The Maldives is no ordinary destination. It is now an established fact among global travelers that the island nation exudes overindulgence, of the good kind, through its many private resorts. 

The over 150 resort islands of the Maldives promise exceptional accommodations, immaculate service, and features that remain unmatched across the world. Here, one can relish the very best in extravagance and live like kings and queens while enjoying the archipelago’s many natural spoils.

Admittedly, overwater bungalows and grand villas by the beach already shout opulence. However, the Maldives offers several other encounters to pamper its guests during their holiday in paradise.

A leisurely rendezvous with the exotic, these services, although not always free, range across all aspects of a stay. In the end, be it dining or in-room features and convenience during transfers, pampering in paradise begins as soon as you touchdown in the Maldives. 

Your very own man Friday

Luxury experiences in the Maldives are only a phone call away. That’s because when you check-in, the resort assigns you a thakuru.

Less of a private butler, you have those in the Maldives, too; a thakuru is more of a man Friday. He takes care of everything, from transfers and restaurant bookings to organizing a floating breakfast or a romantic sandbank picnic.

If you want a bottle of water in your room, call your thakuru. Want the golf cart to pick you up from somewhere on the island? Call your thakuru.

Thakurus are also a great source of information. They are mostly locals and know the inside-outs of the island as well as Maldivian lifestyle and culture.

Therefore, try and maintain a courteous relationship with your assigned thakuru from the beginning. This will assist you in getting the maximum advantage of their knowledge. However, if you ever feel a lack of interest from your thakuru (it rarely does happen), feel free to ask the reception for someone different.

Pro Tip:

Although guests do not need to tip thakurus separately, most do. However, if you wish for them to pay more attention to your needs, tip them from time to time during your stay, and not wait till the very end.

Never say no attitude

It wouldn’t be pampering in paradise if resort living in the Maldives came with restrictions. For starters, unlike inhabited islands in the Maldives, you can wear bikinis everywhere around the retreat.

However, private resorts take pride in going out of their way to satisfy every whim and desire of their guests. Round the clock! As long as it is legal, the staff will do everything in their power to make it happen.

So, you want a chocolate bath in your room? No problem. Want something special to eat? Just give the chef ample time to source and cook it. Want to go skinny dipping in the infinity pool? Umm… we’re sure that’s possible too.

There are many other strange and weird guest requests, but resorts stay tight-lipped about such demands. After all, the privacy of their guests is of the utmost importance.

Gourmet Dining

Food can make or break a vacation. You can have all kinds of luxury experiences in the Maldives, but if the food isn’t good, you’ll soon forget everything about the holiday.

Thankfully, Maldivian resorts go that extra mile to ensure guests enjoy the most flavourful gastronomic preparations. To do this, retreats source fresh in-season ingredients locally and from different parts of the world. They then hire top chefs, many of whom have worked in or even run Michelin-starred restaurants.

Adding more bang to the various culinary experiences in the Maldives are resorts creating spellbinding settings to dine in. These locations help make the restaurants extraordinary destinations in their own rights. Consequently, guests get to relish an enhanced gourmet dining experience like no other.

Wondering what we’re talking about? There are tree-top restaurants that present diners with panoramic views of the islands. Bars on the beach, perfectly set up for romantic sundowners. Not to forget, cute cafes amongst the lush greenery of the islands.

The crème de la crème of it all, though, is the underwater restaurants in the Maldives. An intimate affair, they promise a meal that pampers both the tastebuds and your senses.

Exotic excursions

Pampering is also about exotic excursions in the Maldives. A tropical paradise, the country grants access to some unbelievable tours that never fail to impress.

Couples on their honeymoon, looking for a special activity, can take a private dhoni sunset cruise. Families, on the other hand, will have a whale of a time during a sandbank picnic.

For lovers of the sea, there are endless opportunities to indulge in their passions. Divers can book a tour to see the hammerhead sharks, go blackwater diving, or explore ships wrecks. Others can snorkel around house reefs or swim among hundreds of manta rays in Hanifaru Bay.

Lastly, there is also surfing and motorized sports such as jet skiing and parasailing. Or you can go paddleboarding, kayaking in glass kayaks, and even enjoy big game fishing in the waters of the Indian Ocean.

Rejuvenating spas

Spas are synonymous with high-end living. Therefore, it is no surprise that in the Maldives, you are likely to come across every possible spa treatment out there, and then some.

Maldivian resorts offer hydrotherapy, naturopathy, Himalayan salt chambers, Ayurveda, and snow rooms. These therapies help detoxify and revitalize the mind and the body.

Moreover, resorts work with leading aestheticians to create bespoke therapies. These remedies help visitors achieve mindfulness as well as assist them in getting rid of various ailments. Many spa centers also develop treatments based on individual needs and body requirements.

But remember, this is the Maldives. Known for converting the ordinary into the extraordinary. Thus, the private island retreats create the perfect ambiance for these exquisite healing therapies. So much so that the surroundings become an essential part of the entire process.

So, you can enjoy spa activities in the Maldives on the beach, in rooms that overlook the ocean, and ones that have a direct view of the sunset. Then there are spa rooms with glass-bottomed floors. Better yet, you can book a private message on a pontoon in the middle of the ocean.

At the top, though, are the underwater spa rooms at Huvafen Fushi. At eight meters below the water, it’s truly in a world of its own.

Top-notch transfers

Travel within the Maldives is a hassle-free experience. From the moment you land at Malé Airport, someone local assists you at every point of your stay.

When reserving your resort, a necessity to enter the country, the hotel staff also helps you book a boat or seaplane transfer. As a result, you need only to report to the resort desk at the airport upon arrival. The staff then takes over, guiding you to your mode of transport.

Of course, luxury doesn’t just end there. Sonefa Fushi, for example, transfers its guests to the seaplane terminal in a Tesla. Even though it is a five-minute journey, you already know things will get more impressive from here on.

Then there is the seaplane ride. While the option of renting a private speedboat is fancy, nothing beats the excitement of taking a seaplane to your retreat.

In-room extravagance

There is no end to in-room indulgences in the Maldives. As we write this, interior decorators and designers are probably adding new and unique guestroom features to further revolutionize resort living.

What the future holds is undoubtedly going to be exciting. However, until then, you can already expect an abundance of impressive amenities in Maldivian resorts. These are treats that add comfort and richness to every minute you spend in your room.

The most notable are private saltwater pools, streaming services such as Netflix and Apple TV, wine fridges, and open showers. Then you’ll also find catamaran nets to lounge and sunbathe over the water and glass bathtubs that add an oomph factor to your Instagram photos.

Not to forget, many accommodations in the Maldives also have glass-bottom floors to view marine life easily. Then there are retractable sunroofs that allow you to sleep under the stars, literally.

And the most viral of them is the waterslides in overwater bungalows. A fun little addition loved by all ages, the slides drop you straight into the turquoise ocean below.   

Sustainable living

To continue enjoying luxury experiences in the Maldives, everyone must practice sustainable living. Be it the resorts, the locals, or the tourists, one needs to be conscious of their actions and resulting impact before it’s too late to save the nation.

However, being eco-friendly does not mean you have to give up on adventures that excite and satisfy the soul. Planting a coral, for instance, is a noble cause and a romantic activity you can do with your loved one. Many resorts continue to send regular updates of the corals you plant, the perfect reminder of your time on the island.

Then there are fun activities one might not be able to do in their daily lives. Soneva, a resort leading in sustainable living, has an art studio that offers glassblowing classes using recycled glass bottles.

Lastly, there are unforgettable culinary affairs at many resorts that emphasize clean and healthy living. Retreats, for instance, grow their own vegetables and herbs. This allows them to serve fresh garden-to-table organic recipes that cleanse our bodies through the food we consume. Such practices also limit the overall carbon footprint of a Maldivian stay.

Pampering in paradise isn’t only about benefiting the body. Instead, luxury experiences in the Maldives have a holistic effect. They satisfy our instant desires but also continue to work long-term, stimulating the mind and the soul. No wonder a holiday in the Maldives is a life event that people never forget.