Maldives with its promise of aqua waters, white sandy beaches and tropical vibes was always a top destination for a beach holiday. And post pandemic, it has taken off even further. The beach resorts in Maldives, each on its own separate private island, form a natural bubble which make it easy to follow social distancing norms. I have collaborated with Travel experts for the best beach resorts in Maldives who have visited these resorts personally and shared their experiences. Not all of these beach resorts are 5-star, some are uber-luxury while others won’t break your bank for the beach holiday you always wished for! There are reviews of best resorts in Maldives for couples as well as best resorts in Maldives for families.
Best Maldives beach resorts for couples
Adaaran Club
A great beach resort in the Maldives is Adaaran Club Rannalhi. It’s perfect for couples that are looking for peace and quiet and to enjoy the luxury of visiting the Maldives but on a budget. The Adaaran Club Rannalhi is very small compared to some of the other resorts in the Maldives, so it feels very private. Adaaran Club Rannalhi is located in the South Male Atoll and can be reached from Male via a 45 minute speedboat transfer.
It doesn’t have a swimming pool, however guests can enjoy a free introductory scuba dive in a shallow area of the beach. There’s only one restaurant on the island but they offer 4-course candle-lit dinners on the beach for an additional price. These special dinners have different menus compared to the food that is offered in the main restaurant. There are also 2 bars, a spa offering various treatments and water sports and day trip excursions available. The buffet restaurant and both bars are included in the all-inclusive food and drink package.
The overwater villas are very reasonably priced and offer direct access into the Indian Ocean from private ladders. From the water villas it’s possible to swim out to the house reef where guests may be able to spot turtles and sharks that frequent the reef! Those staying in the water villas can also have breakfast delivered straight to their door in the mornings. One of the best Maldives beach resorts for couples.
Website: Adaaran Club
Contributed by Kylie from Between England and Iowa
Bandos
Bandos Maldives Island is definitely one of the most beautiful islands in the Maldives. The 4-star resort offers the typical Maldives feeling, from luxurious rooms, friendly service, paradise beaches to great food. Bandos is one of the closest islands to the airport. So the boat ride to the island takes less than 20 minutes, while other islands require even longer journeys or a domestic flight.
Bandos has a wide range of accommodation options for different budgets which reach from standard huts to beach-, pool- or ocean villas. Moreover, the food is great. While the standard restaurant offers an international buffet, you can also find several restaurants on the islands, including local delicacies and international cuisine like sushi.
Like other Maldives islands, Bandos offers fantastic Maldivian activities, such as snorkelling tours or excursions to surrounding islands. The diving centre of Bandos is just great, especially for diving beginners. While at other places you have to practice in a pool first, at Bandos you can start right away in the ocean. The house reef at the island simply offers so many remarkable creatures and corals. So you can marvel at the unique marine life of the Maldives on your first dive. If you are not a fan of diving, you can also discover the colorful fish, sharks, and turtles of the house reef on a small snorkel tour. All you need is a pair of goggles, and you can swim out to the reef yourself.
As you see, Bandos is an excellent island for your Maldives vacation. The island is especially perfect for those looking for Maldives beach resort for couples.
Website: Bandos Maldives
Contributed by Vicki of VickiViaja
Kuramathi
Kuramathi is a really wonderful island resort – with a great blend of amenities and seclusion. One of the things which makes it so great as a Maldives beach resort for couples is its stunning sand bar. The western end of the island tapers into the turquoise sea in a meandering strip of white sand, with the coral reef on one side and the lagoon on the other. It is perfect for a romantic walk at sunrise or sunset.
If you prefer something more indulgent, there’s an upper level bar called the Champagne Loft, where you and your partner can toast your champagne as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean. Or, if relaxation is your thing, book a couples massage at the spa. Treatment rooms are in over-water pavilions, so you can relax into your massage with the soothing sound of the waves crashing beneath you. This was one of my favourite experiences on Kuramathi!
There are also more active things to do on and around Kuramathi, including snorkeling over the coral reef, boat trips to nearby islands or even scuba diving. The nearby Madivaru Reef is a good place to see hammerhead sharks!
The accommodation is varied, with a mix of garden villas and over-water bungalows, some of which have gorgeous private pools. And there are 9 a la carte restaurants, so there’s also plenty of choice for dining.
Website: Kuramathi Maldives
Contributed by Martha from May Cause Wanderlust
Riu Atoll and Riu Palace resort
One of the best beach resorts in the Maldives that is both beautiful and affordable is the Riu Atoll and Riu Palace resort. Located on the private island of Gadifuri-Maafushi, it truly is a luxurious escape to paradise. The island has two sides, the Rui Palace Maldivas and the Hotel Riu Atoll. The main difference is that the amenities on the Rui Palace side are more luxurious.
If you want unlimited access to the entire island, then stay at the Riu Palace Maldivas. You can walk or catch a free buggy to the Riu Atoll and you have access to all of the bars and restaurants on that side too. There are several al a carte restaurants, as well as the buffets, 24 hour bar and swim up bars. The Riu Atoll is a bit livelier in the evening as there is a specific bar that has live bands or entertainment.
Any Maldives Travel Guide that covers the Riu Maldives will cite the quality of some of the all-inclusive water activities available. Take a paddle board, peddalo or kayak on the calm turquoise water of the Indian Ocean. Head to the top of the Riu Atoll island to find an amazing house reef full of colourful marine life. Try and spot the sting rays, reef sharks and if you’re lucky, sea turtles.
As you can imagine, the resort is beautifully clean. The sand is white and soft and the crystal clear water ever so inviting. There are over water bungalows available on both sides, but the normal rooms themselves are just as beautiful. The ground floor rooms you step straight out onto the sand and into a tropical haven. You will certainly enjoy your trip to the Riu, especially if you’re exploring the house reef.
Website: Riu Palace Maldives and Hotel Riu Atoll
Contributed by Kerry of VeggTravel
St. Regis Maldives
Proclaimed as one of the prettiest islands in Asia, the Maldives is home to several beautiful beach resorts. One of the most luxurious places to stay here is The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. This stunning resort is one of the best Maldives beach resorts for couples, especially honeymooners.
One of the best parts about staying at the St. Regis is the five-star restaurants. There are 6 dining venues including international cuisines. A must is the barbecue beach dinner. You can try all sorts of local seafood and barbecue. If you want a more romantic setting, you can opt-in for a private dinner on the beach under the stars.
The most enjoyable part about staying at the St. Regis is the breakfast. They have an extensive buffet and an a-la-carte menu. You get all kinds of pastries and luxurious entrees such as lobster omelets. The best part is that you also get unlimited Prosecco. You’ll feel like a king/queen while indulging in the breakfast.
During the day, you can keep yourself occupied by taking advantage of the many activities going on around the resort. You can simply lay in a hammock and relax. Or, head to the spa and get pampered. If you’re into water sports, go diving, snorkelling, parasailing, sea bobbing, and glass-bottom kayaking. Lastly, end the day by attending the sunset ceremony. The resort provides you with a complimentary glass of champagne for you to enjoy while watching the sunset.
The service is definitely the wow factor of the St. Regis. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome. They work tirelessly to make sure that you’re happy. You’re given a butler who coordinates everything for you and they also bring you afternoon snacks and coffee. You’ll be in the best hands here. All in all, the St. Regis is a bucket-list property and you’ll have the absolute best getaway here.
Website: St. Regis Resort
Contributed by Disha of Disha Discovers
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Best Maldives beach resorts for families
Hard Rock Hotel
A quick speedboat ride for just under 20 minutes takes you to Emboodhoo Lagoon from outside Male airport. Et voila! You arrive at the reception area of Hard Rock Hotel, one of the best luxury beach resorts in Maldives for families.
A unique feature of Hard Rock Hotel is that it is Maldives first multi-island destination. This Maldives beach hotel is situated on its private island but connected via a foot bridge to The Marina, a boutique shops and beachfront dining experience area. Access to the Marina Crossroads gives you so many restaurant options that no other Maldives beach resort by itself could give. There are 2 restaurants located on the Hard Rock island itself. And plenty more at The Marina including The Hard Rock Cafe and fine-dining options such as Ministry of Crab.
From spacious rooms and family suites overlooking the beach to beach villas and overwater villas, there are all sorts of options for couples and families to choose from at The Hard Rock Hotel. We stayed at the Platinum Overwater Villa with an ocean view. The resort pool is excellent, and we had a hard time convincing our daughter to step out of it. There is a Kids’ club with different activities for ages 3-11 years and for teens 12-17 years old. So whatever be the ages of your kids, rest assured, they would be taken care of, if they get tired of the pool area.
There are plenty of activities at the resort including Aqua Gym in the pool, yoga, beach soccer and volleyball. Hard Rock Hotel Maldives also has a full-fledged spa with different treatment packages. For the more active, there is a Water sports and Dive Centre located at The Marina. You can make free use of snorkelling equipment, kayaks and pedal boats.
