Tailor-made Holiday · The Maldives
The Maldives: The Out Of Office Collection
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At a glance
Few destinations do luxury quite like the Maldives. Spread across more than a thousand coral islands in the Indian Ocean, this is a place built almost entirely around the art of doing nothing particularly well: overwater villas, house reefs at your doorstep, and the kind of stillness that genuinely resets you. It's one of our most-requested destinations, and it's not hard to understand why.
The Maldives is a resort destination in the purest sense. There are no cities to explore, no museums to tick off, no itinerary to power through. What there is, is privacy, space, and some of the most beautiful water on earth.
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Most resorts occupy their own private island, which means your choice of hotel is more significant here than almost anywhere else. Get it right, and the Maldives delivers something close to perfection.
Every property in the Out Of Office Maldives Collection has been chosen by us for its exceptional service, its beauty, and its warmth toward LGBTQ+ travelers.
The Maldives has a complex legal landscape for gay visitors, but the resort islands operate as a world apart, and we only work with properties where our clients feel completely at ease. Whether you're planning a honeymoon, a milestone celebration, or simply a long-overdue escape, these are the resorts we trust with our most discerning travelers.
Day by day
This is a sample plan, not a fixed departure. Days can be added, removed or reordered, and almost every client changes something. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
Best For Luxury: Cheval Blanc
Cheval Blanc Randheli was designed by Jean-Michel Gathy. He didn’t just elevate luxury hotel design in the Maldives, he did so worldwide.
There’s no shortage of luxury hotels in the Maldives, but this one is hard to beat. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stayed here in 2014 so it has the royal seal of approval. The minimalist luxury design is impeccable. All villas come with a private butler. They’ll send a private plane to jet you to Noonu Atoll. And of course, you can stay in one the Maldives’ famous overwater bungalows – a true bucket-list experience.
Best For Luxury: Joali
Our second luxury resort of choice is Joali, an incredible design-focused hotel that sits in an ideal spot on Muravandhoo Island in the Raa Atoll. This hotel recently featured on BBC’s Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, and it’s not hard to see why. This hotel’s female founder created this property after finding that none of the other Maldives accommodation suited her sense of style and interior design preferences.
Inside, you’ll find a feminine touch in the decor, with curved lines, soft colors and unique details that make it feel truly special. Villas are crafted from sustainable materials that are locally sourced, and the resort is dedicated to preserving of the coral reefs that surround it – there’s a resident marine biologist that ensures marine life isn’t affected.
Service is on another level at Joali. Here, personalized care is provided by your own ‘jadugar’ – Urdu for ‘magician’ – who will do all they can to ensure all your travel aspirations come true.
Best For Late Nights: The Standard
The Maldives is very much a romance and relaxation destination. If you want a party, then we’d suggest Mykonos or Ibiza as the best places to go. Nonetheless, some luxury resorts in the Maldives do have DJs and late-night dance floors – you’ve just got to know where to look.
The Standard is a really special spot if you’re a party-lover – it boasts an overwater dance floor and the bathrooms have disco balls. It has a more youthful vibe than some of the other Maldivian resorts, but don’t let that put you off – it’s still very much a luxury property.
Best For All-Inclusive: Oblu Select
OBLU Select at Sangeli is a great choice for all-inclusive stays. It’s the only premium all-inclusive resort in Malé Atoll, and has an outer and an inner lagoon, as well as a house reef.
OBLU Select’s overwater villas are very chic. You’ll wake up with the crystal waters of the lagoon right beneath you. The Serenity Plan gives you breakfast, lunch and a buffet dinner, as one as one a la carte meal in the fabulous restaurant. Soft drinks and most alcohol is also included, along with a boat excursion and your speedboat transfers to and from the airport.
Best For Honeymoons: LUX South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas
LUX South Ari Atoll is a charming luxury hotel. Here, you’ll find thatched roof beach bungalows and overwater villas that are perched in a prime spot over the lagoon. Overwater villas come with staircases leading directly to the Indian Ocean.
This resort is amazing for diving – you’ll find extraordinary marine life here. There’s also an open-air cinema, two stunning pools and a long stretch of white sand beach. LUX South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas has proved to be very popular with Out Of Office travellers for honeymoons, simply because it’s so stunning.
Best For Value: Reethi Faru
All hotels in the Out Of Office Maldives Collection are luxurious. This one is no exception, but it’s a little less pricey. The villas at Reethi Faru are all made with natural materials, making it an eco-friendly paradise that’s ideal for those who like a more rustic feel to their accommodation.
Located on Raa Atoll, it’s one of the newer Maldivian resorts. There are five restaurants and a long stretch of white sand beach, ideal for romantic strolls. There are some excellent all-inclusive packages for you to take advantage of here. It is also especially welcoming to LGBT couples, with a gay manager at the helm.
Best for Island Hopping
The Out Of Office Island Hopping Collection gives you the opportunity to visit two islands during your time in the Maldives, so you can sample more of its magical delights.
It’s becoming more popular to spend time in both a beach villa and an overwater villa for some variation, and our collection has perfectly chosen resorts that pair well together, giving you a great all-round experience of the Maldives.
We also arramge your speedboat or seaplane travel in the Maldives between each property.
Further information
Seaplanes in the Maldives
When you arrive in the Maldives you’ll land in Malé, the capital city. Although Malé might be the capital, it isn’t really the place to be. You’ll be transferred directly from the airport to your luxury resort. Getting a seaplane in the Maldives is more than just a transfer. You’ll be flying over the atolls and clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean – it’s a short journey, but certainly an unforgettable one.
The ride can be a little noisy, but it’s all part of the experience, and is sure to get you in the right mood to begin your vacation in the Maldives.
Gay Honeymoons in the Maldives
The Maldives might not spring to mind when you’re planning your gay honeymoon. Gay couples are certainly welcome in the Maldives though. In fact, it’s one of our most popular honeymoon destinations. The Maldives is all about luxury and it’s impossibly romantic. Unwinding in a world-class Maldivian resort is a great way to begin your life as a married couple.
Gay Rights in the Maldives
There’s a disparity between the reality of the Maldives and the country’s Islamic law. Although being gay is technically illegal, the many resorts of the Maldives are essentially private fiefdoms. The rules do not apply to the tourist resorts: after all, tourism is the key sector of the Maldivian economy. Alcohol is also technically illegal in the Maldives but it flows freely at the resorts.
Our Experts
The Maldives is a stand-out when it comes to luxury travel and our most popular destination. We are also proud to be able to work with properties that are welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
Staying in an over-water bungalow is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I'd recommend to any traveller. It's amazing to swim in some of the world's most impressive coral reefs and the sunset's divine.
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
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
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.