1. JOALI
“If you see the world through the eyes of a child, then you’ll see real joy, If you imagine the world like a child, then the world is yours”, so Joali’s saying goes, a resort committed to awakening hearts and making memories, especially with families in mind. Plumped pretty on Muravandhoo island in the Raa Atoll, Joali’s joie de vivre is apparent at every turn. The resort’s family beach villas can sleep up to five people, each with its own private beach and pool (or two!), with statuesque coconut palms ensuring privacy for those wanting to immerse in paradise en masse and under one roof.
Little Robinson Crusoe’s can explore their island by chilling in Joali’s natural The Manta Ray Treehouse hideaway, playing pirates aboard a dhoni on an island excursion, exploring the underwater world as mermaids, cooking up a storm in the kitchen as aspiring chefs, learning how to play traditional Maldivian Boduberu drums or simply building sand sculptures along the pristine white beach. The memories start now.
2. TAJ CORAL REEF RESORT & SPA
Just four hours from Dubai, the Maldives is one of the easiest and most idyllic places to experience pure, unbridled escapism, and with Eid Al Fitr on the horizon... paradise awaits at Taj Coral Reef. Just a 50-minute boat ride from Malé, on Hembadhu Island, Taj Coral Reef is home to whiter-than-white sand, luminous cerulean waters, dramatic sunsets, its very own shipwreck and a more streamlined and sophisticated take on a desert island resort. Those embarking on an Eid adventure, can do as much – or as little – as their heart desires. For those with a sense of adventure, big game fishing, diving, a submarine experience or stingray feeding is on the cards, or for those simply wanting to relax into their natural surrounds, you’ll find serenity at Jiva Spa, sunset dolphin cruises, stargazing at night floating on a dhoni and breakfasts served on the beach just for you.
To take your Eid escape to an all-time high, reserve the Nirvana Presidential Suite – the island’s most exclusive abode. At 215sqm, it sleeps five guests and is bedecked with all the trappings luxury travellers could wish for, with its own terrace, plunge pool, outdoor shower and, of course, sublime views over the Indian Ocean.
3. TAJ EXOTICA RESORT & SPA
Another Maldivian gem is Taj’s Indian Ocean sister property, the award-winning Taj Exotica. The perfect destination from which to escape the frenetic pace of city life, your easy-breezy island experience starts with a quick 15-minute boat ride from Malé to Emboodhu Finolhu Island, which languishes in the middle of one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives. Known for its abundant flora and fauna, it’s a place to find and be found – an oasis of calm where nature reigns supreme.
Celebrate your Eid break with this bucolic beauty – sway under coconut palms in a hammock, embark on an island wildlife walk, relinquish yourself to the healing powers of Jiva Spa, or dine on sublime cuisine among the canopies with a private tree-top dinner. The island’s two-bedroom 500sqm Rehendi Presidential Suite is a true haven of luxurious indulgence, with a titanic 18m freshwater pool, sundeck with hammock, two salas, and some of the best bed-to-sea views in the Maldives.
4. VELAA PRIVATE ISLAND
With a villa or residence to suit every occasion or bookable in its entirety where you’ll be the only people leaving footsteps in the sand, Velaa Private Island is the epitome of an out-of-this-world escape. The ultra-private one-bedroom Romantic Pool Residence is accessed only by boat, with a Jacuzzi, infinity pool, gym, kitchen, butler and private chef, while the two-floor Nika Residence by Patricia Urquiola - lovingly reimagined by the iconic Spanish interior designer - sleeps 10 and has its own gym, spa room, five-metre black marble dining table and outdoor bathrooms.
Elsewhere on the beautiful shell-shaped island, you’ll be well taken care of in the culinary department, as the three restaurants are overseen by Michelin-star trained exec chef, Gaushan de Silva; you’ll find one of the world’s greatest golf courses, Velaa Golf Academy by Olazábal; and can revel in Velaa Spa’s pioneering wellness treatments, that include the unique multi-sensory Cloud 9 pod. For an ‘exclusively yours’ escape, life doesn’t get much better than this.
5. ANANTARA KIHAVAH MALDIVES VILLAS
Known the world over for creating authentic experiences beautifully complemented with pared-back luxury, Anantara properties are for anyone seeking simplicity and escapism in a sanctuary setting. Situated in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas plays to those strengths, with its 80 private villas and residences carefully peppered around the island, so as not to disturb or disrupt the natural surrounds.
