The best hotels in the Maldives to book early for this winter
If you’re getting in early and are already on the hunt for winter sun for the end of the year or in early 2025, the Maldives – and its promise of palm-tree and white-sand paradise – is a tempting location. The country is made up of hundreds of islands, many now home to a luxury resort, so it can be difficult to know where to start.
Just like the Seychelles, home to the gorgeous Mango House, and Mauritius, offering glorious beaches and adventures further south, the Maldives are like heaven on Earth, providing you with a breathtaking idyll to escape from the daily grind.
Which part of the Maldives is best to stay?
For many people, travelling to the Indian Ocean hotspot involves some serious air travel – during one of the best times to visit the Maldives, the peak of the dry season (November to March), there are some direct flights from the UK, but most international arrivals from London will have to connect in Dubai or Doha, with total flight time exceeding 12 hours. Because of this, many people prefer to stay on islands that are within a swift speedboat ride of Malé.
For the more intrepid, there are further-flung resorts, either a seaplane or domestic flight away from the capital Malé, in other atolls, such as Gaafu Alifu, all the way down south, and Raa in the north.
Where should I stay in the Maldives for the first time?
Many of the big-gun resorts are concentrated in the North Malé Atoll and so it’s a great place to start, for ease of travelling from the international airport in the capital.
How many days in the Maldives is enough?
It depends how much you want to switch off. You’ll need some time to recover from the long-haul flight, and if you want to earn a diving accreditation, for example, you’ll have to allow time for that. The resorts tend to have lots of restaurants and activities to try, so it’s not uncommon for guests to check in for 10 days or more, to give themselves time to work through everything. Plus, you may want to island-hop around a few resorts while you’ve made it all the way over to the middle of the Indian Ocean.
For some, the tiny islands can get a little claustrophobic after a few days (even if it is paradise we’re talking about) – which is why the Maldives is a great option for a twin-centre holiday, pairing it with places such as Dubai and Sri Lanka.
Which is the best Maldives island?
Each island has its own USP, so it depends what you’re looking for. Some have all the bells and whistles for families, some are more focused on things such as wellbeing, and some have incredible food and drink experiences, including underwater restaurants, where you can admire the marine life as well as your meal.
What are the best hotels in the Maldives for 2024?
We’ve picked our favourites, from five-star hotels near Malé to remote desert islands that have been transformed with amazing art and design. Browse the best hotels in the Maldives, including top couples' hotels, family-friendly stays, all-out luxury resorts and more.
Best for the beaches: Six Senses Kanuhura
New to the Maldives last autumn, Six Senses Kanuhura arrived alongside the new Virgin Atlantic route, which will fly between London Heathrow and Malé three times a week from late October. The Six Senses brand has taken over an existing Maldives hotel and brought it into the fold, with villas both on the beach and on stilts over the water, and a signature spa. It’s set across three private islands.
The resort is a 40-minute seaplane ride from Malé, in the Lhaviyani Atoll. As well as its pristine shores, the hotel has rare orchids growing in the gardens and, naturally, several palm trees.
Best for couples and small groups: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, a short speedboat away from Malé, has a staggering 11 restaurants and bars, so the chances of you getting bored of the food during your stay are slim – especially since one of them is a Zuma, which we’d gladly eat at any day of the week. It’s perfect for couples in search of romance, but there’s plenty to keep young kids and teens entertained, too.
If you’re travelling in a group for a special occasion, the 350,000-square-feet Ithaafushi Private Island residence is hard to beat, with space for 24 guests.
Best for traditional Maldivian dining: Milaidhoo
You might be able to order every conceivable luxury foodstuff in the Maldives (from caviar to champagne), but at Milaidhoo, it’s local cuisine that is most celebrated. The resort is home to a fine-dining restaurant that champions Maldivian food. It’s shaped like a traditional boat, another nod to the sailing route the islands formed for spice traders travelling from Indonesia to India and Arabia once upon a time. Today, the dishes make use of these culinary treasures, such as cinnamon, cardamom and turmeric. Fortunately for guests, cookery classes with the chef are available.
For something truly memorable, visitors to Milaidhoo will also be able to spend the night on a sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Best for an all-round five-star experience: O&O Reethi Rah
Truly living up to its name, One&Only Reethi Rah was the Maldives’ original luxury hotel and it has set the standard ever since. There are around three times as many staff as guests, so you can be sure of superb, attentive service – no matter where you left your bicycle, it will magically reappear back at your villa ready for when you next want it; buggies also materialise just when you need them; the team are experts of the extra mile, with past gestures for guests including the construction of a treehouse as an absurdly romantic dinner setting; and even the sand is raked to perfection overnight.
We especially love the spa, which is set in a vast, peaceful garden, leading all the way to a yoga deck at the shore. It has a Bastien Gonzalez nail studio (you may be in the middle of nowhere, but the best mani-pedis in the world are here for you), a salon, Espa treatments and a Watsu pool.
Best for Robinson Crusoe vibes: Gili Lankanfushi
The star of a Channel 5 series on the planet’s billionaire playgrounds, Gili Lankanfushi is the ultimate barefoot-luxury experience – and here, that’s taken literally, since guests are encouraged to lose their shoes on arrival. This is to maintain the Robinson Crusoe resort’s ‘no news, no shoes’ policy for an authentic castaway adventure.
The hotel’s Private Reserve is the biggest over-water villa in the world and, yes, it has a slide taking you straight into the sea. In keeping with the Crusoe theme, the butlers are named Mr Friday, there to be your loyal assistant (and friend) throughout your stay. Several of the rooms are adrift in the ocean, reached only by boat, with a hammock to swim across to. It may be modelled on the ultimate desert island, but that doesn’t mean it has to eschew the finer things in life – £100 Wagyu steaks and an expensively stocked wine cellar await, for a start.
Best for amazing art: Joali
In the northern Raa Atoll, Joali is either a seaplane or domestic flight away from the Maldivian capital Malé. There’s an impressive art collection on the island – and the villas themselves are works of art, with rose-gold accents, petal-shaped ceiling fans and pastel-coloured sofas. The feminine decor extends to the hotel’s branded seaplane, adorned with birds and flowers, and far more creative than the red and white Trans Maldivian Airways ones.
The island has a resident artist, who’ll be able to teach anyone the joys (and mindfulness) of watercolour painting, even if their repertoire was previously limited to stickmen. There are incredible installations dotted throughout the resort and even the arrival jetty is a masterpiece in its own right. In addition to its artistic leanings, Joali is among the most sustainable resorts in the country. And if you’re in search of a spa hotel in the Maldives, make the short speedboat journey across to sister property Joali Being.
Best for families: The RitzCarlton Maldives, Fari Islands
Part of the recently formed Fari Islands, the Ritz-Carlton is a family-friendly Maldives hotel that’s easy to reach by speedboat from Malé. The resort was one of the last projects by the late Australian architect Kerry Hill, who created the spaceship-like over-water pods that contrast with some of the more rustic, wooden versions available on other islands.
The island’s stand-out space may be the spa, in the centre of those pods, adrift in the ocean, but it’s also a great choice for families, since it has a brilliant kids’ club, which includes playgrounds, napping pods, a pool with slides and jets, and a screening space for films and video games.
Best affordable option: The Standard, Huruvalhi
The Standard outpost in the Maldives is on the island of Huruvalhi, up north in the Raa Atoll. Its arrival in 2019 introduced a playful, party-loving option to the country’s luxury-hotel scene, plus, with rooms starting from around the £350-a-night mark, it’s a more affordable option.
The resort can be reached by a short seaplane ride from Malé. Each villa has its own deck and pool, but there are far more sociable places to hang out at, including the six restaurants and bars. After nightfall, dance by the bonfire on the beach and until dawn at the glass-bottomed, over-water nightclub.
