Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

South Male·Speedboat(40 min)·119 villas·$1,800 – $4,500/ night·South of Malé(27 km)

8.2out of 10

RatingExcellent

Our Take

Best for travelers who want a highly polished ultra-luxury Maldives stay with exceptional villas, dining, and easy speedboat access, and who care more about the resort experience than house reef snorkeling.

4.9/5(1,160 reviews)

4.7/5(550 reviews)

Who Is This Resort For?

Ideal For

honeymooners wanting polished privacy without a seaplane
couples prioritizing standout villas and resort design
travelers who treat dining as a major part of the trip
guests wanting a large-choice resort with plenty to do
families or groups wanting space plus easy access from Male

Not Ideal For

snorkelers choosing mainly for a strong house reef
travelers seeking a rustic natural-island feel
guests chasing the Maldives' darkest night skies
value-led bookers sensitive to ultra-luxury pricing

Category Breakdown

Natural Beauty

Accommodation

Experience

Practical

Aesthetic & Reputation

What Guests Say

Praise

warm, highly attentive service throughout the stay
spacious, beautifully finished villas that feel indulgent
excellent dining variety for a longer stay
gorgeous calm lagoon scenery around the resort
smooth speedboat arrival compared with more remote resorts

Notes

snorkeling is limited compared with reef-led Maldives resorts
the man-made setting feels more designed than naturally wild
pricing can feel steep once expectations are set at this level
the resort can feel expansive rather than intimate to some guests

What Makes It Special

Dining Depth

Few Maldives resorts offer this much breadth and quality in dining. It suits travelers who do not want meals to blur together after a few days, which is a common issue even at expensive properties.

Villa-Led Luxury

This is a resort people often choose for the accommodation itself, not just the island. The villa experience is a major part of the appeal, with a level of space and polish that stands out even in the ultra-luxury tier.

Easy Ultra-Luxury Access

Getting here by speedboat from Male is a real differentiator at this level. It delivers a high-end stay without the extra seaplane leg, which matters after a long international journey or on shorter trips.

Things to Consider

Worth Noting

This is more of a lagoon-and-resort-experience destination than a reef-first Maldives escape.
The setting is polished and purpose-built, so travelers wanting a more organic castaway feel may prefer a natural island resort.
With its scale and number of villas, it feels more like a full-service luxury complex than a tiny barefoot island retreat.
A 40-minute speedboat is convenient by Maldives standards, but it is still not an instant arrival after a long flight.