Then children are welcomed with genuine smiles (rather than a half-grimace), beach kit and mini bathrobes and slippers. This hideaway, above all, is incredibly fun. Fresh from a total overhaul, this revamped island has 193 villas, both on the beach and on two jetties (one of which is adults-only), with vaulted white ceilings, grey wood-effect ceramic floors and tree-trunk furniture. Something to keep in mind when planning a holiday in the Maldives is that the remoteness once guaranteed by these faraway atolls can no longer be taken for granted. There's a bar and wine-tasting space, spa, gym, yoga studio and a phenomenal kids' club, which takes an inclusive approach, helping families holiday together. Michelle Jana Chan, Number of villas: 24Transfer time: a 30-minute seaplane from Malé, Address: Soneva Jani, Medhufaru Island, Noonu Atoll, Maldives Book your stay, On one side of this island retreat - a circular hectare bisected by a sandy path lined with banana trees and bougainvillaea - is an open-air thatched bar, restaurant and water sports; on the other are the villas and a tiny but brilliant spa. Even the twig pencils on the desk are responsibly sourced. For dining there are seven impressive restaurants, including Vilu Restaurant (Asian-Mediterranean) and Koko Grill (Japanese). Emma Love, Number of villas: 77Transfer time: a 30-minute seaplane from Male International Airport, Address: Drift Thelu Veliga Retreat, Thelu Veliga Island, South Ari Atoll, Maldives Book your stay. State-of-the-art boys' toys (not even glossy rivals Cheval Blanc or One&Only Reethi Rah have a Seabob or semi-submarine); a spa with expert therapists, an ocean-view sauna, snow room and snooze pod; a nine-hole golf course; tennis and squash courts; an extraordinary three-storey wine tower with a 6,000-bottle, £970,000 inventory (including a 1978 Romanée-Conti for £36,000); and Aragu, an overwater, open-kitchen restaurant and Champagne lounge with a Sri Lankan chef. are served on your candlelit terrace. Murex Beach, Hotel Ocean Grand at Hulhumale, and Vilu Rest Hotel are some of the most popular hotels for travellers looking to stay near Hulhumale Beach. Déjà vu! Not to mention your own spa, the immaculate Ocean of Consciousness (surely missing an 'un'), and 28 staff dedicated to making your life as agreeable as possible. One of the largest, most decadent resorts in the Maldives, Reethi Rah (meaning beautiful island) is a favourite of A-listers and has a price tag to match. When you spot a woman in Prada getting off one of the seaplanes arriving at Malé airport, it's almost certain she'll have been staying at Reethi Rah. Of course, there's no shortage of comforts - a 100-plus cocktail menu at the bar, a cheese-and-wine tower, a sensational sushi restaurant - but the vibe is very laid-back compared to some of the Maldives' more flashy resorts. Number of villas: 73Transfer time: a 45-minute seaplane from Malé, Address: Joali, Muravandhoo Island Raa Atoll, MaldivesTelephone: +960 658 4400Book your stay, A wonderful reminder of the joys of getting back to basics. Or you could stop in at the Ottoman Lounge (a nod to Ayada's Turkish ownership) and settle in for a coffee with a squidge of Turkish delight and a shisha pipe. There's no shortage of possibilities. Oh, and it shares the same reef as the Four Seasons, but it’s half the price to stay here. It's all so chic. Many … Arrival by seaplane from Malé sets the tone; and from white-tented spa to swim-up pool bar, this resort encapsulates 'jet-set glamour'. Guests can drink Champagne and fine wines around the clock, dine in the restaurant, on the beach, along the sandbank or in their rooms whenever they wish (mini-bars can also be filled with favourite tipples). Thatched villas by local designers open onto a garden then beach and are full of natural materials – some have fibre optic-lit infinity pools for a romantic ‘sprinkled with stars’ effect. Not one but two islands are on offer at this chic resort. The ludicrously pretty and impossibly slick Coco Privé Kuda Hithi is only available for private hire. One of the best luxury resorts in the Maldives, the main attractions … There's coffee - roasted on-site - in reception, an ice-cream parlour with 32 homemade flavours such as bubblegum and pistachio, and live DJs at Beach Rouge, one of the six restaurants, including Allegria for Italian dishes and Senses for Indian. The USP here is that everything is fluid: unscripted dining means scallop carpaccio or oyster ice cream at 5am if you wish. Surely he'd approve of Vommuli. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Of the half-dozen superb restaurants, the most charming is Cargo, a street-food emporium in a ship's container - as if it had simply washed up on shore and been taken over by castaway hawkers of the Michelin-starred variety. The design details in the overwater and beach villas are beautifully curated. Number of villas: 45Transfer time: 40 minutes by seaplane from Malé, Address: Noonu Atoll Republic of Maldives, MaldivesBook your stay. No less intriguing is the Deep Sleep Mood Menu. It has a 5.0 overall guest rating based on 390 reviews. The architecture is stunning, with massive expanses of glass to draw the outside in, and natural materials and organic shapes to echo the surroundings. Thatched villas by local designers open onto a garden then beach and are full of natural materials – some have fibre optic-lit infinity pools for a romantic ‘sprinkled with stars’ effect. Only the arrival of whale sharks and manta rays on their May-December migration provides a discernible sign of time passing. from around £2439pn), this ultra luxurious getaway is where the likes of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge vaycay. Steve King, Number of villas: 77Transfer time: a 45-minute seaplane from Velana International Airport, Address: The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives Book your stay. Lunch could be catch of the day – smoked tuna, say, grilled with lemon oil. Sitting above the indigo Baa Atoll and its eddying UNESCO biosphere reserve of pale sandbars and just visible coral gardens, it’s a place where schedules are decidedly lacking and guests duck in via seaplane or yacht to zone out. Print + Digital The hotel is deeply glamorous: guests dress up for dinner in its dimly lit, gently gleaming environs, and sometimes for breakfast, lunch and dive school, too. The resort’s food scene is spectacular, with five restaurants including Kaashi and Rum Baan nestled into the treetops, and Hashi, a Japanese overwater restaurant run by former Nobu chef Namuraj Tamang. From the most special of secluded overwater villas to sustainable back-to-nature style bedrooms with the best access to the healthiest and most bountiful reefs in the country, we've explored the 26 atolls of the Maldives so you can get it right first time. Images by Joali. Among her favourite assignments are her regular trips to the Maldives. Another temptation is the small but splendidly stocked wine cellar, curated by managing partner Lars Petre, a pioneering hotelier and entrepreneur in the Maldives whose love of the islands is written all over his craggy Swedish face. Pristine beaches with velvet sand, coral reefs rich with kaleidoscopic creatures and friendly locals all greet visitors looking for the best things to do in the Maldives. There's an inspiring young dive team - all of whom appear to speak half a dozen languages and hold higher degrees in easy-going charm - to help you into your mask and fins. 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