The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is the epitome of luxury in the heart of the Indian Ocean and the perfect escape from your ordinary life. Only opened up recently the concept is new, modern & will definitely be the perfect place for an unforgettable stay.
THE LOCATION & TRANSFER
The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is located in the South Male Atoll – only a 35 mins boat ride from the airport in Male. This is a big plus point cause you don’t have to wait for another flight after arriving from a long international flight. The staff of the Waldorf will pick you up after arrival and escort you directly to the beautiful Waldorf Yacht.
The Yacht is the most luxurious transfer boat we’ve ever seen in the Maldives and exceeded all our expectations. It has two decks, and even a bedroom, shower, restroom, lounge with kitchen and much more. So you could easily live here. During the transfer we enjoyed some snacks, champagne and a refreshing eye masks which has been very much needed after the long flight. The cherry on top have been the dolphins which have been swimming right next to the yacht shortly before we arrived at the resort!
THE CONCEPT of the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
The Waldorf Astoria started operations in 2019 which you can clearly see and feel. Right from the moment you set foot at the resort you feel like stepping into another world of exclusivity and leisure. Every guest has a butler which welcomes you at the jetty and will take care of any requests or wishes you might have during your stay – he’s always just a call away.
What’s special about the island is that it’s completely manmade and has a length of 3,5 km – which is huge for the Maldives! All guests have a private bicycle to cruise along the island – but of course you can always call your butler for a buggy pickup too.
The Waldorf Spa
During one afternoon we spend some relaxing moments in the Waldorf Astoria Spa. The Spa Area is mostly outside, with a huge garden and hanging nests to relax after your treatment or whenever you like to do so. The treatment rooms are located overwater with a glass window in the floor to see the turquoise water and a huge terrace to enjoy the breeze and sound of the ocean during your massage. It’s been the perfect surrounding to enjoy a pampering couple massage and to clear our minds.
The Pool & Beach
Even though all villa categories have a private pool, there are two huge pools at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi which both have a lovely view over the blue lagoon and sun beds to take a sunbath. One is a family friendly pool and the second one is for adults only. To refresh we usually took a dip in our private pool but I loved the design of the family pool – especially to take pictures 🙂 It has such a beautiful framing with tropical trees and an amazing sunrise view!
If you prefer to feel the sand under your feet while laying in the sunshine, the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi of course has sandy beaches too. The first beach is right in front of the Beach Villas and the other one is located by the pools in front of the little lagoon with crystal clear turquoise water. The shallow water is perfect to practice your stand up paddle skills too… just in case you wanna burn some calories after enjoying a cocktail and snack at the bar 😉
Activities
There are several activities you can book during you stay like sunset cruises, jet ski rides or snorkeling trips. But many water sport activities are complimentary: stand up paddling, kayaking and of course snorkeling can be done whenever you’re in the mood for it. The best spot for snorkeling is the reef drop in front of the ocean villas.
Another thing we loved to do every single evening has been watching the sunsets from the sunset bar Amber – the sunsets in the Maldives are one of a kind and will leave you speechless!
Our Room
Ocean Villa with Pool
This overwater villa is the biggest & most luxurious one we ever stayed at! The interior is modern and very elegant at the same time. Inside we had a huge bedroom and bathroom which are connected via a walk-in closet with a glass bottom window. I especially loved the high ceiling which made the villa appear even bigger. In the bathroom you have several options for your morning shower: A huge rain shower, the free standing bathtub – or my favorite: the outdoor shower 🙂
But the best part of the Ocean Villa is without any doubt the amazing terrace with a huge private infinity pool, overwater hammocks, swings, and so much space that it almost felt surreal to have this place all to ourselves!
Other Room Categories:
Beside Beach Villas and Reef Villas – which are half on land and half over water – you can also stay in one of the Stella Maris Ocean Villas. These exclusive villas are secluded from the main island and can only be reached via a private boat shuttle! Or if you wanna experience the ultimate privacy together with family and friends the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi even has a private island with several villas.
Stella Maris
Private Island
Breakfast & Restaurants
The Breakfast
In the morning we enjoyed the most delicious breakfast which gets served in the main restaurant Tasting Table with a huge buffet which is divided in two rooms plus you can choose from an additional à la carte menu. No matter if healthy juices of your choice, your favorite homemade pastries or a freshly prepared Asiai noodle soup! This breakfast will fulfill all your desires 🙂 We especially loved to sit outside, right by the water, surrounded by coconut palm trees and with the sand under our feet – the definition of paradise!
Floating Breakfast
These days a stay in the Maldives wouldn’t be complete without a delicious and picture perfect floating breakfast, right?! And of course the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi offers this special breakfast option too. Simply tell your butler your choice of food the night prior and the floating tray will be delivered to your private pool during your preferred time. A glass of bubbles makes the breakfast experience even more memorable.
Restaurants
All together there are ten restaurants in the resort! Soon there will be even an eleventh restaurant with Japanese cuisine. So you can basically choose another restaurant every single night 🙂 These have been our three favorite restaurants we tested during our stay:
The Li-Long serves traditional Chinese dishes like dumplings or their signature dish: crispy Peking duck which served in a traditional way! It’s been the most delicious dinner we had during our stay in the Maldives.
The Yasmeen restaurant takes you on a culinary journey to the Middle East! Not only the food but also the design are very authentic. We felt like visiting an Arabian village for the night and enjoyed some authentic Mezze.
RÉSUMÉ
The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi left us speechless! It’s been one of the most luxurious stays we ever had in the Maldives and it’s simply been an unforgettable time! Especially the food options and the service of the staff have been outstanding and let the resort differ from many competitors. So if you’re looking for a resort which is not far from the international airport in Male and where you can enjoy a next level of luxury & privacy, the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is the ideal option – particularly for a special occasion 🙂
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We had a sponsored stay at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.