Paradise Found: An Exclusive Insight Into This Luxury Private Resort

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi welcomes a breathtaking new luxury…

Were part-way through a tour of the newest and largest private island in the Maldives, the marketing team are eagerly explaining dimensions of villas and infinity pools but my brain has left the conversation and escaped into a dream world where I’m assigning the spectacular rooms to members of my friends and family. I’m struggling to decide whether I want my nephews or my in-laws in the tropical three-bed beach villa, furthest from my own luxe room in the stunning two-bed overwater villa. Suddenly, a question from my hosts jolts me back into the real world; one where my family is still only accessible by Zoom.

Escape at the two-bed overwater villa on the private island 

It’s easy to escape here, more mentally than physically for most, owing to the approximate $75,000 a night price-tag, but if I had the money – this is where I’d spend my dollars and much-desired family time. Luckily, I’m here for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, as the first journalist in the world to experience Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi – The Private Island, albeit minus my extended family. My plus one and I are actually spending four nights on the main Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi resort – just a five-minute speedboat ride away, which means the elite private-island guests still have easy access to all the facilities there too, should they wish to swap the majestic peace and solitude of their private bolt-hole for the buzz of humans outside of their own travelling group.

Majestic views over the treehouse-style dining at Terra on the main resort

Not that Ithaafushi – The Private Island is a place to get easily bored: long stretches of white beaches are rich with sea-life for snorkelling, the hi-tech gym, steam room and sauna all look out onto a peaceful, turquoise Indian Ocean, as does the spectacular yoga pavilion, with its 360 ̊ views of paradise. The wellness theme continues at the private island’s own boutique overwater spa villa, where a glass floor lets guests enjoy the colourful parrot fish, reef sharks, turtles and rays that frequent the crystal-clear water, as they face down in the massage bed. At the centre of the three accommodation units, which also includes a four-bed residence, each room with beach access and outdoor jacuzzi, sits the Haali – meaning ‘the nest’ in Dhivehi, which is the design masterpiece that is the community hub of the island.

One-bed overwater villa on the main island 

Set amongst botanical gardens with both contemporary indoor areas and decked outdoor terraces, Haali is home to the main dining and party area, where a grand, buffet-style breakfast is served every morning, a well-stocked coffee bar, as well as a conventional bar, and DJ booth- cum-live band stage skirt the edges of the space, while one side of the space opens up to provide panoramic views of the ocean, modern decking area and the luxe infinity pools. The games room next door doubles as a cinema space and second dining area with futuristic-feel furnishings that lose none of the comfort factor. The decor here is inline with the villas – modern, relaxing and incredibly inviting: large open areas and  floor-to-ceiling windows throughout allow for a light and airy atmosphere, and a frame to the best views that money can buy.

Mini yoga pavillion on the private island

The private island really is an undisturbed paradise, but guests who want even more in activities and dining can easily head to the main island, where we stayed in one of the staggeringly impressive overwater villas – one of 119 all-pool villas. The breathtaking interiors house a glass floor section like the spa villa, luxe indoor and outdoor showers as well as impressive bedroom and living areas, but the pièce de résistance is the decked terrace. Our infinity pool overlooks an active reef for snorkelling and we count at least 20 different places to sit amongst the two swinging beds, four loungers, two comfy sofa seats, two dinner tables and chairs, and two net hammocks that hang directly over the sea.

When it came to dining, the options are just as numerous. We were lucky enough to enjoy a floating breakfast, and a BBQ lunch of the  fish we caught on our sunset  fishing trip the night before – both at the villa, and both exquisite in terms of taste and experience, as well as nearly all of the private of the 11 restaurants. Standout favourite for wow factor is the treehouse dining at Terra, the only hand-crafted bamboo dining pods in the Maldives. The luscious lobster and Miyazaki Wagyu Beef are a must.

Top view of the Haali, the design masterpiece that is the community hub of the island

For those after something healthier, Glow’s menu is made with fresh herbs and vegetables from the island’s garden. We dined on Free Range Chicken Lemongrass Curry – so good it felt like a guilt-free cheat day. Li Long is the island’s Chinese offering, where the sumptuous Beijing Duck with pancakes rules the roost. The Tasting Table offers both à la carte and buffet-style breakfast, while Nava with its live DJs, water sports and a white-sand beach is the fuss-free option for lunches of everything from pizza, tacos and delicious reef-fish salads. 

The Ledge, courtesy of chef Dave Pynt of Michelin-decorated Burnt Ends in Singapore, is home to rich, clever dishes that can be enjoyed by all ages. Don’t leave without trying the Oysters with Lime, the Eggplant and Miso and the Blackmore’s Wagyu steak. The Ledge also offers a wellness lunch, which the resort had thoughtfully sandwiched between our couple’s Balinese massage and an afternoon of aerial yoga with the visiting yogi, an unforgettable experience set out on a pavilion amidst crashing waves. There probably isn’t a better place to hang upside down. 

Four bedroom residences

And it’s here that I see the real beauty of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi: I feel a rare peace and joy in isolation and solitude, a feeling that pandemic-induced lockdowns have made many of us fear.The world has changed, and with it the meaning of luxury travel: it’s not enough for destinations to be the biggest, the most exclusive, the most expensive, although the private island does tick most of these boxes, travel also needs to provide a safe nostalgia. The white sands and turquoise seas need to wow our senses but equally, the destination needs to help us forget what we fear, and remember what we dearly loved about leaving the safety of our homes with our families in tow. It means taking off your face covering as you board the Ithaafushi Princess Yacht that leaves Male Airport and feeling totally safe as you sail towards a mask-free sanctuary where you can truly start to refresh.

Image courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Maldives 

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s February 2021 issue