W Maldives

This was our second visit, and somehow, it felt even more magical than the first. The overwater villas are absolutely breathtaking, the cuisine is world-class, and the service remains the finest we have ever encountered. The vibrant house reef was a daily highlight, gifting us with unforgettable swims alongside turtles. Our deepest gratitude goes to the entire W team for curating yet another perfect getaway. A special shout-out to Salim, who not only made our trip incredibly memorable but also ensured we felt completely safe in the water and on the sand—and alongside the Loss Prevention team, he orchestrated a jaw-dropping surprise for our boys. Chef Niwantha and the Guest Experience team outdid themselves with a stunning birthday cake for our son. Mark, your genuine warmth and energy made every day pure fun; Ajid, your mocktails and popsicles were the ultimate tropical treat; and Shayne, your meticulous attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond truly touched us. Lastly, Ibrahim made the transfer from Malé Airport feel seamless and stress-free. We are already counting down the days until we return!

**A Truly Exceptional Anniversary Stay at W Maldives** My wife and I are travelling through several Marriott properties in the Maldives to celebrate our 20th anniversary. As a longtime Marriott loyalist and Ambassador Elite member, I have experienced many excellent properties over the years—but W Maldives has set an extraordinarily high bar for the St. Regis and the new JW Marriott to follow. From the moment we arrived in Malé, we were treated like royalty. The transfer to the seaplane terminal was seamless, and the flight itself was comfortable and efficient. Travellers should simply be aware that luggage exceeding the total allowance of 25 kg per person is charged separately, which was not an issue for us. Then, from the moment our seaplane touched down at the resort, utopia began. We were welcomed by team members representing departments throughout the hotel—from housekeeping and the Whatever/Whenever ambassadors to the executive chef and activities coordinator. It was an exceptional introduction to the resort and immediately made us feel genuinely valued. We have stayed at 12 W properties around the world, and the service here has been, by far, the best we have experienced. Every team member we have encountered has greeted us by name, recognised my Ambassador status and made us feel like celebrities. The service is warm, personal and remarkably consistent. We are staying in overwater villa 226, which is in an excellent position. Although it is a longer walk from some parts of the resort, there is never any shortage of buggies available to take you wherever you need to go. The villa is enormous, beautifully equipped and impeccably maintained. Housekeeping has consistently gone well beyond our expectations. The dining has also been outstanding. At SIP, we enjoyed tapas and sundowners accompanied by magnificent views and superb service. Dinner at FISH was another highlight. The lobster tank creates a unique setting, the seafood was exceptionally fresh and the meal was excellent. The knowledgeable sommelier recommended a wine pairing that worked beautifully. He also suggested purchasing a bottle that could follow us between the resort’s different restaurants—an excellent-value option and a thoughtful touch. At FIRE, we attended the Maldivian Independence Day beach barbecue. The selection was extensive, the food was expertly prepared and the service was once again exceptional. Breakfast at KITCHEN is a buffet to die for, and the complimentary breakfast benefit for Ambassador members makes the years of loyalty feel especially worthwhile. We also enjoyed an excellent à la carte dinner there. There is no shortage of memorable activities. The manta-ray snorkelling excursion was an amazing experience, and the resort’s house reef is excellent for snorkelling. My wife has completed three dives so far: a house-reef refresher and two boat dives, including a wreck dive. I went deep-sea fishing at a fish aggregating device, which was another memorable outing. We also visited the private island of Gaathafushi for a sunset experience with Champagne and canapés. It was magical and is something we would highly recommend. Our hostess, Faye, has been exceptional and never seems to sleep! The WhatsApp service is incredibly convenient and makes arranging everything feel effortless and seamless. There are simply too many wonderful team members to mention individually. Suffice it to say that absolutely everyone we have encountered has contributed to making this an unforgettable stay. We still have two days remaining, with the Jet Ski Blue Water Experience, more snorkelling and a little well-earned rest and relaxation ahead of us. This review may therefore need an update—but already, W Maldives has delivered one of the finest resort experiences we have ever had. More to follow, with two more Marriott resorts still to come—but they will have a very difficult act to follow.

Very small islands and we were unlucky with the weather it was windy and raining and no activities to do but we really appreciate once we mentioned this the staff took it up and offered rain day activities , the resort is beautiful , food is the best I had in Maldives , super fresh food , very beautiful spa , fun workouts and amazing staff and sea life! Few major cons for me Unheated pools Chargeable padel court (in a very limited island) Small island

There are places you visit once, and then there are places that become part of your heart forever. W Maldives has truly become one of those magical places for us. From the very first moment we stepped off the seaplane and were welcomed by the arrival team until the emotional farewell by the departure team, we were surrounded by genuine warmth, kindness, and hospitality that exceeded anything we have ever experienced. Our deepest gratitude goes to the General Manager and his wonderful family, who personally ensured that every single day of our stay became another unforgettable chapter filled with joy, laughter, and beautiful memories. Their passion for creating extraordinary guest experiences shines through every member of the team. The entire service team didn’t simply look after us—they embraced us like members of their own family. Every smile was sincere, every interaction heartfelt, and every detail handled with genuine care. We have travelled extensively around the world, yet we have rarely encountered such authentic hospitality. The culinary experience deserves its own standing ovation. From the Executive Chef and the talented kitchen team to every single member working behind the scenes, every meal was an absolute masterpiece. Whether enjoying exquisite Maldivian specialties or world-class international cuisine, every dish reflected incredible passion, creativity, and perfection. We felt truly spoiled every single day. Our villa was maintained with immaculate attention to detail. The housekeeping team performed their work with remarkable professionalism and artistic flair, creating beautiful arrangements that constantly surprised and delighted us. Returning to our villa was a daily highlight in itself. Our anniversary and birthday celebrations were simply beyond words. The team completely exceeded every expectation we had and created moments that left us genuinely speechless. The thoughtfulness, creativity, love, and effort invested into these celebrations made them among the most memorable days of our lives. What impressed us most was that excellence extended far beyond the traditional guest services. Even the accounting team welcomed us with exceptional kindness and care. The spa team created moments of complete relaxation and wellbeing, the DJs provided the perfect soundtrack to paradise, and every single team member we encountered made us feel incredibly special. A heartfelt thank you also goes to the Dive Centre and Watersports team. Thanks to their professionalism, enthusiasm, and friendship, we enjoyed countless unforgettable dives and exhilarating high-speed sailing adventures that will remain cherished memories for years to come. It would honestly be impossible to mention everyone individually without listing every single employee at W Maldives. Every person we met contributed in their own unique way to making our stay extraordinary. Together, they have created something very special—a culture where genuine care, passion, teamwork, and excellence are simply part of everyday life. Thank you, W Maldives, for not just giving us a holiday, but for giving us memories that will stay with us forever. We arrived as guests, but we left feeling like family. Without any hesitation, this is one of the finest resorts and one of the most exceptional hospitality experiences we have ever had anywhere in the world. We cannot wait to return to our paradise.