1. HERITANCE AARAH
Located in the Raa Atoll, Heritance Aarah sits within a pristine lagoon, surrounded by an endless stretch of white sandy beach, offering guests a premium five-star Maldivian resort experience. If you are seeking a haven for pure relaxation or an active holiday retreat for the whole family, the choices are endless.
The range of “Premium All-Inclusive” options is complemented by a team of friendly staff, with a high commitment to service. Leave your shoes and cares behind and enjoy an island where you are ‘free to be you’. Boasting some of the largest Family Beach Villas in the Maldives, Heritance Aarah offers shorefront villas with separate outdoor access, providing the ideal option for guests holidaying with families. The Family Beach Villas share the same aesthetic as the Beach Villas, with enhanced space and privacy for individual guests or families with grown up kids.
2. ADAARAN PRESTIGE VADOO
A place where time ceases to exist and the gentle sounds of the Indian Ocean beckons you to the shore, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo possesses its own exotic reef, teeming with vibrant aquatic flora and fauna.
One of the world’s leading water villa retreats, the resort has a list of indulgences that await you, matched only by the captivating lushness of the surroundings. To make things, even more enticing, guests who book 90 days in advance can save 30% with the brand’s Early Bird Special offer.
3. TAJ EXOTICA MALDIVES
Legendary Indian hospitality meets Maldivian luxury at Taj Exotica Maldives, thousands of miles from the frenetic pace and chaos of everyday life. Spread across Emboodhu Finolhu island, the verdant Three Coconut Isle is located amid coral reefs a mere 15-minute speedboat ride from the airport. Take your pick from any of the 64 lavish sea-view villas and suites or indulge with a stay at the resort’s award-winning presidential suite, reckoned by many to be one of the most beautiful accommodations in the Maldives.
Whether you’re lounging by the infinity pool or at your private beach, lazing in a hammock over the blue waters or just laying below the stars at night, pure bliss is pretty much a guarantee. With the ‘All About You’ signature experiences, guests can make the most of the dedicated concierge team to make seemingly impossible dreams come alive, and enjoy bespoke tours of the islands for picture perfect memories. As always with Taj, you’re on Taj Time – and doing nothing is an art form. Time, unfortunately, doesn’t literally stand still but there’s never a dull moment in this oasis of calm.
4. JA MANAFARU
Experience an idyllic island escape in the secluded sanctuary of JA Manafaru, Maldives. In the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean lies a tropical Maldives hotel and resort, blending the serenity of the Maldives with seven world-class restaurants, extensive leisure activities, and exotic spa and wellness facilities. Set against a backdrop of exquisite vistas, magical moments are captured and romance comes alive.
If you’re not tucked away in your secluded Royal Island suite or entertaining family in the capacious two-storey Royal Residence, the tropical resort is the perfect place to get active. Take your GoPro on a stand-up paddleboard adventure, dance on a dhoni alongside playful dolphins, kayak across the lagoon and sail a catamaran – there’s plenty to keep you moving when you’re not flat on your back, soaking up the perpetual sunshine.
5. COMO MAALIFUSHI, MALDIVES
COMO Maalifushi is the only resort to open in the Maldives’ Thaa Atoll, nestled in the archipelago’s southern reaches. With overwater villas and beach suites, COMO Maalifushi is therefore the ultimate away-from-it-all destination for families, couples, surfers and divers. There are some excellent breaks nearby as well as a string of uninhabited private islands, where there are seasonal hammerhead and manta ray sightings.
The resort’s state-of-the-art COMO Shambhala Retreat is the perfect fit for the private island resort experience. Eight double treatment pavilions are set over the water, with doors that open wide so you can relax on a massage bed or in an oversized bathtub, listening to the sound of the waves and the ocean breeze. The steam, sauna and Jacuzzi areas are adjacent to the an open-air yoga pavilion located on the sunrise side of the island, with views of the Indian Ocean. There’s also a state-of-the-art fitness centre, as well as expert instruction in yoga, meditation, and core connection. Treatments are based on Asian traditions, from Thai Massage, Taksu and Indonesian Massage, to Foot Reflexology and Indian Head Massage.
