Review: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Our major vacation spot within the Maldives was the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, the place we spent 5 nights. That is arguably essentially the most luxurious factors factors resort within the Maldives, and I used to be curious to test it out and see if it lived as much as the hype. Whereas the resort has some quirks, I’m pleased to report that it did, and I’d completely advocate staying right here!

Waldorf Astoria Maldives fundamentals

Earlier than we get into an in depth overview of the property, let me share a number of fundamentals in regards to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, which opened in 2019:

• The property has 122 villas, so it’s a bit bigger than a few of the different uber-luxury properties within the Maldives (for instance, Cheval Blanc has simply 46 villas)
• The property is only a 45 minute speedboat experience from Male Airport, which means you possibly can arrive or depart any hour of the day or night time; this can be a big benefit over properties that require a seaplane, although it additionally means the resort isn’t fairly as secluded
• The Waldorf Astoria Maldives might be most recognized for its number of meals & beverage shops, because the resort has 10 of them, which is kind of unprecedented

Reserving Waldorf Astoria Maldives

Whether or not you’re trying to redeem Hilton Honors factors or ebook a money keep, there are a few methods to maximise worth on the Waldorf Astoria, so let’s go over these particulars.

Redeeming Hilton Honors factors

The Waldorf Astoria Maldives belongs to Hilton Honors, so you possibly can redeem factors right here. I locked in my keep many months in the past, on the charge of 120,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time. With elite members getting a fifth night time free on award redemptions, that meant we have been paying a mean of simply 96,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time.

I worth Hilton Honors factors at 0.5 cents every, so to me that’s the equal of paying $480 per night time right here. That’s unimaginable when you think about that paid charges for our dates began at $2,500+ per night time, after factoring within the room charge and 23.2% taxes and repair prices (you don’t pay taxes and companies prices when redeeming factors).

A couple of issues to notice if redeeming factors on the Waldorf Astoria Maldives:

Reserving a money charge with Hilton Impresario

Usually luxurious resort charges are by way of the roof these days, given the pent up demand for journey as a result of pandemic. Base rooms on the Waldorf Astoria Maldives at present vary anyplace from $1,600 to $3,000 per night time, relying on the time of 12 months.

If you happen to’re reserving a money charge on the Waldorf Astoria Maldives, I’d extremely advocate reserving by way of a journey advisor related to the Hilton Impresario program:

• This gives incremental perks that embody a $150 meals & beverage credit score, a room improve topic to availability, and double Hilton Honors factors; breakfast is normally additionally a perk of this system, however all charges at this resort embody breakfast
• These Hilton Impresario charges will be mixed with some gives obtainable straight by way of the property, just like the “Stay Unforgettable” promotion, which gives financial savings of 25-30%, half board (breakfast and dinner), and complimentary transfers on stays of 4 or extra nights
• These charges are eligible to earn Hilton Honors factors (and the charges even supply double factors), and will also be mixed with any of Hilton Honors’ international promotions

So if you mix Hilton Impresario, the promotions being provided straight by the resort, and the flexibility to earn factors, the worth appears to be like a bit higher than the preliminary charge you may even see on-line.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Hilton Honors Diamond advantages

For these questioning about elite recognition on the Waldorf Astoria Maldives, right here’s what’s provided to Hilton Honors Diamond members:

• A complimentary pleased hour at Peacock Alley day by day from 4-5PM
• 50% financial savings on cocktails at Peacock Alley from 10-11:30PM
• Complimentary late check-out and early-check-in, topic to availability
• A welcome amenity
• An extra half-hour added to pick 60 minute spa remedies

In actuality I’d say the pleased hour is the one vital elite perk at this property:

• All friends have breakfast included, which might in any other case be a Hilton Honors Diamond profit
• The Waldorf Astoria Maldives doesn’t improve Diamond members free of charge (I’m curious how a sure OMAAT reader feels about that)
• The 30 minute addition to a 60 minute spa therapy sounds good in concept, although the spa pricing is a bit odd; for instance, a 60 minute therapeutic massage prices $220, whereas a 90 minute therapeutic massage prices $240, so the incremental price in money could be very low
• In actuality all inns within the Maldives are nice about granting all friends early check-in and late check-out, topic to availability

If you happen to’re a drinker, the worth of the pleased hour can add up. Cocktails on the resort will sometimes price you $30 every (after the 23.2% tax and repair cost), so for a pair that’s $60 per spherical of drinks.

