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.
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
The first of the guide. Here: a sunset water villa, dinner at Mediterraneo above the lagoon and a cocktail at Eclipse. 47 of the 64 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
Overwater villas from 144 m², a butler for each, the Lagoonarium’s Napoleon fish and a spa on an islet of its own.
Here: an Overwater Royal villa of 260 m², with its private pool on the deck and Otemanu ahead; those who marry here have the Polynesian ceremony on Spa Beach. 86 of the 165 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
What guests love most: the location, 93 in 100 happy.
The former Mövenpick, on its way to Mondrian: 105 villas, all with pools, 45 minutes by seaplane, from $603 a night, with a chocolate hour.
Here: an overwater pool villa, a floating breakfast and dinner in the Secret Garden. 292 of the 538 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 97 in 100 happy.
90 adults-only villas on a small island, a reef a few strokes off the beach and dinner 5.8 metres under the sea.
Here: a Romantic Ocean Villa with its deck bathtub, sunset at the Champagne Pavilion and dinner 5.8 metres under the sea. 71 of the 128 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
What guests love most: the location, 95 in 100 happy.
An adults-only island almost entirely over the water: villas with a slide or a pool, 5 restaurants on the all-inclusive plan and H2O, the restaurant under the sea.
Here: an Aqua Suite with its pool facing the sunset, lunch at H2O under the sea and dinner on the beach. 239 of the 521 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 99 in 100 happy.
A small island 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé: 50 adults-only overwater villas, an all-inclusive plan and a channel reef.
Here: a Honeymoon Villa with its pool, a candlelit dinner on the beach and a photo shoot at sunset. 103 of the 182 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
What guests love most: the location, 94 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: for an occasion, Halaveli has dinner over the water at Jing, sommeliers to choose the bottle and, for honeymooners, a tailored package. 66 of the 112 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
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.
140 adults-only villas 15 to 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé, with 3 à la carte restaurants
Here: a Sunset villa with a tub on the deck, dinner on a sand sofa and Viu Bar at sundown. 216 of the 384 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
What guests love most: the staff and service, 95 in 100 happy.
98 pool villas, 56 over the lagoon, on a small island 35 minutes by speedboat from Malé, with a house reef
Here: a Coco Residence on the lagoon, dinner on a sandbank and a sunset cruise by dhoni. 138 of the 264 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
What guests love most: the location, 91 in 100 happy.
125 beach and water villas with pools, 24-hour all-inclusive, 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé, with the reef just off
Here: a water villa, dinner at Roma above the lagoon and a table for 2 on the beach. 285 of the 537 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
What guests love most: the location, 96 in 100 happy.
111 all-inclusive villas on a North Malé Atoll island, with 3 jetties of water villas, 3 included à la carte restaurants and the speedboat on the plan
Here: a water villa with a pool, dinner at NÜ over the lagoon and, from the fourth night, a 45-minute massage each, included in the price. 90 of the 169 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
120 overwater and beach villas, 65 with a pool, on an island 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé, with the reef beneath the villas
Here: an overwater villa with a pool, dinner on glass at FireDoor and a massage in the spa above the lagoon. 77 of the 159 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
What guests love most: the location, 90 in 100 happy.
29 sanctuaries with one side open to the Pitons, 24 of them with a private infinity pool, on the hill above Anse Chastanet’s 2 beaches; no air conditioning, no television and no guests under 16
Here: a Sun or Galaxy sanctuary on a corner of the building, dinner for 2 on the Celestial Terrace and the helicopter in. 52 of the 83 reviews that say who was travelling are honeymoons.
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.
