Among the luxury resorts in the Maldives, these shape the trip before you even reach the beach: where the villa stands, how you get there, how much taxes and transfers add to the bill. Soneva Jani puts the room over the water, slide included; Velaa fits golf, spa and cellar onto a 20-hectare island; Cheval Blanc Randheli brings a French maison’s service to Noonu Atoll; Soneva Fushi gives families a jungle island in Baa Atoll; Waldorf Astoria is 40 minutes by yacht from Malé; Gili Lankanfushi puts 45 villas over the water 20 to 30 minutes by speedboat from the airport; Six Senses Laamu is the only resort in its atoll, in the south, among turtles, mantas and waves; Anantara Kihavah, in Baa Atoll, has a restaurant under the sea and a reef all round the island; One&Only Reethi Rah is a 44-hectare island 45 minutes by boat from Malé; JOALI and JOALI BEING, in Raa Atoll, are built around art and wellbeing; the Conrad, in South Ari Atoll, has a restaurant and a bedroom under the sea. Prices, villa by villa, are on each resort’s page.
Start from the villa and the trip: over the water or on the beach, with children or as 2, with a reef from the shore or by boat.
| Resort | Suits | The trip | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soneva Jani | Travellers who want the largest water villa, slide included | A 555 m² Water Reserve with a pool and opening roof, the cinema on the lagoon | The reef is a boat ride away; 29.92% tax on the villa and a $1,300 seaplane per adult |
| Velaa Private Island | Travellers who want a small island with sport, golf and a great cellar | A beach villa, Olazábal’s golf academy and the snow room | Nights above $6,000 for 2; extras and table water are charged |
| Cheval Blanc Randheli | Couples and families after the service of a French maison | A villa with a 12.5 m pool, the Guerlain spa on its own island, Le 1947 | A modest house reef; closed every June; transfer prices not published |
| Soneva Fushi | Families who want a barefoot jungle island | A beach villa with a pool, The Den for children, a reef you can swim to | The sunset side faces an inhabited island; 29.92% tax and a $1,300 seaplane |
| Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi | Travellers who want a quick arrival and many restaurants | A reef or overwater villa with a pool, Terra in the trees, the yacht from Malé | Malé and boats on the horizon; nights from $3,552, costly food and drink |
| Gili Lankanfushi | Couples who want a barefoot overwater villa without a seaplane | A 210 m² Villa Suite or a Crusoe Residence alone in the lagoon, a Mr. Friday | Malé and the planes close by; from $1,858 a night plus service and taxes |
| Six Senses Laamu | Travellers who come for the sea: turtles, mantas and surf | An ocean villa, the reef on foot from the beach, Tropicsurf’s waves | An hour’s seaplane in daylight only; water villas from 108 m² |
| Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas | Couples and families who want a reef from the beach and dinner under the sea | An overwater pool villa, SEA underwater, the SKY observatory | Nearly everything extra, from SEA to private dinners; an $850 seaplane per adult |
| One&Only Reethi Rah | Couples and families who want a big island, a strong spa and no seaplane | A water villa with a pool, TAPASAKE, 12 beaches by bicycle | A small reef, costly extras; works on the west side until December 2026 |
| The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives | Travellers who come for the reef and want a quiet island | A pool villa on the beach or over the water, 2 house reefs, the equator by boat | 90 minutes by seaplane, or a domestic flight and a boat; nights from $1,628 |
| LUX* South Ari Atoll | Families and groups of friends who want a big, lively island | Whale-shark trips, 8 restaurants, the PLAY club and a water villa refurbished in 2025 | The reef is a boat ride away; on bed and breakfast the extras add up; music until midnight |
| Kudadoo Maldives Private Island | Travellers who want everything included, spa and diving too | One of 15 overwater residences, with a 44 m² pool and a butler at any hour | From $4,469 a night for 2; no kids’ club; 5.8 Undersea and the yacht extra |
| Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa | Families and couples who want a big resort close to Malé | An overwater villa, the Kids Hub, the glass-floored spa, teppanyaki | The reef is far from the shore and the seaplane flies by day only; from $800 a night |
| Kandima Maldives | Families and groups who want plenty to do at a moderate price | Kandiland from 6 months, 10 restaurants and bars, go-karts, Premium All Inclusive | The reef is 5 minutes away by boat; the seaplane costs $675 per adult |
| Kuredhivaru Resort & Spa Maldives | Couples and families who want a pool villa at a price that stays reasonable for the Maldives | An overwater pool villa, Bodumas, chocolate hour, the spa | A lagoon island, works towards Mondrian; compulsory Christmas and New Year galas |
| Milaidhoo Maldives | Couples, often on honeymoon, who want a small island and a living house reef | A Water Pool Villa with a 42 m² pool, dinner aboard Ba’theli, Hanifaru’s mantas from May to November | Children from 8; taxes, service and a transfer from $670 extra |
| Lily Beach Resort & Spa | Couples and families who want carefree all-inclusive and a reef to swim to | The Platinum Plan with Taittinger by the glass, a Deluxe Water Villa, snorkelling from the beach | A small, busy island; from $930 a night, compulsory gala dinners at year’s end |
| Kagi Maldives Resort & Spa | Couples and snorkellers, a quarter of an hour from Malé | The reef from the villa steps, Ke-Un, Baani Spa, Premium All Inclusive | Compact 105 m² villas; swimmers pass the ocean villas and some face the breakwater |
| Kandolhu Maldives | Couples after the easiest house reef to reach, straight from the beach | An Ocean Pool Villa with steps onto the reef, lunch at Ata Roa, Banzai’s teppanyaki | Villas of 85 to 150 m²; children from 8; service, TGST and green tax extra |
| Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru | Families and travellers who come for the mantas or an Ayurvedic cure | A 273 m² Water Villa, AyurMa and its doctors, Manta-On-Call from May to December | Seaplane from $460 each way plus 28.7%; coral bleached in 2024 |
| Huvafen Fushi | Couples who want the underwater spa without a seaplane | An Ocean Bungalow facing the sunset, a massage under the sea, 6 courses at Vinum | 17% GST and 10% service on every bill; transfer extra |
| JOALI Maldives | Families and couples who want art, good food and a free kids’ club | A sunset water villa, Saoke, the Manta Treehouse | A $1,420 seaplane per adult, sometimes with a stop; service, GST and green tax extra |
| JOALI BEING | Travellers who come to the Maldives to feel well, on a 5- to 10-night programme | A water villa with a pool, Areka, KAASHI’s hydrotherapy | Treatments extra; Areka closed to under-12s; a $1,420 seaplane |
| Conrad Maldives Rangali Island | Travellers who want the sea below them too: dinner or a bed 5 metres down | A sunset water villa, Ithaa, the Muraka, whale sharks | A large, not new resort; a compulsory $700 transfer per adult |
| Hurawalhi Island Resort | Couples and honeymooners who want a small island without children | Dinner at 5.8 under the sea, the reef off the beach, sunset at the Champagne Pavilion | Guests from 15; 5.8 and the seaplane cost extra; flights in daylight only |
| JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa | Families with children and couples who want big villas | A 2-storey duplex, the pirate-ship kids’ club, Hashi, Pool 18 | A seaplane of about 50 minutes at $665 a head; the sunrise beach is stony |
| Ayada Maldives | Couples and families who don’t mind a long journey, and surfers | A pool villa, the reef from the beach, the atoll’s breaks by boat | A domestic flight and a speedboat, $500 per adult; December and August the dearest months |
