Maldives hotels within an hour of the airport: 11 luxurious hideaways

Where to stay in the Maldives so you do not waste time on the road.

Transfers in the Maldives - one of the quite noticeable parts of the budget. Especially if the hotel is far away and you need to fly there by seaplane. Fortunately, North and South Malé atolls, surrounding the capital, are home to a whole constellation of world-class resorts. And if physically and financially you are not ready to venture into remote corners of the Maldives far from the airport, take a look at a hotel from this selection. The boat ride from the airport to each of these private resorts will take no more than one hour.

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One&Only Reethi Rah

One&Only Reethi Rah is not just a hotel, but a true island of luxury. There are 12 lagoons here, and the total length of the coastline is a full 6 kilometres! Even when the hotel is fully occupied, you will always feel as if you are alone on the island. This is the place world celebrities choose for the chance to disappear into the space around them.

The scale of the hotel is truly impressive. There are only 130 spacious villas, spread far apart from each other along the shore or above the water. Guests can enjoy five world-class restaurants: from the authentic Japanese Tapasake on stilts above the water to the romantic Botanica, where dinner is served in a garden among orchids. For relaxation - the huge One&Only Spa, and for active leisure - tennis courts, an art studio, boutiques and a full range of water sports.

One&Only Reethi Rah

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

This is an entire palace on the water, spread across three islands connected by bridges. The main jewel of the hotel is Ithaafushi Private Island. This is a separate island within the resort that can be rented in full.

Infrastructure: the island has 119 beach and overwater villas, each with its own pool and spacious terrace. A record number of venues - 11 restaurants and bars, including Terra restaurant, where dinner is served in private bamboo "nests" at the tops of the trees. The huge spa centre offers treatments in secluded villa pavilions. For children, there is a large aqua park and a kids’ club, and for active leisure there are services of a diving centre, a water sports centre and a tennis court.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island

This resort by Singapore studio Miaja stands out with elegant contemporary architecture in a penthouse style. Its main feature - each of the 67 villas has its own infinity pool.

Despite the boutique format, the resort offers excellent infrastructure. There are two signature Jumeirah restaurants here: the Mediterranean Shimmers and the Japanese-Peruvian Kayto, both with wonderful ocean views. Talise Spa consists of six treatment rooms right above the water. Guests have access to a water sports centre, fitness centre, kids’ club and even an open-air cinema.

Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island

Patina Maldives, Fari Islands

This is the first hotel created as part of the Fari Islands "social archipelago", where guests of several luxury hotels (Patina, The Ritz-Carlton) can move freely between islands. This creates the feeling of living in a small elite coastal town rather than on an isolated island.

Guests of the resort have access not only to the 90 magnificent villas and 9 restaurants of Patina itself, but also to the entire infrastructure of Fari Marina Village - a shared area with boutiques, restaurants, a beach club and art galleries. Exhibitions, masterclasses and musical events are often held here.

Patina Maldives, Fari Islands

Gili Lankanfushi

This is one of the most eco-friendly resorts in the Maldives. The hotel is built entirely over the water, creating the feeling of living in the ocean, and all 45 villas are connected by wooden walkways. There is no concrete here, only natural wood, bamboo and glass. Each villa is managed by a personal assistant, "Mr./Ms. Friday", who fulfils any wishes guests may have.

In addition to huge overwater villas, the hotel offers restaurants with organic products, a wine cellar, the overwater Meera Spa and a PADI diving school. Guests can practise sunrise yoga, watch films in the open-air cinema or go snorkelling with a marine biologist.

Gili Lankanfushi

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa

The hotel is located in the centre of one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives. It offers classic luxury with a focus on Ayurveda and wellness. Guests have access to 58 villas and 6 suites, decorated in a classic style with warm wooden elements. The hotel’s main pride is the award-winning Jiva Grande Spa, whose pavilions are located around its own small island. The spa offers authentic Indian wellness rituals, yoga and meditation sessions. A long green island perfect for leisurely walks along the snow-white coastline.

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

This resort recreates the atmosphere of a traditional, yet luxurious Maldivian village. Instead of ultra-modern design - bungalows with thatched roofs, immersed in a lush tropical garden. The hotel’s main jewel is its spa centre, "The Island Spa Sanctuary", located on a separate small island. Guests are taken there by traditional dhoni boat.

Guests can enjoy four restaurants offering cuisine from different parts of the world. The resort is one of the main surfing centres in the Maldives: it has its own Tropicsurf school, and during the season international competitions are held at the local spots.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

Kurumba Maldives

This is the legend that started all tourism in the country. The hotel opened back in the 1970s. Kurumba is famous as one of the most popular family resorts in the Maldives due to its convenient location and service. It offers a wide choice of entertainment and restaurants, as well as infrastructure for all ages.

Guests can enjoy 8 restaurants for every taste - from haute French cuisine to authentic Japanese teppanyaki and Arabic mezze, as well as 3 bars. There are two large pools, a fitness centre, tennis courts and Veli Spa. An extensive programme of daily activities and evening entertainment is organised for guests - live music, DJ sets, cultural shows. The house reef surrounding the island is perfect for snorkelling directly from the beach.

Kurumba Maldives

Hard Rock Hotel Maldives

The hotel is part of the integrated resort complex Crossroads Maldives. These are not just isolated island hotels, but a whole entertainment hub connected by bridges. Guests have free access to the shared area The Marina @ CROSSROADS, with boutiques, world-class restaurants, the legendary Hard Rock Cafe and Ministry of Crab, a beach club, marina and cultural centre.

Hard Rock is an exclusive music resort where time moves to its own rhythm. Here you can rent a Fender guitar or a vinyl turntable directly to your room. The second hotel of the complex - SAii Lagoon - has a calmer, more bohemian atmosphere, offering relaxed holidays. Together, this means more than a dozen restaurants, several pools, the Lru Be Well spa, a full range of water sports and a rich entertainment programme.

Hard Rock Hotel Maldives

Velassaru Maldives

A stylish and contemporary resort that belongs to the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World association. The hotel is known for its magnificent scenery, especially the panoramic infinity pool, which seems to merge with the ocean.

Guests are offered 129 villas and bungalows. There are 5 restaurants on the island, including the refined grill restaurant Sand, where tables are set directly on the sand. The spa is located in pavilions on stilts above the water. Guests can enjoy sea trips, dolphin cruises, open-air film screenings and sunrise yoga sessions.

Velassaru Maldives

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

This is one of the luxury resorts in the Maldives that offers an adults-only concept. In addition to the other privileges of a luxury resort, Anantara Veli offers free access to the infrastructure of the neighbouring, livelier family hotel Anantara Dhigu.

Anantara Veli consists of 67 overwater bungalows. The island has the Japanese restaurant Origami and the Thai Baan Huraa on stilts, with an amazing panoramic sea horizon. The main feature is access to seven restaurants across the whole complex. Balance Wellness by Anantara spa offers Ayurvedic programmes and wellness treatments. Guests can go surfing at the local Tropicsurf school or head to the neighbouring island of Gulhifushi for a picnic.

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort