Water or beach villa in the Maldives: which to choose

There are only two types of villas in the resorts of the Maldives: beach and water. These are full-fledged houses with a bathroom, bedroom, terrace often with a swimming pool, and private access to the beach or to the lagoon. There are no other options for accommodation on resorts, except that you can find entire residences in several floors, up to 8-10 bedrooms, with several swimming pools and your own kitchen. It can be a beach or water villa. Such residences offer only a few hotels. In other cases, this is a villa for one or more bedrooms on the beach or the same villa, but on stilts in the lagoon. Kitchen, as a rule, there are no villas, except for accessories for making coffee or tea, a mini-refrigerator with soft drinks.

A beach villa or a water villa is the most frequent question facing our clients who are planning a trip to the Maldives. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, but among them there is definitely an option that will suit you. We will tell about everything further in the article.

Contents of the article:

1. Beach villas Maldives: pros and cons, a selection of the best
2. Water villas Maldives: advantages and disadvantages, the best offers

Hurawalhi Island Resort

Beach villas Maldives: pros and cons, a selection of the best

Beach villas are where the Maldives' tourism history began. The first hotel opened in 1972. It's still in operation and considered one of the best on the islands. This is Kurumba Maldives. The resort offers only beach villas. There aren't many such hotels. If you're definitely considering staying in a beach villa, check out our selection of Maldives hotels with only villas on the beach.

Whatever lineup you are in the Maldives, a beach villa is suitable in any case. The versatility of this category of housing is its main plus. Whether it is a romantic holiday or family, the main thing is to orientate yourself in the area and number of beds.

What's on the beach villa

As a rule, beach villas in the Maldives are located on the sandy shore surrounded by green vegetation. There is no such thing as a first or second coastline in the Maldives. In fact, all the villas are located if not on the beach, then in the garden and one or two minutes from the beach, where you will still have a private space near the lagoon - your corner of the beach. We are talking about resorts, that is, private islands-hotels. The exceptions are hotels and guesthouses on local islands - there just the hotel can be located among residential buildings, and you will need to walk to the beach. Holidays on local islands are not so comfortable and luxurious - this is a budget option and tourists stay in hotel rooms. There are almost no villas or residences. Most of the tourists are looking just for the resorts.

Beach villas on the private islands of the Maldives often have their own swimming pool overlooking the ocean, a shady garden, an open-air shower or jacuzzi, a gazebo, a wooden terrace with sunbeds, Maldivian swings and so on. The list is expanded depending on the hotel.

The villa on the beach is usually equipped with:

• One or more bedrooms, the main of which is equipped with a large bed. There are also villas with two, three and more complete bedrooms with separate bathrooms.
• All necessary furniture, often made of natural materials.
• Bathroom, with bathtub and private shower under the open sky.
• Modern technical equipment.
• Panoramic windows overlooking the coast.
• Terrace with sun loungers and the rest area.
• Private pool overlooking the ocean or on the territory of the courtyard. Not all beach villas have a swimming pool. As a rule, this is inherent in villas of hotels of 5 stars and above (categories Deluxe, Superior).
• Direct access to the beach.
• Household accessories for comfortable rest.

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa Maldives

Cons of beach villas

• Distance to reef. Beach villas, especially if they are garden villas, can be located actually on the shore, but at some distance from the reef. Accordingly, to snorkel, you will need to go to the shore, and then along the lagoon or pier to the reef. In the Maldives there are resorts with beach villas directly next to the chic home reef. Literally, entered the water and you can enjoy snorkeling. But there aren't many such hotels. Write to our manager in an online chat - we will tell you which island resorts to pay attention to.
• Insects. Located in lush tropical greenery villas can cause some discomfort with the presence of insects. Good resorts take care of a comfortable holiday and, if necessary, treat the island from pests.

The advantages of beach villas, in comparison with water villas:

• Cost. If you compare within the same hotel, a beach villa will always be cheaper than a water villa with the same amenities. This is due to the complexity of communication of the water villa.
• Less wind. Beach villa, as a rule, is located among the vegetation, and accordingly more protected from the wind. This is worth considering if you are traveling to the Maldives during the low season (April-December), when there are more rains and winds.
• Distance to restaurants and entertainment. Beach villas are often located closer to the island’s infrastructure, while water villas need to be reached by stilt paths.

Kurumba Maldives

Beach Villa: What to Pay Attention to

1. Distance to reef. If the distance to the home reef is important for you, check before booking how many cherished meters you need to overcome to snorkel. Such a category of housing as Beachfront Villa may differ from Beach Villa by its remoteness from the shore. Garden Villa does not offer ocean views.
2. Privacy. If the villas on the coast are close to each other, pay attention to the presence of a separating wall. If you want to relax in a secluded atmosphere, remind to be told more about the level of privacy. There are many hotels where beach villas are separated from each other by many meters and lush palm trees.
3. Vegetation. The thick greenery creates a more secluded atmosphere and a cool shade. The presence of tropical plantations around the villa will be an important advantage that you will appreciate. Not all hotels are green in the same way. As a rule, there are fewer plants on recently opened resorts.
4. Private beach and direct exit. Beach villa in most cases involves a direct access to the coast and the territory of a private beach, where only you will swim and sunbathe. Guests of water villas also spend time on the coast. How close to your beach house water villas are may depend on your relaxing holiday.
5. Sunset and dawn villas. Sunsets and sunrises on the islands deserve special attention. Therefore, villas can be divided into this category. If you get up at dawn and like to watch the sun over the ocean with a cup of coffee, choose beach accommodation with the prefix Sunrise. Note that dawn in the Maldives begins approximately at 6 a.m. and the sun sets around 6 p.m. Sunset Beach Villa offers a direct view of the sunset, for admiring the pink sky during an evening holiday. Rarely, but there are villas with views of both sunset and dawn.
6. Remoteness of infrastructure. For those who care about the close location of bars, restaurants, discos and other entertainment. Find out how far the island resort center is from the villa you would like to book.

