Best hotels in Maldives

Aah the Maldives, with its crystalline water and every resort on an island of its own. It's here that you'll find Milaidhoo, which sits like a tiny drop of emerald in the Indian Ocean. Dine in the restaurant on the water before heading off to snorkel without a moment's hesitation from a staircase that sinks into the sea. Whether you long for adventurous dives (no need for wet suites here!) or just lazing on the beach, Milaidhoo offers it all in spades. You can even spend a night on the sand - in a canopy bed, of course. There's only one thing not to like...and that's leaving! Milaidhoo Island Maldives is just located 35 minutes from Male International Airport by seaplane.

Named after its signature cluster of villas shaped like a coconut palm, the resort is surrounded by azure lagoons and reefs where manta rays glide through the water. Its high levels of luxury are matched by the resort's dedicated care for its island home. Built with eco-friendly materials, Coco Palm has coral replanting programs and the resort works with partners to protect green sea turtles. As a nesting site for these endangered locals, you might be lucky enough to see a hatching in progress! Picture days filled with cocktails on the sand, cruises to spot dolphins in the surf and seashell massages, to name a few. Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is located just 30 minutes from Male International Airport by seaplane.

As you pull up to Komandoo in a speedboat, the island doesn't seem real at first. A tiny pocket of tropical foliage ringed by blinding white sand quickly meets the deep, azure water where a single sailing trip will reveal myriad diving spots. Have breakfast with your feet in the water, lunch at the world's largest glass undersea restaurant and search for green sea turtles as you snorkel right off the island (just walk in!). Set in the Lhaviyani Atoll, Komandoo is the picture of a sheltered, Maldivian getaway where the sunrise is radiant and shoes are always optional. Komandoo Island Resort & Spa is just located 40 minutes from Male International Airport by seaplane.

Your arrival at Maadhoo Island is celebrated with traditional Bodu Beru drumming, accompanying your first look at the blinding-white beaches and luxury villas. Joined by a wooden bridge (look down and spy baby black-finned sharks, sting rays and shoals of tropical fish), the two sand oases are minute and a view of the Laccadive Sea is never hard to find. Grab your flippers and explore seaweed-enveloped wrecks or the island's beautiful house reef. And for the foodies amongst you, Maadhoo boasts a range of dining choices to suit all tastes whether it's authentic South Asian cuisine or hearty Italian pizzas.

From its home on a palm-studded island, Bandos packs a lot of punch and in quintessential Maldivian style, you could spend every hour exploring the (many!) diving spots and there would still be more to see. Set amongst the treeline or out on the water, Bandos has a collection of thatched villas, each with its own brand of beachy charm. With a large pool at its centre, the resort is a hive of family-friendly activities, ranging from the treasure hunts for the kids to sailing along the coastline in a glass-bottomed boat or an adrenaline-pumping jet ski ride! Bandos Maldives is just located 10 minutes from Male International Airport by speedboat.

A part of the North Malé Atoll's strand of islands, coral ramparts curl around the tiny shores of Huvafen Fushi, which blend into pure Indian Ocean. The lagoon is a hive of watersports; 'play' dolphin as you propel under the water on a sea bob and parasail above a scene of never-ending blue. And would you believe that under the water, is the Maldives' first submerged wine cellar! There are myriad options for destination dining including a private outpost on the bay - and even a photography crew to capture every moment. Believe us, you'll wish the days were as endless as the view. Huvafen Fushi Maldives is just located 30 minutes from Male International Airport by speedboat.

A salty breeze floats through languid palm fronds, shifting the powder-white sand that lines the slender coastline of Helengeli Island. OBLU is the a sole resort on the island, which is just a sliver of green in the North Male' Atoll. The view is inescapable from the resort's numerous waterside restaurants and the deck of each thatched villa. The island's house reef lives up to the reputation of Male' with plenty of silver-tipped sharks and sea turtles who frequent its coral formations. This corner of the world is well worth exploring in the resort's glass-bottomed boat! OBLU Nature Helengeli is just located 50 minutes from Male International Airport by speedboat.

The balmy waters of the Laamu Atoll are remote to begin with and Six Sense happens to be the only resort for miles. Strung between swaying palms, there are plenty of hammocks to snooze in and homemade ice cream makes a lovely accompaniment to strolls along the beachfront. The villas have tons of island chic with sunken glass bathtubs over the lagoon and rooftop sun decks. Take to the water on a boat trip to nearby manta ray hangouts or watch the sunset from a private sandbank, cocktail in hand. By night, catch a movie at the jungle cinema or make the most of the lucid sky with an evening of stargazing. Six Senses Laamu is just located 35 minutes from Male International Airport by domestic flight, followed by a 15 minute speedboat ride to the Resort.

Soneva Secret is located in the sparkling waters of Dhipparufushi in the Maldives’ Haa Dhaalu Atoll, and it represents a new wave of rare, personalised hospitality. Thirty years in the making, it creates a blueprint for the Soneva Secret concept, crafting every stay around highly intuitive service, rare experiences and exceptional culinary journeys. With just 14 expansive villas, the remote island setting offers the ultimate in privacy and seclusion, where the beauty of nature abounds.

