace overlooking the crystal clear waters of the lagoon. The food is innovative and of the highest quality, prepared in an inspiring variety of ways, and the staff is always responsive to each guests personal requirements.Set apart from the rest of the resort, the spa is set within tranquil gardens and well-kept landscaping. One & Only Reethi Rah is a favorite among Hollywood royalty and celebrities.
7.Soneva Fushi ⭐⭐⭐
Soneva Fushi, the first “Robinson Crusoe” style hideout in the Maldives, is located on the private tropical island of Kunfunadhoo in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.the island, which is 1,400 m (4,600 ft) long and 400 m (1,300 ft) wide, is among the largest islands in the Maldives.In addition to the crystal clear waters, white beaches and tropical climate, the island’s unusually rich vegetation offers a unique natural experience.In keeping with the castaway theme, many are built to resemble tree houses.all open up to their own private stretch of white sugared sand, and most have their own private seawater pools.the intuitive service is provided by Mr/Ms Friday night butlers who know what you want before you want it.a walk along the island’s pristine beaches invariably brings together stories of Robinson Crusoe.
8.Soneva Jani ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Located in an uninhabited group of five islands in Noonu Atoll, the most exclusive resort in the Maldives is surrounded by pristine beaches, covered with lush tropical vegetation and surrounded by a 5.6 km (3.4 miles) lagoon of crystal clear water with uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean.Each of the 24 water villas has a private pool and opens up to its own stretch of lagoon, with some villas having slides that go directly from the upper deck to the lagoon below.the highlight of the villas is the retractable roof in the master bedroom, which slides back at the touch of a button so guests can lie in bed and look at the stars.’, “The culinary experiences at Soneva Jani are as diverse as they are memorable: in addition to the delicious restaurants, you can enjoy culinary adventures such as private dinners around the lagoon, a Robinson Crusoe style castaway picnic, organic lunches in the garden and cooking classes.The resort’s selection of experiences caters to all types of travelers and includes everything from nature walks and spa treatments to picnics and more.
9.Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not many people know this, but at the southern end of this 500-mile island chain is a small airport called Gan.It’s located in the heart-shaped lagoon of the Addu Atoll and receives about 10 private planes a month, along with scheduled flights from Malé.They come for the privacy and a sense of space unusual in the Maldives. 3 km long, Villingili has thousands of coconut palms and pristine white sands, and each guest is given a bicycle to pedal to the Chi Spa for a coconut milk and honey wrap, or to stagger home after a lobster dinner.The villas are located on the beach, over water and even in a tree, and there are dolphin cruises, wreck diving, sailing on a 68-foot yacht and a nine-hole golf course. But what makes Villingili really stand out is that the other four islands are only a short boat ride away, providing a rare glimpse into local life as you tour the villages and discover a 1960s RAF base.
10.Taj Exotica Resort & Spa ⭐⭐⭐
Delicious seafood and wahoo are now fairly standard at Maldives’ five-star resorts, but here chef Sheroy Kermani takes the art of food to new heights, a fact recognized throughout the island nation.His menus feature seafood creations, such as Maldives reef lobster medallions with cornichon ratatouille, along with quail marinated in thyme and caramelized orange.The long, slender island (700 meters by 70 meters) has been skillfully planted with jade and sea hibiscus trees that need only scarce water supplies, with the two restaurants, the bar and the infinity pool on the west side (for sunsets) and the beautiful villas on the east coast.The water is an amazing shade of aquamarine thanks to the island’s location in one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives (it’s a short boat ride to the nearest reef for diving), and is calm and safe for small children.
