For couples, a romantic holiday in the Maldives is a chance to be together in a way that never happens at home. Accommodation on a resort is not just a room, it’s a private love nest designed for the romantic. Villas are secluded in lush vegetation or isolated above a lagoon. The interior décor is soft, muted tones of distinction, the furnishings are impeccable, the bed is large and blissfully comfortable, the bathroom luxurious. Gaze from the veranda to a panoramic view of the lagoon lapping the beach and of coconut palms waving on the shore. Even the breeze seems to whisper romance.

You can add to the memory of the occasion by honeymooning in one of the most romantic resorts in the world. Many resorts have honeymoon packages, including especially designed and furnished honeymoon suites as well as lots of other goodies such as special massage therapy in the resorts spa for honeymooning couples. The honeymoon holiday does not have to be immediately after the wedding; some resorts allow special rates and complimentary extras for couples on honeymoon up to six months after the day of the wedding. (The wedding certificate should be provided to confirm the date.) Resort staff members respect the desire of those on honeymoon to be alone and room service can be arranged for a couple who are happy to stay in their private honeymoon suite without being disturbed, or having to meet other guests. That is one of the joys of holidaying in the Maldives-guests are left alone to do as they please.

With 1,190 islands and scores of uncharted sandbanks, the Maldives provides plenty of opportunities to go island hopping to discover how Maldivians really live. Since inhabited islands have opened up to tourism, ferry boats travelling between Male’ and those islands have become more frequent. However, hopping from one island to another in the same or neighboring atoll takes patience as you look, or wait, for a boat going your way. The operators of guesthouses will advise on how to get to their islands.

The easiest way for guests to visit other islands while staying at a resort is to take one of the resorts’s guided tours. These typically include a visit to an inhabited island with an escorted walk around the sandy streets, an opportunity to buy souvenirs and have tea in a café. Some tours take in a visit to a genuinely uninhabited island, for a chance to swim or for a picnic. Some resorts will organize a daylong Robinson Crusoe experience on an islet or sandbank. Since boats are the taxis of the islands it’s possible to hire one to get from one island to another. From Male’, you can easily visit the residential islands of Hulhumale’ or Vilingili by inexpensive ferry running regularly from their Male’ terminals. If you are in a group wanting to visit several islands, then chartering a Live Aboard safari vessel for a few days is the best way, as you can arrange with the boat’s skipper to visit islands off the tourist trail.

Canoes can be hired for an energetic paddle around a lagoon from all except about ten resorts. While it might seem simple, it’s a demanding form of exercise, especially in the sun. If required a crew member from the water sports centre will act as instructor and escort. Mini catamarans about 5m long consisting of two hulls with a sail in the middle can be hired either with someone from the water sports centre as instructor and crew, or for solo excursions by expert sailors. It’s a graceful way to sail around a lagoon and less strenuous than windsurfing.

Jet skis are a bit like motorbikes as they roar across the water leaving spray and foam in their wake. It’s a fun ride clinging to the jet ski’s driver or taking over the controls. A kayak is great for paddling in solo exploration around an island as it is made with a light frame and has a watertight covering with a small opening for the paddler. Some kayaks are made of transparent material for gazing underwater.

Less than a third of resort water sports centers have facilities for parasailing and it is a thrilling, but demanding, water sport. It is just as thrilling to watch, as it resembles surfing while attached to a parachute. The participant is towed behind a boat while harnessed to a specially designed canopy wing, the parasail. As the boat gains speed, the wind catches the parasail and it, and the participant, soar above the waves. The Maldives is famous around the world for its extreme surfing and there are several surfing areas within the atolls, with Male’ Atoll being the most convenient because of proximity to the airport and for boat transfers from Male’. Great surfing is possible between April and October when three good swells come each month, lasting a couple of days, and the best thing is that these are off-shore.

Resort dive centers run courses to help the beginner learn how to snorkel and the instructors will advise on where best to observe the colorful world underwater. To avoid sunburn while gently floating in the lagoon, wearing a T-shirt is advisable and even if you are a strong swimmer it is better to wear a life jacket when snorkeling far from the shore, as currents can carry away the unwary. Beginners at snorkeling should practice to gain confidence in shallow lagoons first and will find it remarkable how many fascinating fish are to be seen close to the beach in less than a meter of water. Reef edges are simply stunning for fish and glowing corals, so resorts with a house reef close to the shore are great for beginners.

