Best Hotels and Resorts in the World: The Gold List 2022

"The things that bring you here are never the ones you remember most after you leave. So not the slide that whooshes from the top floor of your overwater villa straight into the Indian Ocean, or the ice-cream room or the floating breakfast in your private pool. Of course, they’re fantastic—but the elements that draw people back to Soneva year after year, despite the steady stream of Maldives openings, seem significantly less sexy on Instagram. First, there’s the foliage: There’s as much tropical greenery as there is unending expanse of blue sky and sea. Then there are the little discoveries you make as you cycle to breakfast, such as the rabbits who come out for scraps and sit in the sand at your feet. Even more unforgettable is Soneva’s commitment to sustainability, which started way before it became a buzzword. Today, 90 percent of the island’s waste is recycled or reused. For every celebrity you will spot here (and you will), there are artists, sculptors, chefs, and jewelers who are invited to transform discarded cans or kitchen scraps into works of wonder. You will dine at Soneva’s plant-based restaurant, rooted in its organic garden, and leave with a great understanding of what lies beneath the waves (through its marine-conservation program) and above (with an astronomy session). It feels like a place to see the bigger picture; the wind, waves, and clouds are a reminder of how we are all connected to the Earth. This is perhaps Soneva’s greatest message: that even in the most indulgent environment it’s possible—no, essential—for there to be a mission. Of all the places I am dreaming of returning to in 2022, this is top of the list. Villas from $2,000. —Divia Thani" - CNT Editors