Best hotels to visit in the Maldives

You might expect the boutique nature of Maldives hotels to force each island to specialise in one area - couples’ romance, active adventures, or family fun. Sun Siyam Iru Fushi proudly proves that’s not the case and that you can, indeed, have everything. Five-star luxury? Yep. An award-winning spa? Check. Dedicated pools for adults, kids, and families together? Of course. Kids club and babysitting services? For sure. Private excursions to an uninhabited island? Absolutely. Watersports, diving, tennis courts, giant chess - the list goes on. It also has a choice of 14 bars and restaurants with dine-around all-inclusive packages. Accommodation options from beach villas and overwater pool villas to two and three-bedroom retreats cater for any party, making Sun Siyam Iru Fushi a first-choice resort, no matter your circumstances.

Attention to detail and daring to ignore limitations is what makes Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi stand out. Dedicated to sustainability, the resort leads an innovative regeneration project that grows new corals in an in-house nursery. Guests are then invited to plant the corals in the reef, which helps protect the island and its marine life. This extra-mile attitude is echoed across the resort, from the Maldives’ longest infinity pool to a holistic spa within a thriving herb garden. Visitors can unleash creativity in the art studio, pick up new skills in an authentic Maldivian cooking class, or spot dolphins on a spectacular lagoon cruise. Every villa includes a private pool, or guests can opt for a unique under-canvas stay in luxury tents.

For more than 100 years, Raffles Hotel Singapore has stood as an icon of refinement and elegance revered by travellers and hoteliers alike. In 2019, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort brought these qualities to the southernmost edge of the Maldives and has attracted discerning guests ever since. Bringing contemporary sophistication to the decor across its rooms and restaurants, Raffles promises ‘sumptuous barefoot chic’ among hues of cream and blue, chequered tiling, and expansive verandahs. Pampering is taken seriously with a harmoniously designed spa, pioneering natural treatments, and a personal butler service as standard for all room types. Three signature restaurants offer specialities from Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean to Peru and Japan alongside magical torchlit barbecues on the beach.

Staying in a villa or suite over the water is a classic Maldives holiday experience. These room types are the most sought-after at every hotel, but few do them quite as well as The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort. Overwater villas here keep you connected to the ocean at every step with glass panel flooring. The Heavenly Spa also sits on stilts at the lagoon’s edge, offering panoramic ocean views whenever you indulge in a massage, sink into a soothing Jacuzzi, or practise yoga on the platform’s boards. Equally appealing to both couples and families, the Westin encourages young and old to play on the shore and in the water with tennis courts, a kids’ club, watersports, and diving. For an unforgettable wildlife experience, you can also enjoy snorkelling with wild turtles. Three stunning restaurants and a sunset bar satisfy appetites, or intimate dining experiences can be arranged in secluded beach locations for a little extra romance.

Just a 25-minute speedboat ride from Malé, Velassaru Maldives is one of the most accessible destinations in the Maldives but is purposely designed to feel a million miles from anywhere. Each bungalow, villa, and suite, from those on the beach to those above the lagoon, is built to be a secluded hideaway. Velassaru is also a resort focused on activities with watersports available, from water skiing, windsurfing, and wakeboarding to parasailing, kayaking, and fun tubes. On land, the spa features 10 overwater treatment rooms, two of which are for couples, while seven restaurants and bars promise gourmet treats with a choice of dine-around locations included in the Velassaru Indulgence all-inclusive package. To top it all, guests can explore the ocean on complimentary morning cruises, guided snorkelling tours on the house reef, and a wide selection of PADI dive courses and experiences.

It might only be 90 metres wide, but Atmosphere Kanifushi feels much bigger. Lush greenery separates each of its Beach Villas, and a helix of boardwalks stretches out into the ocean, creating an exclusive Water Villa peninsula. Pristine white sands and turquoise waves surround the tropical foliage at the centre of the island to offer a classic Maldives experience throughout the day. Then, unlike some resorts, Atmosphere Kanifushi goes the extra mile to keep you entertained after sunset. When you’re not enjoying Sri Lankan street food at Ceylon Bliss, Japanese flavours at Teppanyaki Grill, or speciality seafood at Pier Six, you can celebrate the night with live music, karaoke, and dancing poolside at the lively Liquid bar. After the party, you can clear the cobwebs in the state-of-the-art gym or sports and recreation centre or rejuvenate in the Akiri Spa by Mandara with six double treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room and hot tubs.