The signature overwater bungalows of the Maldives are synonymous with luxury travel. If you have even a sprinkle of wanderlust, there’s a good chance you’ve fantasized about heading to this group of islands.
For those turning their dreams into reality, then you have the exciting yet challenging task of choosing accommodation. For those ready to splurge, the list of luxurious hotels and resorts in the Maldives is endless. The difficult part is choosing which slice of heaven you’d like to stay in the most, and my list of favorite hotels in the Maldives below should help you make your decision.
The 12 Best Luxurious Hotels in Maldives
1. Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, Lhaviyani Atoll
An all-inclusive luxury resort on a private island
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Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is an all-inclusive resort with 15 exclusive overwater ocean residences. Each residence is equipped with its own terrace pool overlooking the unending ocean–this might just be the best luxury hotel in the Maldives.
Beyond the private villas, you can explore the Japanese-inspired Retreat, which features a spa, restaurant, cheese room (take my money!), swimming pool, wine cellar, and bar.
Get the true celebrity treatment with 24-hour personal butlers who can organize everything for you, from specialized beach dining to spa pampering sessions to diving experiences.
The all-inclusive nature of the resort means that you won’t have to pay extra for any of the luxe amenities and services. Private personal training, high-end champagnes and dining, and private yoga and meditation instruction are just some of the ways that you can relax and indulge at the Kudadoo Maldives Private Island resort.
2. Joali Being, Raa Atoll
One of the Maldives’ most famous five-star resorts
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Situated in Raa Atoll, Joali Being is another contender for the best luxury hotel in the Maldives. This five-star resort has everything you could want for a dream tropical holiday.
Overlooking the beach, Joali Being is home to air-conditioned units, an international restaurant serving premium dishes from a range of cuisines, an indoor pool, and a lush garden. Guests can relax on the terrace or kick back at the bar after days of adventure around Raa Atoll.
The desk operates 24 hours a day for the convenience of guests, and airport transfers are also available to minimize unnecessary stress. For families traveling with kids, there’s also a kids’ club to keep the young ones entertained and the adults free to relax.
3. Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, Baa Atoll
A haven of lavish villas and private infinity pools
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Overwater villas? Check. Private infinity pools? Check. Coral reefs and a blue lagoon? Check. Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas has everything a luxurious tropical resort should have, plus much more.
You can reach this resort in just 35 minutes via seaplane from Malé International Airport (on a very picturesque flight!). Awaiting you is an overwater spa where you can indulge in a range of beauty and relaxation treatments, and lavish villas either on the white sand or over the water.
If you’re looking for adventure on your dream Maldives vacation, there are several water sports available, as well as the chance to swim with manta rays and snorkel at a colorful house reef. And for foodies, you’ll love the on-site Teppanyaki restaurant and live breakfast cooking stations, not to mention SEA, the underwater restaurant.
4. Soneva Fushi, Baa Atoll
A serene retreat tucked away amongst the jungle of a private island
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Ask for private tranquility and ye shall receive it at Soneva Fushi, perhaps the most luxurious hotel in the Maldives. Just 30 minutes from Malé International Airport via seaplane, the eco-friendly resort features both private beach access and a lush garden setting where you’ll find outdoor showers.
The resort offers guests complimentary bicycles with which to explore the island, but it’s likely you won’t even want to leave the resort. Soneva Fushi is home to an open-air cinema, a real observatory, a glass studio, and homemade chocolate and ice cream rooms, in addition to six restaurants, each with comprehensive wine lists.
Just in case all that isn’t enough, Soneva also offers a two-bedroom yacht that guests can sail, when they’re not spending the night at the private and remote Sandbank.
5. Soneva Jani, Noonu
Home to a private lagoon and the famous overwater villas
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If you imagine the Maldives in your head, you probably envision overwater bungalows peering out over turquoise lagoons and white-sand beaches. That’s the exact experience you’ll have at Soneva Jani in Noonu Atoll.
You’ll have your choice of beach or overwater villas, with the overwater villas opening out to their private lagoon space. Some overwater villas also have slides that swirl down to the water below–not a bad way to enter the lagoon! They also have retractable roofs so you can sleep under the stars.
