Evaluate: JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, Maldives

The JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa opened up in 2019 and has been a stable contender among the many luxurious properties within the archipelago. But six years later we needed to know if it’s nonetheless on high of their recreation trigger the competitors in fierce and new resorts are popping up quicker than ever earlier than. Being branded as a household pleasant resort we felt this was the right event to check it out.

So following our keep at Le Méridien Maldives we flew onwards to the attractive JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa. To be clear, this isn’t the brand new JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort which equally appears spectacular but remains to be on our ‘to do’ checklist.

The welcome

From the second the doorways of your seaplane open, it feels such as you’re stepping right into a James Bond film and everybody on the island heard about your arrival. Really a beautiful welcome by a small military of staff that clearly have unlocked the key of being completely satisfied at work trigger you couldn’t wipe the smile of their face, even should you tried.

The room

We stayed in a duplex seaside pool villa. A mouth full however so is the villa. Tons of area, 2 bedrooms, an higher degree which is sort of a tv-room that may double as an additional bed room in case your husband snores or your spouse is nagging about why it took this lengthy earlier than coming over right here.

From the second you stroll in you’ll discover the practicality of the villa. An enormous dressing the place you’ll be able to simply retailer all of your baggage, excessive ceilings, 3 bogs (there are by no means sufficient should you keep as a household of 4), a great deal of home windows to soak up the verdant gardens and pool surrounding the villa and an enormous backyard with a number of seating preparations simply to be sure to and everybody else in your loved ones finds their very own favorite spot within the solar.

The direct seaside entry is after all ideally suited however to be honest, it’s equally enjoyable simply to hold round your individual non-public pool and relax within the privateness of your individual backyard.

The lavatory

The bogs are bathing in pure gentle and all of the little toiletries you may consider are at your disposal, thoughtfully offered in eco-friendly packaging. Bathrobes for everybody, slippers for inside, slippers for outdoor, the checklist goes on and on however suffice to say that every part is properly taken care of.

The services

As with many luxurious resorts within the Maldives, there’s a plethora of services on the island, beginning off with the kids-and teenagers membership. Already splitting the 2 is a good way to make everybody completely satisfied. See, my youngest is 6 and my oldest is 11. Whereas the primary one loves group video games and all that jazz, my oldest feels he’s too cool for that and moderately hangs out between the PS5 and the air hockey desk. Each golf equipment are actually welcoming and it allowed us as dad and mom to extend our personal free time considerably.

It’s not arduous to crack the code of a great children membership, trigger it at all times comes right down to the employees working with the children so as to hold them entertained and engaged. Nonetheless too many resorts hold pondering that an overload of toys and area will hold any baby completely satisfied, however fortunately JW Marriott Maldives obtained it proper over right here.

That is really one of many largest children golf equipment within the Maldives with as much as 100 actions every week. Add to {that a} huge pirate ship within the backyard, proper subsequent to the pool and you’ve got the right combo.

So what does a middle-aged couple do once they get some kids-free time on a tropical island? Certainly….first cease is the spa! Spa by JW is right for {couples} that includes 6 couple’s remedy rooms and even an entire deluxe remedy suite. After all went for the latter, I imply who wouldn’t?! And to be honest, it was essentially the most spectacular remedy suite I’ve seen and skilled within the Maldives with a plunge pool, wonderful views outdoors, expertise showers, leisure space,….to not point out the therapeutic massage itself which was completely executed.

Subsequent cease? The wine room! JW Marriott Maldives actually has a formidable wine assortment with over 300 labels which in a distant location as this, isn’t a given. A number of alternative from each the previous and new world. We even discovered wines from the South African wine property the place we obtained married, so you’ll be able to already guess which one we picked.

Drinks are nice however what concerning the meals choices? Properly, I’m completely satisfied to report that none of us even remotely remembered what’s was to really feel hungry once we left the resort because the meals is persistently of very prime quality. There are 5 totally different eating places starting from Italian and Thai to worldwide and Japanese. Every of them providing a variety of meals choices, and for the children there’s equally an adjusted menu in every outlet which is way appreciated as a father or mother and infrequently missed by opponents. My favorite was Hashi, the Japanese restaurant. I immediately felt like I used to be again within the streets of Tokyo, attempting out every kind of yummy dishes.

An honourable point out goes to Kaashi, the Thai restaurant. Not solely due to the out of doors kitchen that jogged my memory of the numerous open kitchens in Bangkok, however primarily due to the design of the restaurant. It’s situated on stilts in between the bushes, with small suspension bridges in between, making it really feel like you’re in a real jungle restaurant a number of ft up.

