Like many, the Maldives has been at the top of my travel list since I first laid eyes on it while surfing the internet as a teen. I mean, who in their right mind wouldn’t want to visit islands with the bluest water and beaches that look untouched by humans?
Fast forward to many years later, and I can finally say this far-fetch dream was actually my reality for a week in December 2019.
If you landed here, you might be planning a trip to the Maldives and/or narrowed down the W Maldives as the spot to experience this stunning destination for yourself.
I’ll admit now, this was (and has remained) the best experience I’ve had at a hotel. Keep reading if you want to know why.
Overview
Location: Fesdu Island, North Ari Atoll, Maldives
Hotel Rating: 5 Stars
Average Price Per Night ($$$) $900+
Best for: Couples, Honeymoons
Website: W Maldives Hotel Website
- Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa, but the resort also accepts US dollars, Euros, and other major currencies.
- The Maldives is a Muslim country. Common in the culture is for women to cover their shoulders and legs when out and about. However, at the resort, this is not expected.
Booking The W Maldives on Points
We booked our 5-night stay at the W Maldives with our Marriott Bonvoy points. At the time of booking, the hotel was in category 5. Our stay was 60,000 points per night or 240,000 points total. As Marriott Bonvoy rewards members, we were able to take advantage of the book 4 nights and get the 5th-night free incentive. Since we used points, we booked their base-level Beach Oasis.
With the Starwood and Marriott merger, the resort has since been reevaluated to the top tier category 8 and now costs 85,000 points per night during a standard stay or 65,000 points for off-season and 100,000 points during peak season. This is a lot higher than it previously was, but considering if we paid cash, it would have cost us around $15,000 total. For one week, that’s insanity.
Using points is still the best route to go. If you want to learn more about redeeming points for a stay in the Maldives, check out my detailed post here: LINK.
Not too long after booking we received an email from their sales coordinator to organize logistics and ensure a smooth arrival.
The W Maldive’s Location (4.5/5)
The W is located in the North Ari Atoll. If you don’t know what an atoll is, it’s basically a coral reef, typically circular, surrounding a lagoon. The Maldives is made up of hundreds of these, many too small to be inhabited.
The North Ari Atoll is easy to access from the Male International Airport. The area is known for some of the most famous dive sites in the Maldives. Depending on what time of year you visit, you may be lucky to experience a manta ray or whale shark sighting.
Getting There
Depending on what time you land in Male, you may choose to stay overnight to catch your transfer the following day. As there isn’t too much to do or see in Male, I would recommend catching your transfer to the resort right after, if you land early enough. The last seaplane transfer they offer is at 3:30 pm. They can arrange a speedboat transfer if you land later; however, this is quite costly at $1,725 one way.
The seaplane cost $475 roundtrip per person. Unfortunately, you can not use points to pay for this, but if you have a credit card that provides travel reimbursement credits, you could offset some of the cost that way.
Pro Tip: The seaplane ride is incredibly scenic, so make sure you get a window seat and have your camera handy.
While waiting for your seaplane transfer, you’ll get the opportunity to hang out in the W’s exclusive lounge. For guests, they provide free WIFI, snacks, and beverages to enjoy. You’ll also be able to check-in, discuss booking activities or other questions related to your reservation.
The Welcome
As expected, the welcome was exceptional and was only the beginning to an incredible hospitality experience.
Not even having stepped off of the seaplane yet, we could see from our windows a line of 10+ staff members waving from the dock to greet us on our arrival. Stepping off the plane, they provided a champagne welcome and handled the luggage.
Given some time to enjoy the drink (pinch ourselves that we were really there) and take in the views, you’ll then hop into a cart for a tour of the island and then to your room.
The Property
The colorfully accented design and LED lights decor give bright and cheerful energy to all the spaces. The island is small, and you can walk the entire thing in what feels like 15 minutes. Though even with 77 rooms available, there is plenty of space, and it never felt crowded.
While this property may be considered old compared to other options available, it had some renovations back in 2018. We found the facilities to be well maintained and clean.
The Rooms (4.5/5)
Beach Oasis
If you book your stay with points like we did, you’ll be staying in one of these. Though this is considered their “base-level,” — the villa is far from basic. It was very spacious, comfortable, and felt like we had our own luxe beachfront home.
The bathroom was my absolute favorite with its open ceiling concept in the center. The tub, shower and sinks are covered. It’s a soothing environment to listen to the outdoor noises while you get ready or soak in the tub.
Outside of your patio door leads to a private plunge pool with beachfront access and lounge chairs. There is a Bose sound system on the villa’s interior and exterior to Bluetooth your favorite tunes.
Even with villas right next door on both sides, there is plenty of privacy that other guests can not see over into your area. The villa has two levels, with the top area balcony serving as a great area to relax, read a book or take in the view.
Despite being on a tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, to our surprise, the WIFI connection was actually great. We didn’t experience any issues with it while in the room or in common areas.
UPGRADE to an Overwater Bungalow
For our last two nights on the island, we received a complimentary upgrade to an overwater villa! (Fabulous Overwater Oasis)
From what I’ve read, getting an upgrade is hit or miss here. Before calling the front desk to inquire about it, we checked online for whether there was availability for an overwater villa. (I recommend you always do this no matter where you are staying). To our advantage, there was, so we mentioned this when asking, and they said they’d see what they can do. They called back shortly and confirmed they’d move us that afternoon.
