Top 10 most fabulous hotels in the Maldives to stay on points

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.

Over the past weeks, I published several top 10 lists (as well as resort reviews) related to one of the most beautiful destinations on earth, the Maldives:

Top 10 best luxury resorts in the Maldives
Top 10 most family-friendly luxury resorts in the Maldives
Top 10 best resorts in the Maldives that can be reached by boat
Top 10 best resorts in the Maldives for snorkeling
Top 10 best resorts in the Maldives that can be booked for free with points (today)

Today: Top 10 best hotels in the Maldives to stay on points

The Maldives is one of the world’s most fabulous travel destinations, but also one of the most expensive places on earth to spend a holiday. Fortunately, almost all major hotel chains own a lucrative loyalty program that allow guests to earn hotel points and redeem these points for discounted or free stays at their properties, including their Maldives outposts. Although there are a decent number of hotels in the Maldives that offer a subset of their rooms for award bookings, keep in mind that award nights in the archipelago tend to be incredibly expensive (often requiring an insane amount of points), that the rooms available for redemptions not always include the most desirable accommodations (like overwater villas) and that transfer fees from Male to the resort are always charged extra by the hotel (a cost which may vary from approximately $100 USD to $1300 or more per person). Here’s my selection of the 10 best luxury hotels in the Maldives where you can stay for free using hotel points.

There is more information below the slideshow. Think I missed one? Share your favorite hotel in the Maldives that can be booked on points in the comments section.

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10. JW MARRIOTT MALDIVES RESORT & SPA

Edging the azure waters of Shaviyani Atoll, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa is a sanctuary of scenic luxury. Find your respite in stylish overwater villas and beach villas with plush bedding, private pools and decks with stunning views of the shimmering Indian Ocean. Delight your palate with distinctive Japanese, Italian and global cuisine, along with treetop dining and buffet breakfasts at our diverse dining destinations. Discover a wide variety of activities, including snorkeling, scuba diving, jet-skiing and sailing. Children can also enjoy their own adventures in the Maldives at our Little Griffins kids’ club. Refresh in the sparkling waters of our pool or get in an exhilarating workout at our modern fitness center. Punctuate a memorable day in Shaviyani Atoll with a rejuvenating beauty, massage or wellness therapy at our luxury spa.

Hotel website: JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
Book with points: a complimentary night at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa can be booked via Marriott’s loyalty program Marriott Bonvoy (rates starts at 80,500 points for a free night).

9. FAIRMONT MALDIVES, SIRRU FEN FUSHI

Located in Shaviyani Atoll, which boasts one of the country’s largest resort lagoons, Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi is more than just a tropical hideaway. The “Secret Water Island”, as dubbed by the locals, glistens like a pearl. Poster white sand beaches fringed with swaying palms, kissed by the turquoise waters of the lagoon that gives way to the tranquil blues of the Indian Ocean and a never-ending horizon. The all-villa luxury resort is home to the longest infinity pool in the archipelago that leads you to the Coralarium, the Maldives’ first and only coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art installation by Jason deCaires Taylor. The property offers 120 opulent beach villas, decadent overwater villas, and unique luxury tented jungle villas. The private island is home to a beautiful spa as well as 4 restaurants to choose from.

Hotel website: Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi
Book with points: a complimentary night at Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi can be booked via Accor’s loyalty program Accor Live Limitless (rates starts at 40,000 points for a free night).

8. CONRAD MALDIVES RANGALI ISLAND

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is an exotic playground full of possibilities. The property’s 150 villas and suites are sublime with private sun terraces, plunge pools, and stairs leading straight into the Indian Ocean. At the overwater spa, alchemists work their magic using pure Himalayan salts and essential oils. Curated experiences are truly inspired, from a coral adoption program led by a marine biologist to mastering the art of noodle rolling with celebrity chef Jereme Leung. Conrad Maldives Rangali also welcomes guests to dive into in an extraordinary experience both above and below the surface of the Indian Ocean in the world’s first underwater hotel villa, called the ‘Muraka’. Located 5 m (16 ft) below sea level in the middle of the Indian Ocean with glass walls, the Muraka is a two-level aquarium where you can fall asleep to fish swimming overhead and wake up to the swaying arms of coral.

Hotel website: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Book with points: a complimentary night at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island can be booked via Hilton’s loyalty program Hilton Honors (rates starts at 120,000 points for a free night).

7. PARK HYATT MALDIVES HADAHAA

Situated on a private island 400 km (250 mi) south of Malé and 55 km (35 mi) north of the Equator in one of the world’s deepest atolls, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa – Hyatt’s only five star luxury hotel in the Maldives – blesses its guests with a barefoot luxury resort experience. The sleek interiors of the 50 villas are luxuriously designed and furnished to ensure guest comfort and privacy, whilst maintaining environmental sensitivity. The accommodations are nestled within the island’s tropical foliage, mere steps away from the turquoise waters or perched over the water with sweeping ocean vistas. All villas have direct access to the beach or ocean and feature floor-to-ceiling windows with doors that lead out to a private deck, some fitted with a personal plunge pool. The resort is framed by a mesmerizing and vast coral reef with diverse marine life, more abundant and varied than anywhere else in the Maldives.

Hotel website: Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
Book with points: a complimentary night at Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa can be booked via Hyatt’s loyalty program World of Hyatt (rates starts at 25,000 points for a free night).
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food & beverage credit; guests staying a minimum of 5 nights also receive a 50 min massage for two people, per room, once during stay).
Review: read my review of Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa here.

6. RAFFLES MALDIVES MERADHOO RESORT

Set on the private island of Meradhoo in the southern end of the Maldives archipelago, the Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort opened in 2019 following an extensive refurbishment of the previous Jumeirah hotel. The property boasts 21 island villas with private pools set steps from the beach and – a short boat trip away from the main island – 16 ocean villas with steps directly down to the deep blue and outdoor marble baths looking out the horizon. The resort has 3 restaurants, a scenic cocktail bar and an array of facilities and activities to relax, rejuvenate and reinvigorate the body, mind and spirit. There’s also an award winning luxury spa, over-water fitness center, private dining options, 24-hour butler and private chef service. The resort’s PADI-certified dive center offers adventures through the wonders of some of most breath-taking coral reefs in the world.

Hotel website: Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort
Book with points: a complimentary night at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort can be booked via Accor’s loyalty program Accor Live Limitless (rates starts at 50,000 points for a free night).
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).

5. ALILA KOTHAIFARU MALDIVES

Set on a 27.6 acre (11.2 hectare) island in the remote Raa Atoll, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives can be reached via a 45-minute seaplane journey from the Maldives’ capital Malé. The resort’s elegant minimalist architecture by Singapore-based Studiogoto encompasses terraced pavilions, villas and a treetop spa that are carefully integrated into the existing landscape to immerse guests in the picturesque natural surroundings. The low-rise structures and contemporary interiors feature open-air spaces and a calming palette of island-inspired colors and textures, creating an idyllic setting for complete relaxation and connection with nature. There are 80 pool villas, of which 44 are along the beach and 36 are perched overwater with direct access to the sea. The property offers a delightful variety of culinary experiences including Seasalt, the resort’s beachside all-day dining restaurant, and Umami, which offers Japanese-inspired menus. Currently, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives ranks among the most affordable 5-star hotels in the Maldives.

Hotel website: Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
Book with points: a complimentary night at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives can be booked via Hyatt’s loyalty program World of Hyatt (rates starts at 25,000 points for a free night).
Review: read my review of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives here.