| Baros Maldives | Couples who want a rich reef off the beach and no seaplane | Turtles and sharks 20 metres from shore, the Lighthouse, the Piano Deck | No all-inclusive; children from 8; a private pool in few villas |
| Joy Island Maldives | Families and couples who want all-inclusive 40 minutes from Malé | A Family Beach Villa or a Lagoon Suite Pool, Kiddie Cove, The Market’s buffet | An island opened in 2023, lively in the evening, with its house reef on the sunrise side; 10% service, 17% GST and green tax on top |
| Patina Maldives, Fari Islands | Couples and families who want architecture, art and 10 or so restaurants, 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé | A Sunset Water Pool Villa, the FLOW spa, Turrell’s Skyspace and dinner at Fari Beach Club | The reef a stated 10–15 minutes from the shore, no all-inclusive, nights from $2,291 |
| Niva Kuramathi Maldives | Families and couples who want a big island, plenty of restaurants and the reef from the shore | A Water Villa with Pool or a Beach Villa, Dine Around, Bageecha for children from 3 | An island you cross by buggy; work on the water villas until January 2027; seaplane at $381 per adult |
| Six Senses Kanuhura | Families with children of any age and couples after a long beach and full days | A Beach Retreat on the sunset side, lunch at Drift on Jehunuhura, the turtles of Turtle Airport | The reef means a boat ride; a $695 seaplane per adult, extras plus service and GST |
| Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island | Couples and families who want a big villa 55 minutes from Malé by speedboat | A 351 m² water villa with a pool and a rooftop, dinner at Kayto, a kayak over the reef | Works until the end of 2026; green tax and transfers from $650 extra |
| JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort | Couples and families who want to arrive in 15 minutes, no seaplane | An overwater villa, Nikkei, Athiri, the BABOR spa, the kids’ club | Anyone after a reef outside the villa will be happier elsewhere: the island is built, and the odd plane passes at night |
| Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives | Couples, families and vegetarians who want it all included | A beach or water villa, Just Veg, snorkelling by boat | Anyone after a house reef should look elsewhere: snorkelling is by boat |
| Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi | Surfers, families and couples after an all-inclusive near Malé | The Lohis break, the channel reef, a beach or water villa | Simple villas; the Sunset Restaurant only for water-villa guests |
| Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa | Families and surfers who want an island near Malé, with no seaplane | The Kuda Koamas Club, surfing at Sultans, ŪRJĀ spa on its own island | No house reef, and coral bleached in 2024: anyone after snorkelling off the beach will be happier elsewhere; excursions and activities are extra |
| Siyam World Maldives | Families and groups who want everything included and plenty to do | A villa with a slide, the water park, horses, 6 restaurants on all-inclusive | An extensive island resort with 468 villas; the seaplane is extra, $515 from 1 November 2026 |
| Canareef Resort Maldives | Travellers after the Maldives on a budget, divers and long stays | A beach bungalow, dolphins, diving in Addu, a bicycle | A domestic flight to Gan, $520 per adult; meals are mostly buffets |
| Sun Siyam Olhuveli Maldives | Families and groups who want plenty of choice at a moderate price | 3 islands, the kids’ club, 8 pools, Culinarium, the all-inclusive | A big, lively resort for those not after quiet; building works on and beside the island in 2026 |
| COMO Cocoa Island | Couples and wellness travellers who want a small island with no seaplane | COMO Shambhala and its hydrotherapy pool, the reef from the villa, the sandbank | Overwater villas only; one restaurant; a $350 speedboat |
| Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon | Snorkellers and divers who want the reef off the beach | The reef from the beach, Tripod the turtle, a bungalow on the sand | A small island, simple rooms, an hour and a half by speedboat |
| Niva Kurumba Maldives | Families and couples who want no domestic flight or seaplane | 7 restaurants, the reef from the beach, the kids’ club, Malé 10 minutes away | Anyone after a remote island will be happier elsewhere: you hear the planes, you see Malé, and 36 of the 187 units are villas |
| Niyama Private Islands Maldives | Families, surfers and anyone who wants plenty to do on 2 islands | The kids’ club, the Vodi wave, lunch under the sea at Subsix and dinner in the trees at Nest | No house reef; a $780 seaplane; the special restaurants cost extra |
| Bandos Maldives | Families and divers who want a reef off the beach and no seaplane | A Premium Beach Villa, Kokko Club, Dive Bandos, sunset at Huvan | A 1972 island of 220 rooms, most of them simple; Malé and planes in view, Garden Villas off sale until 30 November 2026 |
| Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa | Families and couples who want to arrive in a quarter of an hour, with no seaplane | 7 restaurants and bars, a spa on its own islet, water villas of up to 205 m² | Planes and tower blocks in view; meals and transfers depend on the package |
| You & Me Maldives | Adult couples and friends who want an all-inclusive stay over the water | A villa with a slide or a pool, 5 restaurants, lunch at H2O | Reef by boat; the seaplane and H2O on top |
| Hard Rock Hotel Maldives | Families with children and teenagers who want full days close to Malé | A beach or overwater villa, the Roxity Kids Club, the bridge to The Marina and the restaurants of 3 islands | Malé on the horizon and live music at night: anyone after a remote, silent island will be happier elsewhere; book the buggy ahead |
| Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives | Families with young children who want a short transfer | Slides, a lazy river, a kids’ club and a room with bunk beds | A reef 1.27 km away, slow buggies, a young island |
| Adaaran Club Rannalhi | Couples and families after an all-inclusive stay close to Malé | The reef from the beach, an hour at sea at sunset, cocktails included until midnight | Room blocks from 1996, no pool, building work on nearby islands; the speedboat is $190 an adult |
| Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives | Couples and families after a new villa 30 to 40 minutes from Malé | A Sunset Overwater Pool Villa, Bluefin and Sunset Social, Mirage across the bridge | The reef by boat, a compulsory $353 transfer per adult, twice Mirage’s price |
| Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives | Surfers and the people who travel with them | Pasta Point from the bungalow, boats to Sultans, the Raalhu Bar over the wave | Surf only on the Atoll Travel package; seaplanes overhead and breakwaters on the shore |
| Cocoon Maldives | Couples and families who want an all-inclusive island with design villas | Villas on the beach or over the lagoon, 3 restaurants, the Kids Village, 30 minutes by seaplane | The seaplane is charged separately; the reef is reached by boat |
| Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives | Couples and families who want a lively island, with kids’ clubs and the Beach Club | Villas over the water and on the beach, the Crab Shack on the sandbank, Hanifaru’s mantas | The seaplane costs from $580 per adult; the island has parties in the evening, something to weigh if quiet is your priority |
| Adaaran Select Meedhupparu | Couples and families after an all-inclusive on a green island in Raa Atoll | The reef from the beach, 5 bars, themed nights, the seaplane | Anyone after new designer villas will be happier elsewhere; the seaplane and extras cost more |