Take into account that you possibly can obtain Hilton Honors Diamond standing only for having the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Specific (overview), and the cardboard is a superb worth.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives speedboat switch

Whereas attending to many resorts within the Maldives requires taking a seaplane, that’s not the case on the Waldorf Astoria Maldives. The resort is barely round 25 kilometers from Male’s Velena Worldwide Airport (MLE), and you will get there through a 45-minute speedboat experience.

This was my first time staying at a resort inside boating distance of Male, and I actually beloved this:

• The yacht switch is definitely gratifying and nice, because it’s like cruising across the Maldives; flying throughout the Maldives, however, will be a lot much less nice
• Whereas seaplanes can solely fly in the course of the day, the yacht switch is offered 24/7, so it really works whatever the time of day you arrive or depart
• The yacht is promised inside 30-60 minutes of your arrival time on the airport, for the reason that service is operated constantly based mostly on demand; this requires so much much less ready time than most flights

For what it’s price, the roundtrip yacht switch prices $730 per grownup, plus a 23.2% tax and repair cost, in order that’s $899 per grownup. Sure, clearly this can be a ton, however that is simply how a lot stuff within the Maldives prices, and it’s comparable to straightforward seaplane switch prices.

The yacht used for transfers is legitimately good, and has loads of indoor and outside seating. There are even two bedrooms, however there’s probably not a necessity for that for such a brief journey.

Equally spectacular is that they serve free-flowing drinks, together with Veuve Clicquot champagne, in addition to some snacks. Given the value of alcohol within the Maldives, at the very least they make it a pleasant expertise.

I’ve all the time been fascinated by Male, so it was cool to go by it in a ship.

We additionally lucked out arriving within the night, as this principally became a sundown cruise.

On our journey to the resort, we had the yacht all to ourselves, whereas on the return journey we shared the yacht with one different household.

The arrivals expertise on the Waldorf Astoria was seamless. We have been greeted by a number of workers, together with the resort supervisor, Marco, in addition to our private concierge, Tiffany, who can be taking care of us during our keep. We have been provided a chilly towel and welcome drink, and have been instantly whisked to our villa in a golf cart.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives property format

The Waldorf Astoria Maldives is on a really lengthy assortment of islands. If you happen to stroll or bike from one finish of the resort to the opposite, it’s round 3.5 kilometers. Beneath is a map that provides you a way of the property format. Because the resort isn’t only one round(ish) island, at most factors of the resort you’re trying “in” on the resort’s lagoon.

For some context:

• At every finish of the resort is a jetty with dozens of overwater villas, and between them are the resort’s islands; the island on the backside proper of the above map is the non-public island, which may accommodate as much as 24 friends
• You’ve loads of lodging not on the jetties, which can also be the place the usual rooms listed below are (this contains the rooms that you just get if redeeming factors at the usual charge)

There are paths connecting all the property, and so they’re simple to stroll or bike down, or you possibly can all the time name a golf cart to select you up. I’ll say that paths get fairly a little bit of visitors and are pretty slender, so it’s not a very enjoyable biking expertise, as you’re largely simply getting out of the way in which of golf carts.

There are bridges connecting the little islands, that are all the time lovely to bike down, given the views.

Even in the event you’re not staying at a far finish of the resort, it may be gratifying to bike up and down the jetty.

It’s particularly enjoyable to go down the far finish of the one jetty, the place you’ve got an important view of the non-public island, in addition to the 2 Stella Maris villas, which may solely be accessed by boat.

The views throughout the property are merely beautiful all hours of the day, particularly at dawn and sundown.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives king reef villa with pool

We stayed in villa 309, which is a king reef villa, the usual lodging on the resort. These rooms are positioned on one of many small islands between the principle elements of the resorts, related by bridges.

