Where to stay in the Maldives

Few holiday destinations conjure up the ‘magical pull’ like resorts in the Maldives do. The amazing blue of the sea, the brilliant white sand and that touch of luxury are just what you need for a romantic holiday. It’s well known as a wedding or honeymoon destination, but you can still enjoy champagne breakfast in bed, nights on private islands or trips on private yachts on any holiday – even if you take the kids (great kids’ clubs there, too!). So, get your travel senses tingling with recommendations of cool places to visit in the Maldives and start planning your best holiday ever!

Amilla Fushi Resort

Traveller: Jacqui Young, British

We stayed at Amilla Fushi Resort on our Maldives trip and we loved it – it’s stunning. It’s just so beautiful and relaxing. We had to push ourselves to participate in the excursions beyond the island! The kids loved the snorkelling, where we saw some amazing marine life. They also enjoyed line fishing and the resort’s water sports, especially the jet-skis. The staff are amazing and they really helped to entertain the kids. Oh, and they were amazed with our wonderful accommodation – a treehouse!

The line fishing at night really stood out for us. We got to do it in traditional Maldivian style. It was really cool – something the Maldivians have practised for generations. It’s an activity we’d never really get the chance to do if not for this trip.

The Residence Maldives

Traveller: Annemarie Stupi, American

My partner and I travelled to The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah. It’s a beautiful resort with stunning views and fantastic service. Getting there was a bit tricky – we flew from Singapore to Malé, then the next morning took a propeller plane to Kooddoo Airport. From there, it was a 10-minute boat ride to the resort. But the concierge made it very seamless. We were appointed a 24-hour butler who ensured our stay was sublime!

The resort is made up of two islands, ours being geared more towards couples. The other island is more of a family resort with activities and play areas. Visitors can either opt for personal transport by the staff or ride complimentary bicycles. We stayed in an overwater villa and the water was crystal clear; we were able to spot sharks, fish and manta rays from our room! The food was also very good, with several restaurants ranging from more relaxed to high end.

The views in the Maldives are just unmatched – everywhere you look is exactly like a postcard. A favourite part of the trip was riding around both islands on our bikes. On our last night, we went to The Falhumaa, an overwater restaurant where we enjoyed a meal by Chef Patrick Vitry.

The most hair-raising moment was the hour-long flight back to Malé from Kooddoo. Our little propeller plane flew into a thunderstorm and it was a bit scary! We were all praying to land safely (which we did). Overall, we had a wonderful experience at The Residence. The resort is beautiful and the staff are very kind. Our only regret was that the trip wasn’t a few days longer!

Kurumba

Traveller: Emma Morrell, British

We went to Kurumba for a week when our kids were one and three years old. We were four months into our new expat assignment and in need of some serious R&R that wasn’t a long flight away. Kurumba is one of the closest resorts to Malé, a short speedboat transfer away. We deliberately chose it as we didn’t want to be hanging around waiting for a seaplane transfer or dealing with squirmy children in a tiny plane!

We aren’t really sit-on-the-beach-for-a-week people, so the resort was perfect – there are two swimming pools, tennis courts, a gym, a spa and a kids’ club. They had brilliant activities every day, from sandcastle building and pizza classes to arts and crafts. Of course, you can’t go to the Maldives without snorkelling or scuba diving – it’s an absolute must – and the water sports at Kurumba are also fabulous. There are also seven restaurants at the resort, which gave us the opportunity to eat in different places.

For our accommodation, we chose a garden villa room; it had a separate sitting area with a daybed and plunge pool, which the kids were delighted to jump into after a big day! The bed was so comfortable too – I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well on holiday! We loved the staff. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The only drawback was the proximity to Malé; the views aren’t quite as picture-perfect in all directions as other islands further away.

Travelling with kids can be so stressful and tiring at times but this was the complete opposite! We were happy, the kids were happy, and life just felt really, really good.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island & Four Seasons Kuda Huraa

Travellers: Michael and Britt Garrison, American

Our family visited the Maldives over the New Year period. We took a direct Singapore Airlines flight and stayed at Hotel Jen Malé as we wanted to take an early seaplane ride to Rangali Island.

We stayed in a two-bedroom water villa at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. The resort has fantastic snorkelling and the beaches are stunning – the kids spent many afternoons water-tubing and jet-blading. While there, my daughter and I got our Open Water Diver certification. There is also an underwater restaurant, which was expensive but the food was good and the atmosphere is worth a visit.

We then travelled to Four Seasons Kuda Huraa where we had two one-bedroom beach villas. The service was second to none and we spent three days surfing there. The food was excellent – they accommodate even the pickiest of eaters (our son!).

We are very much an outdoorsy family that enjoys being out on the water. What stands out for us about the Maldives is that we can be together for a week, with no one getting bored or asking what we’re going to do next. Our teenagers loved the diving and surfing; they can’t wait to go back.

Dharavandhoo

Traveller: Karin van den Boom, Dutch

We’ve visited the Maldives a few times and our favourite local island is Dharavandhoo. The 20-minute flight from Malé over the atolls is just stunning – it’s exactly like the pictures on the internet!

In Dharavandhoo, we stayed at a locally owned guesthouse called the Biosphere Inn. Many locals have worked in the resorts so they offer great service for a low price. We loved observing daily Maldivian life while walking or cycling along the small roads made from sand. It feels like paradise!

There are only a few shops, restaurants and guest houses on the island. When staying in Dharavandhoo, you must visit Hanifaru Bay, where you can snorkel with manta rays and sea turtles and try to spot dolphins. Also, visiting the surrounding local islands and having lunch on a desert island are great day-trip activities.

This article first appeared in the May 2020 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!