Maldives Resorts: How To Choose The Best Resort In The Maldives

When talking about a beach vacation, Maldives is the first place that comes into everyone’s mind. With pristine long stretches of white sand beaches to stunning underwater paradise, the beauty of Maldives is surely second to none. However, with more than a hundred islands and resorts to visit, finding out the most suitable Maldives resorts for your perfect beach holiday can get extremely overwhelming and confusing. If you’re someone planning or even dreaming of visiting the Maldives soon and confused about which island to visit and choosing the ideal resort; this article will answer all your possible questions.

I recently came back from a lovely, memorable and luxurious vacation from the Maldives. Like many of you, I was too unsure and overwhelmed on which Maldives resort can be my ideal choice. Over-water villa or a beachside bungalow? Remote island or the one near to the airport? These are the questions, which go through every traveler’s mind when planning a trip to the Maldives. So let me present to you the secret sauce of selecting the best Maldives resorts for your ideal Maldives vacation – modern luxury redefined in the Maldives.

Resort Transfer From The Airport

One of the things that no one tells about a Maldives holiday is the resort transfer from the airport. Let me spill the beans for you! The Velana International Airport of Maldives is not in the capital city of Male, in fact, the airport is on a separate island altogether. It is a small island with only the airport on it. The airport is also a very basic one with limited facilities.

As soon as you will walk in the arrival hall of Velana International Airport, a resort representative will be present to welcome and assist you further. In case, you don’t find anyone from your resort, just head on to your resort booth in the hall. The arrival hall of Velana International airport is filled with booths of different resorts to assist guests for their transfer to the resort. Get your resort’s booth number from them beforehand.

Insider Tip: Get a Sim card; exchange/withdraw money from the airport as you won’t find these facilities in many resorts, though some do offer such services.

After landing in the Maldives your transfer to your ultimate destination is done by either domestic flights, seaplanes or speedboats depending on the location of your resort. This is an essential element to consider while looking for the best Maldives resorts to stay at, as the time and price for a far-off resort will be significantly higher from the one accessible by a speedboat. The resort representatives will assist you with the transfers and most of the time the transfer cost is included in the booking price of the resort; however, it is advisable to know all inclusions of the price prior to the final booking.

Maldives Resorts Transfer By Speedboat

Speedboat transfer is one of the most common and economical ways of getting to your resort in the Maldives. However, speedboat transfers are only available for resorts in close vicinity of the airport. Almost all of the resorts accessible by the speedboat include the transfer cost in the booking price, however, I will strongly recommend you to check all inclusions beforehand so you won’t be surprised by any additional expenses later. Speedboat transfers take anything between twenty to forty minutes to reach your resort from the airport, which is a great deal particularly after a long and tiring journey and it operates around the clock.

Maldives Resorts Transfer By Domestic Airlines

For resorts not accessible by the speedboat, flying by the domestic airline is a cheaper option than flying by a seaplane. Domestic transfers in the Maldives are carried out by FlyMe and Maldivian Air, and these are most often arranged by the resorts. After sunset transfer is another advantage of opting for a domestic flight over a seaplane.

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The last local departures from Velana International Airport are around 11:30 pm; therefore, even if you land in the Maldives late in the evening, you can easily reach your resort without having to spend a night in Male and getting to the resort the next morning. The price of a domestic airline transfer costs around $110-300 USD, mainly depending on the distance to be traveled. However, all domestic airline transfers are accompanied by a short speedboat transfer to the resort from the domestic airport, which is mostly included in the transfer fees by the resort.

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Maldives Resorts Transfer By Seaplane

Seaplane transfers will give you the complete luxurious Maldivian experience. For the resorts located on remote islands, which cannot be reached by a speedboat, seaplanes are an alternative for domestic flights. The seaplane ride gives a unique experience to witness the turquoise waters of Maldives and hundreds of Maldivian lagoons from the air. However, this surreal experience comes with a huge price. The seaplane rides cost on average $350-450 USD per person round trip depending on the distance to be covered. Also, seaplanes only operate during the daytime so if you’re landing in the Maldives after the sunset then you will have to stay a night in Male and then get transferred to the hotel the next morning.

Best Maldives Resorts Accessible By Speedboat

Paradise Island Resort and Spa

Let me start with the place I stayed in and thoroughly loved it! Paradise Island Resort and Spa with a local name ‘Lankanfilnolhu’, is a luxurious resort located in the North Male Atoll. It can be reached by a 20 minutes speedboat ride from the airport. The resort offers beach bungalows and overwater villas both with four different restaurants onboard. The resort is kids friendly and it can surely be your best Maldives family holiday spot if traveling with kids.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

Four Season Maldives at Kuda Huraa

For anyone looking to have an exceptional underwater Maldivian experience, Four Season Maldives at Kuda Huraa can be the best bet. Also located in the North Male Atoll just a short and sweet 30 minutes speedboat ride from the airport, Four Season Maldives has its own coral island with snorkeling and diving facilities.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives

This lavish property is situated in the South Male Atoll, accessible with a 30 minutes speedboat ride from the airport. Holiday Inn Resort offers beachfront bungalows and over water villas both with three restaurants on board.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort is a five star Maldives resort located just a short 15 minutes journey from the airport. It offers 156 guest rooms and 20 over water villas, giving a luxurious and unforgettable experience to the guests.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

Taj Exotica Resort and Spa

This idyllic resort, famous for its highly diverse flora and fauna is located at a 15 minutes short journey away from the airport. Taj Exotica is built over the lagoon and offers 34 over water villas and suites giving a contemporary and extremely luxurious Maldivian experience.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

Best Maldives Resorts Accessible By Seaplane

Cheval Blanc Randheli

Cheval Blanc Randheli is a luxurious group of islands located in the Noonu Atoll of the Maldives. It is a 40 minutes seaplane ride away from the airport. A luxurious lounge is also available for the guests at the airport to transfer in comfort.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

Como Maalifushi

Located in the barely habited Thaa Atoll in the southern Maldives, Como Maalifushi is one of the only luxurious resorts in the area. The resort is accessible by a 35 minutes seaplane journey to the Thimarafushi Airport, which is followed by a 25 minutes speedboat ride. Como Maalifushi offers the ultimate remote island getaway experience.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

Kandolhu Island

One of the nearest islands to be reached with a seaplane, Kandolhu Island can be accessible by a 25 minutes journey from the airport. Located in the small Ari atoll, the island offers a long stretch of pristine white sand beach, beachfront and over water villas with a perfect setting of relaxation and recreation.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

Located at an extremely picturesque seaplane journey of 40 minutes from the international airport, St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is an ideal exotic beach getaway. Surrounded by the lagoons of blue waters, this jungle island resort has 44 luxurious waterfronts and overwater villas.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

Six Senses Resort Laamu

Six Senses Resort is located on Olhuveli Island in the Laamu atoll near Kadhdhoo Airport is a 40 minutes journey from the international airport. The seaplane journey is followed by 15 minutes speedboat ride to the resort. The resort has 97 villas in total with beachfront, overwater and private swimming pool villas.

Check reviews and compare prices: Booking.com I Hotels Combined

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Tips For Staying In A Maldives Resorts

The Maldives resorts offer an extremely exclusive and lavish living experience to the guests, however, there are certain essential elements to know before deciding on your final choice of resort to stay.

1. All-Inclusive Packages – while the first option resorts will offer you will be an ‘all-inclusive’ offer but mind you that all is not inclusive in this all-inclusive offer. The inclusions of this package comprise three meals a day including the beverages. (Tip: My recommendation is to opt for an only breakfast option if you don’t want to eat from the same restaurant within the specified meals time daily).
2. Excursions & Activities – All resorts offer excursions such as visiting local islands, fishing trips, and water sports activities at an additional cost, which can be pricey most of the time. It is advisable to get a brochure with a price list of all the excursions and activities from the resort beforehand by email so you can plan your budget accordingly.
3. Free Activities – Every resort offers some activities for free (it differs from resort to resort). Free activities normally include Shark feeding, Manta Rays feeding, and court games

What To Expect From A Maldives Resort

1. Long Check-in And Check-out Times – As guests arrive at the resorts in big groups from the airport, therefore, the check-in and check-out times at Maldives resorts are relatively higher. So be patient and enjoy your complimentary drink while the hotel staff sorts out the procedures.
2. Delayed Luggage Transfer – Similar to the long check-in wait time, the hotel staff has to sort out the luggage of all the guests arrived at the same time. This leads to a certain small delay in your luggage to be transferred to your room. This delay can be on average from 15 to 30 minutes after you have reached your room.
3. Getting Around The Resort – The majority of the Maldives resorts offer bicycles or golf court buggies to get around the resort. Buggies are mostly aimed to take elderly people or children around the resort, however, don’t mind hopping in one if you don’t feel like walking. Also, the walk from your room to the lobby or restaurants around the resort can be a bit long, so hiring a bicycle can be a good option. Bicycle rental can be free of charge or chargeable depending on the resort.
4. Expensive Souvenirs – It is no brainer that the souvenir shops on the private resort islands completely rely on the guests staying on the island. For this reason, whatever these shops sell comes with a higher price tag. My recommendation is to get your souvenirs either from the airport or from Male in case you’re staying there at the start or end of your trip.

With pristine atolls, beautiful turquoise waters to marine diversity; Maldives has everything to offer for anyone looking for a relaxed holiday within nature. Get inspired and add the Maldives to your list of must-visit places, and behold to experience an unparalleled beauty that is second to none.

Looking For More Inspiration on What To Do In Maldives? Check Out My Complete Maldives Travel Guide:

• 10 Important Tips First-Timers In Maldives Should Know
• List of The Best Maldives Liveaboard Trips
• Water Activities to Enjoy For The Non-Swimmers In Maldives
• The Best Maafushi Island Tours in the Maldives

Disclaimer: Some of the links in the article are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. However, I only recommend products and services I trust.

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