| Jawakara Islands Maldives | Families and anyone after an all-inclusive with plenty to do | 2 islands and a bridge, golf and padel, a kids’ club up to 17, the turtle hospital | The reef is 5 minutes by boat; excursions and motorised sports extra even on all-inclusive |
| Kuredu Island Resort | Snorkelling, sports and a large island with areas for every age | Snorkelling off the main beach, golf and evenings at Babuna | Villa category determines pool and restaurant access |
| Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives | Couples after an overwater bungalow and a bill nearly all paid upfront, with no children about | A Water Bungalow, the buffet at Malaafaiy, the reef by boat and dolphins at sunset | No reef off the beach; the seaplane is $450 for each adult; Corals is extra apart from the offer’s dinner |
| Constance Moofushi Maldives | Couples and divers who want an all-inclusive plan, wine included | The reef off the beach, mantas in winter, dinner on the sand at Alizée | No pools in the villas, no kids’ club; over $2,500 a night in winter |
| Furaveri Maldives | Couples and families after space and a reef without luxury prices | A big villa, the reef from the shore, and the plan that covers the à la carte restaurants too | A lively island, with evenings round the bar: anyone after quiet will be happier elsewhere |
| SAii Lagoon Maldives | Families and couples who want a short transfer and plenty of choice at dinner | A beach villa, dinners across the bridge, padel and the children’s club | A lagoon shared with the Hard Rock and day visitors from Malé; transfer $180 per adult |
| Adaaran Prestige Vadoo | Couples who want an all-inclusive overwater villa without a seaplane | A pool villa over the water, the channel reef, a spa in the first overwater villa | A small island with Malé and CROSSROADS in view; day visitors; villas from 2009 |
| Anantara Veli Maldives Resort | Couples from 18, lagoon villas and a garden spa | 30 minutes by speedboat, transfers around the clock | Reef outings also involve a boat; 3 all-inclusive restaurants use dinner credit |
| Meeru Maldives Resort Island | Couples and families seeking a large island with sports and several restaurants | An active island holiday reached by speedboat from Malé | The outer reef requires a boat trip; distances across the island matter |
| The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah | Couples and families after a pool villa and room to explore 2 linked islands | A private pool, Clarins spa and walks over the bridge to Falhumaafushi | A 55-minute domestic flight and 5-minute speedboat ride, plus connection waits |
| Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives | Couples seeking restaurants and a lagoon near Malé | Emboodhu Finolhu, about 15–20 minutes by boat according to the resort | Reef trips require an outing; meal charges depend on the plan |
| Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives | Couples and families comparing villas and all-inclusive plans | Vaavu; about 25 minutes by seaplane or a boat, without a verified official boat duration | Marlin meals cost extra; Iru conditions change from 1 November 2026 |
| Baglioni Maldives Luxury All Inclusive Resort | Couples and families seeking Italian dining and spacious villas | Maagau, Dhaalu: about 45 minutes by seaplane within daylight windows | For travellers who budget for extras: premium dishes and the spa sit outside the all-inclusive, and the seaplane flies by day only |
| The Residence Maldives at Falhumaafushi | For couples who want a quiet villa, an overwater spa and the option to cross the bridge for a different dinner setting at Dhigurah | 94 beach and lagoon villas in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, a 55-minute domestic flight and 7 minutes by boat from Malé | Anyone who wants to be in the villa soon after landing in Malé will be happier in a nearer atoll: here it takes a domestic flight and a boat, and diving and water sports are for now on Dhigurah. |
| Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa | For travellers who put the house reef and a small island ahead of a quick transfer | 60 minutes domestic + 30 boat | The transfer has 2 legs; each meal offer’s terms on the official site, read on 15 October 2026, set out its menus, drinks and supplements. |
| Reethi Faru Resort | A week of snorkelling, sports and 6 restaurants, with a villa in the gardens, on the beach or over the water | 45 minutes by seaplane | Minibar and à la carte dining differ between Standard and Full Dine Around; for a family holiday, confirm children’s activities and transport around the island. |
| Amilla Maldives Resort | For families, groups and snorkellers who want room: a pool with every villa, a reef round the island, 3 villas adapted for wheelchair users | 35 minutes from Malé by seaplane; Hanifaru Bay’s manta rays 15 minutes away by speedboat | The seaplane, $850 per adult return plus taxes and service, and the drinks packages are paid for separately, outside the meal plan. |
| Alila Kothaifaru Maldives | Couples, families and friends in larger villas | Every villa with a pool, between beach and lagoon | Daytime seaplane, possible stops and extra meals to consider. |
| Nova Maldives | Couples and friends who snorkel; families in the connecting villas | A small barefoot island: house reef by day, music at the bar by night | Seaplane and boat to get there; excursions and transfer on top of the rate. |
| Summer Island Maldives | Couples and families after the beach and the fish, without a seaplane | A barefoot island 45 minutes by speedboat, with an artificial reef off the jetty | The transfer is paid separately, the restaurant goes with the room and the snorkelling equipment is hired. |
| W Maldives | Couples who want a reef, private pool and an evening at the bar | Fesdu in North Ari Atoll, reached by seaplane | Meals and transfers change the bill; read capacities carefully |
| JA Manafaru | Couples and families seeking beach and pool in the northern Maldives | Manafaru in Haa Alifu Atoll | Transfers and meal plans need a separate calculation |
| Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa | Travellers wanting space between villa, beach and activities | Dhonakulhi in Haa Alifu Atoll | Flights, meal-plan conditions and extras |
| SO/ Maldives | Travellers wanting a pool and a short boat journey | Emboodhoo Lagoon, South Malé | Malé views, bathroom privacy and meal extras |
| The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands | Couples and families who want a large pool villa, a butler and an overwater spa | Villa pool, lagoon, 7 restaurants and bars on 2 islands, Bamford treatments | Speedboat, meals and spa extra unless the rate includes them; coral is a dhoni trip away |
| NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi | Couples and families who want the reef close and a small, quiet island | Vaavu Atoll: about 75 min by speedboat or 25 min by seaplane from Malé | The shared speedboat can wait up to 3 hours for other flights; minibar, spa and boat trips are extra |
| Heritance Aarah | Couples and families wanting meals and activities with explicit terms | About 40 min by seaplane, daylight only | Category-specific access; transfers and supplements separate from room quote |
| Villa Park | Families and couples comparing different categories | Flight and island transfer | Meals and transfers change with the plan, as well as the room. |
| The Nautilus Maldives | Couples and families who want a small, private island with no fixed mealtimes | A house with a private pool and a butler, and breakfast at any hour | The seaplane is US$1,750 an adult; beyond breakfast, meals and drinks depend on the rate |
