If you and your partner are in need of a well-earned break to escape the rat run and switch off from everyday life, then the Maldives could be just for you. In fact, ‘Maldives holidays 2023’ is a breakout search term on Google right now. With crystal clear waters, beautiful sunsets and palm-fringed beaches, it's the perfect place to unwind, relax and catch up on a few Z’s. There are an estimated 1200 coral islands to choose from in the Indian Ocean, which is why we’ve whittled it down to our favourite resorts so all the hard work is done for you. All you need to do is arrive and put your feet up.
Here are the best Maldives holidays...
SO/ Maldives
Taking the top spot, SO/ Maldives is the perfect getaway to indulge in a luxury pampering experience on a re-imagined paradisiacal private island. The stylish new addition to the Indian Ocean has cultivated its unique identity by weaving together fashion and art. Just a 15-minute speedboat ride away from Male airport, dive into the Emboodhoo Lagoon, retreat to the serene wellness camp and switch off from the rest of the world on the sugar-white sandy beaches. Boredom does not exist here as there are plenty of activities on the island including swimming with turtles, restorative yoga, live DJ’s, coral reef expeditions, sound healing, themed beach dinners, even pottery and latte art classes. Rest and recreation are at the heart of this resort making it fit for families, friends, and couples. Not to mention, you can go beyond the usual “one-island, one-resort” model visiting Crossroads and Malé city for an expansive island experience.
From beginning to end, you’ll receive the royal treatment. You can expect your luggage to arrive at your bespoke villa before you do and on-demand escorting around the island via golf cart. Even having your own dedicated GEM, also known as a helper, putting you and your every need at the centre of an already elevated service. At the resort, there are three innovative restaurants that offer distinct dining options, allowing you to feast based on your mood. The Citronelle Club, a firm favourite, offers family style dishes with recognisable flavours of Asia. While Hadaba is perfect for a glamorous evening, filled with Arabian slow-cooked and smoky delicacies. Laid-back lunching is best at Lazuli, a hybrid beach bar where the DJ’s keep the poolside party going, from sunrise to sunset. This is the best place to soak up the sun on the colourful lounges and splash in the pool.
If the social scene is not for you, preferring a more introverted affair then make sure to escape to your villa. SO/ Maldives is home to 80 over-water and beachfront villas featuring a stylish open plan living space, with a private pool oasis. Complete with a deck, outdoor shower, a woven hammock, and panoramic ocean views. You can even order in-villa dining – nothing says paradise like a morning swim with a floating breakfast. Now I encourage utilising all the amazing facilities your villa has to offer, including using the hammock to spot sting rays in the evenings, but you would be a fool to not take your villa bike out for a spin across the island. You might even find yourself at the spa for a highly recommended Balinese massage.
Rest assured, families, couples and friend groups alike will discover a new level of enjoyment across every inch of the island. 5 night stay on a half-board basis in mid-November for 4 adults, across two Ocean Water Pool Villas, flying out from London Heathrow starts from £4000/pp, bookable on SO/Maldives.
Kandima Maldives, Dhaalu Atoll
Another favourite is Kandima Maldives, a stunning resort on its own private island with its picture perfect pure white sands, unforgettable turquoise water and lush vegetation that makes you feel at all times that you're in your own luxury cast away. Take everything you know about staying at the Maldives and throw it out the window as you will have an unforgettable unique experience. From one of the largest swimming pools in the country, to a football pitch where you can brag to your partner that it has been played on by countless number 1 athletes, this place is anything but ordinary. There are art classes, cooking classes, a kids club, a 24 hour gym, a spa, water sports, ocean swings, 2 swimming pools, nighttime disco and of course your own bikes- realistically anything you have ever wanted on a 5-Star resort holiday, Kandima have already thought of it and have made it happen. Whilst most resorts are transfixed on exclusivity and luxury, Kandima hold a contemporary approach where guests come to have a good time, play and engage.
Service is a 10/10 with smiles at every corner. Golf carts on a bus service schedule, circle the private island on rotation taking you from landmark to landmark within the resort whilst playing music and keeping spirits high. The beach stretches over 2 miles, that even if the resort is at full capacity you'd never feel it. There are 10, yes ten, dining venues so you will never get bored.
