Into The Blue

A stay at the newly opened Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi will plunge you into the depths of experiential luxury. Adeline Wong visits the sumptuous haven in the South Malé Atoll and feels irrevocably inspired.

With 1,200 islands, year-round dry, sunny weather and more than 130 resorts to choose from, it’s hard to think of a more tropical idyll than the Maldives. Cerulean waters, powder white sand dunes and ombre sunsets make the island nation an aspirational spot for honeymooners yearning for romantic seclusion and a dreamy escapade for leisure seekers looking to disconnect from the world.

Even the most Instagram-worthy photo of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi can scarcely prepare you for the staggering expansiveness of the newly opened resort. A two-year project in the making, the 122 all-villa paradise - each with its own pool - spans three interconnected islands in the South Malé Atoll. To explore the entire length of the resort – all three and a half kilometres of it - will require a languorous 40-minute bicycle ride.

EASE AND LUXURY

Part of the charm – and sometimes the frustration – of reaching your resort in the Maldives is the seaplane transfer from Malé. If you are the sort who loves travel but hate the travelling, unpredictable weather conditions or late-night flight arrivals can put a dampener on the getaway experience. (Seaplanes in the Maldives do not fly at night.) Here is where Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi blows the competition out of the water with its strategic location and hassle-free arrival experience. You can land at Velana International Airport, clear customs, board the resort’s own 70-footer yacht, and be sipping on a lemongrass cooler at the lobby in just under an hour.