Globalista

If you like snoozing in the shade of a palm tree and doing absolutely nothing, then the Maldives will spoil you for anywhere else. A necklace of 1,190 palm-topped, white-sand coral islands in the indigo waters of the Indian Ocean, they really are exquisitely beautiful, shimmering in the sun like Tiffany-blue floating poached eggs. Before tourism arrived in the 1970s these islands were completely deserted, and even today they are still a place where you will find more butterfly fish – more than 30 varieties from the Teardrop to the Gorgeous Gussy – than people. Indeed, just a few metres below the pancake-flat surface of the sea you’ll discover a blue planet of steep cliffs and dark chasms teeming with tropical fish. The diving here is some of the best in the world and even mere snorkelling is akin to immersing yourself in an aquarium. As if all this natural beauty wasn’t enough, the Maldives is also one of the best places in the world for luxurious hotels. Wonderfully secluded, most are private islands unto themselves complete with an outrageous degree of little touches – like underwater spas, sushi for breakfast, personal butlers at your beck and call, private pools, deserted island picnics and candlelit dinners on the beach. It’s no wonder that so many couples come here, which is not to say that the Maldives are not also a wonderful place for families. They have certainly changed over the last 10 years, with more and more big-name hotels opening, but the Maldives still offer one of the best and most pristine beach holidays in the world.

You can preview the Best Hotels featured in our Globalista Report below. Or buy the full Globalista Report for this destination, available at the bottom of the page.

Most Wildly Luxurious:
One&Only Reethi Rah

What’s it like?

With a 109-acre island, 130 super-slick villas, 16,000 specially imported coconut palms and 12 whiter-than-white beaches, you’ve got to admire the effort that’s been put into creating this celestial spot owned by Sol Kerzner. It’s a real love-it-or-hate-it concept. For some the glitz and glamour and unashamed opulence of Reethi Rah is so unbelievably enchanting that they book their next visit while still at the hotel. For others, it can be a bit too shiny for their ideal of a desert island. But there’s no denying it, Reethi is confidently polished, designed and built with total aplomb.

The Highs

The space, huge amounts of it, everywhere. You’ll soon come to realise that it’s the legroom here that is the most incredible treat – it’s a largely man-made island, expanded to six times its original size in order to give each of the 130 rooms its own expanse of beach. But, gosh was it worth it. Having your own infinity pool on your own deck, a hundred yards from where the Indian Ocean laps at your own stretch of white sand beach, is truly decadent. Away from the beach, find curiosities like the orchid farm, a riot of pink and white; its flowers keep every vase on the island full to bursting. The 9,500 square metre spa is spectacular, with its beautiful ornate reception hall and eight private treatment rooms in the gardens. And even the children’s club – usually very much an afterthought in resorts and tucked away in a dull corner – is adorable, with its pint-sized sun beds around a mini pool.

Which room?

The Balinese-style villas are so big and airy they feel more like small cathedrals than hotel rooms. There are vast daybeds by the pool, gleaming mahogany floors and great strutting poles of bamboo criss-crossing the arching ceilings. The beachside villas are even better than the over-water ones on stilts, which, ironically, are more expensive – don’t be misguided.

The Lows

Walk out onto your own private stretch of caster-sugar white sand and you will immediately detect an odd hardness underfoot that gives away the fact that these beaches aren’t quite natural.

Who should go?

Reethi does attract a certain type of guest. It is by no means a laidback, barefoot type of place – it’s Jimmy Choos in the restaurants at night and Melissa Odabash bikinis by day.
 

Family Fun:
Kanuhura

What’s it like?

No longer under the One&Only umbrella, Kanuhura is mercifully unaffected by its change in management. The family-friendly design of this small island, with a big central pool flanked by the restaurants and spa on one side and the beach on the other, each scant yards away, means that you can watch over your children but also get time to yourself, keeping one eye on them splashing around and one on your book. That it’s a small island means that it also takes less than two minutes to nip back to your room if you’ve forgotten the armbands or something.

The Highs

Absolutely brilliant for family en-masse – the non-stop programme of activities could keep even the most hyperactive bambinos entertained for days on end. They’ll be in the water as soon as the sun comes up, whizzing about on the banana boat, trying their hand at knee-boarding or canoeing. There are tennis lessons, karaoke classes, snorkelling expeditions or scrambles in the adventure playground. It’s a bit like the most ultra-luxe Club Med you could imagine, plopped on an Indian Ocean island. For the grown-ups, during the day there’s the lovely Jehunuhura private island just a short boat hop away, for picnic lunches. At night the Handhuvaru bar does great drinks as you curl up on multi-cushioned daybeds.

Which room?

Book into one of the two Grand Beach villas – they have stacks of space compared to any of the other water or beach villas, and useful additions such as a kitchenette, so helpful with children in tow.

The Lows

It’s a small island and there’s no hiding-place if some other family starts sticking onto you. You’ll have to escape by boat or make sure, if you see them having supper in Veli’s, that you head to Thin Rah instead. Alternatively, call for room service.

Who should go?

Definitely one for the family – couples could get a little exhausted by all the crashing and splashing about in the water.

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Globalista’s Pick of the Press

23 May 2009 - The Telegraph - Maldives: An Ocean full of Catwalk Colour
18 May 2009 - The Telegraph - Dive in style in the Maldives
2 February 2009 - A Luxury Travel Blog - Get ready for Soneva Kiri
29 October 2008 - The Spectator - Hope floats
20 September 2008 - The Times - Welcome to the real Maldives