Kandima features 264 studios and villas spread over the island. We personally suggest opting for a Beach Villa- your own slice of heaven that is perfectly nestled away between jungle and the most unforgettable shade of blue lagoon water. The outdoor bathroom is an added luxury bonus with their standalone tubs, an outdoor shower and hot tub. Not that we would ever recommend spending your whole holiday in your room, but if you did we wouldn't be mad about it either.
Private beach paradise not for you? Not to worry Kandima has the Aqua Villas which are overwater units with private decks offering direct access to the sea. You can also find the Sunset Aqua Pool Suite, which are complete with spacious living spaces as well as private infinity pools and the ocean directly on your doorstep.
Value for Money and family friendly is certainly one of the key points for this resort; they have deals for double rooms all inclusive packages and several meal plans.
7 night stay on all-inclusive basis in mid-September for 2 adults + 2 child, flying out from London Heathrow and staying in their Sky Studio Double Room is £1,682/pp, bookable on First Choice.
Jumeirah Maldives, Olhahali Island
Jumeirah Maldives, Olhahali Island, the epitome of luxurious excellence. This isn’t beach huts on stilts or hot tubs overlooking the ocean, this is water villas and infinity pools. That’s right, Jumeirah manages to make the Maldives even more opulent with water villas sitting atop the coral so you can easily dip in for anytime snorkelling.
Inside each villa, some of which are officially called ‘water residence’ because of their sheer size, your ocean view room will be fitted with a king-size bed, ginormous bathroom (with a rain shower!) as well as a separate living area with a HD flat-screen TV. And it doesn’t end there, outdoors you’ll find your ground floor terrace has a private infinity pool (and outdoor shower) or you can ascend to your private rooftop terrace for views across the ocean under sparkling night sky. Visiting Jumeirah Maldives for myself, this moment was the highlight – drinking champagne on my rooftop terrace watching the sky light up pink and orange as the sun set across the ocean - it’s enough beauty to bring a tear to your eye, genuinely.
Drive further up the pier and you’ll find those water residences I mentioned. Fit for up to five adults, these are private overwater hideaways perfect for a large group of family and friends. Floor-to-ceiling windows, an extended rooftop terrace with an al fresco dining area plus a shared outdoor lounge – this is the kind of celebrity-approved holiday perfect for celebrating a milestone (or just your nearest and dearest!).
And if you’re more of a beach bunny? There are beach villas with private pools too, as well as larger beach-based residences with similar extravagant amenities. Essentially, anywhere you book at Jumeirah Maldives, you’re guaranteed a luxurious, unforgettable experience that you’ll be dreaming of revisiting every single year.
Outside of the dreamy accommodation, you can expect the similarly splendid experiences Jumeirah has become known for. Visit the Shimmers beach club for mouth-watering Greek and Mediterranean inspired dishes amidst the palm trees and ocean views. Head to Glow for all-day dining or, if you just fancy a taste of home, the Café Lounge serves coffee and cake. There’s also a Gelataria on the island, perfect for an ice-cold pick-me-up after a long day on the beach, and at night? You must try both Kayto – a Peruvian Nikkei and Japanese blended menu in an effortlessly cool setting – and book out a private dining experience on the pier for the ultimate romantic night out (you can set up a floating breakfast for the morning too, if you want to go full honeymoon goals).
On the days you’re not tanning, snorkelling the North Lagoon Jumeirah Maldives sits atop is a must. As a beginner snorkeler, I was nervous about how deep I could really dive to get the most of the beautiful coral reef, but thanks to the incredible staff at Jumeirah supporting and guiding me until I felt safe, I ended up embodying the Little Mermaid and dove to my heart’s content (and even got a shot for Instagram! As I said, incredible staff). It was, as much of Jumeirah Maldives is, an unforgettable experience.
Of course, you can also relax in the Talise Spa – an overwater sanctuary perfect for a massage, facial or even yoga. There’s the gym for that too though – but with the number of activities available to you on Olhahali Island you might not need it. Jumeirah Maldives boasts thrill-seeking water sports like flyboarding and parasailing, a semi-submarine boat ride, beachside tennis and private yacht experiences. You can play volleyball, visit the on-sand cinema or shop at the beach boutique – all while the kids are in kids club or private babysitting! Honestly, for an Island known for relaxation and bliss, there’s so much to do you’ll want to stay for weeks at a time.
Ultimately, Jumeirah Maldives made me realise that once you stay at a place like this, you’ll never stop dreaming of a return. It’s the type of holiday that makes you wonder how anyone can live so lavish, how anyone can be surrounded by such beauty and why the hell I haven’t been holidaying in the Maldives my whole life. I mean, I know why – I’d be broke within years – but still, there is nowhere that compares to the kind-of freedom and gratitude you feel staying at Jumeirah Maldives.
