A romantic destination conjures images of an isolated tropical island where natural beauty and seclusion know no bounds. In the Maldives, there are 1,200 of them in a chain, all less than one metre high and only a couple of kilometres long. Honeymooners walk hand in hand on white beaches or together explore azure waters with reefs teeming with exotic marine life. This is what awaits in the South Male Atoll, a haven of tropical splendour, and where you’ll be in one of the country’s most glamorous resorts, the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.

An ariel view of the resort reveals a sea serpent of wooden chalets, bungalows, and duplexes that extend from the land streaming over the lagoon and the coral reef across three islands. This magnificent sight is juxtaposed against the swirl of turquoise, aqua and blue – mixed like paint on an artists’ palette and surrounded by the rich deep blue ocean. There are 122 luxury properties in all.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi brought Hilton’s grandest brand of hotels to the Maldives in 2019, and it became the first luxury resort to debut near the Maldivian capital city of Malé in the last decade. Five-star treatment begins at Velana International airport, where guests are led by Waldorf Astoria concierge to a private yacht and handed a glass of champagne and canopies for the 40-minute trip to the resort.

To make the stay effortless, each residence is assigned a private butler to cater to guests’ smallest whim throughout their stay. But the real showstopper is the hire of a private island that exists for exclusive large groups of up to 15. It is a popular choice of royalty and celebrities who choose the top tier 32,000 sqm Ithaafushi private island, reachable only by yacht for its privacy. This respite is a favourite of Columbian pop songstress Shakira and her Spanish international footballer partner Gerard Piqué who recently visited for a family holiday with their children. A two-bedroom overwater villa steps down into the ocean and there are two four and three-bedroom beach residences. Serviced by private chefs and a personal concierge team, the island has its own spa, gym, entertainment centre with a cinema, five swimming pools and a pristine secluded beach.

The Stella Maris one-bedroom duplex units are built into the sea and offer posh travellers a private residence. At 536 sqm, each sea house floats in blissful isolation on the lagoon, reachable only by dhoni boat. Visitors can then ascend to the roof via a spiral staircase onto a deck complete with an al fresco dining area, private barbecue grill, bar and yoga platform. On the lower deck is a jacuzzi and infinity pool, with a net hammock over the sea. Ocean views are best enjoyed at sundown when guests can lie back in the swinging hammock or on a recliner by the infinity pool with a cocktail in hand ready to drink in the mesmerising Maldivian sunset. When juxtaposed against the dramatic Indian Ocean backdrop, the tropical breeze scented by coconut adds an especially exotic air.

Couples on a romantic getaway enter into the open-plan water villa decorated in a neutral palette – white, gold, beige and brown – surrounded by swathes of marble and glass. Floor to ceiling windows invites in light and views of the ocean. Everything from the switch of a light, turning on the air con and the drawing of curtains is all controlled from guests’ iPads. A glass-bottomed floor in the dressing area allows well-heeled guests to slip on their Hermes sandals while tropical fish dart beneath their feet.

On the island shores, beach residences such as the King Villa are nestled in the jungle. Inside is the same as the others, only smaller at 234 sqm and it has jungle views. In this mini Garden of Eden, guests can lie in a hammock enjoying blissful days beneath palm trees and occasionally taking a dip in the private pool.

In all properties, huge egg-shaped bathtubs made for two are positioned by patio doors so honeymooners can enjoy either a breathtaking ocean panorama or garden views as they soak in rose petalled water.

Paradise for Foodies

Pre-dinner, honeymooners can enjoy legendary cocktails at the Peacock Alley bar adjacent to the lobby with incredible ocean views. For dinner, every desire is served at Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi. The resort offers the largest range of culinary options in the country with 11 speciality restaurants.

At Terra Treetop Restaurant, guests relish the exotic dining experience amongst the jungle canopy in one of seven interconnected bamboo pods shaped like circular bird nests. They perch above the islands palm trees where a grand gastronomic journey awaits with dishes such as Hiyazake Wagyu beef and Alba white truffles, accompanied by bottomless glasses of Krug Champagne.

Meanwhile, fine cheese and wines can be found underground in a rustic wine cellar cave called the Rock. Its vault holds an incredible 750,000 bottles and offers tasting opportunities around a 200-year-old Australian timber table.

Michelin-starred Dave Pynt, of Burnt Ends Singapore fame, offers an elegant poolside bar and grill at The Ledge, grilling the finest seafood freshly caught by local fishermen – the lobster rolls are delicious. The Australian has imported a four-tonne kiln brick oven from Singapore to grill, smoke and bake meats to perfection.

Other restaurant options include Middle Eastern, Chinese and decadent meals such as lobster for two, served in your villa.

Spa facilities and sustainable living

The Waldorf Astoria spa has 10 treatment villas offering meditation, yoga classes and lavish therapies to create pure relaxation. The 90-minute Starlight Ocean Massage invites guests to drift away to ocean sounds under a sky full of stars, while the Himalayan salt massage draws away impurities. A Carol Joy facial uses 24-carat gold to calm and hydrate the skin or visitors can choose a caviar and algae facial. After spa time, beauty, hair and makeup experts are on hand to make guests look glamorous again.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is environmentally focused as well, and eliminates single-use plastics to limit its impact on the local marine life. As the Maldives represent the ‘one island, one resort’ philosophy, the resort produces its own still and sparkling water onshore. A resident marine biologist educates guests about underwater life and a coral adoption program.

Families with small children will love the Waldorf Astoria Young Discovery Park with its range of water activities. It is a resort renowned for allowing visitors to unplug, but it also has plenty of activities for all ages from mocktail classes, pizza making, dance lessons, photography tips, fishing trips, badminton tournaments, and night volleyball games. Alternatively, guests can learn to dive at the combined water sport and PADI dive centre.

Each day guests at Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi live out a Robinson Crusoe fantasy, swinging on a hammock between palm trees on the beach with a panorama of fifty shades of blue as far as the eye can behold. Sundowns are magical in the Maldives as the sun dips below the horizon, the sky painting it yellow and orange. It is true to say the Maldives is the personification of paradise on earth, especially at Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi.