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Maldives Your Way: From No Expense-Spared to Under $5k
Written by Nate Robinson
Whether you’re after accessible luxury or a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, these are the finest Maldives resort experiences money can buy.
Close your eyes and imagine it.
The endless murmuring of the sea as the sun fades beneath the horizon, light dancing across the water. The sand’s still warm. As stars begin to peek through the darkness, countless possibilities await – every restaurant’s spectacular and the night is young. The true magic of the Maldives is that there’s an experience like this for everyone – whether you’re honeymooning on a budget or ready to discover new heights of ultra-luxury. With many iconic Maldives resorts offering all-inclusive packages and roundtrip transfers, it’s now a surprisingly accessible destination, plus, flights depart Singapore daily.
Read on to discover the finest resorts money can buy, based on a five-night stay.
Under A$5,000
LUX* South Ari Atoll
Every day presents a new kind of Maldives magic at eco-luxury retreat LUX* South Ari Atoll. Seeking rest and renewal? The resort boasts one of the largest spas in the archipelago, complete with an onsite reiki practitioner. Diving’s your thing? Hit up the onsite PADI centre and explore over 50 dive sites, each brimming with swirling kaleidoscopes of marine life. Love food? Eight restaurants – and five bars – await, plating everything from open-kitchen Italian at Allegria to island-roasted coffee at Café LUX and exquisite robata grill-fired Kobe beef at Umami. Try it all (and more) with the resort’s all-inclusive package.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives
For an accessible Maldives escape that’s family friendly, too, you can’t go past Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. The resort is a quick 15-minute zip by speedboat from Malé, part of the CROSSROADS Maldives complex with its 13 bars and restaurants. Expect signature Hard Rock quirks and experiences like Rock Om® yoga and Fender® guitars in-room, dining at the Hard Rock Cafe® and Frida Kahlo-inspired Mexican restaurant and a broad range of accommodation, from entry level rooms to the classic overwater experience.
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa
Barefoot luxury doesn’t come much better than at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa. Pristine coral sands, plenty of secluded hideaways and water as clear and as calm as blown glass – this is the Maldives you’ve been dreaming of. You’ll enjoy unlimited all-inclusive dining across six venues, ranging from Mediterranean-inspired plates to overwater tapas overlooking each evening’s spectacular sunset, and free-flow drinks to match. It’s our best-ever Pullman Maldives Maamutaa offer and with roundtrip domestic flight transfers from Malé thrown in, it’s never been easier to embrace signature luxury in the world’s most spellbinding archipelago.
A$5,000 – A$10,000
Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll
It comes as little surprise that this Luxury Escapes bestseller is also one of the best-loved escapes in the Maldives. Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll promises the luxury of all-inclusive dining, free-flow drinks and seaplane transfers from Malé, with guests returning to their overwater villas to do as much or as little as they like during their stay. Overwater villas embody beachy-chic luxury, all with private decks and lagoon views, while beach villas on the atoll sit surrounded by lush tropical gardens and with a private pool. Premium Package upgrades are available as an extension of your all-inclusive stay.
OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort, South Ari Atoll
The renowned OUTRIGGER brand brings its acclaimed standards to the Maldives, with barefoot luxury in one of the world’s most coveted holiday destinations. Here, overwater villas come with private wooden decks, direct lagoon access and views of that too-blue water the Maldives is known for. Some villas also have hot tubs and private pools, plus there are beachfront villas if you prefer to laze about on land. The resort’s PADI centre and extraordinary house reef are worth getting your hair wet for – look out for manta rays and perhaps even a whale shark – on your underwater explorations and refuel afterwards with island-made ice-cream, poolside cocktails or larger plates from one of the resort’s diners. All-inclusive upgrade packages are available.
Jumeirah Maldives, Olhalali Island
Bringing the legendary opulence of Dubai’s Jumeirah The Palm to the chandelier-clear waters of the North Malé Atoll, design-led Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island brings a little Santorini-inspired spice to its all-villa offering. Spend sun-kissed days barefoot at Shimmers, the onsite beach club, and hit Kayto – the island’s explosively good Japanese-Peruvian restaurant – as night falls and the stars begin to reveal themselves above the atoll. Moments like this make Jumeirah Maldives feel like nowhere else in the world. The best part? Each package includes your very own personal butler – the resort’s guarantee that your every desire will be carefully considered and promptly delivered.
COMO Maalifushi
It’s evident from the first moment you arrive that COMO Maalifushi is beyond special. The Thaa Atoll’s first and only island resort boasts minimalist villas that are themselves exquisite pieces of art, each crafted by renowned Japanese interior design master Koichiro Ikebuchi, to provide a truly zen-sational stay. Backed by world-class surfing, a masterful culinary vision, included yoga classes and top-notch snorkelling (be sure to seek out the resort’s very own family of whale sharks), you’ll never want to leave.
A$10,000 – A$15,000
One&Only Reethi Rah
You’re visiting the world’s most romantic destination – why not stay at one of its most romantic resorts? One&Only Reethi Rah’s position on one of the North Malé Atoll’s largest islands means that it offers unrivalled seclusion and privacy. Explore 12 sun-kissed beaches, picnic out at sea by the island’s many secret coves or learn how to strike together on the resort’s FIFA-certified football pitch. After something even more special? Embark on a private culinary journey together in the resort’s luxury jungle treehouse, where a seven-course menu surprises and delights in equal measure.
A$15,000+
Soneva Fushi
True paradise demands dining to match, and Soneva Fushi more than delivers. This laidback island retreat, located in the Maldives’ spectacular north, seemingly has it all: an onsite cheese and charcuterie room (for those whose love language is brie), a chocolate and ice-cream parlour and Flying Sauces, the world’s first fine dining zipline restaurant, artfully tucked high in the resort’s canopies. The resort’s organic herb gardens also hides one of the archipelago’s best vegan restaurants, Shades of Green, and a rotating list of celebrity chefs keeps things sharp and fresh for guests who cannot help but return again and again.
Patina Maldives
Patina Maldives understands a simple truth – art and travel should go hand-in-hand, as both strike joy, celebrate freedom and ignite the imagination. Located on the North Malé Atoll’s free-spirited Fari Islands, the archipelago’s artistic heart, this sublime retreat offers 110 secluded villas and studios, each designed to complement the island’s spectacular surroundings. Art installations from some of the world’s most forward-thinking creatives are freely dotted around the island, just begging to be explored. The resort’s 12 dining venues are just as innovative, with concepts ranging from Nordic-Japanese fusion to home-grown, plant-based cuisine.
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Residence
Roll into Pullman Maldives Maamutaa like a true VIP when you (and up to seven friends) stay at this ultra-exclusive, unbelievably opulent four-bedroom overwater residence. Endless good times await – you’ll have access to one of the largest private infinity pools in the Maldives (complete with adjoining jacuzzi and spa, naturally), a sundeck with outdoor speakers and barbecue and your very own personal spa room. You’ll have access to Pullman’s dazzling array of facilities – including unlimited top-end dining at every venue, unlimited free-flow drinks (including cocktails and bubble teas), bonus activities and excursions and roundtrip domestic flight transfers. It really doesn’t get better than this.
Discover the Maldives
Looking for more inspiration? Find the Best Adults-Only Resorts in the Maldives.