| Ifuru Island Maldives | Families and groups of friends who want a long beach, 6 places to eat and a pool bar with music | A Raa Atoll island with its own airstrip: 147 suites and villas, on the beach or on the upper floor | Anyone after a silent week will be happier elsewhere; the flights from Malé, the teppanyaki at Kai and the boat trips are paid for on top of Premium All Inclusive. |
| Brennia Kottefaru | Brennia Kottefaru suits guests choosing between garden, beach and water, with villas for 2 and residences for a larger family. | 13 garden, beach and water categories | With 13 categories it pays to choose by each one’s area and occupancy; Manta and Sunset Grill are booked a day ahead and carry a supplement. |
| Meyyafushi Maldives | Meyyafushi Maldives suits families and couples seeking a private pool, overwater padel and several restaurants during a Premium All Inclusive stay. | Pool villas and categories with slides | Bubble, the underwater restaurant, and Sukun, the teppanyaki, cost extra and need booking; the resort is new, the release of 30 April 2026 announces it officially open, and the earliest reviews describe its opening months. |
| Safari Island Maldives | Snorkellers, divers and couples who want a small barefoot island with the reef a short swim from the beach | A North Ari Atoll island of 84 traditional bungalows, with a house reef, a dive centre and its own Safari boat | The pool is shared and each bungalow takes 3 people at most; the seaplane, the Safari boat, meal-plan upgrades and Green Tax are paid on top of the room. |
| Constance Halaveli | For a couple after a small, quiet island, a villa with its own pool on the jetty or in a garden, and a cellar of more than 22,500 bottles. | A few days staying put on a North Ari island you can walk round: a reef with reef sharks and rays, themed buffets at Jahaz, dinner over the water at Jing. | Choose it knowing the resort has some years on it and that the works begun in 2025 are due to end in 2026: if a newly done villa matters, ask before booking. The seaplane, the spa and diving are charged separately. |
| Fushifaru Maldives | Couples and families with young children who want a small island | 63 villas between beach and lagoon, 35 minutes by seaplane | No public price for the seaplane or meal plans; service charge, T-GST and Green Tax on every rate. |
| OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO | Divers, couples and families who want the reef from the shore, all-inclusive | 153 beach and water villas, a 50-minute speedboat transfer included | Stones in front of many beach villas; spa and diving are charged |
| Veligandu Maldives Resort Island | Couples who want a small island and the reef from the villa | An overwater pool villa, 20 minutes by seaplane from Malé | 4 villa types for ages 12 and over only; without the all-inclusive the extras add up. |
| The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort | Couples and families who want a large villa, a private pool and a butler | Overwater or beach villas, 7 restaurants and bars, Iridium Spa | About US$4,280 a night for 2 and a US$870-per-person seaplane. |
| Dhigufaru Island Resort | Couples and families who want a small island, a reef to swim to and a low entry price | A Pool Water Villa facing sunset, rays at the jetty, an evening on Veli | Transfers, bar and excursions extra; most meals are at the buffet |
| Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives | Adult couples and friends who would rather take a speedboat than a seaplane | 140 villas between beach and lagoon, 15 to 20 minutes from Velana | Ships and the port on the horizon, a building site facing the island in 2026; the speedboat is paid separately. |
| Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort | Couples who want the reef under the villa and an arrival with no boat | 68 adults-only villas, a 55-minute domestic flight from Malé | For those happy to go to the far south: a $700-a-head domestic flight, villas in service since 2017, 2 closures for breakdowns in the winter of 2025–26. |
| Vakkaru Maldives | Families and groups of friends who want a house with a pool on the beach and a club for the children | 12 villa and residence types, 30 minutes by seaplane | No published price for the transfer or meal plans; works on the water villas until October 2026. |
| ananea Madivaru Maldives | Honeymooners and families who want a pool villa and plenty of restaurants | 2 linked North Ari islands, 20 minutes by seaplane | You wade in over broken coral; restaurants to book, and no published seaplane fare. |
| COMO Maalifushi | Families and couples who want an atoll with no other resort, with surf and a reef | 59 pool villas, an hour by seaplane from Malé | The seaplane costs $1,050 per adult return, and between October and January a night never dropped below $953. |
| Malahini Kuda Bandos | Travellers who want a proper island near Malé, without a seaplane or big-resort prices | 5 room types, 2 with a private pool, 12 minutes by speedboat | No shared pool and Malé on the horizon; the speedboat costs extra. |
| dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives | Families and couples who want everything included and no seaplane | Pool villas, 5 restaurants, children’s and teens’ clubs, 7 minutes from Velana | Malé’s skyline and ships in view; the shared speedboat runs at set times. |
| Niva Velassaru Maldives | Couples and families who want an island close to the airport | 129 villas across garden, beach and lagoon, 25 minutes by speedboat | The Deluxe Villas, the most numerous, sit in the garden with no pool; the speedboat is extra on Booking.com. |
| OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi | Families and groups of friends who want all-inclusive without a seaplane | 268 rooms and villas 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana, on the Fushi Plan | A lively island with music late into the evening: anyone after quiet or snorkelling from the shore will be happier elsewhere; excursions and extras charge. |
| Makunudu Island | Couples and divers who want a natural island with the reef off the beach | 36 bungalows on the beach, 45 minutes by speedboat | No pool or water villas; no published price for the transfer or meal plans. |
| OBLU SELECT Lobigili | Adult couples who want everything included and a 15-minute transfer | Dinner at Only BLU under the sea, the bar with its infinity pool, a spa for 2 | A bridge ties it to the family resort next door; special dinners and massages only from 4 nights. |
| Villa Nautica | Families and couples who want a big, lively island 20 minutes by speedboat from the airport | 282 villas from 54 to 391 m², 7 restaurants, all-inclusive plans | Anyone after a small, silent island will be happier elsewhere; the speedboat costs $185 per adult, activities are charged and in summer 2026 guests report renovation work on the villas. |
| Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa | Families who want a pool villa without the seaplane | 109 pool villas, 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana | Transfers, drinks at meals and activities cost extra; Malé and nearby building work on the horizon. |
| Naladhu Private Island Maldives | Couples and families who want a private island close to the airport | 20 houses with infinity pools and butlers, 30 minutes by speedboat, on the lagoon of 2 Anantara resorts | The island has one restaurant and a treatment room; the rest is on Veli and Dhigu, and the speedboat is extra on Booking.com. |
| Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort | Families who want an island close to the airport, with a kids’ club | 110 villas on the beach and over the water, 30 minutes by speedboat, with Veli’s restaurants | No reef off the beach, so it means a boat to Gulhifushi; the speedboat is extra on Booking.com. |
