Maldives
Hotel Review: JOALI BEING, Maldives
JOALI BEING sits on the private island of Bodufushi in Raa Atoll, and it's the wellness-focused sister property of JOALI…
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Maldives
Welcome to our Maldives travel guide
Southwest of India, you will find the endless teal blue waters that make up the 26 Atolls of the Maldives. The Maldives offers incredible luxury and exclusivity that is unlike any other destination in the world. It is no surprise that the Maldives is known for being one of the world’s best honeymoon destinations, with its expansive, private bungalows perched above the waters edge or dotting the white sand. Hotel development has expanded significantly in recent years, providing luxury experiences for all price ranges.
5 red flags in a “too good to be true” luxury deal 🚩 That price looks amazing... until you read the fine print. Here’s what to check before you book. 1️⃣ Transfers aren’t included. In the Maldives, a seaplane can add $1,000+ per person. 2️⃣ The meal plan is vague. “All-inclusive” might mean one buffet and house drinks. 3️⃣ It’s the worst room in the category. The cheapest price is often the garden view by the generator. (Or a “pool view” like mine in slide 4 😅) 4️⃣ Taxes and fees come later. A per-night price that leaves out 20–30% isn’t the real price. 5️⃣ It’s non-refundable with no flexibility. Cheap until plans change. Got a deal you’re not sure about? DM me “DEALS” and I’ll check it for you. Booking with Voyager Guru costs you nothing extra, you just get more. Save this for when you’re ready to plan 🤍 #traveldeals #luxurytravel #travelhacks #traveltips #maldives
Join me for a tour of Water Villa 412 at @nivavelassarumaldives! Water villas are usually my preference over beach villas and that’s definitely true for me here! The lagoon views and lots of windows make this such a beautiful place to relax. #maldives #nivavelassaru #luxurytravel
The most unique Maldives stays 🫧 Every Maldives resort has gorgeous water. These are the stays that give you something you can’t get anywhere else, and I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing these gems. 1️⃣ JOALI Maldives: an island that’s an art gallery. The Maldives’ first art-immersive resort, with installations by artists from around the world tucked across the island. 2️⃣ .Here: a residence, not a villa. Your own home on the water, with a 47-metre infinity pool, the beach on one side and the lagoon on the other. 3️⃣ The Reserve at Ozen Reserve Bolifushi: a private hotel within the hotel. The iconic two-floor overwater residences come with Chopard amenities, in-room dining, a floating breakfast and à la carte breakfast at Origine, just 35 minutes from Malé by boat. 4️⃣ The Finolhu bubble: sleep under the stars. A see-through bubble tucked into the garden, so you fall asleep looking straight up at the night sky. My take: art lovers should book JOALI. For groups or a big celebration, it’s .Here. For total privacy, The Reserve. And for one night you’ll never forget, the bubble. Want to stay in one? DM me “MALDIVES” and I’ll match you with the stay that fits your trip. Booking with Voyager Guru costs you nothing extra, you just get more. Save this for when you’re ready to plan 🤍 #maldives #maldivesresort #luxurytravel
Beach villa or overwater villa? 🏝️ Everyone pictures the overwater villa, but after staying in both, I don’t think it’s always the right call. Here’s how I help clients choose. 🌊 Overwater: the dream. Waking up over the water, stairs straight into the lagoon and a pool on your deck. It’s the Maldives moment most people picture. 🌊 Overwater: the trade-offs. Often smaller, with many junior-suite style (bed and lounge in one room). Some resorts also charge more just for a better spot on the jetty, with the same layout. 🌴 Beach: the surprise. Often far more space and privacy. JOALI’s entry Beach Pool Villa is about 680 sqm, with a garden gate, a wraparound pool, a hammock and your own stretch of beach. It’s the first entry-level beach villa that converted me. 🌴 Beach: the trade-offs. Lush islands mean more bugs, outdoor bathrooms get hot, and sunrise or sunset views vary from villa to villa. My take: couples, go overwater for the wow. Families, groups or longer stays, go beach. And at some resorts, the beach villa is simply the better room. Not sure which to book? DM me “VILLA” and I’ll tell you which one is right at your resort. Booking with Voyager Guru costs you nothing extra, you just get more. Save this for when you’re ready to plan 🤍 #maldives #overwatervilla #beachvilla #maldivesresort
