How to choose your ideal Maldives resort

A holiday in the Maldives’ true-blue island paradise is always something special. Azure waters lap against golden sands across each of the Maldives’ 26 atolls, where nothing separates the sea from the sky on the endless horizon… For everyone from busy families, to keen divers, to honeymooners looking for solitude, these picture-perfect islands are the stuff of daydreams. However, faced with so many options, how do you choose your perfect Maldives resort? Our Maldives Destination Specialists are here to help you narrow it down.

What’s the best Maldives resort for you?

Rustic or lavish? Over-water villa or beachside bungalow? Small and intimate, or larger with a wider range of facilities? Everyone’s idea of luxury is a bit different. Maybe yours is unspoilt solitude with nothing to disturb the tranquillity other than the gentle lapping of the waves? Perhaps it’s attentive service and having every wish at your fingertips? Maybe fine cuisine is at the top of your list? There are resorts that try to offer the lot, but more often than not there are choices to be made (and budgets to consider), so it’s worth taking time to define your vision of Maldives-style luxury. Chat with one of our Maldives Destination specialists to help you decide which style of resort will suit you best.

Thinking of a family holiday to the Maldives?

Most Maldives resorts are totally self-contained on a private island, so it's important to choose one that’s right for everyone in your party. If you’re travelling with young children, a resort with a kids’ club and plenty of child-centred activities can help everyone relax. Older children and teens might look for resorts which offer watersports and adventurous activities for their age group. If you’re travelling with extended family, or even a group of friends, a resort with more spacious villas or larger pools could be the perfect option. 

There are many family-friendly resorts in the Maldives, but our favourites include Kanuhura Maldives for high-end family luxury, and Reethi Faru for active older teens.

Celebrating something special?

As one of the world’s top honeymoon destinations, the Maldives knows how to help couples celebrate in style. Packages for honeymooners and those celebrating wedding anniversaries often go above and beyond with added extras, and many couples choose to actually get married in the Maldives too. Whether you’re looking for lavish beachside bliss or going for barefoot minimalism, there are resorts geared toward making sure your romantic Maldives holiday surpasses all expectations, as well as several excellent adult-only properties which offer a calmer, more mature experience. Stroll hand-in-hand along quiet beaches, enjoy intimate candlelit dinners, and kayak over the shallows, just the two of you…

Anna recommends the adults-only Hurawalhi Island Resort for couples and honeymooners in the Maldives.

Which resorts are best for diving in the Maldives?

The Maldives is a world-class haven for divers. In fact, it’s almost impossible to visit the Maldives without at least sticking your head beneath the surface in a snorkel! Most resorts offer some diving, but there’s quite a wide range. Some provide formal PADI tuition, and many offer short, guided dives at a variety of levels. If you want to get underwater but don’t have much experience, a day trip snorkelling from a boat in search of manta rays or whale sharks can be a wonderful way to start. If, on the other hand, you’re an ‘eat-sleep-breathe-dive’ diver, then you can’t beat a few days on a live-aboard boat doing little else. Take a look at our dive expert’s tips for getting the most from diving during your Maldives holiday.

We love the Reethi Beach Resort for relaxed, sociable diving in the Maldives.

Should you choose an all-inclusive Maldives resort?

When cocooned on your resort’s private island, without the option of popping out to sample the local cuisine, the all-inclusive package comes into its own. As you’ll be using the resort restaurants either way, and getting your sunset cocktails from the resort bars, an all-inclusive package might even work out as better value. It’s not always an option (a few of the highest end resorts don't offer full all-inclusive) but for most Maldives resorts, especially those catering to families, going all-inclusive can be a great way to ensure you can relax without the hassle of further in-trip spending.

How will you get to your Maldives resort?

You don’t have to consider this question in quite the same way with mainland hotels: how exactly are you going to get to your Maldives resort? Some offer transfers by sea plane, which can be a fantastic way to arrive and makes a really impactful start to your Maldives holiday, but it’s certainly not for everyone! If you’d rather stay at sea level, take your pick of the plentiful resorts that offer more leisurely transfers from Male by boat. Some have both options, whilst for others it depends on their distance from Male airport, so if arriving in a particular way is important to you, make sure you ask about the options for your favourite resort.

How much does a trip to the Maldives cost?

One vital consideration when deciding where to stay in the Maldives is your budget. Whilst there are no ‘cheap’ options - this is absolutely a premium luxury destination - the scale is pretty wide. Maldives resorts can vary from several hundred pounds per night to several thousand, depending on everything from the facilities, style and service levels to the finish on the accommodation. Our Destination Specialists are keen to focus on the most appropriate options for your budget from the word go, so they can make sure they get every detail just right.

Considered combining the Maldives and Sri Lanka?

The Maldives’ remote atolls are wonderful if you’re looking for sun, sand, sea and underwater adventures, but combining the Maldives and Sri Lanka makes an absolutely fantastic pairing. In fact, our favourite way to visit the Maldives is for a few days of relaxation after a trip through Sri Lanka’s vibrant culture, history, heritage and (of course) food. You get the best of both worlds: enriching travels in Sri Lanka, followed by time to digest it all in the world’s most famous island paradise. There’s no imperative to leave Sri Lanka to get some beach time, as the island has some wonderful beaches of its own, but nowhere in the world does coastal luxury quite like the Maldives.