Website: Hard Rock Hotel Maldives
Contributed by Shweta from Zest In A Tote
Kandima Maldives
When you arrive at Kandima Maldives, it feels like you have entered a slice of paradise that isn’t your typical luxury resort. The upscale hotel markets itself as the “New Maldives”, a lifestyle concept where you feel like you are part of an island community. The staff are very friendly, passionate and you can tell they genuinely care about your experience.
The gorgeous 3 km long island features 8 stylish restaurants and bars that each offer something unique. For authentic Asian cuisine, dine at the architecturally stunning Sea Dragon restaurant where you can pick your choice of fresh seafood right from the tank. For meat lovers, don’t miss Smoked, a contemporary grill house with a huge smoker where you can dine in the sand.
During the daytime you will be mesmerized by the turquoise ocean from your room, pool or beach club. There are many fun activities to do at the resort that make it good for both couples or families. Drop the kids off at Kandiland while you and your partner enjoy some downtime. This makes it as one of the best Maldives beach resorts for families. At Kandiland your kids will be in the hands of fully-certified child carers that have daily activities planned. Use this time to relax at the spa, workout at the gym, play tennis or unwind at the beach.
The contemporary rooms at Kandima Maldives are a refreshing change from the typical palapa style you see at other beach resorts. Their villas and studios come at different price points based on if you are beach facing or have your own private pool. Their over-the-water hut called the Aqua Villa is worth the splurge since you can swim in the ocean right off your private deck. If you’re lucky, you may see dolphins jumping in the distance!
Website: Kandima
Contributed by Cecily of Groovy Mashed Potatoes
Paradise Island Resort & Spa
Located in the Lankanfinolhu Island, North Malé Atoll, the Paradise Island Resort is 9.5 kms away from the Velana International Airport – just a 20 minutes speedboat ride. It is one of the biggest resorts in Maldives and provides luxurious facilities. You can choose to stay in an overwater villa or a sea facing bungalow at the resort. For an extra luxurious experience, check out the Haven Villa and the Haven Suite. These have a private ocean facing jacuzzi and pool for guests.
The resort is surrounded by serene beauty of the beaches, islandic plantations and the turquoise blue ocean. It is one of the most romantic places to stay in Maldives. There are many leisure activities to indulge in within the resort itself. Apart from swimming, you can go scuba diving, snorkelling, canoeing, windsurfing and parasailing. There are well paved paths for cycling too. You can easily get a rental bicycle to explore the island at the resort. You can also participate in some sporty activities such as basketball, tennis and billiards at the sports center in the resort.
When you plan a stay on an island, most of the time you will have limited dining options. This is not the case at this resort. Paradise Island Resort has 6 restaurants that serve a variety of cuisine including Indian, Continental, Japanese and Italian. They also offer beach candle light dinner setup for couples. The BBQ buffet dinner at the Lagoon Restaurant is very delicious and I highly recommend it. Live music performances, movie nights, karaoke and evening DJ/clubbing scenes keep you entertained throughout your stay at the resort. Pack the right essentials for your Maldives trip and book a stay at the Paradise Island Resort for your most awaited dream vacay.
Website: Paradise Island Resort & Spa
Contributed by Anjali of Cheerful Trails
Taj Exotica Maldives
It is difficult to categorise Taj Exotica Maldives as being one of the best Maldives beach resorts for families or couples. There were honeymooners and other couples when we visited this property with our 3.5 month old baby. And the staff went over the top to make sure we and the baby were looked after very well during our week-long stay.
This resort is spread across the Emboodhu Finolhu island in the middle of one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives. It is just a 15 minute boat ride from the airport, an important consideration while travelling with young kid(s). There are all kings of room and villa options, both by the beach and overwater. We had stayed at the Lagoon villa – it had picture-perfect views of the Indian Ocean from the bed and the bathtub, a private sun deck and enough space in the room for a baby crib.
The best part of the resort was its multiple restaurant and cuisine options. We tried everything from continental to pan-asian to fresh seafood to Maldivian cuisine. The Indian chef offered to make anything for the baby, from khichdi (a rice and lentil one-pot dish) to banana mash 🙂
Taj Exotica offers all kinds of water sports, from snorkelling to diving to windsurfing. What really worked for us to try these active sports is the nanny facilities on the resort. And the spa treatment at Jiva Spa after time spent in the ocean was pure bliss!
Website: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa
Contributed by Shweta of Zest In A Tote
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