These Are 5 of the Most Luxurious Hotels in the Maldives

With a priority place on most bucket lists and one of the highest concentrations of luxury brands on the planet, the Maldives is the ultimate destination for discerning travelers in search of paradise. And if your idea of paradise is (like almost everyone else’s) white sand, palm trees, tropical temperatures, bright blue skies (until it’s time for a dramatic sunset) and being marooned on a tiny desert island, the Maldives is the archipelago state for you.

The country has 1,200 coral islands and sandbars, grouped together in atolls, with 200 or so inhabited. As well as being the dream beach destination, it’s also an excellent place to snorkel and scuba dive—many hotels have their own PADI centers—and to surf or windsurf.

The islands also host underwater spas and restaurants, over-water villas and bedrooms with slides leading straight into the sea—it’s not hard to see why the country is popular with honeymooners.

Castaway hopefuls should note that, these days, the desert islands around here offer unprecedented levels of luxury. The remote coral islets are home to some of the finest resorts in the world—and here are five of our favorite ones.