How to Plan a Romantic Honeymoon in the Maldives

People who say “it’s about the journey not the destination” clearly have never been to any of the 1,196 islands (220 of which are inhabited) that make up the Indian Ocean paradise that is the Maldives. Yes, getting there is not easy—traveling from the U.S. is a jetlag-inducing undertaking (it will likely involve one-or-two long-haul flights plus a shorter jaunt, a lengthy layover, and a third ride via seaplane or boat to your resort after you go through customs in the capital city of Malé). The pair of you—and your bodies—won’t know what time or day, it is.

But rest assured that when you arise from that much-needed recovery nap, pull back the curtains, and walk out on the patio of your overwater bungalow, you will be welcomed to the other side of the world by what can only be described as a screensaver come to life. You'll see lagoons shimmering in every shade of blue imaginable, graceful rays gliding just below the surface through schools of colorful fish, strong sunshine that produces sunkissed skin and spectacular sunsets, alabaster sand, and green palms and plants swaying in a light breeze to reveal lizards playing peek-a-boo. And there will no longer be any doubt in your mind that this end justifies the means. 

“It's easy to find photos of the Maldives online, but there's nothing like seeing that clear blue water and white sand in person. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience,” says Florida-based luxury travel advisor Theresa Chu-Bermudez who owns Get Out! Custom Travels. “It’s a truly magical and idyllic honeymoon setting for couples to celebrate their love and start their journey together.”

Chu-Bermudez acknowledges that plenty of other paradises exist and make for perfectly good honeymoon locales, especially as many of them require far less of a commitment in terms of travel time and resources, but still argues that the Maldives is worth newlyweds’ added effort.

“The Maldives stands out for its combination of stunning natural beauty, luxurious accommodations, and a focus on privacy and exclusivity,” she says. “Secluded resorts with unmatched privacy, overwater bungalows, villas with plunge pools. pristine beaches, incredible snorkeling and diving, underwater restaurants ... the list goes on for what makes the Maldives such a great honeymoon destination.”

With her professional input, we’ve put together a guide with everything couples need to know — places to stay, things to do and eat, and even a few money-saving strategies—in order to plan the ultimate romantic honeymoon in the Maldives.

Planning Your Maldives Honeymoon

Maldives has been welcoming tourists for 50 years but in the last decade, the number of visitors has exploded. According to statistics released in May of 2022 by the country’s Ministry Of Tourism, 2019 posted the highest number of visitors within that half-century. But the numbers also demonstrated a 17.5 percent increase in the first four months of 2023 compared to the same time frame in 2022 and a smaller (but still significant) rise from the same total for the first quarter in 2019 as well. Chu-Bermudez has seen a big jump in interest in the Maldives and bookings among her clientele as well and credits numerous reasons for the bump. 

“In the past, I think American travelers viewed it as a destination only for the wealthy and were wary about using so many vacation days since it takes a good amount of time to get there,” Chu-Bermudez says. But with so many more quality hotel options that fit a variety of budgets and travel aesthetics, FOMO-stirring social media coverage, and both a pandemic-induced shift and generational mindset change about using every last minute of PTO, she feels “it doesn't seem so scary to plan a honeymoon to such a faraway place.”

Because couples won’t be alone in this trendy destination and there’s a lot to choose from, Chu-Bermudez recommends planning far in advance, doing your research, and asking a lot of questions. “It might seem like every island is the same in photos; however, it's important to note that there can be significant differences in the activities, facilities, and experiences available on each,” Chu-Bermudez warns. “Many islands are privately owned by resorts; some have both resorts and local communities on them. Some islands specialize in diving; others focus on wellness and relaxation. Even the wildlife, underwater topography, and biodiversity can differ from island to island.”

To get started, she suggests asking yourself what type of accommodation and atmosphere you prefer, what price point you’re comfortable with, what amenities and services you can’t live without, what kinds of activities you want to do, and whether sustainability is important.

Places to Stay During Your Maldives Honeymoon

Between scrappy liveaboards, capital hotels, guesthouses, eco retreats, and upscale resorts that leave no need unattended to, there are roughly 1,200 establishments to hunker down at. Of course, they aren’t all created equal. Honeymooners tend to cast themselves away to the postcard-perfect overwater bungalows, opulent villas tucked into an isle’s dense emerald center, or charming beachfront cottages. Here are some of the best lodging choices:

