Co-founder & CEOMarco Di CesareHe spent weeks comparing hotels and kept finding that the detail deciding the trip was missing from the hotel website. 10 years in marketing technology, 2 of them building with AI.About MarcoHow we write the guideLinkedIn
The black edition of Three Lumi: no weak side on any of the 5 things that matter.
1 hotel of 335.
Three Lumi
Exceptional: guests, critics and we all say so.
3 hotels of 335.
Two Lumi
Exceptional: two of our three readings say so.
25 hotels of 335.
One Lume
Gives more than the other hotels of its place and price range.
82 hotels of 335.
A spa worth the trip
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the spa, when at least 30 of them mention it, or by a hotel whose spa has, in our reading of its official pages, one of the highest readings in the guide.
28 hotels of 335 hold it.
A story inside
Held by a hotel whose character has, in our reading, one of the highest readings in the guide, and whose history begins before 1950.
31 hotels of 335 hold it.
A table worth the trip
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the food, when at least 30 of them mention it, or by a hotel whose table has, in our reading, one of the highest readings in the guide.
30 hotels of 335 hold it.
Adults only
Held by a hotel that states a minimum age of 12 or more for its guests.
8 hotels of 335 hold it.
Children’s kingdom
Held by a hotel whose club takes children aged 4 or younger, and where at least 30 guests write about children and nearly all of them write well of it.
8 hotels of 335 hold it.
Doing nothing, very well
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the beach and the lagoon: at least 30 of them must mention it.
18 hotels of 335 hold it.
Far away, in no time
Held by a resort in the Maldives on an island of its own, 20 minutes or less from the airport.
20 hotels of 335 hold it.
Gentle giants
Held by a resort for which a source says where and when manta rays or whale sharks are met: a named site, a season or the time it takes to reach them.
16 hotels of 335 hold it.
Honeymoon
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for how many of the reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons: at least 50 reviews must say so.
19 hotels of 335 hold it.
Just for us
Held by a hotel with 40 rooms or villas at most.
15 hotels of 335 hold it.
Reef at the door
Held by a resort whose reef you can swim to from the beach and which, among such resorts, is in the top 15% for what guests write about it: at least 30 of them must mention it.
17 hotels of 335 hold it.
The bill feels right
Held by a hotel where at least 30 guests write about the price and at least 6 in 10 find it fair.
19 hotels of 335 hold it.
The city at the door
Held by a city hotel in the top third of the guide’s city hotels for what guests write about its location: at least 30 of them must mention it.
17 hotels of 335 hold it.
They read your mind
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top 8% for what guests write about the staff and the service: at least 30 of them must mention it.
18 hotels of 335 hold it.
True quiet
Held by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the quiet: at least 30 of them must mention it.
14 hotels of 335 hold it.
Up for breakfast
Held by a hotel in the top sixth for breakfast, among the guide’s hotels where at least 30 guests write about it.
151 all-inclusive villas 40 minutes by speedboat from Malé: Kiddie Cove for the children, The Market’s buffet and a house reef that divides guests.
The first of the guide. Here: at The Market the buffet changes theme each evening, from sushi to Sri Lanka, and desserts have a room of their own; at the island’s tip Palm Beach does paella at lunch and a grill at night. 1,021 of the 1,060 guests who write about the food are pleased.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 98 in 100 happy.
Bill Bensley’s imagined opera house, 6 minutes’ walk from the real one, with a MICHELIN-starred counter downstairs.
Here: a MICHELIN star at Hibana by Koki, Backstage MICHELIN Selected, a rooftop bar among Asia’s 50 best. 428 of the 461 guests who write about the food are pleased.
What guests love most: breakfast, 98 in 100 happy.
The Seine from your room, a 30 m pool and dinner at Plénitude.
Here: Plénitude, 3 MICHELIN stars and Arnaud Donckele’s sauces; Hakuba with 2 stars, Le Tout-Paris with one, and Langosteria. From the hotel’s restaurant pages.
What guests love most: the location, 95 in 100 happy.
A Marble Courtyard, a 17 m pool and 3 starred restaurants.
Here: 3 starred restaurants under one roof: Le Cinq with 3 MICHELIN stars, L’Orangerie with 2 and Le George with one. From the hotel’s restaurant pages.
What guests love most: the location, 98 in 100 happy.
45 villas and residences, all over the water, 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé: shoes come off, every guest has a Mr. Friday and the surf is 5 minutes away.
Here: Kashiveli’s themed nights, Japanese By The Sea, the garden and the cellar. 110 of the 115 guests who write about the food are pleased.
What guests love most: breakfast, 100 in 100 happy.
The only resort in Laamu Atoll: turtles in the seagrass, manta rays all year, 8 surf breaks and a marine biology centre, 65 minutes by seaplane from Malé.
Here: Leaf, Zen, Kaji, the Altitude cellar and 48 flavours of free ice cream. From the hotel’s restaurant pages.
What guests love most: breakfast, 100 in 100 happy.
The all-inclusive resort par excellence: one plan with Champagne, 80 wines and 3 excursions, and the reef a swim from the beach.
Here: themed buffets every night, Tamarind over the water, 80 wines and Taittinger included. 367 of the 391 guests who write about the food are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 97 in 100 happy.
468 pool villas and residences, a 24-hour all-inclusive, a water park and horses, from $993 a night all in.
Here: dinner is a choice of 6 restaurants on the all-inclusive: Thai at Takrai and Indian at Kurry Leaf, both over the water, Spanish at Andalucia, The Wahoo Grill, Italian at Del Mare and Maldivian at Kaage. From the hotel’s restaurant pages.
What guests love most: the location, 95 in 100 happy.
Pasta Point’s island, 20 minutes by speedboat: the wave for 30 surfers, water and beach bungalows, 3 buffets, from $393 a night.