Best for villas with private water slides: Soneva Jani
We’ve all seen the pictures of those Maldives villas with slides taking guests from hotel room to ocean and, unsurprisingly, we want in on the action, however old we are. At Soneva Jani, lots of the villas have these slides, so the fun can begin.
The resort is the sister property to Soneva Fushi, which has been one of the pioneers of sustainable tourism in the country ever since it opened in 1995. As well as enjoying your own private miniature water-park, the highlight of a Soneva Jani stay is embracing the brand’s Slow Life philosophy, which aims to help guests feel like children again (achieved by the slides alone, let’s face it).
Best for eating and drinking: Patina Maldives
Just across the water from the Ritz-Carlton in the Fari Islands, Patina is an excellent choice for foodies – the three hotels in the archipelago (which includes the yet-to-open Capella, coming in 2025) will eventually offer guests more than 20 restaurants and bars, with a shuttle boat taking them back and forth. At Patina alone, dining options include Wok Society for sushi and classic Asian dishes, the Fari Beach Club, whose menu was designed by a Michelin-starred chef, a Patagonian grill and a Scandi-Japanese restaurant run by a former Noma chef. You’ll also be able to visit the ice-cream truck for your free daily gelato.
Eating and drinking aside, the island is home to some impressive art installations, including a giant one by the American artist James Turrell.
Best for sustainability: Six Senses Laamu
There’s a lot of green-washing in the Maldives, with hotels claiming to have good eco practices while flying in produce from thousands of miles away, but one of the most authentically sustainable resorts is Six Senses Laamu, where you can enjoy a classic Maldivian experience while treading lightly on the planet. It is about to unveil its hi-tech new Institute of Marine Conservation, plus there’s an Earth Lab championing zero-waste practices and producing as much as possible on the island.
The hotel is in the Laamu Atoll, a 35-minute domestic flight south from Malé to Kadhdhoo airport, followed by a 15-minute speedboat trip.
Best adults-only resort: Anantara Veli
Sometimes we could all use a little peace and quiet (and pool areas free from unicorn inflatables), so for an adults-only hotel in the Maldives, Anantara Veli is the grown-up paradise for you.
The resort is a 30-minute speedboat ride from Malé, with a cinema under the stars, a spa for Ayurvedic treatments and romantic couples' rituals, and a turquoise lagoon frequented by baby reef sharks and puffer fish. In case you don't love the idea of being marooned on a desert island, simply head over to the sister hotel across the lagoon Anantara Dhigu and try out the dining scene there, which includes a poolside pizza restaurant, a seafood grill and a Thai restaurant at the end of a wooden walkway.
Best all-inclusive: Hurawalhi
All-inclusive may have once meant luridly coloured cocktails, tacky performances and sunburn, but it’s a far more classy affair in the Maldives, naturally – especially at Hurawalhi, which has four restaurants and three bars that you can enjoy freely during your stay. These include a glass-walled sunken restaurant, so you can lose the snorkel and watch the tropical flit fish by, while dressed a little more stylishly than the average pair of flippers allows.
The resort is also home to a wine cellar, stocked with an impressive selection of labels, and a vegan restaurant, serving plant-based takes on classic comfort food. Activities on offer include sunset cruises in search of dolphins, snorkelling on the house reef and deep-sea fishing.
Best for underwater experiences: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
One of the most famous things about the Maldives as a destination is the country’s creative use of under-water architecture – and nowhere specialises in the subterranean as well as Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
Snorkellers at this resort can forego their equipment, since you won’t be needing a mask to witness the sea life in these waters. Instead, book a stay in an under-water bedroom and watch the fish darting past all through the night. And you can stay dry while spying on the tropical fish over dinner too, swapping wetsuits for evening attire at the undersea restaurant.
Best for surfing: Kuda Villingili
If you’re heading to the Maldives to catch some surf, Kuda Villingili is the resort for you. It’s in the North Malé Atoll, which means it’s just a half-hour speedboat ride from the international airport.
It’s also near a prime surfing break: Chickens Break attracts surfers from all over the world. It’s so called for its proximity to an island once known for its poultry farm. The break is one of the longest in the Maldives and experienced surfers will also be able to ride two more noteworthy breaks: Cokes and Sultans. If you’re more concerned with actually being able to stand on a board first, the surf team is on hand to help you practise.
Best for an intimate retreat: Kudadoo
This private island, a short seaplane ride from the capital, has just 15 villas, which makes it an excellent choice for anyone seeking seclusion. Kudadoo is also all-inclusive, which extends to the champagne and the spa treatments. You’ll be able to book unlimited private yoga classes, personal-trainer sessions and excursions (though you should probably make the cheese cellar your first stop).
The over-water villas are arranged in a ring on the edge of the 200-metre by 200-metre island. The resort, which was created by New York-based architect Yuji Yamazaki, has a distinctly Japanese aesthetic.
Best for a laid-back vibe: Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
Marking the return of the brand to the Maldives, the Alila outpost on Kothaifaru island opened last year. It has 27 acres of grounds, spanning sandy beaches, jungle and, a Maldivian essential, plenty of palm trees. The personalised service ensures guests will feel at home – and it starts at the airport. The resort is home to four restaurants and two bars, including one called Yakitori, where sake fans especially will enjoy the cocktails.
Snorkellers will love swimming out to the house reef; also within reach is the Hanifaru Bay reserve, which promises at least the chance of a manta-ray sighting.
Best for spa seekers: Joali Being
For many visitors to this tropical paradise, the sun, sea and scenery is tonic enough – but if you want to take your wellbeing to another level, book a restorative stay at Joali Being, a 40-minute seaplane flight north of Malé on Bodufushi in the Raa Atoll. You’ll be able to retox accordingly a short speedboat ride away at big-sister hotel Joali, but here on the island, it’s wellness all the way, courtesy of its extraordinary spa facilities. These include a master practitioners programme, showcasing specialised treatments such as holographic memory resolution, Watsu water massages and craniosacral therapy. There’s a remarkably well-equipped sound-bath suite, a tea lounge with a tea sommelier on hand, and regular workshops; and residents on-site include Ayurvedic doctors, herbologists and naturopaths.
The serenity extends to the suites, which are more like temples, with a pretty pastel green and pink palette, pitched ceilings and lots of gold accents. The structure of the resort adheres to the principles of biolithic design, so that it blends seamlessly with its tropical surroundings. You’ll be able to get into Joali mode with the kimonos helpfully hanging in your room: there’s a smarter floral option for the evenings and beige pyjamas to blend in during the day.
Best for budding marine biologists: The Nautilus
There are many ultra-luxury hotels in the Maldives, since it’s such a favoured destination of the wealthy (at Christmas, the tarmac at the airport in Malé is said to be covered in private jets). One of the best of the best is the Nautilus, which helps its guests dig a little deeper with the help of its resident marine biologist, Emily Jupp. The resort is in a Unesco-protected reserve near Hanifaru Bay, ringed by coral reefs, and you’ll be able to go out on snorkelling trips with Jupp. During certain times of the year, guests can also swim with whale sharks and manta rays, with some of the dives taking place at night when you might just see some bioluminescence.
As for the other desert-island (in name alone) facilities, these include a superb spa, an impressive wine cellar and an array of restaurants.
Best for watersports and activities: Huvafen Fushi
Huvafen Fushi is a classic Maldives hotel, with an under-water spa where you’re likely to find Nemo during your treatment, a submerged wine cellar and sandbars just waiting for that evening’s dinner table to be set up. The suites have private freshwater pools and ladders for easy access to the Indian Ocean.
The impressive house reef is just across the lagoon – a resident marine biologist is on hand to take guests on daytime or nocturnal diving trips. In season, the house motor-yacht sails the lagoon in search of manta rays. Guests will also be able to keep busy kayaking, paddle-boarding, parasailing, wakeboarding and more.
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