| The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort | Families and couples who come for the reef and the mantas | 70 pool villas, on the beach and over the water, 30 minutes by seaplane | The seaplane and breakfast are charged separately, and the calm lagoon is only on the west side. |
| OZEN RESERVE Bolifushi | Families and couples who want all-inclusive half an hour by boat from Malé | 90 pool villas, 35 minutes by catamaran from Velana | No night for 2 fell below $1,785 between October and January, and some villas look out on Malé and nearby building sites. |
| Dusit Thani Maldives | Families and couples who want a house reef and Hanifaru’s manta rays | 9 villa types on the beach and over the water, 35 minutes by seaplane from Malé | The seaplane is $650 per adult, and what the all-inclusive covers is not published. |
| InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort | Families and couples who want manta rays and the club included | 81 pool villas and residences in Raa Atoll, 35 minutes by seaplane | Lunch and dinner are extra or on a meal plan, and the seaplane costs $979 per adult on Booking.com. |
| Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru | Couples who want a quiet beach island with a reef from the shore | 48 beach villas with their own pools, 25 minutes by speedboat | No villas over the water; Sangu Garden serves dinner 3 evenings a week and many dishes carry a supplement. |
| Coco Bodu Hithi | Couples who want a water villa with a pool and the reef off the ladder, close to Malé | 98 pool villas, 56 over the lagoon, 35 minutes by speedboat | Speedboat, service and taxes come on top; Aqua shut since August 2026 and a building site on the next island. |
| Sun Siyam Iru Veli | Couples and small families who want 24-hour all-inclusive and a pool villa, on the beach or over the water | 125 pool villas, 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé | The seaplane is $490 per adult, and trips, the spa and special dinners are paid on top. |
| Madifushi Private Island | Couples and families who want a large pool villa in a quiet southern atoll | 80 pool villas, 35 minutes by seaplane from Malé | The seaplane is $500 a person, the reef is reached by boat and dinner on 31 December carries a $450 charge. |
| The Standard, Maldives | Couples, friends and families who want a lively island with a house reef | 115 pool villas in Raa Atoll, 35 to 45 minutes by seaplane | From $538 a night for 2 with breakfast, but the seaplane is $550 per adult and the gala dinners of 24 and 31 December are compulsory. |
| V Villas Maldives at Mirihi | Couples and divers who want a small island with the reef below the villa | 42 villas in South Ari Atoll, 30 to 35 minutes by seaplane | The seaplane is $620 to $680 per adult, meals depend on the board, and there is no children's club. |
| Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort | Families and couples who want a reef off the beach and big villas | 120 pool villas in Shaviyani Atoll, 55 minutes by seaplane | The seaplane costs $695 a head, and the website publishes no meal-plan prices. |
| Pullman Maldives Maamutaa | Families and couples who want the far south of the Maldives all-inclusive, with marine life under the villas | 122 villas on an 18-hectare island, a 55-minute flight and 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé | The domestic flight is $700 a head; the à la carte restaurants are booked on arrival, and lobster and in-villa dining are charged separately. |
| OZEN LIFE MAADHOO | Honeymooners and families who want all-inclusive 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé | 95 villas, dinner underwater at M6m and 2 snorkelling trips a day | Snorkelling is mostly by boat, on the plan’s 2 trips a day, and on Fridays THE PALMS hosts the gala dinner. |
| RAAYA by Atmosphere | Families and couples who want all-inclusive on a big island with plenty to do | 167 beach and water villas, 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé | The reef is a boat ride away, with one trip a day on the plan: anyone who wants to snorkel off the beach will be happier elsewhere. |
| Sun Siyam Iru Fushi | Families with young children and couples who want plenty to do on one island | 221 villas with their own pools, 81 over the water, 45 minutes by seaplane | The seaplane is extra, $515 return per adult from November 2026; the newly refurbished villas are the ones over the water. |
| Soneva Secret | Couples and families who want an island almost to themselves, with the spa and gym in the villa | 13 pool villas, 55 to 75 minutes by seaplane from Malé | The least expensive villa costs $4,522 a night plus tax, and until 11 January the seaplane $1,950 per adult. |
| Rah Gili Maldives | Couples and families who want a new pool villa with a slide close to Malé | 74 pool villas, half over the water, 45 minutes by speedboat | Opened at the end of 2025: coral beaches, building work nearby and restaurants to book early. |
| Nika Island Resort & Spa | Couples and snorkellers who want a small island, a private beach and a reef from the shore | 44 rooms and villas, 27 with a private beach, in North Ari Atoll, 25 minutes by seaplane from Malé | Anyone after a newly built villa will be happier elsewhere; even on all-inclusive the minibar and excursions are extra. |
| Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa | Honeymooners, couples and families who want a deluxe all-inclusive with 5 restaurants and a rich house reef | 80 villas, 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé | The seaplane is $590 per adult on Booking.com, and children under 14 pay $260 a night. |
| Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives | Families, couples and surfers who want plenty to do half an hour from the airport | 75 villas with their own pools, a 150-metre pool and the Chickens surf break, 30 minutes by speedboat from Malé | Most rates include only breakfast or half board: all-inclusive needs a stay of at least 4 nights, and everyone else should allow for restaurants and activities on top. |
| VARU by Atmosphere | Couples, honeymooners and families who want all-inclusive close to the airport | 111 beach and water villas, 40 to 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé | Snorkellers count on the plan’s 2 daily boat trips, and anyone choosing an island for the reef off the villa will be happier elsewhere; Teppanyaki Over Water, diving and jet skis are charged separately. |
| Rahaa Resort | Couples and seasoned Maldives travellers who want a quiet, natural island at a lower price | 2 types of beach villa in Laamu Atoll, a domestic flight and a speedboat from Malé | A day’s journey from Malé and no swimming pool: anyone after a polished resort will be happier elsewhere. |
| Komandoo Island Resort & Spa | Couples and honeymooners who want a small adults-only island with a house reef off the beach | 65 villas on the beach and over the water, 40 minutes by seaplane from Malé | No villa has its own pool, and the seaplane is extra. |
| Dhawa Ihuru | Snorkellers, divers and families who want the reef from the beach, close to Malé | 45 beach villas, all-inclusive, 25 minutes by speedboat from Velana | One restaurant, no swimming pool and no water villas; the variety is on the sister island next door. |
| OBLU SELECT Sangeli | Couples and families who want all-inclusive and a speedboat rather than a seaplane | 137 beach and water villas on 2 islands, 50 minutes from Malé | Anyone after a long natural beach will be happier elsewhere: the sand is partly man-made and changes from one stretch to the next. |
| Nala Maldives by Jawakara | Couples and honeymooners after a new adults-only island, with villas on the beach or over the water | 80 villas 35 minutes by seaplane from Malé, with Jawakara 3 minutes away by boat | The seaplane is $430 a head, and everything on Jawakara is charged. |
