The Luxury Resorts In The Maldives To Know

This chic resort is the perfect option for couples looking to fully switch off from and make the most of its facilities. Just 30 minutes by speedboat from Malé, this small private island is awash with lush palms and coral sands. With only 46 pool bungalows and pavilions, it offers an exclusive, grown-up vibe – where your personal Thakuru (butler) anticipates your every need with smooth and discrete service. As a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, it delivers consistently high standards.

Food & Drink:

The standout is Vinum – the Maldives most prestigious underground wine cellar, housing over 5,000 bottles and offering daily wine tastings, degustation menus and six-course pairing dinners beneath suspended artworks. Above ground, SALT  serves Japanese-Peruvian fusion, Celsius offers elegant beachfront dining, and intimate private dinners can be set up on a sandbank and even a jetty. 

Wellness:

Huvafen has the world’s first underwater spa, with treatment rooms surrounded by marine life. It also has a saltwater flotation pool; elsewhere night snorkelling reveals bioluminescent coral and the mysterious beauty of the reef after dark.

Facilities & Extras:

The house reef, just 25m offshore, is alive with life – from nurse sharks and clownfish to eagle rays and sea turtles. Add to that a gym, dive centre, and curated marine encounters, and there’s plenty to keep guests occupied.

Rates start from £630 per villa, per night, with bespoke experiences and luxury packages available for longer stays.

 Visit HUVAFENFUSHI.COM

Food & Drink:

With five restaurants and two bars, the culinary offering is diverse. Teppanyaki 
offers dramatic grill-side cooking over the lagoon, while Turquoise serves crowd-pleasing favourites in a relaxed, breezy setting. The resort’s Velassaru Indulgence package is a smart all-inclusive upgrade, offering à la carte meals, premium wines, cocktails, and more – perfect for those who want to try everything on offer.

Wellness:

The over-water Velassaru Spa features Margaret Dabbs London and Elemis treatments, with panoramic views across the Indian Ocean. You can also take part in three and five-day wellness journeys and romantic experiences like the Starlight Spa, where treatments take place under the stars.

Facilities & Extras:

For active guests, there’s a tennis court and a modern gym, with reformer Pilates set to launch in the coming months. Plus, the stunning turquoise lagoon makes Velassaru a playground for water lovers. Snorkelling, diving, parasailing, paddleboarding and jet-skiing are all available, with expert guides and state-of-the-art equipment.

Rooms start at £250 per night, with excellent value found in the all-inclusive upgrades and seasonal offers.

Visit VELASSARU.COM

Wellness:

The Varu Spa features couples’ treatment rooms with private shower rooms. They also have saunas, steam rooms, cold pools and rain showers, while the relaxation terrace is the perfect place to unwind pre- or post-treatment.

Facilities & Extras: 

Villas here blend contemporary interiors with Maldivian traditions, offering either overwater or beachfront locations, many with private pools and open-air bathrooms. But the reef steals the show: teeming with turtles, reef sharks and vibrant coral life, it’s one of the Maldives’ best for accessible snorkelling – no boat required. The helpful concierge team can help arrange beach dinners, sunset cruises and more. 

Rates begin at around £375 per villa, per night, with numerous packages available.  

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Part of the beautiful Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Milaidhoo is a 13-acre resort that’s all about quiet luxury. The focus here is on authenticity, culinary and total wellbeing  – somewhere you can fully switch off and settle into island life. Everything, from the thatched-roof architecture to the thoughtful, personalised service is built around helping guests reconnect with nature.

The resort has been thoughtfully designed to blend into its surroundings, and villas – either beachfront or suspended above the lagoon – are framed by lush vegetation and ocean views. Villas and residences are carefully prepared before your arrival, so guests can expect a completely bespoke experience from the friendly team who go to great lengths to ensure you have a memorable stay.

Food & Drink:

The star attraction is Ba’theli, the world’s only fine-dining Maldivian restaurant set on a traditional wooden dhoni boat. Floating in the lagoon, it offers curated regional dishes – rich in heritage and spice – with a contemporary twist. Elsewhere, The Shoreline Grill serves wood-fired dishes on the beach, while Ocean offers all-day dining with international options. There’s no rigid menu culture here – the chefs can tailor meals to your exact dietary preferences, with many ingredients sourced fresh from local waters and surrounding islands.

Wellness:

Wellbeing is central to the Milaidhoo experience. The Serenity Spa, perched over the water, draws from Ayurvedic principles and uses only natural, sustainable products in its treatments. Massages and facials feature Elemis products, while a pavilion hosts sunrise and sunset yoga classes. 

The island also offers exclusive wellness programmes, like the ‘3-Day Detox Journey’, blending mindful movement, dosha-balancing meals and chakra-alignment therapies curated with natural and botanical TheraNaka products.

Facilities & Extras:

As well as having access to a range of non-motorised watersports, adventurers will love the island’s house reef, renowned for its vibrant coral gardens and marine residents. From parrotfish and turtles to eagle rays, you’ll be able to spot an abundance of wildlife. Milaidhoo Cave is a must-visit for divers, while Hanifaru Bay – one of the world’s top manta ray congregation sites – is just a 15-minute speedboat ride away. 

Rates start from around £970 per villa, per night, including breakfast. Bespoke packages are available for wellness, diving and romantic escapes. 

Plus, this summer, Milaidhoo Maldives presents 'Endless Summer', a limited-time offer running from 1st May to 31st October 2025, featuring curated experiences like daily gourmet dining, yoga, and exclusive access to the breathtaking Manta Reunion at Hanifaru Bay. It is one of the Maldives’ most magical marine events, where dozens of manta rays gracefully glide and swirl in the warm waters. Guests of Milaidhoo have front-row access to this incredible phenomenon, with exclusive excursions crafted to bring you face-to-face with the gentle giants. Guests who stay four nights or more enjoy 30% savings on Manta excursions and selected spa treatments, USD $150 resort credit, and added perks like early check-in and late check-out.

Visit MILAIDHOO.COM

Universal Resorts  are the founding names in Maldivian tourism, with a legacy that dates back over 50 years. Each of its islands is a natural island, chosen for its ecological richness and preserved to maintain native flora and fauna. Unlike some newer, built-up resort islands, every Universal resort feels like an authentic part of the archipelago – lush, untouched, and beautifully integrated into its surroundings. 

The group offers individuality across each resort. While service is consistently high and sustainability is a core value, every property has its own personality – whether that’s design-led minimalism at Huvafen Fushi, romance-first intimacy at Kandolhu, or wellness immersion at Milaidhoo. Guests return year after year for the thoughtful service, exceptional dining and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Getting There:

Fly into Velana International Airport (Malé), which is served by direct and one-stop flights from the UK via airlines like British Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, and Turkish Airlines. Depending on your chosen resort, onward transfers range from 30-minute speedboat rides to 35-minute scenic seaplane journeys.

Best Time To Visit:

November to April is the dry season, with peak months from December to March. Expect 30°C days, calm seas, and golden sunshine – perfect for beach lounging and underwater adventures.

What To Pack:

Bring light, breathable clothing, reef-safe sunscreen, swimwear and sandals. Resorts are generally barefoot-friendly, while a waterproof camera or GoPro will help you capture underwater snaps.

Timezone: 

Maldives Time (GMT +5)

Currency:

The official currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), though US dollars are widely accepted. Most guests charge all expenses to their villa and settle the bill at checkout.

Health & Entry:

No vaccinations are required for travellers from the UK. A valid passport and proof of return travel are needed. Travel insurance is also recommended.

For more information and to book your next trip, visit UNIVERSALRESORTS.COM