The Maldives, Decoded: How to Choose the Right Island
Every resort is its own island, which makes choosing wrong genuinely costly. A field guide to picking your patch of paradise.
The Maldives is the only destination we know of where your choice of hotel is more or less irrevocable. Each resort occupies its own private island, sometimes an hour's seaplane flight from the next; there is no wandering into town, no changing your mind over dinner. You are, delightfully or otherwise, committed. Which makes the choice the single most important decision of the trip.
Villa or Overwater?
The overwater bungalow is the postcard, and for a couple it's hard to beat: a ladder from your deck straight into warm turquoise. But beach villas are often larger, cooler, better for families, and closer to the house reef. Snorkellers should check where the good coral actually is. Some islands have a spectacular reef a fin-kick away, while others need a boat.
How Far Is Too Far?
Closer atolls mean a short speedboat transfer. Farther-flung ones mean a scenic (and pricey) seaplane that stops flying at dusk. The remoter islands reward you with fewer crowds and better marine life. Just factor the transfer into your plans, because a late international arrival can cost you a night on a nearby island before you even reach paradise.
Where to Stay
Soneva Fushi more or less invented barefoot Maldivian luxury and it's still the benchmark: jungly, enormous villas, a superb house reef, and a real commitment to sustainability that most of its rivals only advertise.
