The Maldives is the ultimate island escape: more than a thousand coral islands scattered across turquoise lagoons, each resort on its own island with powder-white sand, a house reef and, often, villas built over the water. Choosing well is about more than the room. The transfer, the atoll, the reef and the board basis all shape your holiday.
Here are the eleven Maldives resorts we sell, grouped by how quickly you can reach them from Malé.
You’ll find on this page
- Quick verdicts and a comparison table of every hotel
- Resorts a short speedboat ride from Malé
- Resorts further afield for a more remote feel
- How to choose: transfers, reefs and board basis
- When to go
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- Live prices with flights and transfers in the search box at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the hotels
| Hotel | Where | Stars | Board | TripAdvisor | Adults only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malahini Kuda Bandos Resort, lagoon island escape | Bandos Island, North Male Atoll | 5★ | All Inclusive, All Inclusive Plus, Full Board, Half Board | 5/5 | No |
| Hard Rock Hotel Maldives | Akasdhoo / Emboodhoo Lagoon, South Male Atoll | 5★ | All Inclusive, Bed and Breakfast, Full Board, Half Board | – | No |
| SAii Lagoon Maldives | Eh’mafushi / Emboodhoo Lagoon, South Male Atoll | 5★ | All Inclusive, Bed and Breakfast, Full Board, Half Board | – | No |
| Villa Nautica Paradise Island | Lankanfinolhu, North Male Atoll | 5★ | All Inclusive, Full Board | – | No |
| Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives | Dhonveli / Kanu Huraa, North Male Atoll | 4★ | All Inclusive, All Inclusive Plus, Full Board | – | No |
| Sun Siyam Olhuveli | Olhuveli Island, South Male Atoll | 4★ | All Inclusive, Full Board | – | No |
| Adaaran Club Rannalhi | Rannalhi Island, South Male Atoll | 4★ | All Inclusive | – | No |
| Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon | Ellaidhoo Island, North Ari Atoll | 4★ | All Inclusive, All Inclusive Plus, Full Board | – | No |
| Villa Park Sun Island | Sun Island (Nalaguraidhoo), South Ari Atoll | 5★ | All Inclusive, All Inclusive Plus, Full Board | – | No |
| Kuredu Resort & Spa | Kuredu Island, Lhaviyani Atoll | 4★ | All Inclusive, All Inclusive Plus, Full Board | – | No |
| Reethi Faru Resort | Filadhoo Island, Raa Atoll | 4★ | All Inclusive, All Inclusive Plus, Bed and Breakfast, Full Board, Half Board | – | No |
Star ratings are official; TripAdvisor scores were correct when we last checked and can change. Board options vary by room and date.
Quick verdicts
A short speedboat ride from Malé
North and South Malé Atolls are closest to the international airport, so you can be on the beach within an hour or so of landing, with no seaplane needed.
Malahini Kuda Bandos Resort, lagoon island escape
- Bandos Island, North Male Atoll
- 5-star
- All Inclusive Plus
- TripAdvisor 5/5
Five-star Malahini Kuda Bandos is a beachfront lagoon-island escape just 10 to 15 minutes from the airport by speedboat, with natural lagoons, sandy beaches, a wide watersports offering and a spa and wellness focus.
Best for: The quickest transfer
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives
- Akasdhoo / Emboodhoo Lagoon, South Male Atoll
- 5-star
- All Inclusive
Five-star Hard Rock Hotel Maldives in the Emboodhoo Lagoon has a live-music vibe, beach and overwater villas, family suites, a pool and beach club, a spa and watersports.
Best for: Families and fun
SAii Lagoon Maldives
- Eh’mafushi / Emboodhoo Lagoon, South Male Atoll
- 5-star
- All Inclusive
Five-star SAii Lagoon Maldives is a boho-chic island resort near the airport, with luxury rooms and overwater villas, family accommodation, a pool, a spa and the marina, shops and nightlife of the Crossroads complex.
Best for: Style and variety
Villa Nautica Paradise Island
- Lankanfinolhu, North Male Atoll
- 5-star
- All Inclusive
Five-star Villa Nautica Paradise Island in North Malé Atoll has island and overwater villas, an infinity pool, a kids’ pool, a spa and extensive watersports.
Best for: All-round family resort
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives
- Dhonveli / Kanu Huraa, North Male Atoll
- 4-star
- All Inclusive Plus
Cinnamon Dhonveli in North Malé Atoll is next to the famous Pasta Point surf break, with overwater and beach bungalows, a pool, a spa, diving and watersports.