This isn’t technically an overwater villa, within the sense that the room is on land. Nevertheless, the terrace is overwater, and for all sensible functions you’re feeling such as you’re in an overwater villa. You simply don’t must go on a jetty. Personally I wouldn’t pay the improve surcharge for a “true” overwater villa, and if something I favored the central location of this villa, because it provided quick access to every part.

There have been two bikes parked outdoors of our villa. All the villa area was enclosed with a wall round it, and the one strategy to entry even the outside space was by way of a double door.

The villa had an unimaginable outside area, however let’s begin with the within of the villa.

Whereas the villa is marketed as being over 3,000 sq. ft, that additionally contains outside area, whereas I’d say the indoor area is perhaps one-third that dimension. Inside the doorway to the villa was the bed room space, which had a king dimension mattress, two chairs looking over the terrace, a TV, and a hybrid desk and vainness setup (not best for working, however higher than nothing).

Alongside the wall closest to the doorway was the nicely stocked minibar. All the things besides espresso and tea was obtainable for buy.

Ready on the aspect desk between the 2 chairs was a welcome amenity, consisting of a fruit plate, candies, and Louis Roederer Brut (which is beneficiant when you think about the price of alcohol within the Maldives).

Properly over half of the indoor villa area was devoted to closets and the toilet. Previous the bed room have been two units of closets on all sides. There was a quirk whereby the lights contained in the closets would solely keep on for a few seconds when opening the doorways, and would then flip off. I’m undecided if there was only a glitch in our room, or if the closets are for some cause programmed this manner, but it surely didn’t make a lot sense to me.

The toilet included an enormous walk-in bathe, a bidet bathroom, double sinks, and a soaking tub.

All toiletries have been from Aesop (which I really like), and have been in easy-to-use reusable containers.

I let the resort know prematurely the title of the second visitor, so I used to be happy that there have been two “his” containers with toiletries. It sounds apparent, however you’d be stunned how typically that doesn’t occur, and it’s undoubtedly seen and appreciated.

On the backyard aspect of the villa was a big outside bathe, which might be accessed by strolling by way of the principle bathe.

The spotlight of the villa was the outside area. Along with there being a large non-public pool, I significantly appreciated the number of furnishings choices plus the lined areas, which made the outside area an important place to hang around.

The furnishings was really limitless, from two lounge chairs on the finish of the pool, to 2 swinging daybeds, to a eating desk that may seat 4, to a different eating desk with two seats, to a sitting space with two seats, to 2 loungers down on the dock by the ocean, to 2 “nets” you possibly can chill out in.

There have been additionally stairs main straight into the ocean.

For these questioning if the space of the resort from Male is noticeable or problematic, I didn’t discover it to be a difficulty in any respect. Beneath is an image with Male within the distance from our deck, to present you a way of the space. Since I had by no means stayed so near Male earlier than, I sort of loved having a view of one thing, and there have been no points by way of boat visitors, noise, and many others.

All issues thought of I believed our room was superior. That is merely an unimaginable Hilton Honors redemption. A couple of notes and ideas, although:

• The entry stage rooms right here lack a correct separate seating space, although the extra premium lodging (with “grand” within the title) do have these; you possibly can sometimes pay to improve, and I may see the worth in that in the event you’re touring with youngsters and desire a bit extra privateness, however we discovered it pointless
• I completely beloved the outside area of this villa, and thought it was exceptionally nicely completed
• This may sound foolish (and admittedly could be very subjective), however there was one thing in regards to the villa’s design that made me really feel extra like I used to be in Bali than the Maldives

Waldorf Astoria Maldives facilities & amenities

Greater than in different locations, the Maldives is a spot the place friends typically spend a disproportionate period of time of their rooms. In spite of everything, villas are sometimes overwater, and are big, with non-public swimming pools. Nonetheless the Waldorf Astoria Maldives has so much to supply if you’re not in your room as nicely. So let’s discuss a few of the property’s amenities.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives swimming pools & seashore

The Waldorf Astoria has two shared swimming pools, which I nearly by no means noticed anybody utilizing. There was a shared household pool, which was huge, and had a cool design with an infinity-edge.

Subsequent to that was a pool solely for adults, which had a special however equally cool design.