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Get on island time in almost no time as this tropical dreamscape from one of the most reliable players in the hospitality game is less than an hour by baby yacht from the MLE tarmac. Set on ivory shores across three manmade islands connected by boardwalks in the northeastern rim of the North Malé Atoll, this is the place for design lovers as every structure and amenity—from the numerous open-air restaurants and the refreshing main pool, which hosts a nightly drums-and-fire ritual, to the Bamford-powered spa that could easily be confused for a museum—has sexy curves, is bathed in natural light, and plays up the strengths of its scenic surroundings without getting overshadowed by them. If you can pull yourself away from the complimentary minibar, deep soaking tub, or the indoor/outdoor shower in your suite, partake in a memorable dive or snorkel trip aboard a restored traditional boat. Within an hour's radius, there are shipwrecks, a manta cleaning station, underwater cliffs and caves, and coral-covered pinnacles. Jean-Michel Cousteau-trained naturalists can help make sense of what you saw while under the sea. Or start your day with yoga in the garden, a friendly tennis competition, or by taking the short ferry to the neighboring island for a change of scenery and food trucks.

JOALI

Made up of two distinct sister properties spread across two serene islands in Raa Atoll, JOALI”s offerings are favorites of Chu-Bermudez. She appreciates that they’re woman-owned, committed to preserving the ecosystem and built on joy. JOALI Maldives is an art-centric wonderland in which guests play and practice in an art studio alongside visiting artists and installations, some large enough to climb inside, strewn across the grounds, six restaurants, and the ESPA-branded spa. JOALI BEING, which opened in November 202, blends nature, ancient wisdom, and modern science to create wellness programs that focus on four pillars—mind, skin, microbiome, and energy. Here you can participate in sound baths and sensory deprivation, anti-gravity yoga in a pavilion that overlooks the azure lagoon, eat elaborate vegan meals, and take herbology workshops. Couples who want to feel good long after they return home can sign up for private coral planting.

Siyam World

This 133-acre Maldivian-owned all-inclusive provides a five-star experience but doesn’t forget to have fun along the way as evidenced by the fact that it boasts the Indian Ocean’s biggest floating water park, a full-size soccer pitch with weekly matches, overwater bungalows kitted out with waterslides, rentable semisubmersible vessels that can execute barrel rolls, a first-of-its-kind resort horse ranch, and dance classes. It makes it a good option for honeymooners who aren’t leaving the kids at home (check out the houses with up to six bedrooms!). When it’s time for just the two of you, go horseback riding along the coast at sunrise or sunset, picnic on a deserted island, or feed each other the cake that comes with the honeymoon package by candlelight.

The Standard, Huruvalhi

The big-city brand has successfully translated its cool-kid cred, irreverent design, party vibes, and allergy to boring neutral color schemes to paradise at its first island escape, a 40-minute seaplane ride from Malé. With 115 villas, each with a private deck and plunge and snorkeling gear as wall decoration, it’s one of the bigger properties and thanks to a glass-bottomed overwater nightclub, beach bonfires accompanied by tribal beats, personal training, electric buggies, and a communal hammam, it’s one of the hipper offerings as well. It’s also conveniently located only 25 minutes away from Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that welcomes the world’s largest aggregation of manta rays from May to November.

Anantara Veli Resort

Unlike at many resorts in the Maldives, couples won’t have to share the sand, gin-clear surf, or the swimming pool with screeching, sobbing, or splashing littles as this Baa Atoll oasis is strictly adults-only. It’s also fresh off a nine-month renovation, which added six beach pool villas, launched a villa host service, redesigned the restaurants, and amped up the wellness offerings by adding a Moroccan hammam, IV therapies, sound healing, and a host of Ayurvedic treatments. Guests can go home with a new skill as Veli also programs cooking classes, surf lessons, and bouts in the boxing ring.

Coco Collection

Founded by four brothers from the Maldives, the collection is made up of a pair of properties—the more rustic Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu in Baa Atoll and the newer, more refined Coco Bodu Hithi in Malé Atoll, which caters more to couples. But both emphasize weaving local elements into the programming: Maldivian dishes at the restaurants, recipes for which are happily shared, artisans demoing and selling their crafts, and concerts featuring traditional tunes and musicians. Both properties also offer a good amount of green activities like private dining in the hotel garden, which grows a lot of ingredients used in the restaurants to offset their carbon footprint, coral planting, and sponsoring the first and only veterinarian-led turtle rescue center in the Maldives. Adventurous partners can sacrifice their plush digs for a day (and night) and camp out in the one old-school hut that populates Embudhoo Island, a private chunk of undeveloped land owned by the siblings and 15 minutes away from CPDK.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Between opening as a Hilton in 1997, the first hotel in the destination, and undergoing an extensive redesign between 2019 and 2022, this purveyor of beachy bliss has been quite the trendsetter. It’s home to the world’s first undersea restaurant, wine cellar, and undersea residence (the primary bedroom is submerged at 16 feet below the surface), was the first to add glass floors to a spa, and built the first villas on stilts in the region. Take your pick between 12 dining venues, two spas, and 14 types of accommodations on either the adults-only island or the more bustling family-friendly one. They also offer one of the best “swimming with whale sharks” excursions seasonally and local island tours to add a touch of culture to your trip.

