What it is

A large private-island resort that pulls out all the luxury stops.

What it isn't

Super-quiet. Most rooms are private cocoons, but the public spaces have a fair amount of bustle.

What we think

When you arrive at One&Only Reethi Rah from the airport, sailing up to the dock on the hotel's luxury yacht, you're greeted by a phalanx of employees holding their hands over their hearts. It's a sign of the resort's sincere commitment to top-notch, personalized service—and to the size of the team. The hotel employees 700 staffers tending to just 129 rooms—enough to guarantee that every bit of foliage is manicured, every mile of gravel path freshly raked, and every guest's desires attended to. That includes offering every conceivable activity, from wine tasting and cooking classes to diving with a marine biologist to painting lessons with the resident artist. Rooms are spacious, with high, wood-beamed ceilings and an Asian-tropical look (dark woods, red accents, thatched roofs). Beach Villas dot the perimeter of the island and have full-size private pools and their own slice of beach. The Water Villas, set on stilts over the ocean and encircled by rope hammocks, are slightly less secluded. The gym is huge, and the spa has13 indoor/outdoor treatment rooms. The dining options are extravagant (most impressive: the walk-in refrigerator at breakfast), and constantly varied, so you'll never get bored. The only guests who are bored here are those who want to be.

You're here because

You want privacy but also a bit of a scene, and you're willing pay for the best,

The Moment

Watching vibrant fish dart through the impossibly clear water below your hammock, you wonder how any other place could be compared to paradise when the Maldives exists.

Location

One of the largest islands in the North Male Atoll, in the Indian Ocean, around 600 miles southwest of Sri Lanka. Flights arrive at the international airport in Male, where guests board a private yacht for the hour-long ride to the resort.

Restaraunts & Bars

Reethi Restaurant - Fusion of Far East, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cuisines

Rah Bar - All-day menu of healthy salads, wraps, and snacks

Tapasake - Contemporary Japanese cuisine with a modern twist served in a tapas style

Fanditha - Arabian cuisine

Chef's Garden - A more intimate experience featuring a menu of the chef's choices

The Beach Club at ClubOne - Fresh selection of salads, seafood, and grills for Lunch

Rah Bar - Live music every Monday and Thursday starting at 9 pm

Fanditha Bar - Late-night parties with live DJs

Teppanyaki stations at Tapasake

Beach Bar - Shisha available

Family activities

KidsOnly Program - Ages 4-9

OneTribe Program - Ages 9-11

Snorkeing and other complimentary watersports

For an additional fee: Banana and tube rides, kneeboarding, water-skiing