A haven of pool villas, Anantara Kihavah Villas is a Maldives luxury resort that offers the ultimate in privacy and tranquillity, your own sanctuary within a sanctuary. Expansive space that opens on to brilliant tropical nature, with private pools, high ceilings and timber interiors. Flavours of culinary art and wine served amidst a panorama of aquatic life in one of the few underwater restaurants and wine cellars in the world.

Harmonising sophisticated accommodations with immersive experiences, Patina Maldives invites you to shape a journey of wonder. Extend your escape with bespoke offers that celebrate togetherness and discovery, inspired by seasonal deals designed to elevate every moment.

Unwind in peaceful seclusion with awe-inspiring views at this all-pool-villa sanctuary. The 11.2 hectare private island retreat lies at the northern edge of the Maldives in Raa Atoll, accessible via a scenic 45-minute seaplane journey from Malé. Lush vegetation, turquoise waters and abundant marine life set the scene for a relaxing stay interspersed with adventure.

Royal Island Resort & Spa is just located 20 minutes from Male International Airport by seaplane, followed by a 20 minute speedboat ride to the Resort.

Sun Island Resort & Spa is just located 20 minutes from Male International Airport by domestic flight.

COMO Maalifushi is just located 60 minutes from Male International Airport by seaplane.

Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is just located 15 minutes from Male International Airport by speedboat.

The original Soneva and ‘No News, No Shoes’ blueprint for barefoot luxury, Soneva Fushi lies within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on one of the Maldives’ largest and most unspoiled islands. A two-time winner of the World’s Best Beach Hotel Award, its one- to nine-bedroom villas offer unrivalled space and tranquillity – hidden amid the island’s lush tropical greenery or perched above crystal-clear waters.

The Vaavu Atoll doesn't mess about with half-measures. This slice of the Maldives delivers proper diving alongside the usual overwater luxury, which explains why marine biologists actually holiday here. Cinnamon Velifushi sits on white sand that squeaks underfoot, but the real action happens below the surface. Nurse sharks patrol the house reef like friendly security guards, while the nearby Keyodhoo shipwreck has become an underwater garden that puts the Chelsea Flower Show to shame. Between dives, you'll find four restaurants that understand not everyone wants Maldivian fish curry every night, plus a Mandara Spa suspended over the lagoon where Balinese therapists work magic with warm stones.

Kuredu Resort & Spa, Maldives, lets you choose your favourite accommodation type and perspective to wake up to. Be it the tropical seclusion of Garden Bungalows, the beach side bliss of Beach Bungalows, Premium Beach Villas and Jacuzzi Beach Villas, or the exclusive luxury and comfort of the Water Villas, all accommodation types carry a ‘perfect’ tag. For a truly hedonistic and gracious feel of Maldives resorts’ extravagance, Kuredu’s Private Pool Villas guarantee a relaxing residence comfort zone you’ll never want to leave.

Perched in the North Male’ Atoll, and just a few kilometers away from the Velana International Airport, lies one of the most beautiful luxury resorts in Maldives, Paradise Island Resort. The island is fringed by a splendid bank of pearl-white sand. The tropical island greenery of this island is truly remarkable. Another feature of this island is the pristine waters surrounding the beaches of the island.

Inspired by a word that means ‘wisdom’ in Sanskrit, Soneva Jani encompasses a collection of water villas and island sanctuaries set within a lagoon of crystal clear waters, fringed by pristine beaches and blanketed in lush tropical greenery. The highlight of the islands that the resort calls home is the 5.6 kilometre private lagoon that surrounds it; an awe-inspiring azure spectacle that inspires a sense of calm. The villas and reserves offer guests exclusive facilities to enhance the overall sentiment of intuitive and intelligent luxury, including private pools, outdoor decks and direct access to the lagoon. Soneva Jani is located just 45 minutes from Male International Airport by seaplane.

Reethi Beach Resort is located on a tiny island in Baa Atoll, a scenic 35-minute seaplane flight from Male. The elegant and spacious detached and semi-detached villas are built from natural materials in typical Maldivian-style, providing first class comfort in a unique setting. Rooms are air-conditioned and set amid tropical foliage fringing a long expanse of powder soft beach or on stilts over the clear blue lagoon. There are five restaurants and five bars, poolside and beachfront. Facilities include a PADI 5-star dive centre; a Spa and wellness retreat; Water Sports Centre; Sports Complex and a wide variety of group and private excursions have been carefully selected to enable you to explore the untouched beauty of Baa Atoll and the rich culture of its inhabitants.

Velassaru Maldives is just located 25 minutes from Male International Airport by speedboat.

Cocoa Island by COMO is just located 40 minutes from Male International Airport by speedboat.

Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives is a pristine sanctuary and tropical oasis that is nestled in the undisturbed Noonu Atoll. Awaken your senses at our 5 star Maldives luxury ocean resort, located 45 minutes north of Male International Airport. Immerse yourself in your own private plunge pool in all of the 72 over water pool villas looking out to the ocean, 30 beach pool villas and three units of three-bedroom beach pool residence.