I’m not married yet, nor am I engaged, but earlier this year I found myself clambering onto a twelve-person seaplane at Male International Airport, marking the final (and most surreal) stage of my 20-hour journey to the Maldivian resort of Nova.
I mention my marital status because visiting the Maldives wasn’t something I ever thought I’d do before my honeymoon – and it certainly wasn’t on my bingo card for 2024. I thought it was a destination for newlyweds only: somewhere you go to disconnect from the outside world and celebrate your recent nuptials. Correct, in many cases – and the soulful island resort of Nova is absolutely great for that. But it's also much more.
A hotel built around a unique and modern all-inclusive Community Concept, Nova is a water sports destination (one of the only places in the world that you can stay for year-round whale shark and manta snorkelling), a wellness resort, and it's great for foodies (more on that later). But most of all, it's perfect for young couples who want a romantic holiday in a colourful Maldivian resort which allows relaxation and bustle in equal measure. In lieu of any wedding band.
Arriving at Nova
Comprised of over 1,190 islands – around a fifth of which are inhabited – The Maldives has something for everyone, from £31-per-night guest houses located on local islands, through to some of the most luxurious resorts in the world. Sitting some three quarters of the way along that scale sits Nova: a soulful, laidback hotel which is situated on its own private island in the South Ari Atoll.
As is the case with almost all island resorts in The Maldives, you need to fly into the international airport of Male before taking a sea plane or speed boat to your final destination.
I had been warned: arriving at Velana Airport can be quite hectic. While it's set to expand in mid-2025 with thanks to a sparkling new terminal, it's currently small, with luggage reclaim a sweaty endeavour and a whole lot of people scrambling to find their transfers. We may have been a little hot and dishevelled by the time we disembarked our flight from Abu Dhabi, but the Nova staff – easily recognisable in brightly-coloured polo shirts at multiple checkpoints on-the-ground – ushered us directly through customs and straight into the Manta Air terminal.
It's here I bring you back to my clambering onto a twelve-person seaplane. A surreal experience which, while expensive and limited by weather, really adds a little extra adventure to any Maldivian holiday.
I felt pure, unadulterated joy as we took off over the sparkling blue ocean littered with cotton candy islands, and quickly forgot about my lack of sleep. It was beyond exciting for the island formerly known as Vakarufalhi to gradually come into view, and for the plane to descend towards our tropical new home.
Where you'll stay at Nova
Our welcome at Nova was warm, with beaming staff waving banners and flowers from the end of the jetty we docked at, and the resort's friendly Marketing Manager Richard on-hand to help us with our luggage. Staff seemed genuinely interested in how our journey had been, and it didn't take long for us to be seated at the resort's reception – and handed a mocktail.
We checked in quickly, and were given a run-down of the many experiences, restaurants and facilities on offer at Nova – from access to the jungle gym and tennis courts to the opening times of the over-water teppanyaki restaurant – and how to reach the on-island jewellery store. Niche.
Every time I looked up from our welcome conversation, allowing my eyes to drift past the reception desk to towards the view behind it, I was caught off-guard by how beautiful the island was – and as we began our walk to the over-water villa we'd be staying in for the next five nights, things really started to sink in.
We had arrived pretty early in the morning, so there was a beautiful haze hovering delicately over the island. I felt beyond excited to swim in the turquoise seas and aquamarine lagoons beneath us, walk barefoot on the white sand and perch at the main pool's swim-up bar come sunset.
Our room was one of the furthest over-water villas from the island, which offered a nice sense of serenity and seclusion. The rooms closer to the beach – and therefore the main pool – would be subject to a little noise pollution come the evening.
Our room was incredibly spacious, spotlessly-clean and clearly very-recently renovated. Upon stepping inside, we entered the roomy walk-in wardrobe, which came complete with suitcase racks, well-lit mirrors (with plenty of plugs – it's always an annoyance when well-placed plugs are missing) and an ironing board.
Between the wardrobe and the bedroom was the bathroom: my favourite feature of our home-away-from home. It was huge, with a large rainfall shower, two sinks, plenty of storage space for toiletries (I bring a lot) and, once again, two well-lit mirrors. You could step out to the pool area from our bathroom, through double French door, and there was a large bathtub perfectly-placed to take in the views.
The bedroom was, also, very spacious. If I was to be critical, I'd say I was a little disappointed by the decor. Though plain and – once again – clean, the brightly-coloured cushions didn't feel particularly expensive or tasteful, the sofa wasn't a comfortable enough space to want to spend any time on, and the bright canvas artwork cheapened the space. I think the team had been going for “young” and “contemporary," but it felt like corners had been cut on the finishing touches.
That said: the bed was a dream, and the view from said bed was mind-blowing. It was such a treat to open the curtains each morning and see nothing but sparkling ocean. I relished it for the entire week.
Outside, though the sun-loungers and plastic terrace partitions also felt as though they'd been skimped on, we had our own private pool and a spacious decking area which became our very own sanctuary. Since our villa was so well-placed at the end of the jetty, we had the most incredible view over the ocean as the sun went down, and a nice mix of beaming sunshine and cooling shade. I loved swimming in the pool before breakfast each morning, and adored the number of birds and gulls that landed on our terrace wall to say hello throughout the day.
