Confetti bursts of colourful tropical fish speckle the glassy Maldives lagoon you’re snorkelling in. As you towel down, breakfast is delivered on trays that float in your pool. Later, the two of you might picnic alone on a sandbar, swim with manta rays or spend an afternoon together enjoying an in-sync massage at the spa, before retiring to your overwater villa to stare at a glitter-bomb of stars – just a few of the reasons why a Maldives honeymoon is considered the most luxurious in the world.

So is it worth it? Yes: across the board the Maldives has some of the highest standards of service anywhere and the country’s one island one resort policy ensures the kind of privacy a Hollywood A-lister might expect. Wherever you stay, you’ll find spacious villas, often with private pools and butlers, as well as access to the Indian Ocean and some of the most glorious white beaches you’ve ever seen. It’s worth noting that The Maldives applies some very problematic laws to its citizens (same-sex relations are criminalised). But, resort islands are free to operate to their own rules, and same-sex couples are roundly welcomed and treated as respectfully as any other guest.

What you might also find, however, are children and families. Over the last decade, the majority of resorts in the Maldives have pivoted away from being romantic hideaways to multi-generational escapes, often with large kids clubs and squealing in the swimming pool (see our list of family hotels in the Maldives if that’s your bag). If you’d prefer to be in a more grown-up love bubble it’s worth seeking out an adult-only resort, such as the newly-refurbished Anantara Veli, swish spa resort Joali Being or the serene COMO Cocoa Island. Otherwise, it makes sense to book outside of the school holidays (including China’s Golden Week in October). You can also up the privacy factor at a hotel that has a second quieter adult-only swimming pool where you can slink away to – try One & Only Reethi Raa or the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru – or splash out on a secluded villa that is only accessible by boat, such as the Robinson Crusoe villas at Gili Lankanfushi, the Stella Maris Ocean villa at the Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi, and the Romance Residence at Velaa Private Island. 

Now that you’ve tied the knot, all you need to do is find your perfect hotel match. Here’s our pick of the most romantic escapes for a Maldives honeymoon.

Soneva Jani

Joali

Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru