The Maldives is one of those ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ destinations: the type of holiday you book for a honeymoon, anniversary, or maybe if you’re just in the mood to drop a load of cash. The stakes are high, which can put a lot of pressure on booking. And then there’s the fact that you’ll find many similar-looking luxury resort islands here – around 170 in Lhaviyani Atoll, to be precise. That makes choosing the right place to stay a task in itself.
The USP for Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa is its lower price entry point (and, since it is part of Marriott Bonvoy, you’re able to stay in exchange for points) and the family-friendly facilities on offer. It has overwater villas, delicious food and drink options, and a cheerful aesthetic, with pops of colour in the bedrooms and a ‘ring for rosé’ bell at the adults-only bar. Activities-wise, it offers everything from sea turtle snorkelling experiences to private dinners under the stars and padel lessons, meaning there are more than enough options to keep you amused if you’re staying for just a few days or more than two weeks.
Your first glimpse of the resort is really quite something. If you were lucky enough to get a window seat for the half-hour seaplane flight over from Malé, then you’ll have enjoyed a kaleidoscopic aerial view of the islands in all their glory: rings of emerald reefs cradling still lagoons, curls of land edged with green palms, all surrounded by a vast indigo sea.
Once you land, you’ll receive a White Lotus-style welcome: for my plane, the hotel staff lined up on the pier, playing a drum and wearing all white. Seeing the island up close for the first time was a bit of a pinch-me moment (pardon the cliché): the sand was somehow whiter and the water clearer than I’d seen in any Instagram photos, as though the saturation of everything had been turned up to the max. Of course, there’s a reason why the Maldives has the holiday reputation it does: it genuinely is beautiful. With that in mind, it would be a challenge not to have a nice time here. But Le Méridien’s job is to ensure your maximum enjoyment.
Why stay at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa?
Stay here for a slightly more affordable Maldives experience without – and I mean this – compromising on luxury. You’ll get everything you probably came to the Maldives for: stunning scenery, amazing wildlife, and a comfortable hotel where you can play at living like royalty.
Le Méridien’s island, Thilamaafushi, is just under two kilometres in length, circled by white sand beaches and palm trees – smaller than many nearby islands, giving it a more exclusive feel. There is a main paved road cutting through the centre and various pathways to beaches, restaurants, and facilities, which weave through clumps of trees that have been around since before the resort was built (at night, the banyan tree branches are lit with strings of fairy lights; it genuinely looks quite magical). You’ll get around on foot, by rented bicycle ($10 a day per person), or via free guest golf buggies, which you can order through reception on your mobile or flag down in person.
There are plenty of activities you can get involved in, but there’s also a high chance you’ll want to just lie on the beach, cocktail in hand, and do nothing most days. Each beach has its own vibe, so I’d recommend scouting them out before setting up shop for a sunbathing session: some are left bare and have a rugged, wild-island feel; others have first-come, first-served sunbeds; one is beside a kiddies’ pool, and another, with a bar, is adults-only. While the island isn’t huge, it’s certainly big enough if you’re looking for a private slice of sand.
The only downside to it all is the very distinctive smell of the anti-mosquito fumes, which are pumped out at various times per day (a small trade-off, however, if you want to avoid bites). I’d also add that some of the activities on offer – in particular the yoga and the painting sessions – felt a little below what you’d expect from a hotel of this level, but more on that below.
What are the rooms like at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa?
There are 134 villas on the island, ranging from large family properties with private pools to entry-level beachside rooms. There are no butlers here – the focus is on accessible, ‘lifestyle-leaning experiences’ – so expect to unpack your suitcases yourself.
I was staying in a one-bedroom overwater pool villa with sunset views: one of those archetypal Maldives holiday properties, built out over the sea on a string of decking. Inside, the décor was cheerful but still chic, with subtle pops of colour via bright turquoise shutters and tasteful Greek-inspired tiling in the bathroom. My room featured a huge king-sized bed looking out to the endless ocean through sliding glass doors, as well as a coffee machine, minibar and fridge, complimentary water, a sofa, safe, ironing board and iron, large TV, and air conditioning.
There was also a shuttered dressing room, a separate bathroom with twin sinks and mirrors, a spacious shower, and a large freestanding bathtub encased in glass windows looking out to sea (my one regret was I never got around to running one). Outside, there were tables and chairs, two sun loungers, a netting-style lounge area, and a ladder leading down into the ocean. After 6pm, guests were asked not to swim, and there was a pretty strong current to be aware of. Rooms have an evening turndown service, and staff are on call to help with anything else throughout your stay.
What are the best things to eat at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa?
