Maldives is the “dream beach destination” on earth. Sugar white sands, crystal clear lagoons, lush tropical islands, a sensational underwater world, incredible overwater villas and unmatched luxury make the Indian Ocean archipelago the closing desert-island paradise for everyone. The most extraordinary resorts in the country are placed further away from Male International Airport and can only be reached via a seaplane or domestic plane transfer. Although flying on board a seaplane in Maldives and admiring the picture-perfect archipelago from a bird’s eye view is one of the final experiences that the Maldives has to offer, this may complex for some visitors:
- those with a fear of flying.
- those with a limited amount of holiday time, let’s say less than 4 days (since getting to and from the resort by seaplane can take a large chunk of your holiday time on the day of your arrival and departure, including several waiting hours at the airport).
- those arriving in the Maldives after sunset (since seaplanes only operate during daylight hours).
If you find yourself in one of these scenarios, you’re better off staying in a resort in the North or South Male Atoll, which can be reached by a speedboat transfer varying in duration between 15 minutes and one hour.
To help you, we have compiled a list of the 10 most exclusive hotels in the Maldives that can be reached by speedboat from the airport.
1. SAii Lagoon Maldives (Approx. 15 mins by Speedboat)
SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton in Emboodhoo Lagoon is just 15-minutes away from Velana Internation Airport. It is a captivating escape for families, friends and couples who are looking for a memorable getaway.
SAii Lagoon Maldives features 198 lavish guestrooms, beach villas and over-water villas with stylish and eclectic designs. The cuisine offers a wide variety from gourmet breakfasts at “Cafe’ Del Mar” to Mediterranean flavors at “Miss Olive Oyl”, caffeine fixes at “bean / Co” and Thai-Italian fusion at “Mr. Tomyam”.
Guests can also enjoy a range of water sports and wellness offerings, while discovering Maldivian cultural activities. The resort’s Aroma Lab allows guests to create their own bathroom amenities using natural ingredients and also custom-made kids pyjamas and creature comfort pillows are available in rooms.
02. Hard Rock Hotel Maldives (Approx. 15 mins by Speedboat)
Located within Emboodhoo Lagoon, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is only a 15-minute boat journey from Velaana International Airport the resort offers direct access to an entertainment island with dining, shopping, and more fun activities. Inspired by local Maldivian culture, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives infuses contemporary design features with tropical architecture alongside regionally inspired, authentic music memorabilia, including items from regional sensations Chun Xioa and Khun Asanee Chotikul, as well as international superstars like Shakira and Justin Timberlake.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives boasts 178 spacious guestrooms including family suites, beach villas and one and two-bedroom overwater villas, exclusively on a beautiful island with inviting blue waters. The guests can also treat their taste buds to delectable on-site food and beverage options, ranging from a pool bar and all-day dining, to a Latin & Mexican restaurant and in-villa dining experiences, or to enjoy authentic American cuisine amidst the ultimate rock atmosphere at hard rock café Maldives just steps from the hotel. Suited for families, couples and groups of friends this highly anticipated property also offers vacationers direct access to the Maldives’ first entertainment island, where locates a rich combination of world-class offerings including entertainment, retail, fine dining and outdoor activities.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives presents Latin American-inspired cuisine in the picturesque oceanfront setting of ‘The Elephant’ and ‘The Butterfly’. It also has a variety of dining offerings, including the brand signature sessions offering a world of contemporary flavors with indoor and outdoor seating.
There is also the revolutionary Rock Om in-room yoga program, allowing for guests to relax, refresh and find their zen. The property also offers a Rock Shop selling all brand merchandise, and a Roxity Kids Club and Teen Spirit® Club for guests ages three -17, as well as a full-service Rock Spa, featuring Rhythm & Motion– the world’s first fully immersive music-centric spa menu utilizing amplified vibrations, pressures and patterns, as the foundation of its treatments.
This experience takes guests on a rhythmic massage journey — bass vibrations ripple through the massage table as treble beats come from above, sending pulses through the body and leaving guests feeling rejuvenated and invigorated.