| Niva Dhigali Maldives | Families and couples after an all-inclusive that includes wine and spirits, on a big, green island | 172 villas in 12 types in Raa Atoll, 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé | Rock breakwaters along much of the shore, plenty of children and seaplanes near the south-side villas. |
| Taj Coral Reef Resort & Spa | Couples and young families who want a house reef from the villa and a speedboat instead of a seaplane | 62 beach and water villas on a small island, 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé | Anyone after newly refurbished villas will be happier elsewhere: renovation is under review, and in 2026 part of the beach was eroded. |
| Sun Siyam Vilu Reef | Couples and families who want a house reef off the beach and an all-inclusive plan around the clock | 153 villas on the beach and over the water, 35 to 40 minutes by seaplane from Malé | Guests describe building work until August 2026, and the seaplane is $490 per adult. |
| Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa | Families and couples who want a full deluxe all-inclusive, with a large kids' club and villas with pools | 120 villas, 40 minutes by seaplane from Malé | Anyone travelling mainly to snorkel from the shore will be happier elsewhere, and the seaplane is $590 per adult return on Booking.com. |
| Oaga Art Resort | Families and couples who want an all-inclusive island near Malé, with a pool at the villa and Maldivian art all around | 9 villa types with private pools, 45 minutes by speedboat from the airport | The water villas open in October and November 2026, and the shared speedboat can mean a wait. |
| Drift Thelu Veliga Retreat | Couples who want a tiny adults' island, a reef you can swim to and a villa over the water | 30 villas on a one-hectare island in South Ari Atoll, 35 minutes by seaplane from Malé | One restaurant, one bar and no pool: anyone after evening life will be happier on a bigger island. The seaplane costs $433 an adult. |
| Diamonds Thudufushi Maldives | Couples, honeymooners and divers who want a small, quiet island with the reef off the beach and Italian-accented food | 69 all-inclusive beach and water villas, 25–30 minutes by seaplane from Malé | Aqua is included only for water-villa guests; anyone who needs a fast connection pays about $50 for the Wi-Fi package. |
| Diamonds Athuruga | Couples and snorkellers who want a small island with the reef off the beach and an all-inclusive with an Italian kitchen | 70 villas on the beach and over the water, about 25 minutes by seaplane from Malé | There is no swimming pool, and the seaplane is extra. |
| Filitheyo Island Resort | Snorkellers and divers who want the reef from the beach, families included | 118 villas on the only resort island in Faafu Atoll, 35 minutes by seaplane from Malé | Anyone after a private-pool villa will be happier elsewhere: the Superiors are built in pairs, and Wi-Fi, the seaplane and excursions cost extra. |
| ROBINSON Noonu | Couples and families who want an all-inclusive club with much-praised food and a villa with its own pool | 150 rooms and villas on Orivaru, by domestic flight and speedboat or 45 minutes by seaplane | Club-style evenings, and the compulsory transfer costs extra outside a package. |
| Sandies Bathala Maldives | Snorkellers who want the reef from the beach on a small, all-inclusive island, as a couple or with friends | 70 rooms on a small North Ari Atoll island, 15 minutes by seaplane from Malé | Simple rooms and Italian entertainment in the evening; excursions are charged separately and transfers depend on the weather. |
| Noku Maldives | Couples who want a very large villa and attentive service on a quiet island | 50 villas of 175 to 400 m² on a Noonu Atoll island with only the resort on it, 45 minutes by seaplane | The seaplane, service charge and tax come on top; anyone who wants the reef beneath the deck should book a water villa on the sunset side. |
| Radisson Blu Resort Maldives | Couples and families after a big villa with its own pool and South Ari’s whale sharks | 128 beach and overwater villas on Huruelhi, 30 to 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé | The seaplane and every meal after breakfast are paid for on top; anyone who wants to swim from the villa should take the sunrise side, where the sea is calmer. |
| Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu | Couples and families after a natural island, a house reef and the turtles, with Hanifaru’s mantas close by | 98 thatched villas on the beach and over the lagoon in Baa Atoll, 30 minutes by seaplane from Malé | There is no shared pool, and the seaplane, the gala dinners and many drinks cost extra. |
| OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort | Honeymooners and families who want very personal service and an all-inclusive that covers every restaurant | 8 villa types on a small South Ari island, with Lonubo, an uninhabited island for guests | You can walk round the island in minutes, and the seaplane and festive gala dinners cost extra. |
| Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa, The Centara Collection | Families and couples who want the reef below the villa and an all-inclusive across 3 restaurants | 112 villas on a South Ari island, 62 over the water, 25 minutes by seaplane from Malé | The shared seaplane, the Green Tax and excursions are all extra. |
| Angsana Velavaru | Honeymooners and families who want a pool at the villa and a reef full of turtles | 113 villas between the island and Dhaalu’s lagoon, 40 minutes by seaplane from Malé | The water villas depend on a timetabled ferry, and the seaplane and Green Tax are extra. |
| Cocogiri Island Resort | Couples, families and snorkellers who want the reef from the villa on a small, quiet island | 40 villas in Vaavu Atoll, 75 minutes by speedboat or 20 by seaplane from Malé | The shared speedboat means airport waits, and fast Wi-Fi, transfers and excursions cost extra. |
| Hondaafushi Island Resort | Couples and families with small children who want a long, quiet beach at a 4-star price | 79 beach bungalows on a 59-hectare island in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, at the far north | The journey is long, with domestic flights at fixed times; every bungalow is on the sand, and anyone who wants a water villa will be happier elsewhere. |
| Gangehi Island Resort & Spa | Couples and snorkellers who want a small, quiet island and an Italian table | 47 rooms and villas on a North Ari island, 25 minutes by seaplane from Malé | There is no pool, and the cooking and the entertainment are Italian: anyone after a newly refurbished villa will be happier elsewhere. |
| Vilamendhoo Maldives Resort Island | Anyone who wants to snorkel off the beach every day, as a family or in the adults-only half | 184 villas on a South Ari island ringed by its reef, with buffet meals included, 25 minutes by seaplane | Drinks, excursions and snorkelling gear cost extra, and the resort is closed for works until 14 November 2026. |
| NH Collection Maldives Havodda | Travellers who come to the Maldives to swim the reef, as a couple or with children | 120 villas on an island in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, the reef all round it, 400 km south of Malé | Anyone after a short transfer will be happier nearer Malé: this island takes a domestic flight and a speedboat, and on the sunset side the sea has eroded the beach. |
| Kudafushi Resort & Spa | Couples and families who want all-inclusive and a reef they can swim to from the beach | A small island in Raa Atoll, 5 villa types on the beach and over the water, 45 minutes by seaplane | The villas are roomy and plain: anyone after a luxury resort’s finish will be happier elsewhere, and the transfers from Malé are always extra. |
