Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
If you’ve ever fantasized about vacationing in a spring saver sprung to life, this is it. Let’s start with the spa, tucked within manicured botanic gardens, where you can have a massage under twinkling stars while listening to waves crash in their spa pavilion. Or the overwater Li Long restaurant, which was designed to look like a recreation of Shanghai palaces, and where dishes include wok-fried Maldivian lobster, just pulled from the frothy sea. But what we love most of all are the airy, thatched-roofed villas, each one set over the ocean. The “starter” category? A whopping 2,518-square-feet, with a king-sized Waldorf-Astoria bed, private infinity pool and terrace complete with an overwater hammock you’ll never want to get out of. Sunset-obsessives may want to splurge on the Stella Maris Ocean Villa with Pool, a nearly 6,000-square-foot duplex with an indoor-outdoor living room and BBQ station on the top deck that would wow any billionaire on the lam.
A villa resort stilted over glass-clear turquoise waters, with a jaw-dropping spa, limitless water sports and 11 restaurants (including one lofted in the tree tops)
Lacking pampering. Guests have access to the full gamut of luxe touches, from 24-hour in-villa dining to loaner bikes to babysitters at-the-ready for parents seeking a night on the town.
Sometimes it feels like the majority of Maldives resorts are tailored just to honeymooners, and this one rolls out the proverbial red carpet for kids, too (note the Young Discovery Park, their own Technicolor playland, including activities galore).
From within your bamboo-walled nest at Terra, their restaurant tucked in the treetops, you feel a little like you’re being born anew. Maybe it’s the fresh sea breezes....or maybe it’s the bubbly, cherry-picked just for you by the resort’s own Krug Ambassador.
Terra - served in bamboo nests, this menu features the world's finest ingredients, such as Miyazake Wagyu Beef and Alba White Truffle, as well as premium wines and the resort's signature Krug Champagne Yasmeen - offers Levant cuisine including mezzes and charcoal-grilled meat and seafood Li Long - offers contemporary Chinese cuisine Tasting Table - main restaurant open for breakfast and dinner offering international cuisine The Rock - offers exclusive wine dinners for 12 guests The Ledge by Dave Pynt - pool side restuarant offering modern Australian barbecue Glow - garden-to-table concept offering well-being cuisine made with fresh ingredients from the island's edible garden Peacock Alley - offers hand-crafted cocktails, wines and tapas Amber - Champagne bar offering a range of the finest Champagnes along with a selection of hand-crafted Champagne cocktails and curated spuntini Nava - pool and beach club offering a selection of cocktails, wood-fired pizzas and small bites