Anantara Dhigu Maldives

Maldives hotels with the best beach villas

Thanks to the feedback of our tourists and the WIOTTO team, we share a list of the most popular resorts in the Maldives, where there is a selection of excellent villas located on the beach:

• Kurumba Maldives
• Dusit Thani Maldives
• Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
• Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa
• Anantara Dhigu Maldives
• Como Maalifushi
• Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

Como Maalifushi

Water villas Maldives: advantages and disadvantages, the best offers

Villa on the water in the Maldives - the most popular request among tourists on our website. Indeed, water villas are booked more often, so we advise you to look for a resort in the Maldives in advance to take the most suitable option. If you are going to the islands in the winter months - in the high season - we advise you to book a villa three or even six months before the date of your trip. So you will have a great choice and maximum discounts.

The popularity of water villas in the Maldives is primarily due to the fact that there are not so many such types of housing in the world. Maldives is the most popular destination for a holiday in a water villa. Moreover, the lagoons in which the villas are located are incredibly beautiful - a coral reef literally at your feet. This is an amazing solution for lovers of snorkeling and, of course, for those who want to fill social networks with photos like in advertising booklets. About the home reef is worth saying a few words: it really is in every resort of the Maldives, but the quality of the reef is different. If you are interested in first-class snorkeling, pay attention to our selection of Maldives hotels with the best home reef.

Como Maalifushi

Advantages of water villas

• Privacy. Hide from prying eyes and relax in a secluded atmosphere in the house above the lagoon is more likely. Therefore, often this housing option is preferred by newlyweds and couples who came on vacation without children. However, here carefully choose a resort, because in some hotels water villas are built adjacent to each other and separated only by a partition.
• Bonuses that are not available in beach villas: hammocks above the water, glass floor overlooking fish and corals, slides with a descent straight into the lagoon… these and many other elements of luxury like a magnet attract visitors.
• Direct access to water. Water villas in most are equipped with stairs that lead directly into the lagoon. This is very convenient for those guests who like to snorkel on the home reef and explore the underwater world. Note that the steel staircase can be slippery. More safe wooden descents into the water.
• Relax. Away from the bars and discos of the island, sleep will be much better. If you are not a frequenter of night resorts and do not like unnecessary sounds, except for the noise of the ocean of course, water villas are for you.
• Dawns and sunsets. Many water villas in the Maldives offer luxurious views both at dawn and at sunset. What could be more romantic! Before booking is mandatory specify. You have a view of the sunrise or sunset, or you will be lucky to enjoy both.

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

Cons of water villas

• Remoteness from the main resort facilities. The disadvantages of this aspect can be ranked only if you do not like walking. To get to the restaurants, bars, water center and other infrastructure of the island, you need to walk to the shore.
• Ebb and flow. A mandatory part of the rest program, which does not depend on the resort. If the villa on stilts is located close to the shore, during low tide neither depth nor underwater life under your room you will not notice.
• Limited space. In a water house you only have his rooms and terrace. Unlike a beach villa with a shady garden or patio.
• Not for a family holiday. Many Maldivian resorts do not allow families with young children to be placed in water villas for safety reasons. Depending on the resort, the restriction can be, for example, up to 5 or, say, 12 years. Clarify these nuances before booking with the manager in an online chat.
• Wave noise. Some tourists do not like water villas, as at night you can hear the waves beating against piles. If you have a sensitive dream, weigh the pros and cons.
• Price. Water villas are much more expensive than beach villas if we compare villas of the same category in the same hotel. Even more on the price will be affected by the availability of a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, several rooms and so on.

Joali Maldives

Water Villas Maldives: What to look for

1. Distance from shore. Water villas on Maldivian resorts can be located off the coast or close the wooden platform at a decent distance from its beginning. Check the location, because the distance from the shore and the main infrastructure can be considerable. Choose the best option.
2. Terrace. It's there anyway. But a comfortable terrace should have a covered area so that there is space for moving the sunbed into the shade.
3. Private pool. A more budget version of the water bungalow does not provide for a private pool. But to deny yourself this pleasure is not worth it. Landscape pool over the water will become your favorite place in the villa and the envy of Instagram.
4. Glass floor. Some water villas can be equipped with transparent panels in the floor so that guests have another angle to admire the ocean.
5. Sand terrace. A piece of beach in the water room. Some hotels are ready to offer tourists such joy. Feel the coral sand under your feet is still pleasant, even if you relax in the most luxurious water villa.
6. Home reef. The more diverse the home reef under your water villa, the more exciting snorkeling will be.
7. Time of year. If you are planning the Maldives during the rainy season, a villa on the water will be less comfortable due to the winds. The beaches are mostly protected by vegetation.
8. The presence of rooms under water. Some luxury hotels offer underwater villas where one or more rooms are completely submerged and some rooms are above water. There are only a few such hotels in the Maldives. Write to our manager in an online chat. We will tell you what kind of resort to choose.

Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

Maldives resorts with the best water villas

Next is a selection of hotels that are highly appreciated by our tourists.

• Como Maalifushi
• Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
• Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
• Six Senses Laamu
• Joali Maldives
• Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi

It's a tough choice, isn't it? Both beach and water villas of the Maldives are attractive in their own way. Some travelers prefer to book both types of accommodation equally for one vacation or leave the last few days in a water villa. A convenient option for a varied rest.

Six Senses Laamu