10 reasons why we love the Maldives

Cast adrift in the clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, you’ll find a cluster of tiny tropical islands with gently swaying palm trees, sugar-white sands and bed-to-beach villas. Welcome to one of our favourite places on Earth: the Maldives.

We’re the original experts when it comes to Maldives holidays. We were there when the first resort opened its ‘doors’ back in 1972 and we’ve loved sharing this beautiful island nation with our guests ever since. Here’s why.

It’s a real life screen-saver

There’s no filter needed for the Maldives – this place is the postcard. From above, the islands scatter like confetti across the ocean; from the sand, it's all soft focus sunsets, rustling palms and sandbanks that appear and vanish with the tides. Opt for a seaplane transfer and you'll be treated to an atoll-studded aerial show before your toes even touch the sand. And once they do? Prepare for ping-tinged dawns, golden-hour glow-ups and starry skies that go on forever.

Deluxe Water Pool Villa, Ananea Madivaru Maldives

It’s an away-from-it-all haven

Each of our handpicked resorts sits on its own white-sand island, serving up turquoise-tinted views and that lost-track-of-time feeling. It’s the ultimate scene change, far from the everyday, where you can fully embrace the famous Maldivian motto: ‘no news, no shoes’.

If you're all for that off-grid feel but still want your mod cons, Ananea Madivaru Maldives is one to watch. Brand-new for 2025, this twin-island retreat pairs sleek design with far-flung serenity – each glossy villa has a private pool leading straight onto soft sands or the lagoon.

The underwater world is extraordinary

Snorkelling and/or diving is a must in this part of the world. As well as year-round clear warm waters, excellent visibility and otherworldly creatures like hammerheads, manta rays and whale sharks, there’s also a level of ease that you won’t find elsewhere. A house reef surrounds most islands, so you can dip under the waves to snorkel with sea turtles and bright tropical fish right from the beach. At Sandies Bathala, you can even go diving straight from the shore.

Kandolhu Maldives

There's romance in the air

The Maldives is a dreamy couple’s escape and it’s our top pick for a beach honeymoon. Here, you can ramp up the romance with candlelit dinners under starry skies, movie nights on the beach, champagne picnics on tiny sandbar swirls and boat trips to spot dolphins at sunset. Choose a smaller island such as heart-shaped Kandolhu Maldives for an intimate vibe and plenty of time-for-two in your plush pool villa.

5.8 Undersea Restaurant, Hurawalhi Island Resort

The dining is dialled up

The islands have long offered delicious boat-fresh seafood and sizzling steaks served in pinch-yourself locations. In recent years, resorts have taken things up another notch; menus now cater to every taste and trend – from sushi-meets-showmanship at Koto, the Japanese fusion restaurant at Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort, to tasty meat-free dishes at Reethi Faru’s Veggie ‘n’ Vegan Restaurant.

Plus, with settings over – and under – water, you’ll be talking about your meals long after your holiday. Hurawalhi Island Resort and OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi are home to surreal glass restaurants located below the ocean’s surface, where you can watch sharks glide by as you eat. For the most variety, we recommend the Select All Inclusive package at Kuramathi Maldives – you’ll get to dine at a whopping nine à la carte restaurants, including the Island Barbecue on the beach, which serves up flambéed feasts alongside greens grown in the island’s hydroponic garden.

It’s the perfect place to recharge

Taking time out is easier when you’re in paradise. Me-time in the Maldives can be sunrise yoga sessions on a floating deck, soothing spa treatments tailored to you, or simply settling down on a sunbed to finally finish that book. For all-out battery recharging, head to Kagi Maldives Resort & Spa, a chic wellness retreat focusing on mindfulness and self-care. It’s home to the floating 1500-square-metre Baani Spa, where guests can enjoy everything from sound healing to clean eating, tai chi and underwater meditation.

Dhigali Maldives

It's playtime in paradise

A Maldives holiday doesn’t have to be lazy days by the pool. Alongside world-class snorkelling and diving (dive at night to glimpse the reef’s secret nightlife from glowing corals to prowling predators), and at trendsetting resorts like Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives, try high-tech water toys like X Jetblades that propel you out of the ocean.

Many all-inclusive resorts like Dhigali Maldives offer complimentary non-motorised watersports, including glass-bottom kayak glides (there’s even a double if you’re paddling in tandem). On some of the larger islands, there are tennis courts and football pitches for memorable matches – resort staff love a good game of football with guests.

It’s fabulous for families

These islands are natural adventure playgrounds, with shallow lagoon waters and swathes of soft sand that will keep kids happy for hours. Family-focused resorts also have age-based kids’ and teens’ clubs, kids’ menus and dedicated family villas, leaving you relaxed to make memories together on family treasure hunts and dolphin-spotting cruises. Bag a roomy Family Villa at Kurumba Maldives or a Double Storey Beach Villa at Constance Halaveli Maldives and there will be space for all the family – perfect for a long-awaited multi-generational getaway.

 Premier Overwater Villas, W Maldives

You can live the water villa dream

Splash out on a water villa on stilts and you’ll have front-row views of the sparkling Indian Ocean; you’ll even be able to hop straight down from your private deck into the crystal-clear waters. Diamonds Athuruga’s sleek white villas wouldn’t look out of place in a White Company brochure, while water villas at super-swish Milaidhoo Maldives feature a curved infinity pool and over-pool day beds. And at beach club cool W Maldives, the Premier Overwater Villas come complete with a cocoon-like swinging chair and private cabana on deck. If your Maldives holiday is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, we recommend splitting your stay between a beach villa and a water villa for the full experience.

Gili Lankanfushi

There’s nowhere better for a luxe island escape

Superb service and unforgettable experiences come as standard at all our handpicked islands. Then there are the resorts that set the bar in world-class luxury, where private butlers will run you flower-filled baths, chefs will set up the most exclusive private dinners and sunset cruises take place aboard ultra-luxe private yachts. Gili Lankanfushi offers the ultimate in privacy: its wow-factor standalone Crusoe Residences – complete with hammocks for naps above the lagoon – can only be reached by boat.

This feature was updated on 24th June 2025. The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.