3. Adaaran Prestige Vadoo (Approx. 20 mins by Speedboat)
Adaaran Prestige Vadoo is a romantic and upscale resort with lush surroundings from 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport. The resort has 50 water villas of 4 types – Japanese, Honeymoon, Sunrise, and Sunset. All have the same luxurious Asian features, such as a low bed, wood-paneled walls and a sliding wooden partition between the living area and the bathroom. Each villa features a king bed (on a floor-level platform), spacious bathroom, and a large deck with a daybed, plunge pool, and steps descending into the lagoon. Honeymoon Villas offer more privacy and have extra-large, bi-level decks and are on their own jetty far from other Villas.
With 2.8 acres of dry land, Vadoo is one of the smallest island resorts in the Maldives. It’s so small, that every room had to be built over the water to utilize the space as much as possible. The main features on the island are an outdoor pool, spa, 2 upscale restaurants and 2 bars – one on the beach and one over the water. At the center of the island is a beautifully landscaped garden which is home to imported bunnies, turtles and parakeets.
Dining packages include bed-and-breakfast, half-board or all-inclusive gold. The main restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The cuisine includes international dishes that range from fresh seafood to Pan-Asian cuisine. In addition to the main dining room, there is a fine Japanese restaurant with a sushi bar. Many guests go barefoot during the day and elegantly dress for dinner.
4. Centara Ras Fushi (Approx. 20 mins by Speedboat)
Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is located in North Male’ Atoll within a 20-minute boat ride from Velana International Airport.
The resort offers 140 rooms located along the coast and over water, designed mostly for couples and for guests over 12 years old. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, a flat screen TV, DVD players, air conditioning, ceiling fans, a fully stocked minibar, complimentary water, coffee and tea and bathrobes.
The island itself is tiny and lies on the edge of its own large lagoon and is ideal for swimming around. It also has an outstanding dive center and PADI courses for first time divers. Also dive expeditions to world-class diving in many nearby and well-known sites including the famous ‘Victory wreck’ are available.
Centara Ras Fushi has three bars and four restaurants and features all the basics of familiar Western food, with themed buffets and specialized Middle Eastern, Italian, Chinese and Thai food options with a 24-hour room service.
05. Taj Exotica Resort and Spa (Approx. 20 mins by Speedboat)
Taj Exotica is located in the middle of one of the largest lagoons in Maldives and can be reached with 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport. The romantic resort blends seamlessly into the island’s natural beauty with 64 traditional Maldivian palm-thatched villas built over the beach and lagoon. All the Villas differ in size and detail but has the same design. All rooms are fully equipped with minibar, satellite TV, DVD player, telephone, Nespresso coffee machine, private outdoor pool, butler on call and bath with sea view.
Set delicately over the lagoon, this postcard-perfect getaway is best for couples and honeymooners with private sunset or under the stars cruises, private romantic dinners on the treetop, on a sandbank, or on a floating platform in the lagoon with a wicker menu and impeccable service.
The resort also boasts of the first authentic Indian spa outside of India, with holistic treatment, exercises and diets. Doctors of Ayurveda give effective recommendations that can be strictly Ayurvedic, for specific conditions or aimed at relaxation, detox and beauty. Yoga and meditation are taught in the overwater glass room not far from the spa. It also has a library with a large collection of fascinating books. A modern, overwater fitness center provides visitors with beautiful ocean views. Leisure facilities include a cozy playroom with a pool table, chess and board games.
06. Gili Lankanfushi (Approx. 20 mins by Speedboat)
Gili Lankanfushi is home to the biggest overwater villa in the world within just 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport. With its rustic design and eco-luxury concept, the 45 villas including Villa Suite, Residence, Crusoe Residence and the Private Reserve offers ultimate privacy. Each Villa is designed with utmost detail and constructed from natural materials.