It's worth noting here that the water villa with private pool – the room type we stayed in – is not your only option at Nova. You can also stay in over-water villas with jacuzzis, straight-up water-villas, and beach villas: with pools, jacuzzis, or sunset views. For larger family groups, there is a gorgeous two-bedroom beach residence with private pool at Nova, as well as an option to stay in an “interconnected beach villa”, where two spaces are connected by an internal door. Choice is most certainly abundant.
Food & drink at Nova
After an awfully tiring first day relaxing and reading, it was time to head for a sunset cocktail. Remembering that The Maldives gets dark at around 6pm is vital if you want to catch the sunset at its very best. I'd recommend being ready for around 5:15 to really enjoy the colour-changing sky in all its glory.
We headed to the pool bar, Solis, to grab a drink and wander along the beach. Most people who were staying at the resort – families and couples included – had ventured out of their rooms to watch the spectacle, which was quite a special feeling. There was a DJ playing, and the sunset was one of the best I've ever seen. Turquoise hues turned slowly through candyfloss pink to vibrant pinks and oranges. The palm trees behind us turned purple in the light, and the number of crabs that scurried along the shoreline seemed to multiply – as if they were enjoying the view, too.
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There are three restaurants at Nova: Soul Kitchen, Flames and Mizu. Soul Kitchen is the main dining spot: a buffet which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Despite being the least fussy, and at times a little busy, I really grew to love it. It was relaxed, there were candle-lit tables outside at dinnertime, and I loved being able to eat exactly what I liked.
At every mealtime, there was a selection of fresh salads and pre-cooked dishes from every corner of the globe, as well as live cooking stations for everything from pasta to stir-fry. There were plenty of desserts, healthy options as well as less-so, and – as per the all-inclusive nature of our Nova package – all drinks were on the house.
On that note, if you're also staying on an all-inclusive Nova package, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a three-course meal at the resort's grill house, Flames, once during you stay. It's a really relaxed space which didn't feel at all stuffy, despite dinners there not “coming as standard”. I had a steak, but the lobster and tuna tataki came in highly recommended by the staff.
As for the third and final restaurant? That'd be Mizu: my through-and-through favourite and one of the highlights of my trip. Mizu is a dimly-lit over-water teppanyaki restaurant, which sits at the end of a jetty a little away from the noise of the main beach. The views across the expansive Indian Ocean are spectacular, and the menu is fresh and ever-changing. Our dinner there can only be described as a spectacle, where everything was cooked by the friendliest of chefs, less than a meter away from us. We ate with just one other couple, and loved how intimate the experience felt.
Nova experiences
Sea life is never far away at Nova, which was, hands down, the thing I loved most about my stay. Every night after we'd eaten our dinner, under the friendly Marketing Manager's instruction, we'd head to the island's Southernmost jetty to do a spot of sea life watching. Manta rays and sharks circled beneath the jetty lights for hours – and in their hundreds – from around 9:30pm onwards, and it was such a special way to mark the end of each day.
Of course, you don't just have to watch the sea life from above. You immerse yourself in it, either by snorkelling direct from your own private terrace, or taking part in some of the organised water-sports Nova has on offer.
The star of the show is the whale shark snorkelling excursion. ICYMI, I repeat: Nova is one of the only places in the world that you can stay for year-round whale shark and manta snorkelling. A truly incredible experience even if you don't get lucky enough to see one – not least because you'll probably still get to snorkel with turtles instead.
Elsewhere, you can dive, paddle board, jet ski, wind surf, kite surf, paraglide or kayak – and when your body is finally calling out for some TLC, the Eskape Spa will be on-hand to bring you back to yourself. It features three blissful treatment rooms, a Thai Sala, a relaxation room and a yoga pavilion, all designed to enhance your wellbeing and enhance your mindfulness. That, it most certainly does. Be sure not to miss the Maldivian Ocean Dream Massage.
After five days at Nova, I left feeling like there was still so much more to explore: more gym equipment to use, more time to be spent on the island tennis courts, the destination dining to experience and the multitude of other activities that are advertised around the resort from television screens each day. Nova really does prove that those who like to ~do~ on their holiday won't find The Maldives boring.
Nova, Maldives: the verdict
The calibre of resort in the Maldives is sky-high, with over-water villas, tranquil turquoise oceans and white sandy beaches coming as standard. Nova isn't the most slick, show-stopping Maldivian resort you could ever dream of staying it, but then again, I don't really think it's trying to be. I quite liked that it seems to know its place as somewhere incredibly special – but somewhere young, fun and not-too-serious.
The interiors could be elevated, the evening entertainment a little higher in class, and the outdated neon signs removed from the bars. But: the service is second-to-none, the sunsets otherworldly, the spa indisputably relaxing and the variety of wildlife beyond mood-boosting.
Nova will allow you to visit the Maldives and feel spoilt – without bankrupting yourself in the process. It'll inject life and colour into your holiday, and serve for the perfect spot to enjoy an extra-special beach escape without the pressure and slight discomfort that comes with staying somewhere you can barely afford.
I genuinely grew to love Nova more and more with every day that passed, and as I sat on my return flight to London, I felt a serious pang of sadness that it'd be a while before I got to perch at the end of Nova's jetty again, rays beneath me, watching the sun go down at the end of another day.
For more information from GLAMOUR's Senior European Commerce Editor, follow Sophie Cockett on Instagram @sophiecockettx. After more Maldives content? Discover the best family resorts in The Maldives and the best affordable hotels in the Maldives, and read Sophie's Nautilus review.
