W Maldives

My wife and I had high expectations of W Maldives, and never once were we let down by the actual product - and the people that made it happen. We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary and my wife's belated birthday. ||While every staff member at W made our stay memorable with their warm smiles and personalized greetings, we would like to present a special shout-out to the following talents:||- Bisha our coordinator, who took care of our every need, responded to our queries within seconds and made program / transport arrangements. We appreciated her assistance in securing our dinner reservations and - for the beautiful gesture of nightly decorations on the bed and handwritten birthday / anniversary cards for my wife and me. The personal gifts on our last day were a pleasant surprise and one that we have put to good use.||- Bianca from reservations, who patiently addressed all our queries prior to making our reservation. Her professionalism and knowledge made our decision to stay with W much easier.||- Claire the F&B Director, who was present in all dining venues at all meal services, we enjoyed speaking with Claire and her presence was a sign of mgmt. commitment to excellence.||- Sandra the assistant F&B director, who surprised us with a "sushi cake" during our dinner on our last evening alongside the beautiful table decoration and set-up. Sandra shared with us her journey / aspirations and her commitment to excellence was evident during her shifts working the floor and interacting with guests with a smile always on her face.||- Serene and Lynn from F&B, whom we had countless chats with during mealtimes - sharing their stories and ensuring that our every request was taken care of. From offering recommendations on the buffet to remembering our seating and dining preferences, both Serene and Lynn displayed warm and friendly service, while staying professional, and we thoroughly enjoyed our interactions with them.||- Alip and Nihal from F&B, from whom we learnt so much on Maldivian culture and cuisine. Both Alip and Nihal proudly shared their stories of local islands they were from and how they ended up working with W, and we were happy listening to their stories.||- Tengei the wine sommelier, who recommended us a nice bottle of wine for dinner at Fire, we appreciated his knowledge on wines and his warm and friendly disposition.||- John the Aquaman, who shared with us his knowledge on the house reef, tips on snorkeling and defogging the masks. We took his advice and spotted the resident turtle "BOP".||- Ishaan, Muhey, Arjit and Shakeel, the fine gentlemen at Wet deck, who made such good cocktails and mocktails for us. Customizing the level of alcohol as we prefer a lighter drink, conjuring their personal creations (should go on the menu) and offering icicles in the pool. They noticed us playing pool outside the gym during mid-day and brought us still and sparkling iced water (remembering our preference) - which was a small but very thoughtful gesture.||- Manil, W's photographer, who took us to his favourite spots and the ones we requested. Manil was very patient during the session and the end result was a beautiful picture that we placed on our bedside table - a fitting memory of our wonderful experience in W Maldives.||- Last but not least, Chef Wasantha and his culinary team, who ensured the food was of top-quality and every dish meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. We appreciated his kind gesture of offering us some kimchi to pair with the fried rice, and the plate of mangoes when my wife mentioned she likes them. Absolutely no issues with the food provided, in terms of quality, quantity, presentation and taste.||Now, for the actual review:||Arrival desk at Velana Airport.|- The friendly W staff (I apologise for not getting their names) calmly explained the seaplane process and within minutes, we were whisked away in a W minibus to relax in the seaplane lounge prior to taking the 20-minute flight to W Maldives.|- Check-in was done in the lounge and the spread/quality of food and drinks were more than adequate for us.||Arrival at W Maldives.|- We were greeted by the entire management team, with every HOD addressing the guests and explaining their role in the resort. This gave us further assurance on W's commitment to making every guest's stay - a magical experience.|- After a refreshing local-inspired welcome drink (your preference for alcoholic / non-alcoholic will be asked beforehand) and a cold towel to freshen up, we were introduced to our coordinator and given a tour round the island in a buggy, before being dropped off in our villa.||Room.|- We booked a superior overwater villa and got upgraded to a premier overwater villa.|- The rooms were newly renovated 2 months ago and everything was spotless, the architecture and design was very "W" and matched the overall vibe of the resort.|- The rooms were not only aesthetically pleasing, but highly functional as well.|- There was a welcome card by the resort's GM, Mr. Amila - a bottle of Prosecco and a tower of sweet and savoury treats on the table.|- The external deck was well maintained, and we had no worries walking around barefoot.||Snorkeling.|- One of the main reasons we booked W Maldives - was for its natural house reef that was very accessible from the beach / spa / sip bar and teeming with all sorts of marine life and corals.|- The house reef is situated in very close proximity to the beach (probably around 30 meters out).|- The house reef is clearly demarcated with buoys and the dive center's staff explained to us the best route to take which was 100% spot-on.|- Equipment provided were clean and of high-quality.|- We spent 1/4 of our day snorkeling and we saw their resident turtle "BOP" and many varieties of fish and coral that we never knew existed, it was as if we were literally swimming in an aquarium.|- We tried snorkeling directly from the steps of our villa, and the experience was just as good as the house reef.||Main Pool and gym.|- While we were not snorkeling, we found ourselves at the pool - sliding down the metallic water slide - and feeling like kids all over again (we are both 35).|- Icicles are handed out around mid-afternoon which provided respite from the tropical heat.|- There were more than sufficient numbers of lounge chairs / towels and sunscreen etc.|- Gym was well-equipped with new equipment, cleaned regularly and had great views of the trees and ocean.||Dining venues.|- We were on an all-inclusive package and had dinner at both Fire and Fish.|- We were amazed at the freshness of the food noting that almost everything is imported into the Maldives, and we were tucked away on a secluded island.|- The Chefs' creativity really stood out (pandan brioche with pistachio butter, charcoal sun-dried focaccia with chilli butter etc.).|- Portions were huge (biggest burger we have seen), food was well-seasoned without being salty, and the Chefs were always cooking with a smile.|- Food was a close second on our top priorities behind snorkeling when choosing a resort, and W Maldives definitely did not disappoint - in fact they went above and beyond in this aspect.||Our short 3-night stay had to come to an end eventually; and as we left the island sun-kissed, well-rested and thoroughly spoiled, we take along with us memories of the kindness of the staff, and the gratefulness for every moment spent in this slice of paradise, and for this, we thank you - W Maldives.

W Maldives is a place that never fails to amaze! The hospitality is excellent, with every detail thoughtfully taken care of. The staff are truly friendly and attentive, always going the extra mile to make your stay memorable. The renovation is stunning—especially the blue bathtub and the wall of light behind the bed. Everything feels brand new, modern, and unmistakably W!||There’s so much more to love about W Maldives—the amazing snorkeling, lively parties, and incredible vibes—but I probably don’t need to go into detail, because these are things everyone already knows. This place truly lives up to its reputation!

First time spend our family summer holidays in W Maldives, we tried both water villa and beach villa , each one has spectacular experience, both are worth to try. There are 3 restaurants Kitchen, Fish and Fire, offering great food (local and international cuisine) , people are really welcome and nice, the best experience we had so far.

From the moment we arrived at W Maldives, we knew we were in for something special. Aitte and Kai welcomed us with such genuine warmth that it didn’t feel like checking into a hotel—it felt like joining a family. A special mention to Kai, whose humility and graciousness stood out; he constantly deflected praise, even though it was clear he was a big part of making everything so wonderful. Throughout our stay, the team’s attention to detail and energy made every day memorable. The fitness team—Mark, Zari, and Tutu—kept our spirits and energy levels high with their excellent fitness, boxing, and yoga sessions. They somehow made even the most tiring workouts so much fun! The housekeeping team deserves endless praise for maintaining impeccable cleanliness and setting exceptional standards throughout our stay. Every day, we returned to a spotless villa that somehow felt both luxurious and comforting. The food and beverage team was just as outstanding. Every meal was an experience, and their attentiveness and warmth added an extra layer of joy to our days. The newly reimagined design of the resort is simply breathtaking, blending modern luxury with the island’s natural beauty. And of course, the house reef—the best in the area—is an absolute dream for snorkelers. Swimming alongside Bob and Tony, the friendly turtles, and spotting sharks gliding gracefully through the waters was an experience we’ll treasure forever. Thank you, W Maldives, for giving us the perfect honeymoon. We can’t wait to return!

Here we had the best snorkeling and the best service in all around perspective. Also, the food is amazing, especially the fish restaurant, highly recommend the octopus and the grouper fish. You can see black fin sharks when you had dinner, very impressed.

This review is long overdue, but our stay at the W Maldives was truly special. From start to finish, the transportation process was smooth. We opted for the private boat transfer, which was nice—but be warned, the ride is quite long. If you're prone to motion sickness, definitely take medication beforehand. We had to go with the boat option since we missed the seaplane cut-off. Our overwater bungalow was beautiful, offering incredible views and a peaceful atmosphere. But the real highlight of our trip was the food—absolutely phenomenal, especially thanks to a talented chef from Sri Lanka. And the cocktails? Easily the best we’ve ever had. The mojito alone set the bar so high we may never enjoy one quite the same again. Fresh ingredients made all the difference. The staff were warm, attentive, and truly went above and beyond to make it a memorable honeymoon. The only downside was a private dinner we booked on the water. It was pitch black, which made it feel more scary than romantic. We ended up taking the rest of the food back to our room. In hindsight, we wish the hotel had advised us to book during sunset or let us know how dark it would be at that hour—but that’s also something we probably should’ve looked into beforehand. Overall, an amazing experience we’ll never forget.

From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with such genuine warmth by Saito, Kai, Aitte and many more from the Welcome/Reception team. They listened carefully, understood what we needed, and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and happy. A special place in our hearts goes to Kai - he is one of the most humble and genuine people we’ve ever met. He always tried to give credit to others, but to us, he truly stood out. Mark, Tutu, and Zari from the fitness team filled our days with so much joy and energy. Their boxing and sunset yoga classes weren’t just about fitness - they were moments of pure happiness, connection, and inspiration. They were some of the best we’ve ever experienced at any luxury resort. To everyone in F&B, Click, and the housekeeping team - thank you for every smile, every kind word, and every small gesture. Every time we saw you, we felt truly welcomed and cared for. It’s these everyday moments that made such a difference in our stay. The island itself is magical. The house reef is incredible - during our snorkeling trips, we swam with Bob and Tony the turtles, and even met some very friendly sharks. It was truly unforgettable. We also loved the new room design after the renovation - it’s stylish, comfortable, and full of thoughtful touches. W Maldives is not just beautiful - it’s the people who make it feel so special. We’re so grateful for everything and everyone who made our honeymoon stay perfect. We’re leaving with full hearts and memories we’ll always cherish.

It was an amazing short vacation on this marvellous small island. Super nice reef with plenty of fishes and turtles. A perfect spot for relaxing and forgetting the world around you. Even stingrays you could observe closely directly from the bridge. No need to take a boat for exploring all this. Just perfect!