Raffles Meradhoo Resort, Maldives

Raffles, Accor’s flagship luxury brand, brings a reputation for service and distinctive style to the Maldives. When the acquisition of Meradhoo island was announced we were curious as to how the existing property’s somewhat blingy design language might be tamed to conform to the marketing mantra that each Raffles property is ‘an oasis of calm and charm’ and ‘uniquely, indefinably, sublimely Raffles’. We’re fans of other Raffles hotels but were concerned that there was a risk of ending with a square peg in a round hole.


We shouldn’t have worried. The huge villa interiors have been given a total overhaul, the epitome of understated luxury, with a very personal, ‘home-from-home’ feel – for the Beach Villas, think more Provence, less Dubai. The Over Water Villas, separated from the island by some 800m, are vast, with expansive windows flooding rooms with light and providing magnificent views across the ocean.

A beautiful house reef will delight avid snorkellers. It’s fared better than most in confronting rising ocean temperatures, and we encountered an abundance of varied marine life, and were encouraged by evidence of recovery amongst damaged areas of coral.

Dining options are nicely varied, particularly when considering the resort is catering for less than 40 villas in total. The main restaurant Thari is easy-going, all-day dining, with tables both on and off the beach. Firepit provides a beach BBQ, while Yuzu is a more fine-dining ‘Nikkei’ cuisine, over-water experience. Both bars also offer light bites, and the extensive wine cellar is worth a visit for a tasting.

Service, as we expect from Raffles, is excellent and starts at the airport, where the team do everything possible to make the long journey as effortless as possible. Some are dissuaded by the extra domestic flight to the Southerly Gaafu Atoll, but once you step foot on the luxurious private launch and start your glide across the Indian Ocean it feels entirely worth it. Raffles is a genuine oasis, even by Maldives standards. If you need to jump off the hamster wheel of life for a while and seek laid-back, homely luxury, you won’t go far wrong.