W Maldives

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

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.

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!