All dive centers offer an introductory lesson to help guests decide if they feel confident enough to proceed with training. The most popular course is the PADI Open Water Diver Course and a certificate is awarded at the successful completion of the course certifying that the holder can take part in scuba diving excursions. (PADI is an acronym for Professional Association of Diving Instructors and there are several other associations operating in the Maldives including SSI, Scuba School International.) For those who haven’t the time to take the complete course, some dive centers offer an introductory course (theoretical and practical) of four lessons including training in shallow water (sometimes in the resort’s swimming pool) and a supervised fun dive at the resort’s house reef. To earn a PADI Open Water Diver certificate (or similar) a course of nine practical and three theoretical sessions and an examination is involved and takes from six to nine days to allow for sufficient dives and theory classes. Before signing up for a scuba diving course, you should have a medical examination to make sure you’re fit for diving.

Boat Trips An effortless way to view the underwater world in the placid lagoon of a resort is through the transparent deck of a piloted glass bottom boat. Passengers sit on seats running the length of the boat (made of fiberglass), peering into a well in the centre of the boat that has a glass bottom and reveals everything the vessel is cruising over. It is an amazing experience for the sedentary to glimpse brilliant-hued fish and gardens of coral and also to see the dramatic plunging of a reef into the dark depths of the ocean. Seaplanes are in regular service throughout the Maldives and the operators also organize scheduled seaplane photo flights. A photo flight gives a bird’s-eye view of the islands, the natural atoll formations, the sand banks, the vegetation and the translucent colors of the lagoons in contrast to the darker waters of the surrounding ocean. Comfortable seating and large windows in the planes give an opportunity to shoot good photographs. The pilots know what photographers look for and circle above picturesque locations. The scheduled flights last for 20 minutes from dock to dock and carry a minimum of seven adults. Charter photo flights can also be arranged from a resort and back.

The Maldives is home to 21 species of whale and dolphin and they are frequently sighted as they cross in the channels from one side of an atoll to another. They are sometimes spotted during the crossing from the airport to Male’. Many resorts organize cruises to the sea-lanes that dolphins regularly use, and independent dolphin watching cruises by dhoni can be arranged by the accommodation provider. Operating out of Male’ (bookings can be coordinated through your resort) the whale submarine is a chance for young and old to visit the underwater world without getting wet, while enjoying the exciting experience of diving in a real submarine. The cabin of the submarine is fully air-conditioned and has a normal atmospheric pressure so passengers breathe normal air. The whale submarine has safety features to ensure the safest, most comfortable ride, and is operated by a fully trained and certified team of pilots. It carries enough oxygen, water and food supplies to support all passengers and crew for 100 hours. On most dives passengers can see schools of blue or yellow-striped snappers and common lionfish, yellow box fish and sometimes turtles. Depending on the time of the day, current and many other factors, the submarine may dive to some historical sites such as a shipwreck or exciting places like a shark feeding area. The whole tour takes about three hours and is an amazing experience, especially for children and non-divers.

In the Maldives, a spa has become much more than its conventional meaning of a commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatments. Resort spas not only match the luxurious standard of the resort’s accommodation, they go beyond it in design and location. There are spas built on stilts over a lagoon enjoying panoramas of infinity; spas surrounded by lush tropical vegetation; spas on their own islands; spas on the beach and in temple-like sanctums; spas serenaded by babbling water, and spas of classic or contemporary décor. Every spa seeks to convey a breath-taking ambience of secure serenity where exotic therapies defy the imagination.

Enjoying a prime location in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll island archipelago and on the doorstep of Hanifaru Bay, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is the perfect place from which to explore the underwater world of the Indian Ocean. Set on Kihavah Huravalhi, one of the most pristine Maldivian islands, the resort is 30-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport, an unforgettable experience in itself as the plane flies over a string of glowing coral islands and Maldives resorts amidst turquoise waters.

79 spacious private pool villas, ranging from 260 to 2,730 square meters, are either poised over the water with sweeping ocean views or nestled along a pristine stretch of private beach. Snorkel some of the world’s most treasured reefs within a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, explore uninhabited islands encircled by abundant reefs home to turtles, eels and beautiful coral formations, or cruise in solitude into a tapestry of unimaginable colours to a glorious Maldivian sunset.

Imagine paradise. Tropical island sands. Swaying palms. Endless turquoise waters. Open your eyes and see one of the most breathtaking Maldives luxury resorts in front of you. Maldivian for “beautiful island,” Anantara’s sister island of Naladhu offers a mosaic of timeless moments on the clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

Every Naladhu experience is one to treasure. Every space is yours to own, for your time on our island, at this exclusive Maldives retreat we offer expansive villas and houses each with a private pool fronting the azure Indian Ocean, unsurpassed comfort, the idyllic Maldives luxury resort experience, and a graceful elegance that never goes out of style.

Huvafen Fushi (Nakachcchaafushi) is a private resort island retreat by Per AQUUM situated in the North Male atoll, Kaafu, Maldives.