The resort additionally has one foremost giant seashore space. Many resorts within the Maldives don’t have a “correct” seashore, so it’s cool that the Waldorf Astoria gives this. The water was calm and sand was powdery, and there was loads of seating with service from the close by restaurant.

That is additionally the place the water sports activities have been positioned, and there have been heaps to select from. You’ll find the water sports activities menu right here — as you possibly can see, kayaks, paddle boats, and stand-up paddle boarding, are complimentary, whereas most different choices are chargeable.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives spa

The Waldorf Astoria Maldives has a spa, and yow will discover the spa therapy menu right here. We had a signature therapeutic massage right here sooner or later, which was “upgraded” from a 60 minute therapeutic massage to a 90 minute therapeutic massage on account of my Hilton Honors Diamond standing.

The spa amenities are nice. Upon arriving we have been greeted by the workers, provided welcome drinks, and requested to decide on our most well-liked oil for the therapy.

The massages happened in overwater villas, which even partly had glass flooring, in order that you may look into the ocean throughout your therapy.

The overwater villas even have nice outside areas, and enormous loos with showers.

Our remedies have been exceptionally good, and it was good to have an indoor exercise one afternoon when it was in any other case very popular.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives health club

The Waldorf Astoria Maldives has a 24/7 health club, positioned subsequent to the spa space.

The health club has a wide selection of kit, although it did are likely to get fairly busy (and the resort was solely roughly half full once we have been there). There have been two trainers on workers, and so they have been pleasant, and continually disinfecting machines, and providing to assist friends.

Additionally, I very a lot recognize that the Waldorf Astoria Maldives sells protein shakes. There are such a lot of inns with wonderful gyms, however then truly discovering a protein shake isn’t simple. That is one thing I want extra inns would supply.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives tennis & paddle tennis courts

The Waldorf Astoria Maldives has each a tennis court docket and a paddle tennis court docket. Ford and I performed a number of occasions, and it was a enjoyable exercise (although I’d advocate doing it very early within the morning or late within the afternoon). There’s even a tennis coach available must you wish to take classes.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives eating places & bars

The factor that Waldorf Astoria Maldives is most recognized for is its meals & beverage shops, because the resort has 10 of them. That’s an unimaginable variety of eating choices, although admittedly they’re not all eating places — some are simply bars, and most eating places are solely open sure days of the week, so it’s not like you’ve got 10 dinner choices on a specific night.

Let me briefly summarize the eating choices, after which beneath I’ll cowl every outlet in additional element (it’s also possible to discover all of the restaurant menus at this hyperlink):

• Tasting Desk is the resort’s all-day eating restaurant, and it’s the place breakfast is served
• Nava is the resort’s pool aspect restaurant, and it’s a preferred place for lunch
• Peacock Alley is the resort’s foyer bar with dwell music, and it’s additionally the place the Hilton Honors Diamond pleased hour takes place
• Amber is the resort’s sundown bar, which is meant to supply one of the best sundown views on the resort
• Terra is the resort’s tree home superb eating restaurant, with solely seven tables
• Yasmeen is the resort’s Center Jap restaurant, open for dinner
• Glow is the resort’s garden-to-table restaurant, and it’s open for dinner
• The Ledge by Dave Pynt is a barbecue-style restaurant, and it’s open for dinner
• Li Lengthy is the resort’s Chinese language restaurant, and it’s open for dinner
• The Rock is a wine cellar restaurant, and it’s open for dinner solely upon request
• There’s a Zuma at present beneath development, but it surely’s not but open

A couple of additional issues to notice:

• 23.2% is added to the price of all meals (that features a 10% service cost), and on prime of that there’s an choice to tip, which I discover sort of awkward; for what it’s price, the opposite two resorts we stayed at within the Maldives had a ten% service cost, however then didn’t give friends the chance to tip additional
• You may make reservations for eating places whereas on-property together with your private concierge; it’s also possible to make them previous to your arrival (besides at Terra and The Rock), however until you’re staying at a time when the resort is 100% full, that basically shouldn’t be essential
• Seating in any respect eating places appears to be first come first served, within the sense that tables usually aren’t allotted prematurely; in consequence, in order for you a desk with an important view, I’d advocate arriving round opening time
• For these questioning about pricing, the Maldives is pricey; you possibly can count on {that a} dinner for 2 individuals with out alcohol will run you at the very least $250-350
• Whereas I really like the number of eating choices, the designs of some eating places really feel kitschy on account of how closely themed they’re, and so they nearly make the property really feel much less high-end than it truly is, in my view

With that out of the way in which, let’s get into extra particulars on the eating shops, and I’m placing these roughly within the order of the time of day the place we visited them (so breakfast first, then lunch, after which dinner).