One culinary expertise I haven’t talked about but is the most recent addition Riha. Think about a sunken eating and kitchen space on the seaside the place you go on a culinary 8-course journey via India. Due to the centuries of buying and selling between the Maldives and India, this expertise is one to not be missed. I’d recommend making reservations on time trigger seating may be very restricted.

And did I point out the floating breakfast which appeared extra like a floating market because of the quantity of meals that was offered? It didn’t even match on the floating system, leading to our entire out of doors space being lined in essentially the most yummy breakfast unfold I’ve seen in a really very long time.

Let’s speak about how one can attempt to depart a minimum of of few of all these gathered energy on the island. There’s a health club with beautiful views over the lagoon and we noticed an abundance of marine life swimming proper beneath it. Similar goes for the yoga deck which is situated close by and the place you’ll be able to observe your downward dealing with canine within the morning whereas the solar gently rises on the horizon. In the event you can collect a couple of buddies, or wish to cheat and bribe the kids within the teenagers membership, you’ll be able to present your soccer abilities on the sphere which is situated proper behind the children membership. And naturally you’ll additionally discover all attainable water-sports out there should you’re uninterested in taking part in on land.

All of this makes you thirsty isn’t it? Fortunately there’s this cool JW Backyard the place you, accompanied by the in-house mixologist, can forage your individual substances to create your private cocktail (or cocktail for the children). I actually appreciated this backyard to glass idea, and it’s a enjoyable exercise for the entire household which ultimately finally ends up with a cocktail in your hand. That’s a win-win in my books!

The situation

The JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa is situated within the Shaviyani Atoll, a few 55-min flight with the seaplane from Malé. It’s a bit additional than a lot of the different resorts which you fly to BUT….as a result of it’s a little bit extra distant, it additionally feels just a little bit extra tropical island. Let me clarify.

Most resorts in and round Malé have planes flying over and ships crossing your horizon all day lengthy. I don’t thoughts that, however many individuals do. Nonetheless, should you go someplace a bit extra distant like this resort, you’ll have infinite views with hardly any ships passing via, and the one planes you’ll hear and see are the seaplanes dropping or selecting up visitor which is most a handful of occasions a day.

One ultimate bonus of its location is the truth that you get a barely longer flight on one of many Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) plane, permitting you to soak in among the most beautiful surroundings on the planet without spending a dime. And also you get to expertise what might be the one airline on the earth whee the pilots rock up in shorts and slippers.

Different good touches

One other benefit of the extra distant location is the truth that you’ll be able to go on excursions the place few different individuals come. For instance, we went line fishing with the native employees on a dhow close to a abandoned island within the late afternoon. Actually simply 20-Half-hour out, dropping anchor and beginning to fish with some good camaraderie and banter amongst everybody. Experiencing this in such a distant location shouldn’t be at all times a given however right here it’s comparatively straightforward to do.

Greatest a part of all of it? No matter we caught could be dropped at the cooks on the island and they might put together it for us as dinner or lunch, relying in your choice. My son obtained fortunate and as a lover of Japanese delicacies he had the most effective sashimi for dinner and lunch due to his huge catch, placing me to disgrace in entrance of everybody.

Price

Surprisingly the fee for staying at this luxurious resort within the Maldives begins from round 470 USD per evening for a 1 bed room seaside pool villa. After all, taxes, charges and transfers nonetheless must be added (and so they do add up), however for that value you get a stable product in one of the high-end locations on the earth.

Our 2 bed room duplex seaside pool villa begin from round 700 USD per evening with out the taxes, charges and transfers. After all being a Marriott Bonvoy property you’ll be able to ebook an evening right here from as little as 79.000 factors which in my view is a steal!

The most effective bit

The individuals…. no query about it. An expertise I’ll cherish was the one throughout our ultimate night the place we organised a conventional Malaafaiy seaside dinner and unexpectedly a dozen of employees members got here to carry our Maldivian feast however stick round to sing and make music underneath the attractive evening sky. Merely wonderful and an absolute deal with for the entire household.

The ultimate verdict

Whereas there’s a new JW Marriott resort simply opened up, the unique one remains to be shining vibrant with tons of actions, very spacious and well-appointed villas and a thriving culinary scene. Very household pleasant however completely appropriate for {couples} too.

Disclosure: Our keep was sponsored by JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa.