W Maldives

Maldives, Indian Ocean

Star rating

The hotel

A luxurious retreat, the W triumphs yet again with spectacular accommodation in an idyllic location. There are various room options to choose from, each and every one of them truly special with private plunge pools a feature as well as sumptuous island views. Treat yourself to an over-water retreat, complete with glass panelled flooring to admire the ocean below you. Whichever you choose, you’re only a stone’s throw from the beach, which boasts not only glorious white sands but a whole range of water sports to get your teeth into. Swim with hammerhead sharks and manta rays on a diving expedition or explore the endless turquoise waters on a kayak or canoe. There’s also big game fishing if you fancy catching dinner! If you don’t, there are several restaurants to choose from, including Fish, the resort’s signature seafood restaurant and Fire for barbecue delights. Wet is part swim-up bar and part poolside lounge gone gourmet with wood-fired pizza, creative salads and Asian cuisine on the menu alongside exotic cocktails. 

Amenities

  • Scuba Diving
  • Snorkelling
  • Honeymoon
  • Bar
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Internet Access
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Beachfront location

Where is it

On Fesdu Island in the middle of the North Ari Atoll. Transfer time from Malé International Airport: 30 minutes by seaplane (remember to pack light for the seaplane transfer as luggage allowance is 20kg plus 5kg hand luggage, per person).

Hotel information

78 retreats, all with W Maldives' signature style, luxury and personality. All beach and overwater bungalows and villas feature complimentary WiFi, coffee/tea maker, private terrace and private pool. Fabulous Overwater villas with private pool, and 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Bed & Breakfast: includes daily breakfast for 2 people at Kitchen Restaurant.

Half Board/Full Board options include: Breakfast and dinner to be taken in the Kitchen Table or Fire restaurant (beverages not included). A set menu is available in Fish, or 20% discount on a la carte dining. In Retreat Dining is available but at a supplement.

Wonderful Beach Oasis, available with 1 king-size bed or 2 queen beds, sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Spectacular Overwater villas with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Wow Ocean Escape - a 2 Bedroom villa sleeping maximum 4 adults. The master bedroom has 1 king-size bed and the second bedroom has 2 queen beds.

Kitchen (all-day dining bistro), Fish (overwater seafood restaurant, dinner), Fire (grill restaurant, dinner), Wet (gourmet poolside bar), Sip (cocktail bar). Kada (beach pop-up café).

WET outdoor infinity pool. SWEAT Fitness Centre*. AWAY Spa*. WAVE - in house water sports centre includes free snorkelling equipment. House reef. DOWN UNDER dive centre*. Private Island Escape* (reserve the island of Gaathafushi for the day, or for an overnight ‘Robinson Crusoe’ experience). ESCAPE* (W Maldives’ own private sailing yacht with two cabins, lounge, and stunning deck).

Room service*. Complimentary WiFi access.

* Denotes local charge.

Please note: to ensure our customer's safety, we are unable to offer over water accommodation to children under the age of 12.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (1698)
  • Very good (134)
  • Average (36)
  • Poor (20)
  • Terrible (32)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating a good trip

Jun 30, 2025 HUI J

An absolutely wonderful trip! All the staff were very friendly. This place is where I have some beautiful memories. I will miss it often and recommend it to my friends.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Amazing experience

Jun 28, 2025 Pratham M

Amazing hotel, the staff was very accommodating to all our needs. We had an amazing experience over here and we’re definitely going to come back
Image of the Tripadvisor rating W Maldives - Truly a slice of paradise and counting down the days till we return.

Jun 24, 2025 AshSomMerci Singapore, Singapore

My wife and I had high expectations of W Maldives, and never once were we let down by the actual product - and the people that made it happen. We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary and my wife's belated birthday. While every staff member at W made our stay memorable with their warm smiles and personalized greetings, we would like to present… Read more
My wife and I had high expectations of W Maldives, and never once were we let down by the actual product - and the people that made it happen. We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary and my wife's belated birthday. While every staff member at W made our stay memorable with their warm smiles and personalized greetings, we would like to present a special shout-out to the following talents: - Bisha our coordinator, who took care of our every need, responded to our queries within seconds and made program / transport arrangements. We appreciated her assistance in securing our dinner reservations and - for the beautiful gesture of nightly decorations on the bed and handwritten birthday / anniversary cards for my wife and me. The personal gifts on our last day were a pleasant surprise and one that we have put to good use. - Bianca from reservations, who patiently addressed all our queries prior to making our reservation. Her professionalism and knowledge made our decision to stay with W much easier. - Claire the F&B Director, who was present in all dining venues at all meal services, we enjoyed speaking with Claire and her presence was a sign of mgmt. commitment to excellence. - Sandra the assistant F&B director, who surprised us with a "sushi cake" during our dinner on our last evening alongside the beautiful table decoration and set-up. Sandra shared with us her journey / aspirations and her commitment to excellence was evident during her shifts working the floor and interacting with guests with a smile always on her face. - Serene and Lynn from F&B, whom we had countless chats with during mealtimes - sharing their stories and ensuring that our every request was taken care of. From offering recommendations on the buffet to remembering our seating and dining preferences, both Serene and Lynn displayed warm and friendly service, while staying professional, and we thoroughly enjoyed our interactions with them. - Alip and Nihal from F&B, from whom we learnt so much on Maldivian culture and cuisine. Both Alip and Nihal proudly shared their stories of local islands they were from and how they ended up working with W, and we were happy listening to their stories. - Tengei the wine sommelier, who recommended us a nice bottle of wine for dinner at Fire, we appreciated his knowledge on wines and his warm and friendly disposition. - John the Aquaman, who shared with us his knowledge on the house reef, tips on snorkeling and defogging the masks. We took his advice and spotted the resident turtle "BOP". - Ishaan, Muhey, Arjit and Shakeel, the fine gentlemen at Wet deck, who made such good cocktails and mocktails for us. Customizing the level of alcohol as we prefer a lighter drink, conjuring their personal creations (should go on the menu) and offering icicles in the pool. They noticed us playing pool outside the gym during mid-day and brought us still and sparkling iced water (remembering our preference) - which was a small but very thoughtful gesture. - Manil, W's photographer, who took us to his favourite spots and the ones we requested. Manil was very patient during the session and the end result was a beautiful picture that we placed on our bedside table - a fitting memory of our wonderful experience in W Maldives. - Last but not least, Chef Wasantha and his culinary team, who ensured the food was of top-quality and every dish meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. We appreciated his kind gesture of offering us some kimchi to pair with the fried rice, and the plate of mangoes when my wife mentioned she likes them. Absolutely no issues with the food provided, in terms of quality, quantity, presentation and taste. Now, for the actual review: Arrival desk at Velana Airport. - The friendly W staff (I apologise for not getting their names) calmly explained the seaplane process and within minutes, we were whisked away in a W minibus to relax in the seaplane lounge prior to taking the 20-minute flight to W Maldives. - Check-in was done in the lounge and the spread/quality of food and drinks were more than adequate for us. Arrival at W Maldives. - We were greeted by the entire management team, with every HOD addressing the guests and explaining their role in the resort. This gave us further assurance on W's commitment to making every guest's stay - a magical experience. - After a refreshing local-inspired welcome drink (your preference for alcoholic / non-alcoholic will be asked beforehand) and a cold towel to freshen up, we were introduced to our coordinator and given a tour round the island in a buggy, before being dropped off in our villa. Room. - We booked a superior overwater villa and got upgraded to a premier overwater villa. - The rooms were newly renovated 2 months ago and everything was spotless, the architecture and design was very "W" and matched the overall vibe of the resort. - The rooms were not only aesthetically pleasing, but highly functional as well. - There was a welcome card by the resort's GM, Mr. Amila - a bottle of Prosecco and a tower of sweet and savoury treats on the table. - The external deck was well maintained, and we had no worries walking around barefoot. Snorkeling. - One of the main reasons we booked W Maldives - was for its natural house reef that was very accessible from the beach / spa / sip bar and teeming with all sorts of marine life and corals. - The house reef is situated in very close proximity to the beach (probably around 30 meters out). - The house reef is clearly demarcated with buoys and the dive center's staff explained to us the best route to take which was 100% spot-on. - Equipment provided were clean and of high-quality. - We spent 1/4 of our day snorkeling and we saw their resident turtle "BOP" and many varieties of fish and coral that we never knew existed, it was as if we were literally swimming in an aquarium. - We tried snorkeling directly from the steps of our villa, and the experience was just as good as the house reef. Main Pool and gym. - While we were not snorkeling, we found ourselves at the pool - sliding down the metallic water slide - and feeling like kids all over again (we are both 35). - Icicles are handed out around mid-afternoon which provided respite from the tropical heat. - There were more than sufficient numbers of lounge chairs / towels and sunscreen etc. - Gym was well-equipped with new equipment, cleaned regularly and had great views of the trees and ocean. Dining venues. - We were on an all-inclusive package and had dinner at both Fire and Fish. - We were amazed at the freshness of the food noting that almost everything is imported into the Maldives, and we were tucked away on a secluded island. - The Chefs' creativity really stood out (pandan brioche with pistachio butter, charcoal sun-dried focaccia with chilli butter etc.). - Portions were huge (biggest burger we have seen), food was well-seasoned without being salty, and the Chefs were always cooking with a smile. - Food was a close second on our top priorities behind snorkeling when choosing a resort, and W Maldives definitely did not disappoint - in fact they went above and beyond in this aspect. Our short 3-night stay had to come to an end eventually; and as we left the island sun-kissed, well-rested and thoroughly spoiled, we take along with us memories of the kindness of the staff, and the gratefulness for every moment spent in this slice of paradise, and for this, we thank you - W Maldives. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating It's a fabulous honeymoon !!!

Jun 22, 2025 Companion33720516190 Shanghai, China

This trip is fabulous, it's a fantastic journey in my life, I'll give W an Excellent rate, thanks to Callisa, Bisha, Arrow (I think it's the similar pronounce, he is a tall vital guy in water sports center), and all of the professional staff in the W Maldive.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Exceeds High Expectations

Jun 18, 2025 GoPlaces04294885718 Malta

Expectations are always high when you you are dealing with Premium prices but frankly W Maldives delivers in spades. Sea conditions can be a little frisky in June but the island has shelter for the best snorkeling clearly marked. We didn’t undertake any sea based activities this time due to the well but did so last time but mainly as one of us… Read more
Expectations are always high when you you are dealing with Premium prices but frankly W Maldives delivers in spades. Sea conditions can be a little frisky in June but the island has shelter for the best snorkeling clearly marked. We didn’t undertake any sea based activities this time due to the well but did so last time but mainly as one of us doesn’t really have sea legs. Food is amazing across 3 restaurants plus the Wet Deck. Have to single out Dhikko for treating us like royalty as well as John (Aquaman) and Wasantha (Chef at the Kitchen) and Nihal. Last word for Claire - management - always on the lookout to make sure our stay was amazing - it was. Everyone from cleaning, staff, reef, food - flawless. Will we come back for a 3rd time - already saving……. Read less