At The Gathering, you’ll find a spa, a gift shop, and an observatory, plus a dive center for those who are interested in exploring the lagoon. Then nearby on the main island, there is an overwater silent cinema and labyrinth gardens near the children’s area. And among the dining options are cheese, chocolate, and ice cream rooms!
6. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, South Male Atoll
A sprawling world-class resort stretched across three islands
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The Waldorf Astoria has a proud reputation in the hotel industry, and the property in South Male Atoll lives up to the name. It stretches across three islands that encircle a serene lagoon, offering private villas with their own infinity pools, alfresco dining areas, deep-soak tubs, and swing day beds.
Also at the property is a wellness spa and on-site activities, including a fitness center, yoga, a tennis court, water sports, and a children’s discovery park.
But if you’re a foodie, it’s the 11 international dining venues at the Waldorf Astoria that will win you over. Enjoy global cuisines including Chinese and Middle Eastern, plus a unique tree-top restaurant where you can overlook the expansive waters of the lagoon.
7. Milaidhoo Maldives, Baa Atoll
A boutique luxury resort with its own coral reef
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Fan of snorkeling? With its own coral reef in the UNESCO biosphere reserve of Baa Atoll, Milaidhoo Maldives should definitely be on your bucket list. Despite being a luxury resort, Milaidhoo has a distinctively casual feel, like a (very indulgent) home away from home.
The villas all come equipped with their own sundeck and freshwater pool against a backdrop of supreme ocean views. The decor is inspired by Maldivian art and culture, and guests are welcomed with an island host to help them with anything at all, from reserving dining to booking water adventures.
There’s also an open-air overwater pavilion for yoga and meditation, plus an overwater spa. For those who are looking to be more active, the property offers whale shark spotting, dolphin cruises, manta ray watching, and conservation activities with a marine biologist
8. One&Only Reethi Rah, Reethi Rah
A private beach and Indian Ocean views await
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A private beach, infinity pools, and unrivaled views of the Indian Ocean–what more could you ask for? One&Only Reethi Rah is situated in North Male Atoll and offers fully decked overwater and beach villas, all with enviable vistas of the stunning surroundings.
Food-lovers will love the Japanese, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants, while 24-hour in-villa dining is also on offer. Additionally, this is a great luxurious resort if you’re traveling with a family, since there’s a teenage beach club and an activity place for children.
If you’re traveling by luxury yacht, One&Only Reethi Rah is only 75 minutes from Malé International Airport.
9. Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, North Male Atoll
A family favorite with a children’s playground and kids’ club
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Traveling to the Maldives with the family? Patina Maldives has everything you need. This five-star luxury resort offers a kids’ club and children’s playground, in addition to indoor and outdoor pools. Certain rooms have their own Xbox 360, in addition to a tennis court and table tennis facilities.
For adults, Patina Maldives has its own shared lounge, terrace, bar, fitness center, and lush tropical garden. Enjoy a buffet breakfast every morning, as well as Cantonese, Greek, and Indian cuisines at the on-site restaurant.
10. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Dhaalu Atoll
77 villas on a private island with personalized St. Regis butlers
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One of the most luxurious hotels in the Maldives in the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, which is sprawled across nine hectares of tropical jungle and white-sand beach fringing an azure lagoon.
Every one of the 77 villas and suites has the opportunity to enjoy a personalized butler service, and they all come with private pools, floor-to-window ceilings, a walk-in closet and private terrace, and luxe marble bathrooms.
Pamper yourself at the overwater Iridium Spa, enjoy hydrotherapy at the Blue Hole pool, and indulge at the six dining venues offering Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Kaiseki, Middle Eastern, and tapas.
11. Naladhu Private Island Maldives, South Male Atoll
Relax behind the privacy of lush island vegetation
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In just 35 minutes, a luxury speedboat will bring you from Velana International Airport to the secluded and exclusive Naladhu Private Island, where you’ll be treated like royalty. Stay in a classic house or pool residence with ocean views.
A personal butler will be on hand to help you design the holiday of your dreams at Naladhu Private Island, whether that involves lounging by the freshwater pool, beachfront dining, fishing, diving, surfing, or indulgent spa treatments.
12. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, Baa Atoll
World-famous hotel chain nestled among lush greenery and a turquoise lagoon
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The Four Seasons never disappoints, and that’s especially true in Baa Atoll. Just 30 minutes via seaplane from Malé International Airport, the Four Seasons Resort Maldives offers land and water villas, the former with private gardens and private beach access, the latter with floor-to-ceiling windows, overwater nets, and private sundecks.
There are four world-class restaurants at the property, all of which offer Ayurvedic options. As far as activities go, you can swim with manta rays and whale sharks, enjoy coral reefscaping, and learn about turtle rehabilitation at the Marine Discovery Center.
FAQs About Hotels in Maldives
Where is the hotel zone in the Maldives?
When we talk about the Maldives, we’re actually referring to a group of about 1,200 islands, around 200 of which are inhabited. Of those, 132 islands are considered “resort islands” in that they are home to resorts where tourists can stay rather than being residential, so there’s no real hotel zone (via Thrillophilia).
These are further broken down into atolls, which are defined by My Maldives as “a group of islands with a reef that nearly or entirely encloses a ring-like lagoon.”
All in all, there are more than 160 resorts to choose from spread across the atolls of the Maldives, so you definitely won’t have limited options (via Pamper in Maldives). Among the most popular atolls where you’ll find some of the best resorts include Baa Atoll, Raa Atoll, Dhaalu Atoll, and Noonu Atoll.
Is accommodation cheap in the Maldives?
Everything has a price, and for the world-famous beauty and serenity of the Maldives, unfortunately, you’ll have to pay up. While you can get away with around $200 USD per night for a hotel, the more luxurious resorts start at $500 per night, while the renowned over water bungalows start at $700 per night (via Money We Have).
It’s also worth noting that, depending on where you’re coming from, there may be significant travel time required to get you to the Maldives. Due to its remote position in the Indian Ocean, direct flights are not possible from major airports such as New York City’s JFK, LAX, or Sydney International Airport. Direct flights from London’s Heathrow are over 10 hours.
With the possible extensive travel time considered, you likely want to stay in the Maldives for at least a week, which means that accommodation costs can really add up.
How do you get around the Maldives?
There are several modes of transport that you can use to get around the Maldives, whether you’re traveling from the airport to your resort or you’re spending the day island hopping. Seaplanes are one of the most popular and fastest methods, but there are also domestic flights, ferries, speedboats, and yachts. When in Rome!
What is the most expensive resort in the Maldives?
You’ll find no shortage of super expensive resorts in the Maldives. One of the most expensive as you might have guessed from the name is the Velaa Private Island Resort in Noonu Atoll. The villas feature unrivaled ocean views, chic interior designed spaces, on-site pool houses, space for families, and luxury at every corner.
To give you an idea of how expensive we’re talking, five nights which is the resort’s minimum in the Romantic Pool Residence will cost you a cool $71,260, with each night racking up a bill of $14,252.
Is accommodation in the Maldives all-inclusive?
Whether or not accommodation in the Maldives is all-inclusive or not varies from property to property. One of the best all-inclusive resorts to look out for is Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, Lhaviyani Atoll.
Do cultural rules apply in Maldives hotels?
The Maldives is officially an Islamic country, and the local laws do apply to the resorts as well. This means that topless sunbathing is prohibited, even on the resort islands, as are outward displays of homosexuality.
There is slightly more leeway on the resort islands with regards to modest dressing, but when visiting Malé, avoid showing uncovered shoulders if you’re a woman or legs if you’re a man. You’ll also want to avoid public displays of affection.
You have to be careful with bringing in non-Islamic religious material, as this is banned except in private residences. Similarly, it’s important to be respectful during the holy time of Ramadan, when locals don’t eat or drink in the daylight.
While alcohol is permitted on the resort islands, it’s illegal elsewhere in the Maldives.