Situated near the capital Island Male and 30 minutes by Speedboat from Male International Airport, resort was opened in July 2004 and involves a singular island with 43 cottages. Concentrating on the extravagance settlement claim to fame, some of its facilities include world's first underwater spa, excellent beach and corals; the island's broad library-parlor, and deep sea fishing to give a few illustrations. With a lot of Dining alternatives from waterside bars, private dining tackles to an underground wine cellar, different than any other resort on the planet.

Experience an island paradise of chic simplicity in a serene adults-only tropical setting replete with soft white sand and azure waters at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort. Relax with your loved one, or friends in the over water bungalows of our Maldives resort as a spectacular selection of sea life swims beneath you. Dive into an array of water sports in the tranquil surrounds of our island resort’s crystal clear lagoon. Unwind or discover a path of wellness at the Sundari Ayurvedic Spa with a range of treatments to soothe body and mind.

Anantara Veli is perfectly suited to couples or groups of friends looking for a relaxing island hideaway where turquoise waters beckon from your choice of intimate accommodation bungalows, some with direct lagoon access. Unwind on a sun deck overlooking the palm fringed island and pristine coral reefs in the South Malé Atoll, just 35 minutes from Velana International Airport.

Find a very private setting for intimate, one-of-a-kind experiences. With twin islands Play and Chill, Niyama Private Islands Maldives offers up the luxury of choice.

At Play: Frolic in the treetops. Rush into the infinite horizon. Kick things up a notch in villas set on white sands and tailored to adventurous honeymooners, active couples and style-savvy families.

At Chill: Revel in a peaceful moment within the cocoon of Niyama Spa. Drift in culinary heaven offshore. Soothe your soul to the slow rhythms in over-water studios. Lounge against the flowing oceans cape in an underwater playground.

Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort welcomes you to discover a tropical paradise island. Wake up to soothing views of the endless deep blue Indian Ocean. Take a morning plunge in the gentle waters of a turquoise lagoon directly from your over water villa. Kayak to Guli Fushi Island at the edge of the lagoon for snorkelling.

Dhigufinolhu Island in the South Malé Atoll, is Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, comprising of some of the most spacious luxury villas in Maldives, some with private plunge pools and just a 35 minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport. The tropical lagoon setting creates a Maldivian paradise of breathtaking natural wonders, where the warmest heartfelt welcome leads to journeys that can be deeply relaxing or truly invigorating. From the moment you arrive, peer into the crystal waters below the jetty of our Maldives resort at puffer fish, sting rays and baby reef sharks. Take part in an array of water sports including diving, snorkelling, surfing and island hopping.

Located no more than a 25-minute speedboat ride from Male, Dhonveli’s proximity and diversity combine to make it one of the most popular destinations in the Maldives. The island is constantly buzzing with action as divers, surfers and beach bums alike find a common ground in the world of excitement this little island has to offer. A trip here is always big fun and you’re bound to find yourself trying something new no matter what reason brings you to our shores. 

The chic, bright rooms feature balconies or terraces, as well as minibars, tea and coffeemakers, cable TV and Wi-Fi (fee). Some add lofts with extra beds. Thatched-roof garden and beach bungalows are also available, as are water bungalows with Jacuzzis and lagoon access.

Dive into absolute serenity. Less than 20 minutes away from Velana International Airport by speedboat, set on a pristine island blessed with tropical beauty in North Malé Atoll, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is an adults-only retreat that is ideal for couples and honeymooners. Light and airy villas with wooden flooring and natural fabrics provide sensational views of the Indian Ocean and offer the choice of beachside or overwater accommodation. Pure white sand and a sparkling blue lagoon make this a perfect playground for beach games, snorkeling and water sports, while the magical underwater world of some of the top dive sites in the Maldives are reached within less than half an hour by dhoni. Exciting dining with a choice of dining programmes, along with a sublime spa, make this intimately scaled resort a haven for those seeking a tropical escape.

Experience a holiday in the tropics beyond compare at Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi. Blessed with thriving vegetation & pristine waters, the Island of White Gold finds itself in peaceful seclusion in the North Male Atoll. Set in 83 acres of lush tropical beach property near Kani Beach on Lhohifushi Island the resort’s design enables it to blend into its surroundings being one of the best resort in Maldives. Discover a paradise hidden away in plain sight where the sun rises painting the skies in rich orange hues and the gentle waves of the Indian Ocean caress the shore with grace.

Vakarufalhi Island Resort - One of the best superior deluxe Maldives resorts, tucked away in the remote corner of South Ari atoll, 90km away from the airport, Vakarufalhi is among the pearls that make up the amazing Maldives Islands.

