Editorials
I’ve Visited Over 30 Maldives Resorts. Here Are My Favourites
Five Maldives resorts reviewed by our Head of Travel
I’m Jaike, Head of Travel at Out Of Office, the world’s leading LGBTQ+ tour operator. In my role, I’ve made it my business to visit more than fifty Maldives resorts, always with an eye on what actually matters for the clients we send there: the quality of the experience, the warmth of the welcome, and yes, the calibre of the rosé.
When booking a trip to the Maldives, it can be surprisingly difficult to separate one resort from another. Every website promises soft white sands, endless blue lagoons, and overwater villas, and on paper they all begin to blur into one. That’s exactly why first-hand experience matters. Knowing which island truly delivers, which suits which type of couple, and which actually lives up to the promise is what ensures our clients end up somewhere that reflects them, not just a brochure.
The five resorts below are among my personal favourites. They span different budgets, different atmospheres, and different interpretations of what a Maldives trip can be. What they have in common is simple: I would send my own clients to all of them without hesitation. As a gay man travelling with my boyfriend, I felt completely at ease at every single one.
That ease does not happen by accident. The Maldives operates under Sharia law, meaning same-sex relationships are technically illegal. The reality within resorts is very different, but knowing which properties are genuinely welcoming rather than quietly tolerant is not something you can determine from a website. It comes from experience. From sending hundreds of couples there. That’s the difference Out Of Office brings to every booking.
Read on to discover which of these hotels has a “ring for rosé” bell, and which one served me a glass of wine that cost more than my house.
Baros
Baros has been operating since 1973, which makes it one of the original resorts in the Maldives.
With just 75 villas, it remains one of the more intimate properties in the country. Beach villas sit within tropical garden glades with direct sand access. Overwater villas offer expansive timber decks and steps straight into the lagoon, many with private plunge pools. Every villa comes with a dedicated host on call around the clock.
One of the biggest advantages of Baros is how easy it is to reach. It is a short speedboat transfer from Malé, which means no seaplane and no long wait after an international flight. You can realistically be sipping your first cocktail within an hour of landing.
The overwater villas here are among the most private I have stayed in. The house reef is exceptional and accessible directly from the jetty. The Lighthouse restaurant, perched above the lagoon, is one of the best dining experiences I have had anywhere in the Maldives. I had one of the best steaks of my life here, which is no easy feat in a destination better known for seafood.
We were celebrating an anniversary and the team had arranged the table, the flowers, and a handwritten note without being asked. That is the Baros difference.
Best for: Couples who want the Maldives original. Smaller scale, exceptional dining, and a house reef you can step into.
One & Only Reethi Rah
There is a reason this is where celebrities go when they want privacy. One & Only Reethi Rah sits on one of the largest private islands in North Malé Atoll, and the scale gives it a sense of space that is rare even in the Maldives.
The beach villas are vast and feel palatial compared to most other resorts. Ours came with a private pool and a stretch of sand that felt entirely our own. You get around the island by bike, and it can take up to fifteen minutes to cycle from one side to the other. That sense of scale means more restaurants, more beaches, and more ways to spend your time without ever feeling crowded.
The Missoni Beach Club adds another layer. Two of the world’s leading luxury brands come together here in a celebration of colour, design, and relaxed beachside living.
It is the small details that elevate the experience. Beach attendants appear with watermelon water, chilled Evian, and even mini sunscreen bottles. Back in the villa, we had his and his slippers waiting by the bed. Service at this level is rare, even in the finest hotels.
As a same-sex couple, we were treated impeccably from arrival to departure. No awkwardness, no hesitation, no moment where we felt anything other than completely welcome.
I ordered what I thought was a bottle of rosé. It was more than I would usually spend, to put it mildly. Imagine my surprise when I was served a single glass.
Best for: Couples who want the very best and do not want to think about the cost once they arrive.
See your complete itinerary before you decide.
Request a quote →Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa
Le Meridien is a different proposition to the other resorts on this list and I mean that as a compliment. Where One & Only and Baros are about privacy and stillness, Le Meridien has energy. The beach club draws a crowd, the bar has atmosphere in the evenings, and the overall feel is more social than anywhere else I have stayed in the Maldives. My boyfriend loved it. If your idea of a perfect holiday involves meeting other guests over cocktails at sunset rather than avoiding them entirely, this is your resort.
The LGBTQ+ experience here was easy and relaxed. The crowd is international, the vibe is inclusive, and nobody batted an eye. Worth knowing for couples who want the Maldives aesthetic without the Robinson Crusoe seclusion.
Best for: Couples who want the luxury resort experience with a social dimension.
OBLU Select Lobigili
Not every trip to the Maldives needs to cost the same as a sports car – or a glass of rosé, come ot think of it. OBLU Select Lobigili is the resort I recommend to clients who have a firm budget but refuse to compromise on the fundamentals: overwater accommodation, all-inclusive dining and drinks, and a location that does not feel like a consolation prize.
The all-inclusive model is executed extremely well. The food quality genuinely surprised me and, in some cases, surpassed more expensive resorts I have stayed in. The cocktails are generous, and the snorkelling straight off the jetty is excellent.
The villas are more compact than those at One&Only, but they are thoughtfully designed and very comfortable. Nothing feels like a compromise.
Best for: Couples who want a true Maldives experience with clarity on cost and no surprises at checkout.
The Standard, Maldives
The Standard is the only resort I have stayed at in the Maldives where I forgot I was in the Maldives, in the best possible sense. Every other property I have visited here sells you seclusion and quiet. The Standard sells you something rarer in this part of the world: a personality.
Set on Huruvalhi Island in Raa Atoll, it is one of the more remote options, reached by a 45-minute seaplane. The private lounge makes the journey feel far more relaxed than it sounds.
What sets this resort apart is its personality. There are weekly pool parties with DJs, a hammam spa with communal experiences, and a genuinely excellent Mediterranean restaurant at sunset. The disco ball in the bathroom has become something of a signature, and it deserves the attention.
For couples who find ultra-quiet resorts a little too still after a few days, this strikes the perfect balance between luxury and energy.
As a same-sex couple, we felt completely at ease throughout. The house reef is one of the best I have snorkelled in the Maldives, and the manta ray experience at Hanifaru Bay is unforgettable.
Best for: Couples who want luxury with personality and energy.
Ready to plan your Maldives trip?
Every resort in this guide is one our team knows personally. But knowing the resorts is only part of it.
We understand the Maldives’ legal landscape, which properties genuinely welcome same-sex couples, which honeymoon benefits are extended without being asked, and which rooms offer the most privacy.
Booking direct gets you a room. Booking with Out Of Office ensures you are in the right resort, with every detail considered by people who have been there and know how to make it exceptional.
As the world’s leading LGBTQ+ travel company, we have been planning same-sex trips to the Maldives for over a decade. Speak to one of our specialists and start planning your trip.
New to Out Of Office?
We are a luxury travel company for LGBTQ+ travellers. Everything we sell is tailor-made, planned by one named member of our team throughout, and nothing on this site is a fixed package unless it says so.
Where exclusivity meets inclusivity
Ten years, hundreds of five-star reviews, and a team who will tell you when a destination is not right for the trip you have in mind.
We know where you will be welcome, and where to take more care.
It shapes the hotels we use, the guides we work with and the routes we suggest.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.