The resort offers 5 dining venues. The main restaurant combines the flavors of east and west and is the place to enjoy breakfast or a romantic dinner. “By The Sea” restaurant mainly offers Japanese cuisine with a sushi bar and teppanyaki table. Overwater Bar offers a casual menu featuring a wide selection of fresh salad leaves from the garden, Mediterranean delicacies other fusion food local spices and herbs. The Wine Cellar holds more than 500 varieties of wines from about 30 regions around the world. Cheddar and wine, handmade chocolates are also available along with wine dinners hosted by a sommelier.
The Spa offers a range of holistic therapies including ocean therapy, massage therapy, bamboo massage and music therapy surrounded by the soothing sound of waves. Other facilities include a yoga or meditation area, steam and sauna rooms as well as a relaxation area.
Other recreational facilities include a modern cinema and fully stocked library, conservation-focused Marine Biology Shack, a PADI-certified Dive Center and a fully equipped fitness Center. Surfing lessons are offered, as well as scuba diving courses, and guided snorkeling and diving excursions.
07. Grand Park Kodhipparu (Approx. 20 mins by Speedboat)
Grand Park Kodhipparu, Maldives is located in North Male Atoll and is a 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport. It features a collection of 120 idyllic beachfront pool villas, breathtaking overwater villas and palatial two-bedroom villas. 65 of the 120 villas come with their own private pools and the five two-bedroom villas feature extensive private terraces.
All the villas are equipped with: Ocean View, IDD telephone, mini bar, personal safe, coffee and tea, executive table, built-in hammock, sun deck, indoor and outdoor shower with indoor bath, Full HD TV and Wi-Fi. With floor-to-ceiling windows and glass sliding doors leading onto the deck, the villas are flooded with light and with breathtaking sea view.
The resort has three restaurants and a pool bar with thematic menus throughout the week. The main buffet restaurant is located next to the ocean and offers breakfast and dinner buffets featuring live cooking stations where chefs steam, fry, grill and sizzle English breakfast stalwarts like bacon, beans and eggs, Asian seafood stir-fries, Arabic meze, Chinese noodles, Indian tandoori. Poolside Dining & Bar offers lunch and light snacks throughout the day followed by creative cocktails, mocktails, fine wines and classic cigars at sunset hours. The third one is Firedoor, a specialty restaurant which offers grilled and fish coupled with finest wines.
Recreational facilities at the resort include a swimming pool, gymnasium, sunrise yoga deck, a holistic and healthy lifestyle over-water spa with wellness treatments, dive center with PADI certified professionals, water sports center, kids club and specialty shops.
08. Baros Maldives (Approx. 25 mins by Speedboat)
Baros Maldives is a tropical island dream come true and can be reached within 25 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport. A total of 75 contemporary and chic villas are surrounded with groves of coconut palms, lush vegetation and crystal-clear lagoon. There are 24 Deluxe Villas, 8 Baros Villas with direct access to the beach, 30 Water Villas built over the lagoon with direct access to the Indian Ocean, 8 Baros Pool Villas which have their own infinity pool, 4 Baros Suites with Private Pool and the Baros Residence with its own private pool and garden.
It has three gourmet restaurants, two bars and a cigar and shisha lounge. Lime Restaurant offers Asian influenced cuisine and is open for breakfast buffet and offers fine delicacies from “a la carte” menu throughout the day. The Cayenne Grill is where food alternates with Maldivian, Indian and Japanese dishes in buffet style. The Lighthouse Restaurant serves Asian and Mediterranean dishes while the night life comes alive at the Sails Bar with good music accompanied by after-dinner cocktails.
Baros Piano Deck is a unique dining experience on a stand-alone deck isolated in the middle of the beautiful, turquoise lagoon – a symphony of fine cuisine served in exclusivity in the exotic setting of the lagoon. The deck resembles a grand piano with wooden steps like a piano keyboard, is just minutes by boat from the resort’s shore with access only through prior reservation. It can also be pre-booked for small cocktail parties, yoga session or other special occasions.
The resort has two dive centers, including a marine biology center. The resort is blessed with a house reef with abundant marine life, ideal for diving and snorkeling. Fluorescent night diving, offering a look at the underwater world in a new light is very popular among the guests.
