Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, 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.

A new resort located in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, one of the more remote and pristine atolls in the Southern most reaches of the Maldives. The resort opened in May 2019 starting with the Beach accommodation, followed later by the Overwater accommodation.

Access is by domestic flight from Male airport to the local airport, Kaadedhdhoo, where you will then be met and transferred by speedboat to the resort.


The resort offers a wide range of Villas:

- Beach Villa
- Overwater Villa
- Sunset Overwater Villa
- Beach Residence
- Overwater Residence
- Sunset Overwater Residence
- Raffles Royal Residence

Dining options include

Thari - all day dining restaurant
The Firepit - BBQ Restaurant
Yuzu, Nikkei Cuisine - Overwater Restaurant
Long Bar - Champagnes served at an island interpretation of the legendary Raffles Singapore Long Bar
Yapa Sunset Bar - Overwater Bar serving beverages of South America and Japan alongside a menu of light bites

Raffles Spa - offering a wide range of treatments, ancient rituals that seek to heal, sooth, nourish and uplift.