Join us as we tour Villa 129, a breathtaking one-bedroom sunset beach pool villa at @alilamaldives! As a heads up, the standard beach villas are the exact same interiors just different locations. The interior space is incredible - a one bedroom with a separate living room in this price point is NOT normal. Alila is an exceptional property - DM me for special rates and Privé perks! #alila #maldives #luxurytravel
Towering ceilings with custom artwork adorning the walls, imported marble slabs from Norway and a massive, private infinity pool to enjoy day and night are just a few of the features of @joalimaldives that make this one of the most unique properties in the world. It’s a rare day that we enjoy the pool in our villa after dinner at midnight but something about the privacy of our own garden and the beautiful backdrop of the villa just made us want to take a dip. If you’re looking for true luxury in what feels like your own private fairytale mansion in the Maldives, Joali is it! DM us for rates and details #maldives #beautifuldestinations #maldivesislands
What’s better than sunsets and over water villas? I’ll give you a hint…basically nothing 😂😂 @alilamaldives is one of the most surprising gems in the Maldives right now. It’s an incredible property, offers an amazing all inclusive plan and is bookable with perks through me so if you’re looking for an excuse to get away, DM me 😉#maldives #beautifuldestinations
An overwater villa that makes you feel like you’re in a fairytale. @joalibeing has some of the most unique overwater sanctuaries you can find the #maldives. Towering ceilings, ethereal colors and beautiful, lush finishings truly made us never want to leave.
Ever wanted to stay in a bubble and wake up with the sunrise? It’s possible at @finolhu_maldives! Between Finolhu and .Here sits this beautiful secluded little bubble. A night here comes with a private dinner, breakfast and all the amenities of a 5 star hotel ❤️. Would you stay here for a night? #maldives #beautifuldestinations #finolhu #bubble
Things to See and Do in the Maldives
- Snorkel with the Whale Sharks outside your hotel
- Scuba dive the protected reefs
- Enjoy a spa treatment in an overwater bungalow
- Take a seaplane from Malé to your hotel
- Surf the waves at some of the world's best hotels, like Niyama's Vogi Wave
- Try the traditional Maldivian cuisine
What to Know
We recommend a minimum of 4 nights in the Maldives, overall. Depending on where you fly from, the journey is long and there is typically an additional fee to get to your hotel from Malé. Therefore, 4+ nights is recommended to make the trek worth it.
Our personal recommendation is to either spend 4 nights at one hotel, or spend 9–10 nights and stay at 2 different hotels.
The majority of luxury hotels are on their own secluded island in a larger Atoll. The closest hotels to Malé are accessible by speedboats (transfers costing $70+) and the transfers are organized through the hotel. Hotels outside the vicinity of Malé will require a plane transfer (typically through sea plane arranged by the hotel). When selecting hotels, be sure to account for transfer costs in your budget as well as the airline the hotel uses.
There are two airlines that operate sea planes in the Maldives: Maldivian Air and Trans Maldivian. If you are hoping to stay at more than 1 hotel, review the properties these airlines fly to and align to that airline to avoid needing to transfer back to Malé before going to your next hotel. This can save you time and money, so check with your hotels in advance. Also note, a few luxury hotels operate their own seaplane and do not operate through Maldivian Air or Trans Maldivian, such as Cheval Blanc.
It's important to remember that once you are at your hotel, there is nowhere to go. All your meals will be served at the property as there is no "town" to go to. When considering your resort, be sure to take into account the higher cost of food due to import taxes in the Maldives. Many hotels offer packages that typically offer breakfast or breakfast and dinner. These can typically be a great deal.
Note about alcohol: Alcohol is available at the resorts, but alcohol is not allowed in the capital city of Malé. There is no duty free at the airport and you are not allowed to bring liquor into the country. You will need to purchase alcohol at your island resort.
Since the majority of hotels are on their own private island, most of them have a great gift shop where you can purchase clothing, accessories, items you have forgotten and other trinkets. There is no other shopping available and duty free upon departure from Malé international is limited.