Where Manta Rays and dolphins are your neighbours, should you venture into the sapphire blue ocean, on land it’s privacy abound. The 1,500sqm over-water pool residences are the epitome of tranquillity – perched over the crystal-calm lagoon, they come with arresting views, an infinity pool, spa room, gym, 24-hour villa host, sommelier, personal chef and baby sitting service on request. To take you to realms of other-worldliness, dine at SEA, the island’s underwater restaurant and wine cellar, or at SKY, an over-water observatory that is the perfect spot for stargazing.
6. CONRAD MALDIVES RANGALI ISLAND
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is a one-of-a-kind destination courtesy of its dual-island approach. Linked by a 500m foot bridge across the Indian Ocean, the two islands compliment each other beautifully: Rangali island designed for a more private and exclusive escape, while the livelier Rangali-Finolhu island is the beating heart of the resort, a haven for families looking for adventure.
Here, children’s wildest dreams come true, as they immerse themselves in island life learning to snorkel and dive; splashing about in the dedicated kids pool; delving into the ocean on the island’s glass-bottom boat; eating amongst the fish at Ithaa, the Maldives’ original underwater restaurant; and being edutained through arts, crafts and games at Majaa Explorers Hub. As the kids discover, explore, rest and recharge, the parents can slip away to the Spa Retreat, spend a day on a Catamaran, or simply indulge in gastronomy at one of the resort’s 12 restaurants and bars. It really is the quintessential escape for the whole family.
7. CROSSROADS MALDIVES
Quite a spectacular feat, Crossroads Maldives is the archipelago’s first integrated multi-island leisure destination. Set in the Emboodhoo Lagoon, and just a speedy 15-minute boat ride from Malé, it’s the perfect location for those travelling with kids, as a couple or on a multi-generational holiday, as the nine-island resort caters to everyone.
Home to two hotels – the star-studded Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and the eclectic playground of SAii Lagoon Maldives - Curio Collection by Hilton – the lifestyle hub also features a 30-berth marina, a Hard Rock Cafe Maldives, a Lèn Be Well spa, gym, beach club, dive centre, 19 retail outlets, over 12 dining destinations and world-class kids and teen clubs. Where stylish Riviera chic-meets-idyllic tropical paradise, a vibrant buzz ripples through the entire resort, resulting in an iconic and energised escape, where cultured minds meet and memories are made.
8. FAIRMONT MALDIVES SIRRU FEN FUSHI
If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that we need to take better care of our world, and Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is stepping up to do just that. Finding harmony between luxury travel and a sense of purpose, here five-star trappings are balanced with giving back to the environment. As well as banning single-use plastics, using solar-panel energy and sourcing locally-produced food to lower its carbon footprint, the island also boasts one of the longest lagoons in the Maldives, an ecosystem that plays a vital role in marine conservation and sustainability.
By day, eco-minded guests can learn about the island’s coral restoration project, joining the resident marine biologist in attaching baby coral fragments to a frame placed next to the Coralarium – the Maldives’ only underwater museum – while kids and young adults can take part in the Turtle Rangers program, and help monitor the population of the island’s resident Hawksbill turtles. Extravagance and feel-good escapism at its best.
9. VAKKARU MALDIVES
With a ‘guest-first’ ethos running through the veins of Vakkaru Maldives, visitors to the island can rest assured that their well-being is prioritised at every turn. So much so, that the resort has just launched its new care concept, Vakkare, that centres around four pillars – We Kare, Self Kare, Let’s Kare and After Kare – with a vision to set a new standard of unmatched luxury hospitality in the Maldives. Knowing that your every whim, dream and desire will be tended to, you can ease into your island stay.
Reserve the four-bedroom, sunset-facing Vakkaru Over Water Residence for a taste of paradise, as its infinity pool and spa pavilion beckon alluringly - the perfect place to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with loved ones. Elsewhere, surrender yourself to Merana Spa for an afternoon of multi-sensory exploration, set sail on a dolphin cruise amid Baa Atoll’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve waters, or simply settle into an exclusive barefoot sandbank dinner under the stars.
