Where much of Southeast Asia is known for trekking through monkey forests and trying the local street food, the Maldives is all about luxury. When we started planning our trip to the Maldives, we had one resort in mind that we simply had to experience. I am of course talking about the Waldorf Astoria Maldives.

If you’ve been following our adventures for a long time now, you probably know how much we love this iconic hotel chain. You can always expect to be treated like royalty in their hotels. What we didn’t know however, was just how remarkable their Maldives resort is in particular. In fact- I would even go so far as to say this is now our all-time favourite resort in the world!

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BEST WAY TO BOOK THE WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES

While the resort comes with a hefty price tag, there are many ways to take advantage of credit card points. By booking directly with Hilton Honors, you not only get the member rate, but earn a significant amount back in points. Not to mention, by signing up for certain Hilton Honors Amex Credit Cards, the sign-up bonus allows you to receive a free night.

HOW TO GET TO THE WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES

To get to the resort, guests have the option to either take a seaplane or enjoy a 45-minute private yacht transfer. As much as we enjoyed our seaplane flights in the Maldives, we opted for the private yacht this time and trust me, this is the way to go if you’re planning to stay at the Waldorf Astoria! Our gorgeous private yacht was complete with two bedrooms, a full kitchen and sleek, wooden accents. We marvelled at the turquoise blue sea with a glass of champagne in hand before arriving at our destination.

WHAT IS THE BEST VILLA TO STAY?

For our first few days, we had the luxury of staying in a large private villa dubbed the “King Reef”, which sat atop the ocean. Each of these villas boasts 2-3 spacious bedrooms,  a luxurious outdoor shower, a private pool and a lounge area where you can work on your tan as you gaze out over the ocean. If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate a special occasion or simply to treat yourself for a few days, it truly doesn’t get more glamorous than this.

After a few nights, we checked out of the King Reef villa, and made our way to the world-renowned Stella Maris independent floating villa. Here we experienced total privacy and isolation from the outside world. These floating villas are only accessible by boat and all of your food and services are delivered to you during your stay. Guests can book a private cooking class or have some of the Waldorf Astoria’s talented chefs come and prepare a private meal in their kitchen. The villa offers an incredible amount of space and is fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows so that you can enjoy 24/7 ocean views. One of our favourite features of this floating villa was the rooftop terrace and sunset splash pool which can be accessed by an Instagram-worthy spiral staircase.

We were incredibly lucky to stay in some of the Waldorf Astoria’s most luxurious accommodations, but if you are looking for something even more extraordinary, it does not stop there. The Waldorf Astoria Maldives offers a private island where the world’s wealthiest and most high-profile individuals can enjoy complete privacy for a little under $80,000. If you ever have the opportunity to stay there, please feel free to invite us!

THE LUXURIOUS RESORT AMENITIES

The accommodations at this resort make you want to spend the whole day relaxing by the water, but there are also plenty of activities to enjoy. The Waldorf Astoria Maldives spans across 3km of land, which makes it an excellent place to rent a bike or go for scenic walks around the island. We got plenty of exercise riding around on our bikes every day!

Even though each villa comes with it’s own private pool, there are also two main pools located for all guests to use at Nava, the center of the resort. There you will find the kids club, the family pool, adult pool, in addition to water sports center.

DINING OPTIONS AT THE WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES

We also have to mention the incredible array of dining options around the resort. From freshly shucked oysters to authentic Italian pizza to an Australian BBQ run by Michelin Star Chef David Pynt, the Waldorf Astoria really does have it all between their 11 restaurants. Our favourite restaurant on the resort is called Terra. Guests are seated inside woven, private bamboo nests which sit directly above the tropical forest. This unique setting is complete with high gastronomy in the form of a pre-set, multiple-course menu. All I can say is that you will want to have your camera by your side at all times throughout this meal because we were served dishes with some of the most unique presentation and cooking methods we had ever seen. From steam chambers to ice enclosures, the chefs at Terra are not afraid to give clients something they have never seen before.

When it comes to luxury experiences, the Waldorf Astoria Maldives is at the top of our list. We can’t wait to come back to this gorgeous part of the world one day. If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Maldives, treat yourself to the ultimate Maldivian experience with a stay at this incredible resort. You won’t regret it!

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