Hotels
Hotels in the Maldives: nine resorts and how to reach them
From the window of the seaplane, the atolls look like someone has dropped rings of turquoise paint on a dark blue floor. In the middle of each ring is a speck of green, and that speck is usually a single resort. Choosing a hotel here means choosing an entire island.
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The Maldives is a scatter of almost 1,200 low coral islands, grouped into 26 atolls, the ring-shaped reefs that stretch south-west of India across the Indian Ocean. Only a couple of hundred islands are inhabited by locals. Resorts sit on islands of their own, and every journey starts at the international airport beside Malé, the capital.
What happens next matters more than most first-timers expect. The last leg, by speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight, decides how long you travel, what the transfer costs and whether you arrive the same day. So rather than ranking resorts, we have grouped nine of them by how you get there, from a short hop across the lagoon to the far south. Links go to Hotels.com, and we always choose the hotel before the link.
Short answer: which Maldives resort should you book?
On a short trip or a late arrival, pick a North Malé Atoll resort such as Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru or Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, reached by speedboat. For more space and emptier horizons, the seaplane to Baa or Raa is worth the extra time. Families do well at One&Only Reethi Rah and, on a tighter budget, Kandima.
Best for romance: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
Best for families: One&Only Reethi Rah
Best for a first visit: Four Seasons Kuda Huraa
Best for value: Kandima Maldives
Best for design: Patina Maldives
How to choose a hotel in the Maldives
Price the transfer: speedboats, seaplanes and domestic flights are usually charged on top of the room. Ask the resort for the figure before you commit.
Mind the daylight rule: seaplanes only fly between sunrise and sunset. Land in the evening and you will spend a night near Malé before flying on.
Water or beach villa: overwater villas stand on stilts with steps down into the lagoon. Beach villas have more shade and suit small children better.
Ask about the house reef: some islands have coral you can snorkel straight from the beach, others need a boat trip. For keen snorkellers this matters more than the room.
Budget for meals: everything you eat and drink is bought on the island, with no café down the road. Half board or all-inclusive often works out cheaper.
The pool at Vabbinfaru
An infinity pool looking out over the turquoise lagoon at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.
A short boat ride from Malé: North Malé Atoll
These resorts sit between fifteen and forty-five minutes from the airport by speedboat. They make most sense for shorter stays, and you can land after dark and still sleep on your island that night.
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru: a round island with a private pool
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru sits on a small, almost circular island in North Malé Atoll, ringed by a coral reef you can snorkel straight from the beach. The villas are scattered beneath the palms, and many have a private pool and a small garden facing the sand.
It is our romantic pick, because the island is so small you can walk around it in fifteen minutes, and it feels as if you have it to yourselves. The speedboat transfer is short. It suits couples and honeymooners rather than families looking for lots of activities, and the spa is one reason many guests return.
Book your stay: See rooms at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru (Paid link)
Kuda Huraa from above
Beach villas, palms and white sand beside the lagoon at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa.
Four Seasons Kuda Huraa: close to the airport, far from the noise
Kuda Huraa is one of the quickest resorts to reach from the airport, which is exactly why so many first-timers book it. There are beach villas and overwater bungalows, and a sheltered lagoon wraps around much of the island.
Four Seasons service has a way of anticipating what you need, and that makes it a safe first choice. It works best for a first visit to the Maldives and families who want a kids' club and short distances. If your picture of the Maldives is empty sea in every direction, travel further.
Book your stay: See rooms at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa (Paid link)
The water villas at Reethi Rah
Aerial view of overwater villas on stilts in the lagoon at One&Only Reethi Rah.
One&Only Reethi Rah: a new beach every morning
Reethi Rah is one of the larger resort islands in the atoll, and its long, curling shape gives it a string of small beaches and coves. Villas sit on land and over water, and many come with a private pool.
Size is the advantage. You can cycle around, find a different beach each day and leave the children at the kids' club for a quiet afternoon. It works for families and for stays of a week or more. The prices are high, and you will notice them on everything from dinner to excursions.
Book your stay: See rooms at One&Only Reethi Rah (Paid link)
The Fari Islands
Aerial view of the Fari Islands and Patina Maldives, ringed by beaches and shallow lagoon.
Patina: architecture on the Fari Islands
Patina Maldives stands on the Fari Islands in the north of North Malé Atoll, about 45 minutes by speedboat from the airport. Its villas are low and pared back in timber, stone and glass, and many have a private pool and steps into the lagoon.
It is our design pick, a place where the architecture matters as much as the beach, with clean lines and generous space around each villa. It suits couples and lovers of contemporary design and good food. The islands share a marina and restaurants with neighbouring resorts, so there is more life here than on the remotest islands.
Book your stay: See rooms at Patina Maldives (Paid link)
The terrace
A villa terrace with sea views at Soneva Fushi in Baa Atoll.
By seaplane: Baa and Raa
The seaplane takes between 35 and 45 minutes, depending on the island, and the views of entire atolls from the air are part of the trip. Baa Atoll is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, known for manta rays and whale sharks in season.
Soneva Fushi: the barefoot original
Soneva Fushi is in Baa Atoll, and its villas hide in thick greenery with their own path down to the sand. This is a beach villa resort rather than an overwater one, and many villas are large enough for a whole family.
It takes sustainability and barefoot living seriously, and it offers far more to do than you might expect on a tropical island. Choose it if you want more than a sunbed and a pool, or if you are travelling with older children. It is among the most expensive places in the country and wasted on a short stay.
Book your stay: See rooms at Soneva Fushi (Paid link)
Dinner over the water
A restaurant on stilts above the lagoon at JOALI at sunset.
JOALI Maldives: art among the palms
JOALI in Raa Atoll stands apart for the art placed all over the island, inside the villas and along the sandy paths. Villas are on the beach and over the water, and most have a private pool.
It gives the island a personality of its own, a welcome change from resorts that blur into one another. Couples and anyone who enjoys design and contemporary art will appreciate it. It is not the most child-focused resort, and the transfer is longer than to the islands near Malé.
Book your stay: See rooms at JOALI Maldives (Paid link)
The view from the villa
A villa with tall windows and ocean views at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
Further south: Ari and Dhaalu
South of Malé lie atolls with far fewer resorts per stretch of ocean. Ari is reached by seaplane, while Dhaalu means a seaplane or a domestic flight and then a boat. It takes longer, and the quiet is part of the reward.
Conrad Rangali Island: dinner beneath the waves
Conrad Rangali is two islands joined by a long footbridge. Its best-known feature is Ithaa, a glass-walled restaurant about five metres below the surface, where reef fish and rays drift past the tables.
Two islands means a choice: one is quieter and aimed at adults, the other has family villas and more going on. It is ideal for travellers who want variety and plenty of restaurants without leaving the resort. The famous restaurant costs extra, and tables need booking well ahead.
Book your stay: See rooms at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (Paid link)
Niyama from above
Aerial view of overwater villas reaching into the lagoon at Niyama Private Islands.
Niyama: two islands, surf and a nightclub
Niyama Private Islands lies in Dhaalu Atoll, across two islands joined by a bridge: one calm, the other livelier. It has eight restaurants, a kids' club and a nightclub, and good surf breaks nearby.
It suits couples and families who want choice, from quiet beach days to surfing and a drink in the evening. Getting there means a seaplane or a domestic flight and boat, so allow at least five nights. Anyone who wants a completely silent island should pick somewhere smaller.
Book your stay: See rooms at Niyama Private Islands (Paid link)
Kandima from above
Aerial view of the water villas at Kandima in Dhaalu Atoll.
Kandima: a long island with plenty going on
Kandima in Dhaalu Atoll is a long, narrow island with a wide range of rooms, from simple studios to villas with pools. There are more people, more bars and a programme of activities that makes it feel like a small village.
It gets our vote as the value pick, because it brings the Maldives within reach of more budgets and suits families and groups of friends. Anyone dreaming of total silence and nothing but the sound of the waves will find too much going on. You reach it by domestic flight and a short boat ride.
Book your stay: See rooms at Kandima Maldives (Paid link)
When to book
Dry season: December to April is the most settled period, and Christmas, New Year and February half-term are the most expensive weeks. Book early.
Wet season: May to October brings more rain and wind, but lower rates and, in some atolls, better odds of seeing manta rays.
Easter and school holidays: flights from the UK fill quickly. Secure the flight before you lock in the resort.
Hotels in the Maldives: frequently asked questions
Which atoll is best in the Maldives?
North Malé is easiest for short stays, while Baa and Noonu, reached by seaplane, offer more open sea and fewer boats. Laamu and Dhaalu in the south are the quietest.
How do you get from Malé airport to your resort?
Your resort arranges the transfer by speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight and boat. It is almost always charged separately and must be booked before you travel.
Can you drink alcohol in the Maldives?
Yes, on resort islands. Alcohol is not served in Malé or on the local inhabited islands.
Is an overwater villa worth it?
For couples the overwater villa is often the whole point, with steps straight into the lagoon. With small children a beach villa is safer and shadier.
How many nights do you need in the Maldives?
At least five, because the journey from the UK takes most of a day each way. For the far south, a week is better.