Castaway Experience at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo

Located in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, the luxurious Raffles Maldives Meradhoo can be reached in 55 minutes via domestic flight from Male International Airport.

On arrival at Kaadedhdhoo Domestic Airport, the neighbouring airport island, we were greeted by our butler who escorted us to the resorts’ private speedboat. The arrival experience was the most impressive we’ve experienced. We were presented with shaved coconut, tropical juices and were treated to an excellent neck and shoulder massage as we waited for our luggage to be loaded onto the boat.

The journey to the resort took just 15 minutes by speedboat. Once we arrived, we were greeted with a traditional Maldivian welcome from the team on the luxurious jetty that had over water netting for guests to lounge and relax on.

We stayed in the Deluxe Beach Villa, a beautifully designed 260 square meter villa consisting of a generously appointed super king bed, large bathroom, outdoor dining area and pool, with a separate living room and entertainment system. This villa is one of the largest we’ve ever seen and one of the most comfortable we’ve stayed in. We loved the layout and design, privacy and practicality of the rooms.

Our butler, Lemon treated us to an unpacking service. After a long flight, it was a very welcomed treat. The butler experience throughout our entire stay was exceptional. As part of your stay at Raffles Maldives, a complimentary snorkelling excursion with your butler is included. Siobhan went along with Lemon one morning and was delighted to see many fish, coral and reef sharks in the waters.

When it comes to the Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, the standout feature is the island itself. This is one of the smallest islands we’ve ever visited, you can walk around it in just 12 minutes. The best thing about this is that castaway experience. There are no roads, just sand, the lagoon is pristine, calm and with the most beautifully coloured water. Everyday we walked a few meters from our villa to the beach and enjoyed the beautiful beach and water there.

For activities, there are many options from the dive centre. Snorkelling mask and finns are complementary, as are all the non motorized sports except the glass bottomed kayak, which is worth every cent. We kayaked around the lagoon looking at all the sea-life below and it was one of the highlights of our stay.

The restaurants, including the Long Bar, serving the all famous Singapore Sling were nothing short of exceptional. My husband and I raved about every meal at the resort’s main restaurant, Thari. Their exceptional service and the personalisation along with a wealth of welcoming tastes catered to our preferences for every dish made dining a lovely experience.

Of all the resorts we stayed at in the Maldives, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo was one of our favourites. The resort is pure luxury, with all the small personal touches for a resort of this calibre. The natural beach and lagoon was perfection, and the small island feel is all you need for the ultimate relaxing vacation in the Maldives.

Thanks to Raffles Maldives for hosting us for three nights at Meradhoo island, Maldives.