4. THE ST REGIS MALDIVES VOMMULI RESORT

Located in the Dhaalu Atoll – a 40 minute seaplane ride southwest from Malé – the iconic St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is surrounded by dreamy landscapes, thick tropical vegetation, a fine white-sand beach, a pristine lagoon, and the glistening turquoise Indian Ocean. Combining contemporary design and local craftsmanship, with a profound appreciation for the ecological environment, the resort’s 77 luxuriously appointed villas feature expansive private terraces leading to pristine beaches and infinity pools with the magnificent Indian Ocean as a tranquil backdrop. The resort also boasts one of the largest three bedroom over-water villas in the Maldives, the John Jacob Astor Estate. Guests can savor epicurean delights from all over the world in the six restaurants and bars and restore their well-being at the over-water Iridium Spa.

Hotel website: The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Book with points: a complimentary night at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort can be booked via Marriott’s loyalty program Marriott Bonvoy (rates starts at 90,000 points for a free night).
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, welcome bottle of Champagne, $300 USD resort credit, and a one time hydrotherapy spa experience per couple).
Review: read my review of The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort here.

3. INTERCONTINENTAL MALDIVES MAAMUNGAU RESORT

An exclusive private island resort, situated on the southernmost tip of the remote Raa Atoll, next to UNESCO biosphere reserve Baa Atoll, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort enjoys one of the most secluded and magnificent locations in the Maldives. The property’s 81 spacious villas and residences – either located on the beach, around the lagoon or overwater – are combined with extensive wellness & leisure facilities, bespoke experiences and six restaurants & bars. A highlight of the resort is its world-class service, including being the first resort worldwide to offer Club InterContinental benefits to all guests (e.g. daily afternoon tea, evening aperitif and and all-day refreshments by the pool or beach). The ultra-luxe property is surrounded by a myriad of marine life and home to a unique and spectacular manta ray sanctuary, making it the best hotel in the Maldives to snorkel with manta rays year round (which truly sets it apart among luxury resorts in the Maldives).

Hotel website: InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
Book with points: a complimentary night at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort can be booked via IGH’s loyalty program IHG One Rewards (rates starts at 100,000 points for a free night).
Review: read my review of InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort here.

2. THE RITZ-CARLTON MALDIVES, FARI ISLANDS

From Sangu conch shell blown on arrival, evoking a scene from the ancient Maldives; legendary Ritz-Carlton service by an Aris Meeha, island butler, a character inspired by the olden royal courts; to the celebration of sunsets with an elegant performance of Bodu Beru drums that honors the oldest surviving tradition of the Maldives, followed by a flaming ceremony marking the transition from day to evening, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands invites you to embrace island life. Built on a set of artificial islands, the resort features seven restaurants and bars between the dedicated Culinary Island, Grand Sunset Beach and Fari Marina Village, offering curated experiences for all tastes. Guests can wake up to the aromas of freshly brewed coffee in La Locanda, where the Southern Italian cuisine and customs unfold; savor indulgent mezze platters and succulent kebabs at Arabesque; embrace the Mediterranean at the family-friendly Beach Shack, or appreciate Oriental flavors at Summer Pavilion, a contemporary Cantonese fine dining restaurant.

Hotel website: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
Book with points: a complimentary night at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands can be booked via Marriott’s loyalty program Marriott Bonvoy (rates starts at 104,000 points for a free night).
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, $100 USD resort credit and a one hour professional portrait session, with one free photo selected).
Review: coming soon

1. WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES ITHAAFUSHI

Nestled among white sands and crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean, the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi hotel is a 45-minute boat journey from the Maldives’ international airport. From 11 celebrated dining venues, including Michelin starred chef Dave Pynt, Zuma Maldives and Terra, the only private hand-crafted bamboo dining pods in the Maldives, a world-class spa sanctuary, the first aqua wellness center of its kind in the Maldives, and an exclusive private island, the resort offers a plethora of activities for all generations. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi features 119 beach, reef, and overwater villas with private pools, including the private island, complemented by world-class facilities for a unique and memorable stay. The villas span across three man-made islands with a wealth of luxuries and experiences to discover.

Hotel website: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
Book with points: a complimentary night at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi can be booked via Hilton’s loyalty program Hilton Honors (rates starts at 120,000 points for a free night).
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).