There are a vast array of food and drink options here (six, to be precise), all from different international cuisines. Some are better than others – though those that were good were extremely good. The highlight had to be Tabemasu, a grown-up Japanese restaurant serving sushi and seafood in a modern glass-fronted building sitting on the end of one of the piers. Here, you can request a special set private teppanyaki experience. Otherwise, make sure you order a salad – the leaves are grown in the island’s own hydroponic greenhouse and have a serious crunch – and tuna, which is the local fish.
The main restaurant, Turquoise, is where you’ll head for breakfast, which is buffet-style and offers an omelette station, pastries, fruit, and pretty much everything else you could imagine, as well as non-Western choices like stir fry and curry. The same site also offers a huge buffet dinner every evening with pretty much everything you can imagine (prepare yourself for some inevitable strange plate combinations). The food here was tasty but not as fresh as the other options; however, if you’re looking to please fussy kids, you have so much choice that you won’t be let down. If you’re here on your honeymoon (a large proportion of guests were) or just fancy something different, the hotel also offers a special Love Island-style private beach dining experience, which starts from $150 per person.
Le Méridien’s all-inclusive offering includes daily breakfast served in Turquoise, lunch at a selection of venues, plus a daily themed dinner buffet or three-course dinner. You also receive unlimited beverages from the all-inclusive drinks list, which includes soft drinks as well as cocktails, wines, and all the usuals.
What are the activities like?
Sunrise yoga involved the difficult task of rolling out of your extremely comfy bed – completely worth it to see the Maldives at sunrise, but disappointing when it came to the class itself, which took place on a dated piece of astroturf with very basic instructions. Likewise, the private wine and art class, at $80, felt steep for what was on offer, which was basically a very simple painting on a small canvas.
As you’d expect, the snorkelling was a highlight. On two occasions, I was taken out by boat and saw shoals of brightly coloured fish, a manta ray, and two turtles (like being in a Windows screensaver). The hotel has a strict sustainability policy which extends from the kitchen’s garden-to-plate philosophy to the marine conservation hub, which closely monitors the health of coral reefs and shoals of sealife – so you can frolic around without feeling too guilty.
On the topic of the kitchen, you can also take a guided tour around the greenhouse, which grows 33 kilograms of lettuce every day on a 45-day cycle, as well as the majority of the vegetables on the menus. Other activities on offer include a two-hour dolphin boat tour, which takes you far out into the ocean with refreshments and a load of other guests (we saw babies as the sun started to set). Water sports like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are complimentary for guests, or you can pay extra to book a jet ski.
What are the facilities like at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa?
If you do anything, make sure you book yourself a spa treatment. The spa centre, open from 9am to 9pm, encompasses six overwater treatment rooms with slices of glass in the floor where you can watch marine life swim by as you relax into a deep-tissue massage: dreamy. Afterwards, I chilled out in the sea-view relaxation area with a cup of coconut and peppermint tea in hand.
Aside from the sea, to swim you also have the family-friendly Velaa Swimming Pool, with a lifeguard on duty, and the Riviera Pool for adults only. Other facilities include a large kids’ play area hidden by trees and a marine centre, where an onsite marine biologist can talk you through the likely wildlife (such as the difference between green and hawksbill turtles, and male and female sea turtles) you might spot, so you’re better informed before you go snorkelling or diving.
Even if you don’t feel like it, do yourself a favour and get to the very well-equipped and spacious gym, because it’s probably the nicest treadmill view I’ve ever experienced: just blue, as far as the eye can see. Padel courts with an instructor are rentable for $50 per hour if you want to get your sweat on, and an outdoor cinema screen is set up under the stars, with popcorn included, every Sunday for free.
What is the service like at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa?
You’d expect the service at a place like this to be good, but it really was brilliant. The staff were attentive and efficient but never overbearing or in your face. When I rented a bicycle, they promptly helped me adjust the seat to the right height, and every evening my room was turned down, surfaces cleaned, and bed made. The resulting atmosphere was laid-back and cheery rather than stuffy and overkill.
Why you should book a stay at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa
Stay here for a slightly more affordable Maldives experience without compromising on luxury. The variety of food and drink options is seriously excellent, and the bulk of activities and facilities on offer (in particular, the snorkelling and spa) are dreamy. This is a gorgeous, well-preserved island that will exceed your expectations for a Maldives holiday.
Address: Lhaviyani Atoll, Thilamaafushi Island, 07040, Maldives
Price per night: Full board rates starting from US$660 for two adults; half board from US$530.
Closest transport: Malé is a 35-minute seaplane ride away, where you can access Velana International Airport.