Maldives

Hotels

Soneva Fushi (Soneva, Relais & Chateaux)

Soneva Jani (Soneva)

One&Only Reethi Rah (One&Only) (Denniston Architects)

Joali

Bulgari Hotels Ranfushi (Bulgari) (Opening 2026)

Patina Maldives (Capella)

Cheval Blanc Randheli (Cheval Blanc) (Denniston Architects)

Six Senses Laamu (Six Senses, IHG) (WSJ Corporate Code: 787056050)

The Ritz-Carlton, Fari Island (Marriott)

Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa (Four Seasons)

Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru (Four Seasons)

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort (Marriott)

Ozen Reserve Bolifushi (Ozen Collection)

Velaa

Rosewood Ranfaru Resort (Rosewood) (Opening 2026)

Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa (Shangri-La) (Opening 2026)

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi (Hilton)

W Retreat Maldives (Marriott)

Nautilus (Relais & Chateaux)

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru (Banyan Tree, Accor)

Huvafen Fushi (SLH, Hyatt)

Taj Exotica Maldives (LHW)

Baglioni Resort Maldives (LHW)

Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa (LHW)

Kanuhura (LHW)

Four Seasons Private Island at Voavah (Four Seasons)

Kudadoo

Faarufushi (SLH, Hyatt)

Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives

Ozen Life Maadhoo (Ozen Collection)

COMO Cocoa (COMO)

COMO Maalifushi (COMO)

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas (Anantara, Minor, GHA)

Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort (Anantara, Minor, GHA)

Anantara Naladhu Private Island Maldives (Anantara, Minor, GHA)

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort (Anantara, Minor, GHA)

Niyama Private Island by Anantara (Anantara, Minor, GHA)

Capella Maldives (Capella, GHA) (Opening 2021)

LUX* North Male Atoll (LUX*)

LUX* South Ari Atoll (LUX*)

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (Hilton)

.Here Baa Atoll

The Standard Maldives (André Balazs, code: FOUNDERS)

Restaurants

Zuma (at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi)

Madi Hiyaa (at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru)

Crab Shack, Finolhu

Hi Vipul,

since I am certain, you investigated the resorts from your shortlist, I will not comment on the resort/villa styling, since this is always a personal question.

I would never pick One&Only, since it is man-made and easily wins the contest for the ugliest island in the Maldives (at least from aerials). Further, it is right in the main seaplane routes and every seaplane heading to Baa seems to fly over /at least close by the OO.

St Regis on the contrary is much more remote and you wont be bothered by much plane and seaplane traffic. The beaches in front of the lower numbered beach villas and the Orientale restaurant are nice and the water has some nice shades of blue you might be looking for. However, since the resort lacks a "lagoon" in the classical sense, the seas, especially in the Water Villa area are more choppy than at other resorts.

I have some difficulties to rate food, since things can change so rapidly, however, when we have been there, food at all outlets was very good to excellent and especially the Oriental restaurant (with Japanese, Indian and Chinese food) offered excellent quality and value for money. Food at Alba and Cargo was also very good, with decent quaility and variety. Breakfast was also good, though not the best we have experienced so far. The staff in all areas is very attentive, well-trained and honestly, we did find them to lack the "Maldivian charm" some people "complain" about, but they were open to a gentle chat like in all other resorts we have been too.

Drinking prices at St Regis are really reasonable (for a luxury resort), with all mocktails coming at 10 USD ++, all (non-alcoholic) coffees (latte, cappu...) coming at 7 USD ++, beer starting at 9 USD ++, no pizza (except one with lobster) above 30 USD++ (perhaps interesting for the kids), could continue with this list.

The wine list is like a treasure hunt with some gems coming at reasonable rates, whilst others are really expensive.

Whale bar is a spectacular and inviting place with great views. Normally we do not visit bars to often, but attended the whale bar every evening.

The 100 USD F&B credit ppd still will not cover food costs at any of the restaurants, if you stick to more than two courses (at least if you consider 23,2% GST and SC). PErhaps at Oriental, if you take some of the cheapest options, but cargo was 125 USD++ and at Alba, starters were starting at around 30++ and mains at approx. 50++ .

However, the decisive point about St Regis is to pick your villa carefully. If you get an OW on the inner circle of the villas, you will have little to no privacy and the water in the pool will be really cold (for Maldives Standards), since it is attached to the villa and therefore in a relatively shady area. If you get a OWV on the "northern" side, then privacy and views are excellent and you have sun nearly all day long, the pool is very warm, but currents and waves are relatively strong, since this side is exposed to the open sea and it should be/is relatively noisy on the deck.

If I were you, I would check the supplement to upgrade to a sunset over water villa. These implement all the advantages of the "northward" facing regular villas but face weaker currents, better swimming opportunities and gorgeours sunsets to the open sea. Up to villa 542/543, all lower numbered sunset villas will not be surveyed by the whale bar deck and have unobstructed views to the open sea.

For swimming, all WVs offer sufficiently deep waters for a swim around the villas.

If you can afford it, the 2BR family water villas are really impressive and implement some reasonable features the regular WVs lack (for example a rain protected area on the lower deck. However, there is a trade-off between privacy and views regarding the villa numbers in this categories.

Feel free to ask, if you got any questions.