The Maldives promises an all-safe, all-spectacular island getaway, but what makes this Indian Ocean spot so perfect for the new dawn of travel? This month, we put paradise through its paces, and uncover five of the best resorts along the way…

Playing it safe
Spacious, sparse and serious about safety: the Maldives is coming out of the pandemic as the new social distancing champion. Its uniquely scattered formation, combined with the stringent safety measures in place, mean that visitors can enjoy the wildlife-rich archipelago, worry-free. Measures currently include a negative PCR test requirement for travellers, not to mention a robust vaccination schedule that has so far seen 17,516 employees working in the tourism industry vaccinated (as of March 2021). Space-seekers will find the country’s roomiest accommodation over at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, whose two-bed pool residences occupy a whopping 1,500sqm.

Local culture
Worried that your Maldives mega-break might be all a bit too… shiny? Believe it not, the country is much more than its iconic over-water hotel scene. It’s also fragrant curries and coconut, hard-working locals brought up in sunshine, lively markets, dance-inducing drums, and guesthouses ran by Maldivian families excited to whip you up a traditional breakfast of flatbreads with fresh tuna. That’s not to say the flashier resorts won’t cook up some culture, too. This year, Joali (pictured above) the country’s first ‘immersive art resort’, will be running its Women in Art project to celebrate female Maldivian visionaries alongside an array of workshops and residences from local artists.

One island, one resort
No man is an island, but in the Maldives, every man gets one. With so many to play with, the country has developed a predominant ‘one-island, one-resort’ framework, where single hotels serve up whole islands exclusively for its guests. Right now, you won’t find one Maldivian resort not equipped to handle (and put at ease) guests’ safety concerns, with reassurance served alongside glorious sunsets, out-of-this-world service (the Maldives is famous for it) and diversely good grub. While most resorts are honeymooning havens, those wanting something outside of the Maldives box should make a beeline for the Rockstar Villas at party island, Finolhu.

Come for the views, stay for the food
Much like its Indian Ocean neighbours, this archipelago has a secret – a delicious culinary identity centred around such favourites as coconut, seafood and even good old-fashioned tea. Hedhikaa (or, ‘short bites’) are the stuff of Maldivian snack breaks (think fried fish cakes and bondi bai rice puddings) while ‘long eats’, as they’re known here, will see bigger-than-their-belly eyes confronted with rice-laden feasts and fish curries. For the best buffets in town, all-inclusive Constance Moofushi (pictured above) is the height of generousity – although you might want to go easy on the free flowing Champagne.

Wet and wild
You can’t fawn over the Maldives without mentioning its supermodel waters. One long parade of turquoise blue and abundant coral, the country attracts scuba-dudes and expert divers from far and wide. Having said that, local divers (usually found working in-house at the resorts’ own diving centres) will get even the most water-shy beginners up to scratch. All islands tend to have exceptional underwater experiences on the menu, but only Vakkaru Maldives’ 50 Shades of Blue programme will put you on a Big Five sea safari in the Baa Atoll – this year celebrating its tenth anniversary as the country’s only Unesco Biosphere Reserve.

Come for the views, stay for the food
Much like its Indian Ocean neighbours, this archipelago has a secret – a delicious culinary identity centred around such favourites as coconut, seafood and even good old-fashioned tea. Hedhikaa (or, ‘short bites’) are the stuff of Maldivian snack breaks (think fried fish cakes and bondi bai rice puddings) while ‘long eats’, as they’re here known, will see bigger-than-their-belly eyes confronted with rice-laden feasts and fish curries. For the best buffets in town, all-inclusive Constance Moofushi is the height of generosity – although you might want to go easy on the free flowing Champagne.

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