Things to Do During Your Maldives Honeymoon

As with all beachside vacation locations, a good portion of your time will be spent in, on, and around the water. The Maldives is particularly known for its visibility and biodiversity, making it a scuba divers’ and snorkelers’ nirvana. In most places, you don’t even have to venture that far from shore to swim alongside sharks, manta rays, turtles, and dolphins. It’s also a prime destination for fishing, sailing, jet-skiing, sunbathing with a juicy read, strolling at sunset, or playing sports and games in the sand. 

But how you fill the rest of your itinerary in the Maldives somewhat depends on where you stay because what is available varies by island, as Chu-Bermudez previously mentioned. She adds that an excellent travel advisor will match your interests, hotel preferences, and travel personalities to the perfect resort and/or part of the country. If immersing yourself in the culture is important, consider staying in Malé for a day or booking a property on an island that also contains a local village or historical sites. (She cautions that Malé, “like many capital cities, is dense, crowded, and not the most romantic place.)

Romance runs rampant at the resorts with many similar amorous amenities and activities found throughout the destination as they are in most seaside honeymoon hot spots. Most offer their take on private chef dinners in a particularly picturesque and intimate setting like secret gardens, tree-top patios, or at the end of an emptied dock that juts far into the ocean, sunset cruises, decadent couple’s treatments at the spa, beach or sandbar picnics, or butler-drawn bubble baths. Although believed to have been born in Bali, one can’t-miss indulgence has become synonymous with the Maldives is the floating breakfast. Sure, it’s cliché but it also happens to be a sexy delicious way to start the day. 

Chu-Bermudez almost always recommends at least one super special celebratory meal at one of the Maldives’ famous underwater restaurants like the Conrad’s Ithaa, 5.8 Undersea Restaurant at Hurawalhi Maldives (the world’s largest all-glass underwater eatery), Subsix at Niyama Private Islands, or Sea at Anantara Kihavah Villas. The subaquatic setting allows you to live your best Little Mermaid life at bubbly breakfasts, wine tastings, glow parties, and dinners with a built-in show. “It’s a must-do experience in the Maldives,” she explains. “I usually suggest making a reservation for dinner [so] couples can see how the light from the setting sun changes the overall atmosphere of the restaurant.”

What to Eat During Your Maldives Honeymoon

Given how difficult and expensive it is to move around one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world, the self-contained compounds usually have a wide array of dining options from poolside food trucks and casual bistros to sushi bars and fancy fine dining establishments specializing in a particular world cuisine like Indian, Italian, or Japanese food. Some integrate regional delicacies and dishes into the main buffet spread daily and/or have a weekly Maldivian night.

As you’d expect, seafood reigns supreme here, especially tuna, which is often served as a main protein, a curry or soup, a topping, and a condiment (i.e. tuna reduction) in the same meal including breakfast. Definitely try Maldivian lobster if it’s on the menu. Maldivians use a lot of coconut and starches like potato and cassava. They aren’t afraid of carbs (crackers, samosas, and dessert fritters, oh my!) or heat, which is usually attained with the liberal use of stubby, spicy Maldivian chiles.

Budgeting for a Maldives Honeymoon

Any paradise worth its weight in palm trees and seafood platters is going to be expensive, but when it comes to cost, the Maldives is in a class of its own—mostly due to its remote location, which in turn makes flights pricier and hotel operating expenses higher. And because demand keeps growing, rates stay high. (Higher demand also encourages airlines to increase flight frequency and hoteliers to build, a travel trend we are already seeing in this destination, and in the long-run competition usually benefits the consumer.) In the short term, though, all hope for saving some money is not lost, according to Chu-Bermudez.

“I'm not saying that it is a budget destination by any means, but you would be surprised at how affordable the Maldives can be,” the advisor says. “Considering the inclusiveness of nightly rates at some hotels, honeymoon packages that can help couples increase the value of their experience, or airlines or American hotel brands that can be booked using points, the Maldives can be a great value compared to other similar destinations.”

She also reminds people that traveling during low or shoulder season can mean lower prices and perks. "For example, whale shark spotting starts in May, as well as surf season for those who like a bit more adventure," she explains. "Just keep in mind that it can get quite rainy during monsoon season so you'll need to plan your itinerary accordingly.”