Maldives
Adults-only Maldives: a romantic escape for two
The sun drops behind the lagoon, and the only sound on the deck is water moving beneath the boards. No water slide, no kids' club, just the two of you and an island with few other guests.
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In short: adults-only resorts in the Maldives
The Maldives suits couples because each resort has an island to itself, with villas spread along the beach and out over the lagoon. At adults-only resorts, children are not guests at all. The age limit varies, so check it in advance. Choose a speedboat resort if your flight lands late, and a seaplane resort if you want to see the atolls from above.
Editor's first choice: Hurawalhi in Lhaviyani, home of 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, where Picolo has dined beneath the surface. Check availability and prices
Why the Maldives suits couples
In the Maldives almost every resort has an island to itself. There is no town to see and no day-trippers on the beach. Days settle into a simple rhythm: breakfast, the lagoon, a book in the shade and the sunset from your deck.
The villas stand apart from each other, and many have their own pool or steps straight down into the water. That makes it easy to be alone together, even at a resort with a hundred villas. There is nothing you have to plan, though you can dive, snorkel or sail out at dusk whenever you like.
What the Maldives is like for two
Each island sits inside a lagoon, shallow and pale within the reef, before the ocean turns deep and dark at the reef edge. Overwater villas stand on stilts out in that water. From the bed you can watch the lagoon change colour through the day.
Evenings are the romantic high point. Many resorts set tables on the beach or on a sandbank out in the lagoon, with lanterns in the sand. The sun sets at around six all year, because the Maldives lies so close to the equator.
What adults-only means in the Maldives
Adults-only means the resort does not accept children as guests. Each resort sets its own age limit, usually between 16 and 18. Check the limit when you book if you are travelling with an older teenager or want to be sure of the atmosphere.
Some resorts are quiet and mostly couples, yet still welcome children. They can be just as good, but they are not adults-only. One caveat applies to Anantara Veli: guests from its sister resort, Anantara Dhigu, where children are welcome, can eat in Veli's restaurants.
Dinner under the sea
The Maldives has several underwater restaurants, and three of them are at resorts in this guide. 5.8 Undersea Restaurant at Hurawalhi sits 5.8 metres below the surface. Picolo took the fast boat there from Jawakara, around an hour and a half. OBLU Select Lobigili has Only Blu, and You & Me has H2O. Tables are few, so book before you travel.
If you would rather dine at Ithaa, which Picolo also recommends, it is at Conrad in South Ari. Conrad welcomes families, and you can read more about it in our guide to the Maldives by atoll.
Worth knowing before you book
OBLU Select Lobigili, Centara Ras Fushi and Anantara Veli are reached by speedboat, even after dark. Hurawalhi, Komandoo and You & Me are reached by seaplane, which only flies in daylight. Our guide to seaplane or speedboat explains the choice.
Several of the resorts offer all inclusive. Check what is covered, because the underwater restaurants often cost extra.
Seven nights is a good starting point, as the journey from Europe takes most of a day each way.
Planning a honeymoon? You will find more resorts in our guide to a Maldives honeymoon.
The resorts we recommend for couples
Hurawalhi Island Resort
The bathtub sits out on the deck, looking over the lagoon.
Hurawalhi Island Resort
Hurawalhi in Lhaviyani Atoll is built for adults, with villas on the beach and out in the lagoon. This is home to 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, where fish swim over the glass ceiling while you eat. The seaplane from Malé takes about 40 minutes.
OBLU Select Lobigili
Lobigili, the island of love, is fifteen minutes by speedboat from Malé.
OBLU Select Lobigili
Lobigili means island of love in Dhivehi, and the resort is reserved for adults, with two guests in each villa. The speedboat from the airport takes fifteen minutes and runs around the clock. The all-inclusive plan includes one dinner per four nights at Only Blu, the restaurant under the sea.
Centara Ras Fushi
The overwater villas at Centara Ras Fushi run in a line from the beach.
Centara Ras Fushi
Centara Ras Fushi in North Malé is one of the more affordable adults-only resorts, and guests must be 18. The overwater villas run in a long line out from the beach, and the speedboat from the airport takes fifteen minutes. It is larger than the others in this guide, so the atmosphere is less intimate.
Anantara Veli
The villas at Anantara Veli sit right on the lagoon in South Malé.
Anantara Veli
Anantara Veli sits in South Malé, around half an hour by speedboat from the airport. Most villas stand over the lagoon, and the island shares its lagoon with sister resort Anantara Dhigu. That means more restaurants to choose from, but also families at the dinner tables in the evening.
Komandoo Maldives Island Resort
Evening settles over the overwater villas at Komandoo.
Komandoo Maldives Island Resort
Komandoo is a small island in Lhaviyani Atoll, and the resort is for adults only. Villas line the beach and stand over the lagoon, and you can snorkel the house reef straight from the island. You get here by seaplane from Malé.
You & Me Maldives
The overwater villas at You & Me reach out into the Raa lagoon.
You & Me Maldives
You & Me sits in Raa Atoll, around 45 minutes by seaplane north of Malé. Most villas stand over the water, and beneath the lagoon lies H2O, the resort's own underwater restaurant. The resort is all inclusive, but dinner at H2O comes on top.
Our recommendation
Hurawalhi: dinner 5.8 metres under the sea
Hurawalhi is our first choice for couples, and the reason lies underwater. Picolo has dined at 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, where glass walls and ceiling let the fish circle the tables all evening. The rest of the stay is just as calm, because the resort only accepts adults. The overwater villas with their own pool sit out in the lagoon, with steps down into the water. Book your table at 5.8 well ahead, and plan your flights around the seaplane.
Questions and answers
Are there adults-only resorts in the Maldives?
Yes. Several resorts in the Maldives accept adults only, including the six we recommend in this guide. They sit on their own islands, so there is no kids' club and no children's pool. Other resorts are quiet and mostly couples but do have children among their guests, so check the policy before you book.
What is the age limit at adults-only resorts?
Each resort sets its own limit, usually between 16 and 18. Centara Ras Fushi, for example, requires guests to be 18. If you are travelling with a teenager, or want to be sure there are no younger guests, check the limit with the resort before you book.
Which adults-only resort is closest to Malé?
OBLU Select Lobigili and Centara Ras Fushi in North Malé are closest, around fifteen minutes by speedboat from the airport. Anantara Veli in South Malé is about half an hour away. Because speedboats also run after dark, these resorts suit you best when your flight lands late or leaves early.
Are there adults-only all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives?
Yes. Several offer all inclusive, including OBLU Select Lobigili, Centara Ras Fushi and You & Me. What is covered varies from resort to resort. Ask which drinks and excursions are included, and whether the underwater restaurant is part of the plan, because it often costs extra.
Are adults-only resorts good for a honeymoon?
Yes. Adults-only resorts work well for a honeymoon, because you avoid young families and get more peace. Many have packages for newlyweds with beach dinners and spa treatments for two. More ideas, including resorts that welcome children, are in our guide to a Maldives honeymoon.