Pristine lagoons, white sand beaches, with food and service unparalleled to any other at the height of luxury, you will find the newest Raffles location in the Maldives to exceed your wildest holiday dreams. As one of the newest resorts in the Indian Ocean archipelago, Raffles Meradhoo has already carved out a name for themselves as one of the best resorts to stay at in the Maldives.

How Do I Get to Raffles Meradhoo?

Raffles Meradhoo is located in the southern islands of the Maldives, a quick one hour domestic flight from Male. Upon arrival at the International Male airport, your Raffles experience starts by being greeted by a staff member who will escort you to the lounge in the domestic terminal and do the check in procedure for you while you enjoy the lounge food and drinks.

Once you fly into the Kaadedhdhoo Domestic Airport, you will be greeted by your personal butler and escorted to the private speed boat that takes you to paradise. While waiting for your luggage on the boat, you will not only be treated to a refreshing tropical juice but experience the best neck and back massage ever! This above and beyond attention to service and detail is what sets Raffles apart from all other brands.

Meradhoo Island, a 15 minute boat ride from the airport, is quite small, and you can easily walk around it in 10 minutes. There are no bikes on the island as everything is within short walking distance. The real beauty of Meradhoo is the abundance of lush foliage between the villas and buildings on the island, providing you with ultimate privacy and allowing you to feel as if you had the whole island to yourself. 

Beach Villa vs. Over Water Villa

Raffles offers two different types of accommodation experiences:  main island beach villas and overwater bungalows. We stayed in the beach villa, which came with a private poll and had a direct walk out to the beach. The villa itself was massive, with one of the biggest beds we have ever slept in and an ensuite bathroom that was the size of most hotel rooms. It also featured a large soak-in tub, in addition to both an indoor and outdoor shower with brand name toiletries. 

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The overwater accommodation allows you to jump straight into the water from your deck and fall asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing under your villa. These bungalows are located on their own island, just a short 5 minute boat ride away. If you miss laying on the beach but don’t want to head back to the main island, you can find a sandbank located in the middle of the jetty during low tide.  

We personally prefer beach villas as we like having our feet in the sand, but if you have ever experienced staying in an over water villa, this is a bucket list item you must try!

Dream-worthy Maldivian Island

The lagoon surrounding the island has the bluest water we have ever seen, and we couldn’t believe the marine life we could see from the shore- everything from reef sharks to jumping fish. We took the clear kayak and paddled around the island, looking at the colourful fish right from the comfort of our glass bottom kayak. The snorkeling was also phenomenal and we could not keep ourselves out of the water for long. 

On the mainland, you will also find an infinity pool which looks over the Indian Ocean, spa villas and a state of the art gym. You can have your floating breakfast in the main pool, or in the comfort of your private pool villa. 

All of your needs will be met before you even anticipate them, thanks to your villa butler. Olga, our dedicated butler, remembered all of food preferences and dietary restrictions and communicated everything to the kitchens for us, so that we didn’t have to. All of the staff are friendly and helpful, eager to answer any questions you may have. 

Indulge in a First Class Dining Experience

With 3 gourmet restaurants on site serving international cuisines, your palettes will be spoiled for choice. As huge foodies, we can confidently say that Raffles served up some of the best food we have ever experienced, period.

The main restaurant, Thari, offers a wide selection of food options that will please even the pickiest eater. They have a fantastic Nikkei restaurant, where we had such a delicious dinner that we are still dreaming about till this day.  Peruvian ceviche with a Japanese twist? Yes please!

If you fancy dining on the sandbank, there is The Firepit, a barbeque restaurant which has seating areas carved into the sand. The mixology program is also top notch, and the bartenders will create delicious drinks inspired by Japanese and South American flavours. 

The Best Romantic Island Getaway

The privacy offered on this island and the serene experience makes this the perfect, once in a lifetime romantic getaway. Designed with the elegant flair that Raffles is known for and combined with a castaway island feel, your holiday expectations will be redefined after your stay at Raffles Meradhoo.