10. GRAND PARK KODHIPPARU MALDIVES
With future travel spotlighting a trend towards family-focused holidays – especially with Eid Al Fitr on the horizon – Grand Park Kodhipparu steps forward as one of the Maldives’ best luxury island bolt-holes to explore and enjoy en masse. Little Explorers Kids Club is a multi-layered boredom-busting space that will keep mini-travellers edutained with arts, crafts, games and activities; for the bigger kids, the Beach Club has snooker and babyfoot tables; and for the more adventurous amongst them, there’s everything from snorkelling, diving, banana boat-riding, windsurfing, kayaking and parasailing. Plus, if there’s anything else you need beyond that, you can call on your own private lifestyle host to help make dreams come true. The Grand Residence is the biggest place to bed-down at 210sqm. Sleeping five guests, it’s the perfect family living space, with its two bedrooms, private swimming pool, built-in hammock, see-through glass floor and direct access to the lagoon.
11. THE STANDARD, HURUVALHI MALDIVES
The iconic brand’s newest resort, and its first property in Asia, The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives deserves to be on your radar this spring. Keeping to tradition with the brand’s eclectic design ethos, its first island escape is as cool as they come... Oozing personality with bright neon pops of colour juxtaposed against crisp whites, quirky artworks on the walls, gorgeous botanical prints strewn over soft f urnishings and a disco ball in every bathroom. Yes, here the emphasis is on living life to the absolute max.
The two-bedroom Standard Residence is definitely the coolest hangout, with its glass floor entryway, living room with bar, private deck with four sun loungers, a huge infinity plunge pool and a sleeping hammock for whoever claims it first. Bring your family, bring your friends, either way this is the place to bed down for an Instagrammable stay. Snorkel, sunbathe or spa by day, then by night, dine on the sand at BBQ Shak, with a barefoot seafood dinner cooked over coconut shell charcoal, then amble over to Beru Bar, the resort’s adults-only, over-water-club perched just feet above the ocean.
12. JA MANAFARU MALDIVES
All-inclusivity when it comes to island escapes is growing in popularity, and it’s a holiday ethos that JA Manafaru Maldives does impeccably well. Once you’ve booked, you can rest safe in the knowledge that all you need do once your sea plane touches down on the azure waters ringing your desert island is relax, unwind and enjoy. The award-winning Indian Ocean enclave, in the Haa Alif Atoll, is fringed by dense coconut palms, adding to the bucolic bliss of an island that feels a world away from anywhere else.
You have your pick of 84 beautiful beachfront or over-water villas and residences, with the two-storey three-bedroom island residence, with two spectacular pools, spa pavilion and private steam room, the perfect choice for families travelling en masse. A stay here also features almost every activity under the sun, ranging from catamaran sailing, jet-skiing and beach picnics, to yoga, cooking classes and spa treatments. A castaway experience that you’ll want to revisit time and time again.
13. GILI LANKANFUSHI MALDIVES
Everybody deserves an escape that focuses solely on you, where your physical, mental and emotional needs are put first. Step forward The Meera Spa at Gili Lankanfushi, with its new three-, five- and seven-day well-being journeys, designed to revitalise mind, body and soul. Big on taking guests back to nature, where the well-being of both planet and person lies at the heart of Gili Lankanfushi, this barefoot retreat brings rustic luxury together with a serene pace of life.
The new wellbeing journeys were born out of a desire to help guests awaken their senses, restore inner peace and create clarity through a three-day Revitalising Recovery programme, a five-day Detox Retreat, or the seven-day Rejuvenating Senses journey. Think self-discovery radiance facials, organic seaweed leaf wraps, Hijama cupping therapy, reiki sessions, foot reflexology and Tibetan singing bowl sessions all played out to the rippling Indian Ocean as it creates a soundtrack amidst the thatched salas of the overwater spa.
14. ONE&ONLY REETHI RAH
Another dream team coming to the Maldives this spring is the collaboration between ultra-luxury resort, One&Only Reethi Rah, and leading fitness brand, Barrecore, with new on-demand barre workout videos. The in-room Barrecore workouts allow guests to work up a sweat in the privacy of their own villa, with each video ranging from 30-55 minutes, and guided by on-screen instructors with no additional equipment required.
What this really means, is once you’ve blitzed your body workout, you’re free to indulge at one of the island’s eight five-star restaurants completely guilt-free. Botanica by Brent Savage is one of the Maldives’ latest hit eateries, featuring the chef’s curated garden-to-fork vegetarian cuisine, while Tapasake fuses the best of two worlds – Japan and Peru – to give just-caught fish an Asian-South American innovative twist. Definitely worth working up an appetite for.
