Escape to a paradise of interconnected islands where ultra-luxurious villas dot the landscape and sit upon the most beautiful turquoise waters you will ever see. Welcome to The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi!
The resort is located in the South Malé Atoll and is less than 15 miles (25 km) and only a 45 minute boat ride from the capital city of Malé.
A large resort with an intimate feel is the best way to describe it. The villas are massive and generously spread apart across a chain of islands.
With over 11 restaurants and bars, the resort has something for everyone and enough options for something new each night of your stay.
The resort offers a full suite of water sports, as you would expect in the Maldives. Even better, the resort has sports courts, which is a rarity for landlocked Maldivian resorts.
It feels like the staff outnumber the people and the personal concierge is great!
The spa at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is massive and loaded with amenities. It is one of our favorite spas!
Waldorf Astoria is Hiltons' flagship luxury brand. This resort represents one of the best bookings you can make in the entire points game. We highly recommend the Hilton Honors AMEX Surpass card to help build up your points stash.
The only mode of transportation is via the resort owned yacht. Round trip yacht transfers from Malé are mandatory and run nearly $1,000 per adult including taxes.
The resort is extremely kid friendly, but still maintains the intimate atmosphere for couples.
Relaxation is what it is all about. Nava beach club does host a DJ in the afternoons for when you feel like leaving your villa and experiencing some action.
This resort is super relaxed and casual. Bring your trendiest beach attire and chill out!
Everything at the resort is priced in US Dollars and all major credit cards are accepted. There is no need for cash at all.
Golf carts are a quick phone call away, but for those with tougher mobility challenges, this resort will be a bit challenging.
JetSetDNA brings you an in-depth tour of The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. Check it out for yourself on YouTube!
Located in South Malé Atoll, the resort is close proximity to Malé. The mandatory yacht transfer takes roughly 45 minutes operating at a leisurely pace given that the resort is only 15 miles (25km) from the capital.
Once you are at the resort, that is it, there is no where to go. This is consistent with all other Maldivian resorts since these resorts consume entire islands.
Bikes are the primary mode of transportation and are assigned to each villa. For those who don’t like to bike, and for during the evenings, the resort has an army of golf carts to transport guests.
The resort is very large by Maldives standards. It will take between 15 and 20 minutes to bike from one end of the resort to the other with minimal stops.
As stated, the resort has a fleet of yachts to transport guests from the capital, Malé. Resort transfers are mandatory and there are no other transportation options to the island. You must be aware that the yacht transfers are expensive with costs coming in around $1,000 per adult round trip as of the time of this writing.
The resort sports a stylish beach design with grand interior architecture. The villas and many restaurants and common buildings have high, vaulted ceilings with exposed beams. No detail is overlooked with high-end finishings and design at every turn of your eye. Privacy was a chief design factor given how spread out this resort is and the generous spacing between the villas.
The yacht will dock at the welcome pavilion, sporting a grand entrance. The welcome pavilion also doubles as Peacock Alley, which is covered later. From here you will be quickly escorted to a golf cart and whisked away to your villa.
Nava beach club is one of the main hubs and focal points of the hotel. Flanking both the Lagoon and Mirror pools while overlooking the incredible turquoise lagoon, Nava beach club is the place to be in the afternoon. And incredible array of loungers and daybeds are available and a DJ is often spinning tunes to maintain a trendy beach vibe.
The islands are man-made, but are downright beautiful. Picture perfect white powdery sand meets the crystal clear lagoon with water perfectly calm and inviting. Beaches are found at various points throughout the island, so be sure to check them all out. And, you just gotta love this weather station!
The lagoon pool is a massive aqua retreat adjacent to the Nava Beach Club. The pool is enormous with two zero-entry points far away from the beach. The pool stretches seemingly forever, flanked by couplings of beach loungers, as you eventually make your way towards the massive infinity edge with epic views of the lagoon. This pool is adjacent the Nava Beach Club so that you can enjoy the music while you relax.
Check out the Mirror Pool for a more relaxed experience. The Mirror Pool is next to the Lagoon Pool opposite the Nava Beach Club. The music will dissipate as you make your way to this reflecting pool oasis and you will be hard-pressed to find many, if any, guests here.
Space always comes at a premium at Maldives resorts, but this place has a large sports complex. Indulge in tennis or padel an even book a private coaching session.
The magnificence of the Indian ocean is all around. We highly recommend biking around this resort and taking in the beauty of the islands. You can find numerous lookout points for some incredible photos.
The resort features his and hers shopping boutiques complete with high-end and Waldorf Astoria branded apparel.
The spa is one of the true highlights of the resort and is definitely one of the best spas we have ever experienced. The spa complex is large with sprawling gardens complete with many lounging areas. An overwater yoga pavilion heads the spa grounds. Overwater treatment rooms offer a serene environment for total relaxation.
All of the facilities are luxurious, including the treatment rooms that come complete with outdoor showers.
A state of the art fitness center is located within the spa complex. We were rather surprised at the size of the spa. Plenty of machines are free-weights are available and the spa is staffed with a personal trainer if you wish to book a session.
Finally, we come to the primary reason to visit this resort, your private villa away from home. The King Reef Villa with Pool is the base room at this resort and is bookable using Hilton Honors points.
We recommend the Hilton Honors AMEX Surpass card, which has great earnings multipliers and categories, to help build your points stash.
We were welcomed with a fruit basket and bottle of wine. A nice touch.
The villa is magnificent and has to be the best hotel room we’ve ever stayed in. You enter into the bedroom, which is spacious with clear views to the bathroom at the other end. High vaulted ceilings add to the luxurious feel. As you peer down, you are greeted with a wall of windows to the pool deck and ocean with a sitting area.
A small desk and makeup area are off to the side along with a mini-bar on the opposite side of the door. The villa is very impressive right from the start!
A closet corridor separates the bedroom and bathroom, which comes with plenty of storage space for multiple suitcases.
The high ceilings continue throughout the villa and lead to a grand sink basin. The counter space may seem limited, but the island behind is a really nice feature for added space.
A massive soaking tub is on the ocean side of the bathroom and is completely encircled by bay windows. A water closet and shower makeup the opposite side of the space.
Everything in the bathroom is beautiful and complete with high-end fixtures, a robotic toilet, luxurious tile, and toiletries provided by Aesop.
Lastly, you can make your way outside from the shower to find a waterfall shower oasis. Really nice!
The pool deck is truly the highlight of the villa. And, this is not a plunge pool my friends… This is a full-fledged pool measuring 12ft x 30ft (3.65m x 9.1m)! The pool was big enough for two of use to swim laps at the same time. These have to be the biggest pools of any base room in the Maldives.
In addition to the pool, the deck comes complete with day bed, large table, loungers, couches, overwater hammocks, you name it! You could host a party for over 10 people on this deck.
One nice feature of the Reef Villas is that you get to experience the best of both worlds. Entry to the villa is over land, but the villa expands out over the water. Our villa was on the ocean side, but there weren’t any villas on the opposite side of the road on the lagoon side, so we ended up having our own private stretch of beach.
This villa wouldn’t be complete unless it was gorgeously lit at night, and it doesn’t disappoint. On the inside, the ceiling beams are lit, making for an incredible ambiance. Outside, the lighting is sufficient and intimate, creating an inviting atmosphere for a memorable evening.
Transport yourself to an Arabian village for an intimate evening filled with Middle Eastern flavors. The village is set around a courtyard headed by a brick oven. The food was excellent and portions were rather large. Yasmeen is a dining experience not to be missed.
Tasting Table is the resorts’ primary restaurant. Grand ceilings welcome you to this beach house themed dining venue complete with open window walls all around. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Tasting Table serves as the breakfast venue for the resort. The buffet is absolutely massive and is including for Hilton gold and diamond members. Eggs and daily made-to-order specials are also available and included if the buffet somehow doesn’t have what you want.
Dinner is also served at Tasting Table and features a medley of options from around the world. The restaurant also has themed dinner nights, so be sure to check it out!
Glow is a modern farm-to-table concept restaurant. Inspect the gardens as you make your way inside. The Amber cocktail lounge is nestled right outside the restaurant and has fantastic sunset views.
Li Long is conceptual restaurant giving diners a taste of Chinese culture going back to the era of Shanghainese royalty. The venue is exquisite with fine detail decor bringing the period to life. A warning to westerners, spicy dishes at this restaurant are very spicy, but delicious!
Zuma is a world-renowned Japanese concept dining chain with locations at many of the worlds most popular dining destinations. After an animated welcome, you will navigate your way through a stylish restaurant with a sophisticated feel. The restaurant is built over the resorts lagoon and tables on the edge of the restaurant enjoy incredible views of the sea-life lit up in the waters below.
Serving fresh seafood, fine cuts of meat, and “special” sushi, this restaurant is not one to be missed. In fact, Zuma is an attraction on its own at this amazing resort.
Nava Beach Club heads the Ithaafushi lagoon in the heart of the resort. Enjoy access to a wide array of beach loungers and day beds or indulge in a game of table tennis, billiards, or foosball. A DJ maintains a chic vibe for beachgoers and visitors to the Lagoon Pool.
When it comes to lunch, this is the place to be. Beachside dining is incredible and the menu options really hit the spot!
If Australian BBQ is what you desire, then check out The Ledge by Michelin starred chef Dave Pynt. Renowned for his award winning venue Burnt Ends in Singapore, Pynt brings his love for BBQ to the Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi.
Located behind the Nava Beach Club and next to the Lagoon Pool, The Ledge specialized in beach themed BBQ. How can you go wrong?
Peacock Alley is a staple of the Waldorf Astoria brand. We first saw this bar when checking into the resort as it is located within the welcome pavilion. This intimate lounge features a large bar with live music each evening.
Water sports of all kinds are available from the water sports center next to Nava Beach Club. Charter a boat, go jet skiing, parasailing, you name it and they have it.
Do you want last memories? Schedule a photoshoot, including the ever-popular flying dress shoot.
Looking for more activity, schedule time in the sports center or just pamper yourself in one the best spas you will find anywhere.
Once you are here, you stay. It is possible to arrange a day trip to a local inhabited island and be sure to have proper attire for such an excursion. However, guests generally remain on the island during their stay.
The yacht transfer staff are inviting and welcoming. They will smoothly and quickly load your belongings onto the yacht and get you on your way, serving you drinks and snacks the entire ride.
All guests are assigned a personal concierge for the duration of their stay. Your concierge will typically check in on you during breakfast and will likely transport you to dinner. However, they are there to attend to your every need, so be sure to have WhatsApp on your phone for smooth communication.
Twice a day service is provided by the housekeeping staff. And they will always check in even if you intend to spend most of your time in the villa.
In general, the hotel is well staffed, everyone is friendly, and the people genuinely seem happy to be there.
The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi has consistently been ranked as one of the top hotels in the world since its debut in 2019; and for good reason! The villas alone are some of the best the Maldives have to offer and being able to book them on Hilton Points is one of the best deals in travel.
The island is perfectly manicured. 11 restaurants and bars provide new experiences each evening and the spa is one of the best we have ever experienced. The Waldorf Astoria Maldives is truly a magical place worthy of your journey!
