The bigger, the better— that seems to be the MO for Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria brand as it joins the recent flurry of luxury resorts opening their doors in the Maldives. Spread across a 3.5-kilometer stretch of three islands (one of which is a private oasis with its own spa, gym, entertainment center, chef, and concierge team) in the South Male Atoll, the 122-villa hotel has no less than 11 drinking and dining options, including a series of tree-top dining pods, contemporary Chinese restaurant Li Long (which delivers crisp Peking duck straight from a traditional wood-fired oven), and The Ledge by Australian chef Dave Pynt, whose menu of deliciously slow-roasted, grilled, or smoked meat and vegetable dishes lives up to the Michelin-starred status of his Singapore restaurant Burnt Ends. Diversions are, of course, dominated by the resort’s abundant marine life, though relaxing in your villa’s infinity pool will be just as tempting. At sunset, take a stroll along the sand to the sprawling spa, where the “wellness concierge” service will devise a personalized itinerary that can include anything from caviar-and-algae facials to beach boot camp. Just be sure to end your day under the twinkling night sky with a Starlight Ocean massage at the seaside spa pavilion.
—960/400-0300; waldorfastoriamaldives.com; villas from US$2,000

See the full 2019 Luxe List in the October/November 2019 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“The Luxe List 2019: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi”).