Maldives Hotels: 17 Best Hotels in the Maldives 2022 & 2023

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It comes as no surprise that searches for the best Maldives hotels are skyrocketing. 2023 will be, officially, the year of the bucket-list holiday. After almost two years (!) of cancelled flights, day-two testing and rapidly changing rules and regulations, 2022 has seen things become a little bit easier – but 2023 is where we'll be going all out. We're determined to make long-awaited trips spectacular, to make up for lost time and splurge on big breaks in dream destinations.

And for many, the Maldives is the ultimate holiday destination. Think: over-water villas, endless white-sand beaches and an eye-watering range of treatments, pampering and general luxury at some of the best spas in the world.

But choosing which Maldives hotel to stay at takes a little consideration. Why? Because although almost every single Maldives resort offers sandy beaches, turquoise waters and incredible weather, the standard of facilities vary enormously – from budget to the seriously high-end – so take your time and weigh up as many options as possible.

Top 10 Maldives hotels at a glance:

How to choose the best hotel in the Maldives

It's always worth checking a resort website for yourself (don't just rely on third-party hotel booking platforms) and even consider contacting the hotel for specific, up-to-date information. You don't want to fly all that way only to turn up and find out the overwater spa isn't actually finished, there's construction work happening or the scuba dive sites are closed.

On that note, if you're a keen diver – and you already know you'd like to book some diving days – it's always worth contacting the scuba dive centre separately, prior to check-in. Who knows: they may even offer you a discount if you book your dives in before arrival.

Most resorts will have several different types of rooms – ranging from ‘Garden villas’ to ‘Deluxe Over-Water Suites’. Bear in mind that a garden villa might not have direct private beach or sea access, while a water villa will likely be on stilts.

There’s no such thing as a ‘bad time’ to visit the Maldives – but the time of year you choose will affect the price. Worth noting: the high season is December to March, with spikes over Easter and also in August. Travelling outside of this period? Check out our guide to where is hot in October.

Where is best to stay in the Maldives?

Every resort in the Maldives is its own private island – so you're really spoilt for choice when it comes to ultra-glamorous overwater villas. A couple of our favourites? The brand-new resort on the new Fari Islands development, Patina Maldives, the Fari Islands (which is only a 45-minute speedboat transfer from the international airport) is pretty special, with a classy, modernist feel. The villas, filled with bamboo decor, all have private pools – and it's not far from The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, should you want to hop on a shuttle-boat service for dinner. Talking of which, if you're a foodie, you'll probably want to stay (and eat at) the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island – home to the world’s first underwater restaurant.

Is the Maldives good for a honeymoon?

Romance is big business in the Maldives – in fact, it’s generally seen as honeymoon central. But, it goes without saying, it is brilliant for children too (especially if you're a family of water babies), so the cheaper the resort, the more families and large groups you’ll get.

If you've got your heart set on a romantic post-wedding fortnight in tropical heaven – and you're dreaming of waking up in a muslin-draped four-poster, knowing a pre-breakfast swim in the sea is only six or so steps away from your bed, then the best resorts are (unfortunately) usually not the cheaper ones. Check out the adults-only resorts if you want to stay clear of screaming toddles, tweens and teens.

After more travel content? Head this way for the best hotels in London and over here for hotels in New York. We've also found the best hotels in Barcelona for everything from girls' weekend away to romantic getaways, and the best hotels in Paris that'll help you channel your hidden Emily.

Scroll for our full edit of the best hotels in the Maldives that are well worth travelling to in 2022 and 2023.

Best hotels in the Maldives for snorkeling in the archipelago

Best hotels in the Maldives for undersea dining

Best hotels in the Maldives with kids' clubsKeep the kids entertained at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi's dedicated kids' club (one of the few luxury resorts in the Maldives to actually have one – and free for children aged three and above), and get yourself to its award-winning Balinese-style spa or adults-only pool.Save when you book the best hotels in the Maldives with these booking.com discount codes.

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Best hotels in the Maldives for large groupsIf you're travelling in a large group, check out the two-bedroom overwater pool villa at Anantara Kihavah – it sleeps six people and is cut-off from the rest of the resort, featuring the most outrageous infinity pool, a private gym and spa suite. If you ever manage to tear yourself away from your villa, then the water sports here are particularly great and provide equipment for snorkelling, kayaking and windsurfing.Save when you book the best hotels in the Maldives with these booking.com discount codes.

Best hotels in the Maldives for a remote escapeOffering complete isolation and privacy (this resort is so remote it's actually too far for the seaplanes, so you have to get on a separate domestic flight), Raffles is styled after its sister hotel in Singapore – expect breezy verandahs and checkered tiling with dreamy cream and duck-egg blue hue styling.Save when you book the best hotels in the Maldives with these booking.com discount codes.

Best hotels in the Maldives for peace and quietCOMO Cocoa Island's wellness hideaway, with its simple – yet totally charming – aesthetic, is ideal for anyone looking for total peace and quiet. Not particularly family-friendly, this resort features the only hydrotherapy pool in the Maldives, a pilates studio, yoga pavilion and a well-equipped gym and spa.Save when you book the best hotels in the Maldives with these booking.com discount codes.

Best hotels in the Maldives for exceptional serviceThis new 100-villa resort (one of the four that make up the man-made Fari Islands) is a 50-minute boat ride from Malé. The idea? That you can move freely between each resort, with over 30 restaurants to choose from between them. The hardest thing you'll have to decide is which style villa to stay in – it's not just a question of 'Beach or overwater villa?', you've also got to decide whether you'd prefer an ocean or lagoon view (which is essentially like choosing between sunrise or sunset).Save when you book the best hotels in the Maldives with these booking.com discount codes.

Best hotels in the Maldives for modernist chic vibesWith earthy colours and Brazilian-Modernist design, Patina Maldives is the epitome of eco-conscious luxury thanks to its zero-waste, energy-positive practices. The main restaurant is plant-based – and you can bank on there being vitamins left on your pillows before bed. Check out the sunset water pool villa (sleeps two) if you're a honeymooner or ‘flop ‘n’ dropper’. Save when you book the best hotels in the Maldives with these booking.com discount codes.

Best hotels in the Maldives for clear night skiesWhat makes this resort great is how secluded it is – there's zero light pollution from other islands in the remote Shaviyani Atoll. The kids' club for those aged between three and 12 (with its very own 13-metre-long pirate ship) and the varied dining options – five restaurants and three bars overlooking the Indian Ocean – are two of the biggest draws to this family-friendly resort.Save when you book the best hotels in the Maldives with these booking.com discount codes.

Best hotels in the Maldives with a thriving house reefTeaming with manta-rays, Hanifaru Bay is known for it's rich reef and marine-life. Choose between overwater villas that line the lagoon’s boardwalks, beach villas situated just footsteps from the sand and the four-bedroom overwater pool residence (where Madonna chose to stay on her last visit to the Maldives) that's surrounded by wide ribbons of white sand.Save when you book the best hotels in the Maldives with these booking.com discount codes.

Best hotels in the Maldives for barefoot luxuryWith rustic-chic style and a eco-friendly ethos, it's easy to see why Gili Lankanfushi is an award-winning Maldivian resort. It has its very own pro-active marine conservation programme, all the food comes from organic gardens and local fishermen – it's even built with sustainable materials like coconut, teak and bamboo. All of the villas at Gili Lankanfushi are overwater villas, but there are seven special Robinson Crusoe residences which are completely cast out at sea – perfect for living out your dream desert-island escape.Save when you book the best hotels in the Maldives with these booking.com discount codes.