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Tasting Desk

Breakfast is served day by day from 6:30AM till 10:30AM at Tasting Desk, and it was a feast. The restaurant itself has excessive ceilings and sliding doorways, so you possibly can get pleasure from a breeze irrespective of the place you sit.

Company have entry to an unbelievable buffet, and on prime of that there’s a menu one can order off of to complement the buffet. This really may simply be my favourite buffet I’ve ever seen, particularly because of the variety of wonderful dishes from the Maldives, the Center East, India, and many others. I’ll let the buffet footage communicate principally for themselves, however the buffet actually had every part you may think about, after which some.

There’s even free flowing Taittinger, must you desire a glass of champagne or a mimosa.

The servers within the restaurant have been attentive, and have been pleased to take any espresso or freshly squeezed juice orders. The cappuccinos right here have been a ten/10, and I’m a troublesome espresso critic.

The iced lattes have been prime notch as nicely.

Whereas we principally simply caught to the buffet, we additionally tried the avocado toast and Maldivian omelet, each of which we loved.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Nava

Nava is the Waldorf Astoria’s beachside restaurant, which is hottest for lunch. The restaurant has every part from salads, to sandwiches, to pizzas, and yow will discover the menu right here.

We shared a honey roasted pumpkin salad plus a (beef) pepperoni pizza.

I’d additionally be aware that they serve pitchers of drinks. These sounded too good to be true, since cocktails have been ~$22, whereas these pitchers have been ~$60, and it was claimed that they had the equal of 5 drinks in there. They’re undoubtedly weak, and afterwards we puzzled in the event that they even had any alcohol in them.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Peacock Alley

Peacock Alley is a bar that you just’ll discover at most Waldorf Astoria on the earth. On the Waldorf Astoria Maldives, Peacock Alley is positioned close to reception. It’s an enormous bar space, with each indoor and outside seating.

From 4-5PM day by day there’s a cheerful hour for Hilton Honors Diamond members, with a collection of cocktails, wine, beer, comfortable drinks, espresso, and tea, and yow will discover the menu right here. The drinks are served with combined nuts.

The workers right here have been pretty, and beneficiant with making an attempt to supply refills. I additionally beloved how there was dwell music, which is a cause to attend this if nothing else. There appeared to fairly persistently be round 5 – 6 {couples} right here (maybe additionally the variety of factors rooms the resort opens up?).

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Amber

Amber is the resort’s sundown bar, and yow will discover the menu right here. It’s a small bar space that’s on a dock, and there’s a collection of cocktails. We got here right here one night for drinks, however that was in all probability foolish, as a result of we didn’t keep till the sundown.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Terra

Terra might be the Waldorf Astoria’s most well-known restaurant, so I figured we needed to test it out. You’ve in all probability seen footage of this, because the restaurant consists of seven particular person tree homes, and every has a desk. This can be a distinctive idea you gained’t discover in lots of locations, so kudos to the resort for that.

As you arrive you go up a set of stairs, after which there’s a round walkway that you need to use to entry the person tree homes.

Notice that two of the tree homes are a bit increased up than the others, and due to this fact have higher views. Since seating is on a primary come first served foundation, I’d advocate getting right here earlier so you will get a type of. They’ve views that look out over the ocean and you may see Male within the distance, whereas from the opposite tree homes you’ll principally simply see bushes.

Terra has a set tasting menu, and yow will discover the menu right here. The meal began with an amuse bouche trio, which got here artfully offered.

We have been additionally provided a collection of bread.

The following course was burrata, with confit tomato, burrata espuma, edible earth soil, tomato emulsion, and balsamic vinegar.

The following course was Norwegian poached salmon with creamy cauliflower velouté, Japanese cucumber sunomono, and parsley oil.

