I spent years imagining what it would be like to finally get to cross the Maldives off my travel bucket list – to see if the water was indeed as turquoise as they claim and whether the sunsets are just as vibrant and magical as they appear to be on Instagram.
Little did I know that in 2024, I would have the pleasure of experiencing the exact five-star overwater villa Maldives trip that I’d always dreamt of, staying at the Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort – a luxury hotel located in the South Ari Atoll region.
Getting there
Like many other tourists visiting one of the many Maldives hotels, my journey began inside a seaplane. Having hopped off my flight at the Velana International Airport, I was taken to another terminal to await my seaplane transfer to the small island of Maafushivaru. I don’t know if it was the sheer excitement of looking at the turquoise water from above while admiring all the countless islands that we were flying over, but what was roughly a 30-minute-long flight felt like just under five minutes. I was glued to the window during its entirety.
Alongside other guests, I was greeted by the Outrigger staff upon my arrival at the pier and was taken straight to my overwater villa for my in-room check-in. I’d be lying if I told you that I didn’t try to slow my pace while walking over to my villa in an attempt to take it all in: the salty air, the white sand, the flowers and the plants surrounding the paths within the resort and, above all, the serene atmosphere. It didn’t take me long to realise that no amount of pictures or videos will ever do this place justice – you simply have to see it for yourself to believe it.
Inside the overwater villa
Inside, the villa was much more spacious than it’d appeared online. The modern and minimalist interiors complemented the overall feel of the resort beautifully – nothing about the design was taking away any of the serenity or the luxury. One of the standout elements of the room had to be the bathroom. Featuring an elegant (and not at all dated) marble design with coppery elements, everything about the large bathroom space was as chic and elevated as you’d expect. My favourite component was, without a doubt, the giant freestanding bathtub that overlooked the stunning blue lagoon.
Of course, another one of my favourites was the private deck area, which included a lounging area and a temperature-controlled swimming pool. I may or may not have spent 80% of my time right there, only occasionally pausing for food or an impromptu snorkelling ‘sesh’ to explore one of the nearby reefs.
Between submerging myself in the turquoise waters and applying an obscene amount of sunscreen, I also took daily strolls around the island, which is just over 350 metres in length, meaning I could easily walk from one end of the resort to another in under 10 minutes’ time. This, of course, also made visiting restaurants all the more convenient too.
Dining options
Speaking of restaurants, I have to say that the food surprised me in the best way possible. Despite the hotel’s relatively small size, it hosts more than enough dining options, catering to every preference. During the day, I enjoyed my coffee and sweet treats from the Kofee ‘n Chill cafe and I spent most of my lunches at the Edgewater, a poolside cafe/bar hybrid, which also features all-day dining. Whether I was in the mood for a curry, a pizza or a refreshing Buddha salad bowl, the Edgewater managed to easily satisfy my afternoon cravings throughout my entire stay.
As for dinnertime, apart from the buffet restaurant, there are three restaurants in total. First off, the Moodhu Grill, an overwater grill-house-style restaurant where you can enjoy everything from meats to seafood cooked in a Tandoor oven. Next up, Art-I-San, a truly romantic fine dining option situated at the highest point of the island (and personally, my favourite). As I’ve been told by the hotel manager, apparently the most popular dining option is Koto, a Japanese fusion restaurant, which overlooks the lagoon, offering Japanese-inspired cuisine, including small plates and the Teppanyaki experience.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who always thought that the one potential downside of visiting Maldives would be that it would be… well, boring. Don’t get me wrong, I love a day of doing nothing but laying flat on my stomach and dipping in and out of water, but having the option to occupy myself with other on-site activities is always a welcome factor.
Apart from the Navasana SPA venue, which offers practically every massage and facial in the book and the well-equipped fitness centre, I appreciated that the hotel also offers a whole host of activities. From whale shark excursions with an on-site marine biologist to plenty of other water sports activities and private dining experiences, there’s no shortage of ways to diversify your itinerary. My top recommendation? Cinema under the stars. Picture this: clear sky full of stars, your feet sunk in the sand that’s still slightly warm from the day’s heat and you’re watching a romcom sat on one of the beanbags in front of a massive projector screen. A dream.
Verdict
Needless to say, spending a week in a place like Outrigger Maafushivaru definitely falls into my top 5 favourite holidays of all time. Heck, it may be my favourite one to date. From the personalised approach to the intimate yet luxurious feel and the contemporary design, this hotel is a great choice for any occasion – be it for a honeymoon, a family trip or a girls' holiday. After all, it did make me fall in love with Maldives for a reason.
Check availability at the Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort via Outrigger and Booking.com.
