JW Marriott Maldives
This was our first time visiting the Maldives, so of course we were looking for how we could get the full paradise experience! There are over 150+ resorts to choose from, which can seem overwhelming at first, but after doing some research we decided to try JW Marriott Maldives as it seemed like a real magical way to experience the island nation. Located on its own private island almost 2 kilometers long, its one of the largest lagoons in the whole country. They also have some of the most unique and beautiful overwater and beach bungalows, equipped with private plunge pools, expansive interior and even options with a loft! They also have amazing 5-star dining offerings and a world class spa that help to balance wellness and health with a relaxing luxury stay. All in all, we thought it sounded like an island dream come true!
BEST TIME TO VISIT MALDIVES
High Season falls between December and February. This is the dry season in Maldives, which means a lot of sunshine and not much rain. And of course with end of year holidays, the prices can be at their highest.
Low Season is from May to November. This is going to be the rainy season in the Maldives. This means more rainfall than the rest of the year, but still some opportunities for sunshine. We visited in June and found sunny days for our whole 2 week visit (though a cyclone had passed only one month prior). Visiting during this time means lower rates and much less crowds. Another bonus is that the marine life is most vibrant during the rainy season!
Shoulder Season is during the months of March to April. These months will be the ideal time to visit Maldives. You won’t have to battle crowds or high season prices, but still be able to enjoy good weather and tranquil atmosphere without all the people. Do note that prices will be up around the Easter holiday! We always recommend, if you can, trying to visit any place during the shoulder season.
TRAVELING DURING COVID
*Note* all information is current at time of writing in July 2021. Please check the Maldives Tourism website at https://visitmaldives.com/en for the most up to date information on travel requirements.
All travelers need to present a negative PCR test upon arrival (even if you have been vaccinated). You will have to fill out a Traveler Health Declaration Form within 24 hours of arrival to the Maldives (https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/). Additionally, some resorts will require a PCR test prior to arrival to their specific island. So if you are planning to travel between resorts during your trip, be sure to plan ahead. Most resorts offer onsite testing! And if you need to be tested before you return to your home country, you can receive the tests on site at your resort.
AIRPORT TRANSFER / ARRIVAL
Flights in the Maldives are different from anything we have seen before. They have an intricate system of coordinating the world’s largest fleet of seaplanes, and somehow everyone gets where they need to go when they need to be there. We chose to fly with one of the main seaplane companies, Trans Maldivian Airways.
What makes this whole process unique, is that you don’t book with Trans Maldivian Airways directly. You will coordinate your arrival/departure times with the resort and they will handle the booking for you. This is especially impressive when transferring between resorts, as you will likely have to return back to Male, and then hop on another seaplane or boat transfer to your next resort. You find out the night before what time your flight is going to be the next day.
And of course the coolest thing about it, was flying in a seaplane! The views of Maldives from above are unrivaled and never ceased to amaze.
*TIP – sit at the front of the plane if possible. There is no AC in the cabin, but the cooling fans are located at the front and you get a really amazing view into the cockpit to watch the pilots control the plane. It makes you feel like your on your own private plane with just you and the pilots.
Upon arrival to the Male International Airport, we were greeted by a JW Marriott representative and were escorted to the Marriott waiting lounge before boarding our domestic seaplane flight. This was a really nice touch because the lounge had A/C, fast Wi-Fi, and cold drinks. We then were escorted to the seaplane that flew us to Shaviyani Atoll, where JW Marriott is located. The flight itself only took about 1 hour, but was probably the most enjoyable 1 hour flight of our lives with the incredible views of the reef and vibrant turquoise water. And this was just a small taste of what we were about to experience!
ACCOMMODATION
There are a variety of options to choose from, but to be honest, there are no bad views on the island. Whether it is an overwater bungalow or secluded beachfront oasis, you can choose between having a sunrise view or sunset view. They even offer duplex options which have larger footprints to accommodate families (up to 6 people). Fortunately, we were able to experience both a Beach Pool Villa and an Overwater Bungalow. And if you plan to stay a few days or a week, we’d recommend you try splitting up your time because each is their own unique experience.
BEACH Pool VILLA
Equipped with its own private pool and outdoor shower, this hidden spot opens right up onto the soft white sand and massive lagoon. We had our own loungers and thatch umbrella to relax under during the day, outdoor showers and enjoyed the privacy of our pool and hangout area. The pools in the beach villas are larger than that of the overwater option, and you also have the ocean just feet away so you get the best of both worlds. The interior is spacious with high ceilings and expansive bathrooms. We also enjoyed being on the beach because of the short walking distance to the restaurants and spa.
OVERWATER Pool Villa
A very similar footprint to the Beach Pool Villa, the Overwater Pool Villa also has the expansive living space and private pool. The dock stands over the azure waters and is the perfect spot to relax on a sunny afternoon while listening to the waves roll by. These villas also include an outdoor shower and of course a ladder into the ocean if you want to take a swim! The floor to ceiling windows invite a lot of natural light during the day and offer great views of the gorgeous lagoon. The terrace has two sun loungers and is a perfect spot to relax after swimming in the pool or in the lagoon. Though we enjoyed both, the overwater bungalow will always be our favorite as there is just nothing like waking up directly over the ocean and jumping right into the lagoon for a morning dip.
RESTAURANTS
JW Marriott Maldives offers an eclectic variety of dining options to satisfy any appetite. Ranging from Japanese, Thai, Italian, Grill, and fresh Seafood fare, the restaurants were all fantastic.
In the mornings, they typically offer a breakfast buffet which is freshly prepared and delicious. It includes fresh local fruit juices and international dishes as well as the typical fresh fruit, omelet station, and other foods. While we were there during Covid, the buffet was suspended and we enjoyed a la carte breakfast meals which were very tasty.
Aailaa – Serving both local Maldivian and international cuisine, this restaurant offers all-day dining and has a beautiful terrace overlooking the lagoon. Located in the heart of Aailaa is the resort’s renowned Wine Room. With over 1,620 bottles and 320 labels of wine, the selection is remarkable and offers fun tasting experience.
Kaashi – Built up into the tree tops, this authentic Thai restaurant was one of the best Thai experiences we have had outside of Thailand! The chef hails from Thailand and cooks straight from her mother’s recipe book. Only open for lunch, this hideaway is a perfect spot to enjoy the afternoon breeze while taking in stunning panoramic views. Rum Baan is a rustic bar tucked up into the trees offering a selection of 98 signature rums and a bar tender who will make you your own customized cocktail.
Fiamma – Located poolside, Fiamma is the resident Italian restaurant serving anything from pizza to pasta and everything in between. Tropical drinks are sold at the Horizon Bar next to the pool. They even have fun swinging bar seats!
Hashi – The show is just as good as the food at this teppanyaki spot. We sat at the bar and watched first hand as the talented chef masterfully prepared our meals for the evening. Complete with classic Japanese décor, this overwater location is ideal for a date night out. On the terrace, Wabi Sabi serves the Japanese-inspired and signature smoked cocktail drinks.
Shio – Located immediately next to Hashi, Shio’s kitchen produces fresh seafood and meats grilled to perfection. The two share a stunning overwater terrace perfectly positioned for a romantic dinner under the stars.
Floating Breakfast – No trip to Maldives is complete without a floating breakfast at your private pool in suite. They take your order the night before and you wake up to this dreamy array of breakfast goodness.
Private Romantic Dinner - If you are looking to celebrate something special, or just want an unforgettable night on the beach, you can arrange to have your own special beach set up for a sunset dinner. They really go all out in the Maldives with candles, lanterns, flowers, and everything you could imagine to make you feel like your walking out into your own little beach fairy tale.
Amenities
SPA by JW
If relaxing on the pristine beaches of this remote island is not enough, you can find a calm tranquil escape in the Spa by JW. With its own overwater bungalow treatment rooms, the spa offers services including body scrubs, body wraps, eye treatments, couple’s massages, steam room, hair & scalp treatments, and paraffin hand treatments. What we enjoyed most was the ritual of choosing our own oil for the massage treatment. They bring over all the scents for you to choose from and then have you smell each, to see which type of massage your body needs, ranging from restful and relaxing to energizing and rejuvenating oils.
CHILDCARE
Known as one of the top resorts for families in the Maldives, JW Marriott Maldives provides an extensive kid’s club that handles the youngsters all day long with a variety of daily activities. They have a full kids activity center complete with separate pool and even a pirate ship. They offer babysitting services upon request.
DIVE & WATER SPORTS CENTER
The Maldives is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in the world. The rich marine life is not to be missed during a stay at JW Marriott Maldives. Watersports activities include jetski, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, banana boat, kite-surfing and many other fun activities. You can also book day excursions to see various wildlife up close such as dolphin watching or snorkeling in neighboring lagoons.
POOLS
On top of the private pools in your villa, JW Maldives has a couple other pools to enjoy on the island. You can check out the quiet adults-only pool at Pool 18. Or you can opt to hang out at the family friendly Horizon Pool located at the heart of the island with an incredible look out to the blue Laccadive Sea.
BEACH
The main beach on the western side of the island is one of the largest stretches of beach in the Maldives. The water stays shallow only for a little bit before becoming deeper. On the eastern side of the island, they have a man made barrier set up so the bay is extremely calm no matter the weather and the water is ultra clear. This is where we did our stand up paddle boarding and hung out for the day just floating in the still, clear, waist deep lagoon.
Island
The island itself was very lush and green with a lot of different types of jungle plants and flowers. The pathways were beautifully manicured, but still gave us that really authentic feeling of being on a tropical island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. We felt like it really helped to establish a peaceful and relaxing energy to our stay, as we were constantly surrounded by the beauty of nature everywhere we turned.
SERVICE
One of the highlights of our stay was having our own butler or ‘Thakuru’ service. Naaish was the name of our butler and we could reach him at anytime through WhatsApp. He was always ready with a golf cart to pick us up and take us where we wanted to go, or tips of how to make our stay even that much more relaxing and peaceful. Indeed, the island is walkable, and we recommend walking often, but sometimes it is just nice to ride in the golf cart ;). No matter where we were on the property, we were greeted with a smile, and the Marriott team was keen to make our stay as easy-going as possible. They even would surprise us with small unexpected surprises such as special drinks during meals or plates of fresh fruit and chocolates in our room. We were very impressed with the 5-star level of service provided at JW Marriott Maldives.
As can be expected from Marriott’s top tier properties, JW Marriott Maldives is the quintessential Maldivian getaway that maintains Marriott’s core values. This unforgettable stay was a perfect relaxing escape and a chance to reconnect and enjoy this tropical paradise. It was designed to anticipate every need and we were extremely happy with our stay here!