Subsequent up was Maldivian lobster with miso butter, burnt leek, glazed edamame, lobster bisque foam, ponzu gel, and beluga caviar.

Subsequent up was a basil and bergamot sorbet.

There have been two selections for the principle course. I ordered the dover sole with charred asparagus, inexperienced pea mousseline, chanterelle mushroom, tarragon cream, citron beurre blanc, and beluga caviar.

Ford had the miyazaki wagyu beef tenderloin as his foremost, with truffle mashed potato, cipollini caramelized onion, king eryngii mushroom, seasonal truffle, and polenta chips.

The principle dessert course consisted of chocolate and cassis, with 64% darkish chocolate, cheese mousse, hazelnut cake, and cassis ice cream.

Lastly, on the conclusion of the meal there have been some petit fours.

This was a very particular expertise, and naturally that largely comes all the way down to the setting. At $345 per particular person, it’s additionally in all probability the costliest eating expertise on property.

The meals and general expertise have been excellent. The meals was tasty, I beloved the plates, and the service was nicely intentioned.

On the identical time, I’ve to say that Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc Maldives was in a totally totally different league by way of the meals and repair, and it’s even a bit cheaper. Eat at Terra figuring out that you just’ll get an excellent meal, however don’t count on it to be life-changing or an expertise you’d count on at a Michelin-starred restaurant. You’re undoubtedly paying largely for the view.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Yasmeen

Yasmeen is the Waldorf Astoria’s Center Jap restaurant. It’s set in a courtyard, whereas nonetheless having views of the ocean and seashore. I feel this restaurant is the prime instance of the resort perhaps taking themes a bit too far to the purpose of feeling kitschy. Nonetheless I beloved the meals at this restaurant, and I’d extremely advocate a go to.

As we arrived on the restaurant we have been provided some Arabic espresso.

You’ll find the menu right here, and as you possibly can see, there’s a set menu, or you possibly can order as you please off the usual menu. We determined to do the set menu.

The meal began with sfiha (meat, cheese, and zaatar), in addition to some olives.

Subsequent up was the chilly mezze, which included tabbouleh, fattoush, hummus, baba ghannouj, and labneh.

Subsequent up was the recent mezze, with ras asfour, rooster liver with pomegranate molasses, spicy potatoes, and a mouajanat combine with kibbeh, rkakat, sambousik, and soujouk.

The principle course included a combined grill, which had rooster, beef, lamb, and veggies.

Lastly for dessert was a cheesecake with dry apricot puree.

The meal was extremely tasty (and big), and we have been handled to some beautiful sundown views as nicely.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Glow

Glow is the Waldorf Astoria’s farm-to-table restaurant, and it’s shockingly good. Lots of the components are grown on the island. and yow will discover the menu right here. The restaurant is on the seashore close to Amber (the sundown bar), and there’s each indoor and outside seating.

At the beginning of our meal we have been provided some detox juice and bread.

As starters, we ordered the energizing salad and Vietnamese rooster rice paper roll.

Then as mains we ordered the kimchi fried rice and free vary rooster lemongrass curry.

Then for dessert we cut up the natural flourless chocolate cake with avocado mousse and berries.

This was a very nice meal that exceeded our expectations, and I undoubtedly advocate eating right here in the event you’re staying on the resort.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives The Ledge by Dave Pynt

The Ledge by Dave Pynt is open for lunch and dinner, and is positioned poolside. That is supposed to be an Australian barbecue restaurant, and it’s based mostly on the Michelin-starred “Burnt Ends” restaurant in Singapore. The restaurant is on the small aspect, and has an open kitchen, and each indoor and outside seating.

You’ll find the menu right here. To begin we had the eggplant with miso. Yum.

For our mains we had the rooster peri peri and reef fish.

For dessert we had the date tarte tatin with vanilla bean ice cream.

This was as soon as once more an gratifying meal, with glorious meals and repair. We nonetheless barely most well-liked Glow and Yasmeen, although.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Li Lengthy

Li Lengthy is the Waldorf Astoria’s Chinese language restaurant, and yow will discover the menu right here. The restaurant was positioned proper throughout the trail from our villa, in order that was handy. The restaurant has a closely themed inside area, after which a pleasant outside area overlooking the water.