The spa offers a variety of relaxing treatments, scrubs and massages that guarantee the removal of stress and tension. Free group yoga classes are held at everyday by the resort’s resident yoga instructor.
09. Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa (Approx. 25 mins by Speedboat)
Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa is located in North Male’ atoll from a 25-minute speedboat ride from Velaana International Airport. It offers affordable luxury in its 176 rooms, including its smart water villas and beachfront deluxe rooms, all of which feature thatched roofs, shuttered windows, plunge pools and private gardens or terraces.
The room interiors are full of the warm, earthy colors with turquoise highlights on a clean white base. The furniture and soft furnishings are modern, rich and comfortable. Every room has the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed and an iron and ironing board. Several beach rooms are ideal for families, with interconnecting doors and the space for extra beds.
Sheraton Full Moon has a nice selection of international-themed cuisine restaurants with specific menu items that cater to its different tourist seasons. The main restaurant, serves high-quality buffets three times a day, with Western staples like pancakes, waffles, and an omelet station; to country-specific dishes like congee, bao, and curries for breakfast, while T-For Tea House is a poolside dim sum and noodle restaurant. Dinner buffet varies every day from Chinese, Italian, Pan Asian, Indian, Arabian and Mediterranean cuisines. There are also restaurants which serve international cuisine and seafood.
Sheraton Maldives is home to the first of the Shine Sheraton signature spas. The Spa is mainly outdoor with the treatment rooms facing the ocean. It also contains a steam room, a sauna and a hydromassage. For other activities there is a gym, a tennis court along with water sports, and diving.
10. Four Seasons Maldives Kuda Huraa (Approx. 25 mins by Speedboat)
The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa is a luxury private island resort that is located within a 25-minute speedboat ride Velana International Airport. The resort offers 96-rooms ranging from overwater villas to beachside pavillions.
Tropical-style apartments are furnished with modern furniture and feature five-star comfort with white stone walls and wooden bars. All rooms have sitting areas, while larger units have full living rooms and dining areas. Modern amenities such as flat screen TVs, DVD players, Nespresso machines, electronic safes, minibar and free Wi-Fi are available. Luxe bathrooms feature double sink vanities, soaking tubs, and separate walk-in rainfall showers. Most also have charming outdoor showers too.
There are four outdoor restaurants serving gourmet cuisine and 24-hour room service providing dining options. The oceanfront “Baraabaru” serves Indian food and locally caught seafood. The alfresco Reef Club offers wood-fired pizza and pasta. Café Huraa serves Western and Asian cuisine, while “Kandu” Grill specializes in grilled meats and fish. The poolside bar offers salads and sandwiches as well as drinks. For evening cocktails, the Sunset Lounge is the best setting for a tipple with a view. It also serves snacks throughout the day, as well as afternoon tea. There are also many other wonderful places to eat, including beach picnics and sandbank BBQ.
Wellness features include a well-equipped gym, free daily yoga classes, and a top-notch spa that’s reached via traditional Maldivian boat. Treatment rooms are set over the water and offer calming sea views. A variety of treatments are available, including hair and nail services alongside a range of massages, facials, and bath rituals. Nighttime treatments and multi-day spa programs are unique offerings. The fitness center offers a good variety of equipment, with a great selection of Life Fitness cardio machines and strength-training equipment. Free yoga classes take place daily.
Four Seasons at Kuda Huraa is a luxury surfing hotel, with world-class surf breaks like: Sultans, Jails and Honkeys only 5-10 minutes by boat. A dedicated surf school with professionals from “Tropic surf” of Noosa, Australia offers escorted surf sessions and clinics for experienced surfers as well as lessons for beginners. If surfing is not your thing, there are plenty of water sports such as kayaking, windsurfing, water skiing and parasailing available. There is also a fantastic 5-star PADI dive center with fun diving or snorkeling trips to enjoy a vibrant tropical marine life.
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Photos are taken from the respective Instagram accounts