After closing in May 2024 for a multimillion-dollar renovation, the W Maldives is ready to welcome guests back with the perfect balance of serene relaxation and ocean adventure.
The resort’s 77 villas have been completely reimagined by the Miaja Design Group with the island nation’s natural beauty top of mind. For instance, the overwater bungalows incorporate the playful spots of whale sharks, while the beach villas pay homage to the local mangrove swamps.
Some new accommodations have been added, too. The Supreme Overwater Two-Bedroom Villas and Oasis Overwater Two-Bedroom Villas offer expansive living spaces and private pools to accommodate large groups, and two new Oasis Two-Bedroom Beach Villas feature waterslides connecting the second floor to the private pool.
But the guest rooms weren’t the hotel’s only features to get facelifts. The resort’s five dining venues have also been revamped by EDG Design, with a focus on combining local ingredients and the island’s cultural heritage into “a journey through global flavors.”
You can dine over the Indian Ocean at the ocean-to-table Fish restaurant, or with sand between your toes at beachside smokehouse Fire. Other venues offer a breakfast buffet, international favorites and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) cuisine.
Taking cues from the islands’ two types of vacation vibe — relaxation and adventure — the W Maldives will continue to offer a range of activities, like fitness classes, boat trips to the resort’s private island and guided snorkeling excursions at the house reef. The property is also planning a series of pop-up dining experiences throughout the year, each featuring a different world-renowned chef.
Although the W Maldives welcomes guests of all ages, it seems particularly suited to couples and friend groups. The Away Spa offers four overwater couples’ treatment rooms, each equipped with its own steam facility. For guests seeking nightlife, Wet Deck serves up drinks, light bites and beats courtesy of the Maldives’ only music curator. Those traveling as a family, though, will be thrilled to find that during the daytime, kiddos can enjoy the Wet Deck’s focal point, a sculptural Splinterworks waterslide complete with built-in jets to keep it cool beneath the island sun.
According to a company press release, the W Maldives’ renovation “incorporates eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices throughout its design and operations.” The resort is working toward an ambitious goal of being self-sustaining by 2026. To this end, it is home to one of the Maldives’ largest biogas plants and a garden that provides some of the ingredients for the dining venues.
Rates start at $1,093 per night for a Superior Overwater One-Bedroom Villa with a private pool and buffet breakfast for two guests daily. The same room with the all-inclusive W All Access package costs $1,590 per night.
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Award nights start as low as 80,500 Marriott Bonvoy points, and there is plenty of availability at this price over the coming months.
Whether you book with cash or points, don’t forget to factor the cost of Marriott’s resort fees, seaplane transfers and the Maldives’ departure tax into your trip budget.
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