Some hotels focus more on Maldivian culture than others, but in some hotel shops, you can find traditional lacquer goods, weaved goods and other crafts.
The Maldives is governed by a conservative Islamic government, and therefore, alcohol is illegal to bring into the country via checked luggage. Since resorts are on their own islands throughout the Maldives, guests remain unaffected by conservative laws. However, it is important to note that if you spend any time in Malé or populated islands, dress conservatively in town and at your resort, and do not sunbathe topless. We found Maldivians to be incredibly generous, kind and service-minded throughout our experience in the Maldives.
Planning a Trip to the Maldives?
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Typical Costs
The Maldives is unlike anywhere else in the world for a number of reasons. It’s important to consider all the costs that go into your trip to avoid trouble along the way.
Of course, there are the international flights and standard hotel charges — but it doesn’t end there. As you look up room rates and hotels online, we encourage you to look into the cost of the transfers before committing to a particular property. It’s common to see rates from $100–250 USD for boat transfers per person and anywhere from $450–600 USD for flight transfers per person.
Once on property, it is unlikely that you will be traveling anywhere for any meals. Most properties offer all-day dining at a number of restaurants, so we encourage you to look at restaurant and bar prices to ensure they align with your budget. Many properties offer meal plans that may be a good option for your vacation. The common packages are:
Breakfast: This rate only includes breakfast for two.
Half-Board: Includes breakfast & dinner as well as soft drinks (and 90% of the time, water).
Full-Board: Includes breakfast, lunch & dinner as well as soft drinks (and 90% of the time, water).
All-Inclusive: Includes all meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages.
If you are considering meal plans, be sure to look at the terms & conditions to ensure you have access to the restaurants onsite that you are looking for. It is common to be allowed into only 1 or 2 restaurants, even though they may have 4 or 5. We recommend finding hotels that allow you to try a variety of restaurants, particularly if you are staying for more than a few days.
Suggested daily budget — What you won’t expect from the Maldives is that you can find accommodations ranging across any budget. There are beautiful little guest houses for around $100 USD, all the way up to $1,000+ USD. Pro Tip: look for all-inclusive packages for a hassle-free vacation.
When to TravelMaldives Seasons
While there is no bad time to go to the Maldives, the best time to visit is between November and April. High season falls between December and March, resulting in higher prices but optimal weather. Monsoon season runs from May to October, peaking around June. The northern atolls have highest rainfall May–Nov; the southern atolls from Nov–Mar.
Travel Tips
- Understand your transfer options – There are two main seaplane companies in The Maldives. If you are changing hotels during your trip, be sure to understand which airline is handling the transfer. Unless you are transferring to a hotel that uses the same airline, you will need to transfer through Malé.
- Beware of your departure flights – If your flight leaves early in the morning, you will need to confirm that you can get to the airport in the morning. Most hotels will be unable to accommodate early international flights, unless you are transferred via boat.
- Consider a meal plan – Many hotels in the Maldives offer half board, full board or all-inclusive options for guests since there is nowhere else to go. Depending on the property, it's worth looking into these options to see if any are right for you.
- Try Scuba diving! – The Maldives has some of the best diving in the world. There is so much sea life, along with Whale Sharks, Manta Rays and other beautiful creatures. Diving not for you? Snorkel gear is usually free at the resorts.
Luxury Hotel Reviews
Check out some of our favorite Maldives resorts and what we like and don't like about each of them.
How to plan your trip
Planning a trip to the Maldives can be incredibly overwhelming. With hundreds of hotels and resorts spread across hundreds of islands, where do you even start? Our first recommendation is to set a budget for yourself. Consider what you’re willing to pay per night for your trip (and be sure to include a transfer cost of $250–800 per person). This will automatically give you a great sense of the options available to you.
Next, if you plan to stay at multiple resorts, we recommend properties that use the same seaplane company or are within boating distance to minimize transfer times.
Be sure to reach out to us via email if you need help starting to plan your Maldives trip! We have amazing partnerships with brands in the Maldives and around the world that provide additional perks and benefits for booking.
Gallery of the Maldives
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5 Things To Know Before You Go
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