If you want to find out more information or book for yourself, click here to visit Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island website. Prices start at £945.
Club Med’s Finolhu Villas
Next up, Club Med’s Finolhu Villas. This couples only resort is located on the beautiful (and tiny) island of Gasfinolhu which is only a half an hour boat ride from Male airport. There are only 52 villas on the island, and you can go an entire day without seeing another soul if you so wish, making it the ideal place to spend some serious one on one time with your other half. The villas are Eco-friendly and there are three tiers: sunrise, sunset and water villas. The sunset villa has its own private beach and plunge pool! If you want a lively vibe one night, Club Med’s Kani resort is only a five-minute boat ride away where there are two more restaurants and lots going on.
The name of the game here is to relax. From the moment you step foot on the island you will feel completely detached from everyday life and as if you are in the middle of nowhere – which you are! On arrival you’ll be whisked off to your villa by a private butler, who is on hand the entire week to help with our every need. This includes everything from taking breakfast orders, complimentary glasses of champagne or even organising a spa treatment. You can have treatments in the comfort of your own villa, but we’d recommend going to the spa on site. Massages take place in a treatment room which has a glass floor so you can watch the fish swimming about below! You can then relax on a sunbed looking out to sea while enjoying a cup of jasmine tea. The chilled vibe doesn’t end there. There are twice daily yoga classes on the beach – at sunrise and at sunset – which anyone can take part in. And each villa has its own plunge pool, outdoor and indoor bathrooms, and king size bed. If you can tear yourself away from your private villa for an hour, the island also has an infinity pool where drinks are complimentary and afternoon tea is served every day.
Being a Club Med resort, the resort is all-inclusive. So you can drink and eat to your heart’s content. Great, hey? All drinks are complimentary at the poolside bar – even champagne in the evenings. The island’s restaurant is called Motu which is set on stilts over the water. At lunch there are four different stations serving amazing sushi, various fish courses, meat dishes and pastas. By night it has a four-course a la carte menu which changes daily. If you fancy something a bit different, head over to Kani where they have a buffet restaurant as well as its own a la carte venue.
A seven-night stay in a one-bedroom (maximum two adults) villa at The Finolhu Villas costs from £3,362 in July including international flights from London and transfers for two people. Transfers to and from Malé airport take 40 minutes by boat and are included if you book a package.
Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa
Nestled in Amingiri Island in the North Malé Atoll, Hilton Maldives Amingiri is directly accessible from Velana International Airport via a scenic 20-minute premium speedboat ride. The resort features 109 expansive beach and overwater villas, each offering a private pool and enticing views of the surrounding turquoise lagoon. With floor-to-ceiling windows, villas are designed to immerse guests in nature’s wonders and the overwater pool villas are outfitted with stairs to lead directly to the island’s lagoon (and a hammock by the pool to enjoy the melody of waves!). All villas boast generously proportioned bathrooms with ocean-facing bathtubs, as well as indoor and outdoor rain showers that create a sense of relaxation.
Home to six distinctive dining concepts, Hilton Maldives Amingiri will take guests on a culinary sojourn. From Origin, which celebrates sustainable seafood sourcing, ageing techniques and a food-upcycling approach, to all-day dining restaurant Habitat, to rustic beach restaurant Beach Shack with its feet-in-the-sand dining experience, the resort’s dining offerings are thoughtfully curated to satisfy every palate.
A slew of inspiring experiences awaits seasoned holidaymakers and junior explorers: Krakengiri Kids’ Club features an outdoor children’s play pool and mini splash park, while rooftop bar Re: Fuel offers teenage guests a tranquil retreat and a hidden entrance designed exclusively for them. Purposefully designed as a sanctuary, Amingiri Spa offers an extensive menu of rejuvenating treatments and purifying hammam rituals that bring an enlightened sense of wellbeing.
A key highlight of Hilton Maldives Amingiri is the six-bedroom Amingiri Residence, the ideal escape for larger groups of travellers looking for privacy in its truest sense. Set apart on a landscaped cove, the residence will welcome guests with its own arrival pier and a dedicated sundeck with uninterrupted 360-degree views of the Maldivian horizon when it debuts in November 2022!
To make reservations, guests may visit Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa or call +960 664 63 64.