Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi

Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi

There will probably be a few more in years to come, but the Island Hideaway will always be able to claim it hosted the Maldives' first marina - and it's going to take some beating.

It's a no brainer really, as this sort of facility is exactly what the archipelago was created for. On shore, two magnificent (even by local standards) beaches bracket the resort itself, whose complement of suites, residences, villas and retreats is capped by seven pavilions, which are in turn surpassed by a brace of palaces (no hyperbole), one facing the sunrise and the other the sunset.

The resort also boasts the largest selection of malt whisky in the Indian Ocean, and the rest of its cellar more than complements the kitchen's succulent produce.

Work off the calories with some water sports, snorkelling or simply let a therapist assist you at the spa, which has two treatment villas hovering over the lagoon. Bliss is an understatement!