| Avani+ Fares Maldives | Families with young children and groups of friends who want a living reef and a lively island | 176 rooms, villas and residences on a Baa Atoll island, 35 to 40 minutes by seaplane, with Hanifaru’s mantas nearby | A lively island of 176 units: anyone after quiet will be happier elsewhere; the seaplane is $600 per adult return. |
| Angaga Island Resort & Spa | People who come to the Maldives to snorkel and dive, on a modest budget | 94 bungalows on an island of 4 hectares in South Ari Atoll, the reef all round it, 25 minutes by seaplane | A simple resort with one buffet restaurant: the newest bungalows are the 24 Premiums over the water, and the generator can be heard from those on the beach. |
| Grand Park Kodhipparu | Couples and families who want an overwater villa and a reef without a seaplane | 120 villas on an island in North Malé Atoll, 20 minutes by speedboat from the airport | The speedboat, drinks at meals and activities are extra: guests who want drinks in the price book all-inclusive. |
| NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort | Snorkellers, couples and families who want the reef off the villa and Hanifaru Bay’s mantas | 105 villas on a Baa Atoll island with only the resort on it, reopened in December 2025, 35 minutes by seaplane | The transfer, taxes and extras are paid separately; anyone who wants a water villa with a private pool should look elsewhere. |
| NH Maldives Kuda Rah | Couples and families who want to snorkel every day on a small South Ari island | 51 villas and suites with pools, from 90 to 231 m², 25 minutes by seaplane from Malé | Anyone who puts sand before reef will be happier elsewhere: the beach is narrow, inside a ring of rocks, and extras carry service charge and tax. |
| Eri Maldives | Snorkellers and divers who want meals included at a 4-star price | 69 villas and studios by the beach of a North Malé island renovated in 2025, with the reef all round, 45 minutes by speedboat | One buffet restaurant, no water villas and the transfer on top. |
| Fihalhohi Maldives | Travellers who want the reef off the beach and an all-inclusive plan on a 4-star budget | 150 rooms and 12 Water Villas on a green island in South Malé Atoll, 45 minutes by speedboat | No pool and simple rooms, for travellers who spend the day in the sea; service and GST on extras, and no bookings from 4 November to 18 December 2026. |
| Royal Island Resort & Spa | Families and snorkellers who want the reef outside the villa without luxury prices | Beach villas round a green Baa Atoll island, a 20-minute domestic flight and a speedboat from Malé | Every villa is on the beach, so anyone set on sleeping over the water should look elsewhere, and the transfer costs $400 per adult. |
| Dreamland Maldives | Couples who want a simple, quiet island on half board, at a price rare for the atoll | 90 bungalows of 78 m² around a freshwater lake on Hirundhoo, 15 minutes by boat from Hanifaru Bay | Anyone travelling chiefly for coral will be happier elsewhere; the lake brings mosquitoes, a stretch of the north shore has no sand, and outside the meal plan nearly every extra is charged. |
| Kandooma Maldives | Families, surfers and divers who want all-inclusive 45 minutes by boat from Malé | 146 villas on a South Malé Atoll island, formerly a Holiday Inn, all-inclusive since 1 October 2026 | Works run until 30 November 2026, and the all-inclusive plan needs at least 4 nights. |
| ROBINSON MALDIVES | Couples and solo travellers aged 18 and over who want a club’s all-inclusive plan and the reef from the beach | 124 villas on Funamadua, 70 minutes by domestic flight and 30 by speedboat | A long journey, with the transfer extra outside packages; diving and excursions sit outside the all-inclusive plan. |
| Club Med Kani | Families with children aged 4 to 17, and anyone who wants sport and company all-inclusive | A Club Med village with a whole North Malé Atoll island, 25 minutes by speedboat | Anyone after solitude will be happier elsewhere; the beach rooms have some years on them, and the spa and excursions cost extra. |
| Riu Atoll | Families and couples after an all-inclusive, the beach and the reef at a 4-star price | 264 rooms and overwater suites on Maafushi island, next to the Riu Palace Maldivas | Rooms of 31 to 41 m² with no private pool, and the transfer is extra. |
| Club Med Finolhu Villas | Couples who want Club Med’s all-inclusive plan on an island of few villas | 52 pool villas in North Malé Atoll, 30 minutes by boat, with Club Med Kani 5 minutes away | One restaurant on the island, many of the sports on Kani, and the boat from Malé extra without Club Med flights. |
| NAKAI Maayafushi Resort | Couples and families on a first Maldives trip who want Italian cooking and a reef from the beach | 60 beach bungalows and 8 over the water on a North Ari island, all inclusive | Plain rooms, no pool for now, and residents of Italy cannot book the official site. |
| Riu Palace Maldivas | Couples who want a 24-hour all-inclusive plan in a suite over the water or on the beach | 176 suites on Kedhigandu, joined to Riu Atoll by an 800-metre walkway | The transfer and Green Tax are extra, and the complex with Riu Atoll is big and lively. |
| Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives | Couples who want everything included and South Ari's whale sharks, on a small island | 100 beach and water villas on Bodufinolhu, 30 minutes by seaplane, closed for renovation until 1 March 2027 | The seaplane, taxes and Green Tax are extra, and the house reef is reached by boat. |
| Embudu Village | Travellers who want the reef off the beach and a real island close to the airport, on a 3-star budget | 102 bungalows and 16 water villas on a green island in South Malé Atoll, 20 minutes by speedboat | There is no pool and the bungalows are plain, with no TV; many are semi-detached and you hear next door: anyone after a resort of pools and private villas will be happier elsewhere. |
| Medhufushi Island Resort | Couples who want a timber villa over the water or on the sand, all inclusive, without spending much | 112 villas on a green island in Meemu Atoll, 35 minutes by seaplane from Malé | Anyone who wants a reef beneath the villa or a new resort will be happier elsewhere: the beaches have plenty of seagrass, the reef is a boat ride away and the transfer is extra. |
| Thulhagiri Island Resort & Spa | Couples and families who want a simple island near the airport, with half board in the rate | 87 beach and water bungalows in North Malé Atoll, 20 minutes by speedboat | One buffet restaurant and simple furnishings; the reef edge is well out from the shore, one for confident swimmers. |
| Cora Cora Maldives | Families and couples who want everything included, from cocktails to kayaks, on a cheerful island | 9 villa types on the beach and over the lagoon on Maamigili, in Raa Atoll, with 4 à la carte restaurants included | The seaplane, spa and excursions are extra; the house reef is easier to reach from the beach than from the lagoon villas. |
| NAKAI Alimathà Resort | Italian families and couples who want the Maldives all-inclusive, with entertainment and home cooking | A Bravo club village of about 170 rooms on a Vaavu island, with an infinity pool over the sea and dive channels close by | Anyone without Italian, or after quiet, will be happier elsewhere; espresso, bottled drinks and excursions cost extra. |
| NAKAI Dhiggiri Resort | Couples and divers who want a small island, an all-inclusive plan and Italian cooking | A 3-hectare island in Vaavu Atoll with 34 water bungalows, 90 minutes by speedboat from Malé | Anyone who wants a pool will be happier elsewhere; the house reef is recovering, and from Italy the only way in is the package with the flight. |
Each resort has its own page: the villa catalogue, prices read night by night, transfers and the rules of a stay.