Vakarufalhi, better known as Vakaru is a tropical island enhanced by swaying coconut palms and white sandy beaches. Surrounding the island is a pristine lagoon enriched by a stunningly beautiful living house reef. These features combined with traditional Maldivian building concepts, makes Vakarufalhi a haven of nature and tranquility. Almost a quarter of a square kilometer of land area with 50 sea front Beach Villas spread evenly around the island and 25 Water Villas creates an atmosphere which rejuvenates your body and mind.

As one of the first resort in the Maldives, Embudu has stayed pure and natural. All bungalows are situated near the beach in a natural environment. After landing our new speedboat will bring you in around 30 minutes to Embudu Village.

When you sit on your terrace of one of our 106 superior rooms or on enjoying the sun rise early in the morning or just having your coffee, nothing will disturb you. Pure relaxation, once you set foot on Embudu. Enjoy the tranquility of the turquoise water, and the sound of the waves on the endless beaches.

The Beehive is a 32 room property opened for business in December 2014, centrally located in Male, the Capital City of Maldives. Rooms are spacious, well designed and quipped with modern facilities. There are four categories of rooms to choose from: Business Deluxe, Studio, Deluxe and Superior Rooms. All rooms are air-conditioned with attached bathrooms and have balconies.

At Surfview Raalhugandu Hotel, we are the global leader and innovator of the lifestyle hospitality sector. We create a vibe that encourages our guests to live every moment more intensely. Surfview Raalhugandu Hotel is immersive, transformative and deeply engaging; embracing irony and style, elegance and luxury, with strong and daring vision. Surfview Raalhugandu Hotel is always a growing and expanding Hotel as there are vast challenges to overcome and further activities and services we can provide to our customers in our beautiful country.

Baani Hotel is an idyllic oasis in the heart of Malé, where the guests can experience both the day’s Sunrise and Sunset in perfect relaxation. At Baani Hotel, every effort is made to make guests feel comfortable. To do so, the hotel provides the best in services and amenities. For the comfort and convenience of guests, the hotel offers free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour security, convenience store, daily housekeeping, 24-hour front desk.

Season Holidays is a tourist hotel in the Maldives at Hulhumale’. The hotel is located on an island close to the Male (Capital Island) as well as to the airport. So the distance to travel from the airport to the hotel will take only 10 minutes by bus or car. Though it is close to the airport you will not hear the aircraft. It is a very calm and peaceful place. However, during day time you will see small sea planes transporting tourists to far off islands.

Vista Beach retreat is located in the beach front of the beautiful Island of Hulhumale situated just 10 min ride from the International airport. The hotel has 12 beautifully appointed rooms, all of which are fully air-conditioned and feature supremely comfortable King sized beds and the latest modern amenities. The rooms also feature large flat screen TVs loaded with your favorite cable channels, mini-bar, hair dryers, tea or coffee making facilities, mini safes and free internet access. All of the bathrooms are en-suite which has a modern, minimalist finish with Hot & Cold water running 24/7. All the Sea View rooms has a balcony for 2 facing the sea and the Deluxe rooms have a balcony for 1 person facing the next building.

Ripple Beach Inn is a modern and comfortable hotel within easy reach of Male International Airport. With a direct shuttle service to Arrivals and Departures you can be in your room within half an hour after touchdown. It is the ideal place to refresh and relax either en route to a resort or while waiting for an international flight home.

All the rooms have cleverly-designed luggage storage facilities under the beds. The bedding is modern and stylish and the rooms have a chic Maldivian twist such as wave imprints on the walls, locally handmade furniture and coconut wooden flooring. Piped-in music, CCTV in public areas and a non-smoking policy throughout creates a safe, secure but friendly and welcoming environment.

Offering a barbecue and views of the garden, Golden Spiral is located in Hulhumale in the Kaafu Atoll Region, 600 meters from Hulhumalé Hospital. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. You will find a kettle in the room. The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer. Golden Spiral features free Wi-Fi throughout the property. There is free shuttle service at the property. This guest house has water sports facilities and car hire is available. You can engage in various activities, such as snorkeling and windsurfing. The nearest airport is Male International Airport, 4 km from Golden Spiral.

Featuring rooms with sea views, Coral Queen Inn has its own buffet restaurant and is just 4 km from Malé Airport on Hulhumale. Guests have access to free Wi-Fi in all areas of the property. All rooms have a flat-screen satellite TV, safe, electric kettle and mini bar. Private bathroom includes a shower, hairdryer and free toiletries. Friendly staff can assist guests throughout the day. Facilities offered include a shared lounge and tour desk. The property provides airport transfer service upon request at an additional charge.

Newtown Inn provides ”affordable luxury” holidays in the Maldives through its guesthouse properties. Formed in 2012, Newtown Hospitality Group is owned by Ahmed Didi. Based in Hulhumale, just 10 minutes from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, Newtown Group promises prompt and efficient communication, professional services and delivers a high standard of customer care.