The

The
epitome of beach luxury, One & Only Reethi Rah rules
the jewelled waters of the Maldives on a private
island so far removed from reality that it commands its own
time zone – locals set their watches an hour ahead of mainland Male
to optimise daytime hours. Reaching the resort requires a transfer
by private yacht. On arrival you’ll be
beckoned by meandering pathways lined with perfumed orchids and
luscious foliage, leading to 6km of pristine beaches and a 30m
infinity
pool that stretches like glass into the sparkling lagoon. If
the Garden of Eden had a beach, this would be it.

Rooms

Each of the 130 villas provides an intimate pocket of luxury,
with high ceilings, two-person bathtubs and expansive verandas.
Beachfront rooms open out onto sandy havens equipped with giant
four-poster day beds and hammocks swaying in the sea breeze, while
ocean villas boast undisturbed sunsets and hammocks suspended above
the water.

What’s for breakfast?

A wake up call that’s worth it, breakfast is served a la carte
in the Reethi restaurant, offering an array of continental classics
alongside energy-boosting fruit smoothies and, of course, a good
old fry up.

How about lunch and dinner?

Grab a bite on one of the muslin-draped daybeds, egg-shaped
rattan swinging chairs or huge beanbags at The Beach Club. With an
all-day resident DJ dishing out laid-back, easy listening, feast on
a menu of fresh seafood, sushi and beachside snacks. For dinner,
head to the twinkling lanterns of Tapasake, a Japanese restaurant
where we recommend opting for “omakase” which means “I will leave
it up to you” – and by you we mean Nobu-trained chefs. Wash it down
with sake which was created exclusively for the resort. If you’re
after something healthy, hit up Botanica, a 100% organic farm-to-fork
restaurant beneath the canopy of a banyan tree, while a
brilliantly British complimentary afternoon tea is served daily at
The Lawn Club.

Is there a bar?

Of course. Kick off your wedges and go barefoot to the Fandith,
which means “magic” in Dhivehi. Tucked away on the northern tip of
the island, this Arabian hideaway is the place to indulge in
post-dinner shisha and tropical tipples.

Amenities

A state-of-the-art fitness centre with beachside boxing bags and
personal trainers will help keep motivation levels high. But we
preferred to cure our jetlag at the nature-inspired spa, complete
with crystal steam rooms and a healing watsu pool.

Things you should know

If next-level luxury and staff catering to your every whim
leaves you feeling flustered rather than refreshed, this might not
be the place for you.

Within a short walk you will find…

Why walk when you can swim? Go underwater with the Maldives’s
first National Geographic PADI Dive, or help the ecosystem by
replanting coral.