Noonu Atoll, Maldives
Water villas of more than 500 m², each with a pool, a slide into the lagoon and an opening roof over the bed; the reef is a boat ride away.
Location: Maldives water villa
Discover Soneva JaniNoonu Atoll, Maldives
A 20-hectare island with 47 villas, all with a pool, a golf academy, a snow room and the Maldives’ largest private wine cellar.
Noonu Atoll, Maldives
LVMH’s maison in the Maldives: 46 villas with 12.5-metre pools, a Guerlain spa on its own island and Le Carrousel kids’ club.
Baa Atoll, Maldives
The first Soneva, since 1995: more than 60 villas in the jungle and 8 over the water, The Den for children of 4 to 17 and a reef you can swim to from the beach.
Location: Maldives resort for families
Discover Soneva FushiSouth Malé Atoll, Maldives
A big resort 40 minutes by yacht from Malé: 117 villas each with a pool, 11 restaurants and bars, Terra in the trees and a private island.
North Malé Atoll, Maldives
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.
Laamu Atoll, Maldives
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.
Location: Maldives surf resort
Discover Six Senses LaamuBaa Atoll, Maldives
80 pool villas on an island in Baa Atoll: SEA, the restaurant under the sea, the SKY observatory, a reef all round and Hanifaru’s mantas 20 minutes away.
North Malé Atoll, Maldives
A 44-hectare island with 12 beaches, 45 minutes by boat from Malé: beach and water villas, TAPASAKE, a Forbes 5-star spa and works on the west side until December 2026.
Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Maldives
The former Raffles Meradhoo: 38 pool villas on 2 islands in the far south, 2 house reefs with turtles and a butler for every villa.
South Ari Atoll, Maldives
193 villas on an island almost 2 km long, 8 restaurants, the kids’ club and whale sharks 20 minutes away by boat in every month of the year.
Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives
15 overwater residences with pools, a butler at any hour and an all-inclusive that covers the spa, the diving and the excursions.
Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives
A 2021 resort 35 minutes away by seaplane: 134 villas, 6 restaurants and bars, an adults-only pool, a Kids Hub and a glass-floored spa.
Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives
270 studios and villas, 10 restaurants and bars, Kandiland and go-karts: the family resort for under $300 a night.
Noonu Atoll, Maldives
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.
Baa Atoll, Maldives
50 pool villas on an island you can walk round in 20 minutes: the house reef, Ba’theli on its boat and Hanifaru’s manta rays 15 minutes away.
South Ari Atoll, Maldives
The all-inclusive resort par excellence: one plan with Champagne, 80 wines and 3 excursions, and the reef a swim from the beach.
Location: Maldives all-inclusive resort
Discover Lily Beach Resort & SpaNorth Malé Atoll, Maldives
A small island 15 minutes by seaplane from Malé, with a reef all the way round and 50 pool villas of 105 m², from $408 a night.
North Ari Atoll, Maldives
30 villas on an island of 150 by 200 metres, the reef ringing it a few metres off the beach and 5 restaurants to choose from.
Baa Atoll, Maldives
103 villas on an 18-hectare island, with AyurMa’s Ayurvedic spa, a marine biology centre, a kids’ club and Hanifaru’s manta rays.
North Malé Atoll, Maldives
46 pool bungalows 30 minutes by speedboat from Malé, with the world’s first underwater spa, an underground cellar and the reef 25 metres off the beach.
Raa Atoll, Maldives
73 pool villas on an island built around art, in Raa Atoll: Saoke over the water, the Manta Treehouse, a free kids’ club and the reef from the beach.
Raa Atoll, Maldives
A whole island for wellbeing, with Three MICHELIN Keys: 68 pool villas, Areka and KAASHI, programmes of 5 to 10 nights and a centre that cares for turtles.
South Ari Atoll, Maldives
2 islands joined by a bridge in South Ari Atoll: Ithaa, the first undersea restaurant, the Muraka with its underwater bedroom and whale sharks all year.
Location: Maldives underwater hotel
Discover Conrad Maldives Rangali IslandSoneva Jani, Velaa and Cheval Blanc Randheli are in Noonu Atoll, north of Malé, 40 to 45 minutes by seaplane, with Maafaru as its domestic airport; Soneva Fushi and Anantara Kihavah are in Baa Atoll, 30 and 35 minutes away, near Dharavandhoo; Waldorf Astoria lies south of Malé, 40 minutes by yacht, and Gili Lankanfushi and One&Only Reethi Rah north-east of it, in North Malé Atoll, 20 to 30 and 45 minutes by boat; JOALI and JOALI BEING are in Raa Atoll, 45 and 40 minutes by seaplane; the Conrad is in South Ari Atoll, 30 minutes away to the south-west; Six Senses Laamu lies furthest south, 65 minutes by seaplane.
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Since 1 July 2025 tourism GST is 17% and also applies to the service charge, usually 10% (MIRA); since 1 January 2025 the resort green tax is $12 per person per day, with children under 2 exempt (MIRA). Soneva Jani, for instance, adds 29.92% to the villa rate plus the green tax (Soneva).
By seaplane from Malé, 40 minutes to Soneva Jani and Cheval Blanc, 45 to Velaa, or by a domestic flight to Maafaru and a speedboat. Seaplanes fly from sunrise to sunset only: to arrive the same day you must land in Malé by 3.30pm (Trans Maldivian). The shared seaplane costs $1,300 per adult return for Soneva Jani in 2026 (Soneva) and $772 each way for Velaa (Velaa).
The tourist visa is granted on arrival: you need a passport valid for at least a month, a return flight, booked accommodation and the IMUGA declaration within 96 hours of the flight (Maldives Immigration).
For the Maldives Meteorological Service the dry north-east monsoon runs from January to March and the wet south-west monsoon from mid-May to November, with December and April in between (MMS). The wet season is also the manta season: at Hanifaru, in Baa Atoll, from mid-July to October.
Written and checked by Lumina, independently of the hotels it names. Lumina sells no rooms: every link leads to its source.
This guide is written with Lumina, the marketing system for hotels.