Whereas there’s a set menu, it’s also possible to simply order gadgets individually, and that’s what we determined to do. To begin, I had the recent and bitter soup, whereas Ford had the rooster dumpling soup.

For mains, we had the Sichuan fashion kung po rooster with cashews and the Sichuan chili inexperienced beans.

To be sincere, this was the one disappointing meal we had on property. The meals wasn’t dangerous, it was simply utterly unremarkable. So I wouldn’t advocate eating right here, personally.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives The Rock

The Rock is barely open upon request, and has a meat-based menu centered round wine, which yow will discover right here. We didn’t eat right here, however I did snap a number of footage. It’s a cool idea, although on the identical time I’m undecided most individuals are coming to the Maldives to eat beef inside a wine cave.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Zuma

As if the Waldorf Astoria doesn’t have sufficient meals & beverage shops, the resort will quickly be opening a Zuma, which would be the model’s first restaurant within the Maldives. I think about it’s nonetheless at the very least a number of months from opening. The construction as such is completed, but it surely looks like there’s nonetheless loads of inside work that must be accomplished. The restaurant is positioned on one of many piers with overwater villas.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives service

On steadiness I discovered service on the Waldorf Astoria Maldives to be glorious, higher than I used to be anticipating.

For one, our private concierge, Tiffany, was superior. She was all the time fast to reply, and would deal with any request inside minutes. She additionally proactively offered plenty of nice ideas. For instance, she beneficial we transfer round a few of our reservations based mostly on the nights that sure eating places are closed, and he or she even beneficial we arrive at Terra a bit early so we may select one of many two highest tree homes. It’s nice that the resort assigns workers to rooms on this manner.

Even past that, service was excellent. Just about all workers have been pleasant and polished. A couple of notes, although, each constructive and unfavourable:

• Everytime you go an worker on the resort, they transfer their hand over their coronary heart; if nothing else, I used to be impressed by the consistency with which this was completed, as a result of typically on a motorbike experience you’d go dozens of workers, and each single one would do it
• Merely put, service isn’t going to be as customized right here as at Cheval Blanc Maldives, for instance, on condition that the property has 122 villas (practically 3 times as many as at Cheval Blanc); paid charges on the two properties are considerably comparable, so I do suppose that’s noteworthy
• The resort supervisor, Marco, was fingers on and continually round; he was genuinely occupied with suggestions, and might be seen checking on friends at breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Folks will probably have combined emotions about this, however of the three resorts we stayed at within the Maldives, this was the one resort the place workers are nonetheless carrying masks; I’ve gotta say, I really feel actually dangerous for gardeners working on their own outdoors in 100 diploma warmth with a masks on

Usually service on the Waldorf Astoria was nice, so kudos to the resort for that.

Backside line

Waldorf Astoria Maldives is a superb resort, and an excellent higher use of Hilton Honors factors (if yow will discover award availability).

There’s so much to like in regards to the resort, like its proximity to Male (which makes it simple to get to), its seemingly limitless meals & beverage shops, and the good service. On the identical time, that is undoubtedly one of many larger resorts I’ve stayed at within the Maldives, so it’s not going to really feel fairly as customized as another resorts. I suppose that goes each methods, as a result of it additionally means you probably gained’t get bored right here.

If you happen to can redeem Hilton Honors factors right here, I can’t advocate a keep sufficient. Take into account your keep will nonetheless be removed from “free,” between the switch prices and the meals & beverage prices.

If paying money, I’m a bit extra conflicted. Admittedly luxurious resort charges are by way of the roof in so many locations in the intervening time, so it’s sort of laborious to guage the worth of inns based mostly on absolute pricing. What I do know is that the Waldorf Astoria is barely priced marginally decrease than a few of the Maldives’ finest regarded resorts (Cheval Blanc and Velaa), and you may undoubtedly get a extra customized expertise elsewhere.

Nonetheless, on steadiness I beloved this resort, and would return in a heartbeat and wholeheartedly advocate it.

If you happen to’ve stayed on the Waldorf Astoria Maldives, what was your expertise like?