Here: at the buffet pasta and noodles are cooked to order in front of you, beside Sri Lankan and Indian dishes; for vegetarians the chefs cook a separate dish. 1,128 of the 1,178 guests who write about the food are pleased.
What guests love most: the location, 95 in 100 happy.
A 24-hour all-inclusive in Raa Atoll, 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé: a green island, the reef a swim from the beach and 221 villas.
Here: the themed buffet at Jaafaiy, the Indian Sufura, well liked by guests, and the Mediterranean Thavaa à la carte. From the hotel’s restaurant pages.
What guests love most: the location, 95 in 100 happy.
Constance Halaveli suits couples and families seeking a private-pool villa between garden and jetty in North Ari. Choose shore or overwater terrace, allowing separately for transfers and board. Google Hotels, read on 5 October 2026 for 2 adults, showed Trip at US$1,158 per night for 16–19 November 2026 including taxes and fees. It displayed free cancellation until 16 October; supplier terms remain unverified.
Here: Jing, Asian and European, lays its tables on the jetty over the water; Meeru is the grill on the sand, Kaika serves sushi at lunch, Jahaz is the buffet. 166 of the 175 guests who write about the food are pleased.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 100 in 100 happy.
Constance Halaveli suits couples and families wanting a private-pool villa, between garden and jetty, with different dinners on the same North Ari island. The practical choice is shore versus overwater terrace; 2-storey and 2-bedroom formats are also documented for groups. Allow for transfers and distinguish room, board and chargeable services. The owner describes a refurbishment programme begun in 2025 and due to finish in 2026, without publishing its completion day: before booking, it is worth asking whether the villa you choose has already been refurbished.
127 villas 7 minutes by speedboat from Malé, all-inclusive: 5 restaurants, drinks, children’s and teens’ clubs
Here: 5 restaurants in the price: Bangkok street food at SOI, on the beach, tapas at Cocoon on the jetty and BŌ over the water, one evening every 4 nights. From the hotel’s restaurant pages.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 96 in 100 happy.
80 beach and water villas, 70 with a pool, on a deluxe all-inclusive island 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé, with the reef off the beach
Here: 5 restaurants, all included: Carnivorous, a Brazilian churrascaria, teppanyaki at Le Asiatique and Mediterraneo above the lagoon, with an Italian chef in charge of the kitchens. 115 of the 117 guests who write about the food are pleased.
120 beach and water villas, 73 with a pool, on a deluxe all-inclusive island with a 1,500 m² kids' club
Here: 4 restaurants, all included: Brazilian spit-roasts at Amazònico, teppanyaki at Le Asiatique, in the forest at the island’s centre, and fish and meat cooked on the stone at the Beach Club Grill. From the hotel’s restaurant pages.
An all-inclusive Club Med village with a whole island, clubs for children aged 4 to 17 and the Manta overwater suites, 25 minutes by speedboat from Malé
Here: a buffet plated to order at The Veli, The Kandu on the lagoon and the afternoon food truck, all included. From the hotel’s restaurant pages.
What guests love most: breakfast, 100 in 100 happy.
Reef at the doorHeld by a resort whose reef you can swim to from the beach and which, among such resorts, is in the top 15% for what guests write about it: at least 30 of them must mention it.17 hotels of 335 hold it.Gentle giantsHeld by a resort for which a source says where and when manta rays or whale sharks are met: a named site, a season or the time it takes to reach them.16 hotels of 335 hold it.True quietHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the quiet: at least 30 of them must mention it.14 hotels of 335 hold it.Doing nothing, very wellHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the beach and the lagoon: at least 30 of them must mention it.18 hotels of 335 hold it.A spa worth the tripHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the spa, when at least 30 of them mention it, or by a hotel whose spa has, in our reading of its official pages, one of the highest readings in the guide.28 hotels of 335 hold it.Just for usHeld by a hotel with 40 rooms or villas at most.15 hotels of 335 hold it.HoneymoonHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for how many of the reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons: at least 50 reviews must say so.19 hotels of 335 hold it.Children’s kingdomHeld by a hotel whose club takes children aged 4 or younger, and where at least 30 guests write about children and nearly all of them write well of it.8 hotels of 335 hold it.Adults onlyHeld by a hotel that states a minimum age of 12 or more for its guests.8 hotels of 335 hold it.A table worth the tripHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top tenth for what guests write about the food, when at least 30 of them mention it, or by a hotel whose table has, in our reading, one of the highest readings in the guide.30 hotels of 335 hold it.Up for breakfastHeld by a hotel in the top sixth for breakfast, among the guide’s hotels where at least 30 guests write about it.15 hotels of 335 hold it.Far away, in no timeHeld by a resort in the Maldives on an island of its own, 20 minutes or less from the airport.20 hotels of 335 hold it.The city at the doorHeld by a city hotel in the top third of the guide’s city hotels for what guests write about its location: at least 30 of them must mention it.17 hotels of 335 hold it.A story insideHeld by a hotel whose character has, in our reading, one of the highest readings in the guide, and whose history begins before 1950.31 hotels of 335 hold it.The bill feels rightHeld by a hotel where at least 30 guests write about the price and at least 6 in 10 find it fair.19 hotels of 335 hold it.They read your mindHeld by a hotel in the guide’s top 8% for what guests write about the staff and the service: at least 30 of them must mention it.18 hotels of 335 hold it.One LumeGives more than the other hotels of its place and price range.82 hotels of 335.Two LumiExceptional: two of our three readings say so.25 hotels of 335.Three LumiExceptional: guests, critics and we all say so.3 hotels of 335.Three Lumi · EclipseThe black edition of Three Lumi: no weak side on any of the 5 things that matter.1 hotel of 335.