Best for: Surfers
Sun Siyam Olhuveli
- Olhuveli Island, South Male Atoll
- 4-star
- All Inclusive
Sun Siyam Olhuveli in South Malé Atoll spreads across three interconnected islands, with a lagoon, sandbanks, a house reef, an adults-only infinity pool and a large choice of restaurants and bars, about 45 minutes from the airport by speedboat.
Best for: Choice and space
Adaaran Club Rannalhi
- Rannalhi Island, South Male Atoll
- 4-star
- All Inclusive
Adaaran Club Rannalhi is a private-island resort in South Malé Atoll with white-sand beaches, a house reef, overwater and beachfront rooms, a spa, diving and all-inclusive.
Best for: All-inclusive value
Further afield
Outer atolls take longer to reach, by long speedboat ride, seaplane or domestic flight, but reward you with a more remote feel and outstanding marine life.
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon
- Ellaidhoo Island, North Ari Atoll
- 4-star
- All Inclusive Plus
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon in North Ari Atoll is a house-reef diving hub with a dive centre, reef sharks and rays, and an infinity pool overlooking the lagoon and water villas. The speedboat transfer takes around 90 minutes.
Best for: Divers and snorkellers
Villa Park Sun Island
- Sun Island (Nalaguraidhoo), South Ari Atoll
- 5-star
- All Inclusive Plus
Five-star Villa Park Sun Island in South Ari Atoll is a large, family-friendly island resort in a marine-protected area, with overwater and beach villas and extensive dining and wellness options.
Best for: Big-resort choice
Kuredu Resort & Spa
- Kuredu Island, Lhaviyani Atoll
- 4-star
- All Inclusive Plus
Kuredu Resort & Spa in Lhaviyani Atoll is made for an action-packed holiday, with a 3.5 km beach, three freshwater pools, lots of restaurants and bars, a spa, tennis and a kids’ club.
Best for: Active holidays
Reethi Faru Resort
- Filadhoo Island, Raa Atoll
- 4-star
- All Inclusive Plus
Reethi Faru Resort is a private island in Raa Atoll, reached by domestic flight and speedboat, with a lush tropical setting, white-sand beaches, a watersports centre, a spa, an infinity pool and a wide choice of restaurants and bars.
Best for: A remote island feel
How to choose: transfers, reefs and board basis
Transfers: resorts in North and South Malé Atolls are reached by speedboat, often in under an hour. Outer atolls need a long speedboat ride, a seaplane or a domestic flight; seaplanes fly in daylight only, so late arrivals may need a night near Malé. House reef: if snorkelling matters, choose a resort known for its reef, such as Ellaidhoo. Villa type: overwater villas are iconic; beach villas give you direct access to the sand and are often better for young children. Board basis: resorts are on private islands, so all-inclusive or full board is usually the best value. Most of these resorts offer it.
When to go
The Maldives is warm all year, typically around 30 °C, with the sea around 28 to 29 °C. The dry north-east monsoon season, roughly December to April, brings the most sunshine and calm seas and is the most popular time. May to November is wetter and more humid, with short tropical showers, but prices are lower, the surf is at its best and the marine life is excellent. Flights take around ten to eleven hours direct from London, or longer with a connection via the Gulf.
How we chose these resorts
This guide includes all eleven Maldives resorts we currently sell, grouped by transfer time, with what each one does best based on its facilities and location. Every resort can be booked with us as an ATOL-protected package with flights and transfers. Prices, villa availability and transfer options change daily, so use the search box at the end of this page, or ask a Travel Designer to match the right resort and villa to you.
Frequently asked questions
Which Maldives resorts are closest to the airport?
Malahini Kuda Bandos is 10 to 15 minutes by speedboat; most North and South Malé Atoll resorts are under an hour.
Is the Maldives good for families?
Yes. Resorts such as Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, Villa Nautica and Kuredu have family accommodation, pools and kids’ facilities.
What is the best time to visit the Maldives?
December to April for the driest weather; May to November for lower prices and the best surf.
Is all-inclusive worth it in the Maldives?
Usually, yes. Each resort is on its own island, so all your meals and drinks are at the resort.
Find your Maldives holiday
Search live prices with flights and transfers, all ATOL protected, or ask a Travel Designer to compare these hotels.
Keep planning
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Updated October 2026. Hotels can be booked as ATOL-protected packages with flights and transfers through Travelisto.