We have Marriott Gold Elite Status, which likely helped us in getting the upgrade. However, this is only the second-tier status out of five. The higher your status, the higher the probability you will get the upgrade (dependent on availability). Without Elite Status, I’d imagine you’d be rejected or asked to pay an additional fee.
This room included many of the same great features as our first villa but in the iconic overwater villa fashion. It was extremely spacious inside and out, had high ceilings and a view looking out into the horizon. The bathroom came equipped with double sinks, a large soaking tub, a separate shower, and a toilet. The best part of the villa is the private infinity pool outside on the deck.
My only complaint with this room is the seaplanes land about 100 yards in front of your deck. Throughout the day, you’ll hear the loud propellers as people are coming and going. The beach view villas do not have this problem.
Since we got this upgrade for free, I shouldn’t complain; however, if you plan to pay or redeems points for an overwater villa, I suggest spending more on the beach view.
Amenities (4.5/5)
Gym
Located in the resort’s center, you have a great view of the pool and beach as you work out right above the pool bar. All of the equipment is basically brand new. We used the gym on multiple occasions during our stay, and each time we had it to ourselves. They also offer group fitness activities; schedules are available at the concierge.
Spa
Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to try out the Spa (AWAY) during our stay, but from what I’ve heard – it’s outstanding. With the spa located overwater and some services provided outdoors, it sounds like the ultimate relaxation experience.
Dive Center
Being one of the top scuba diving destinations globally, the resort has a 5-star PADI dive center (DOWN UNDER) for all the underwater explorers or anyone wanting to give it a try. We actually completed our Open Water Diver certification here, and I can’t recommend their team enough. They were very professional, knowledgeable, and patient with us. All the equipment we used was high quality, and they provided snacks on the boat between dives.
The Reef
The W claims to have one of the best house reefs in all of the Maldives. Since this is the only resort I have visited in the area so far, I can’t vouch whether this is true.
However, while snorkeling right off the beach and around the overwater bungalows, there was plenty of colorful and unique fish to see. It’s common to see curious small reef sharks and, if you’re lucky, eagle rays. As you can imagine, the water is a comfortable temperature year-round and is comparable to a giant heated pool.
Private Island
If you’re looking for even more seclusion, the resort has a private island you can escape to. You can book excursions or a romantic candlelit dinner on the beach. Reservations are required ahead of time, and you can easily set this up with the concierge.
Food & Drink (4.5/5)
With over 6 unique restaurants and bars to choose from on the island, your taste buds will be satisfied as there’s something for everyone.
FISH
As the name suggests, FISH is the seafood restaurant on the resort that serves locally caught and freshly imported. We ate dinner here twice, and each meal was delicious. Even better is the view of the sunset you can watch from your table.
FIRE
Dine with your toes in the sand, underneath the palm tree and starry night sky. FIRE serves up a tasty array of meat and fish dishes from the grill. Another perfect spot to catch a sunset dinner.
SIP
Located right next to FISH on the same dock is this airy outdoor bar. Also a nice spot to hang out and watch the sunset (although anywhere on the island is great). Some evenings there will
KITCHEN
The breakfast buffet at KITCHEN was my favorite meal of each day. This is mostly because there are endless choices, and was free for us during our entire stay thanks to our Marriott Bonvoy Elite status. Given how expensive food is on the resort, this was a great deal that we took full advantage of each morning. By full, I mean stuff our faces until we could eat no more.
Without the status perk, the breakfast buffet costs around $30 USD per person or you can order items a la carte.
WET (Pool Bar)
Take some time to lounge by the pool and check out WET, the W’s pool bar. We spent a few afternoons here enjoying the sun while sipping on some drinks and pizza. If you’re looking for a refreshing non-alcoholic drink, the lychee lemonade on their menu is super tasty.
15 BELOW
Apparently, the Maldive’s only underground nightclub is located on this resort. We were told this space was having a much anticipated reopening after being closed down for some time to renovate. Luckily, it opened during our stay for New Year to keep the party going late into the evening. It has a full-service bar, lounge seating, and a small dance floor. If it’s open during your stay, I recommend checking out this hidden gem.
The Service (5/5)
The W brand’s hospitality philosophy is “Whatever/Whenever,” which is truly where the W Maldives shines. The service provided to guests is above and beyond what I’ve ever experienced anywhere. All of the staff were genuinely friendly, and no request seemed too big or small.
Being that the resort is on a remote island, the staff also stay overnight on the island. Since you will see the same staff members daily during your stay, you’ll likely get to know each other on a first-name basis.
On multiple occasions, we encountered the W’s phenomenal service. For example, we returned to our room fully decorated with flowers and leaves carefully laid out on the bed reading, “Happy Anniversary,” along with a cake. For the New Year celebration, they delivered pre-party champagne and sweets to our room. Then came another instance of surprise decorations in the room for us to return to.
Value (5/5)
My value score is based on the fact we booked our stay entirely on points and even scored an upgrade to an overwater villa. If we were to pay by cash, our 5-day stay would have cost us around $15K total. It was by far the best value we could receive for our points!
However, if you are planning to pay with cash, I still highly recommend this resort for your trip.
Final Thoughts
Bottom line, if you’re looking for an upbeat luxury resort in the Maldives, there’s no need to look further. This is the place for you!
The hospitality, service, and overall ambiance of the island are the perfect setting for your holiday. Whether you want to hit the turquoise water full speed on a jet ski, dive into the underworld with manta rays, taste your way through world-class dining, or spend your entire stay in full relaxation mode – the W offers the perfect setting for it all.