JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa

This is our first trip to Maldives and it was way beyond expectation in every aspect. The price was not cheap due to holiday peak season, but still worth it. The beach villa room was beautifully designed. I don't want to go to sleep as the outdoor pool is just too good-looking and I want to keep staying up there. The ocean was as shining as glass. Even on the sunrise side with the breakwater the view is still beautiful. The food is great especially the treehouse Thai restaurant - fantastic view and taste. Our favorite location is the infinity pool - very beautiful and quiet. The service is also excellent. Every employee seem to be happy and passionate. Our host Janice was very detail-oriented, patient and professional. She took care of us well and responded quickly to our questions. Overall this is a fantastic experience and we really miss the days there. Read less

For anyone who hasn’t been to the Maldives before then (aside from the gratingly outrageous cost of food and drink) you may well think that this hotel is fabulous. For anyone that has been to the Maldives before you will be bitterly disappointed and wish you had booked somewhere else. Lets start with the good things. We stayed in the two bedroom pool villa. Yes, as some people have mentioned it is a little dated but the villa itself is very spacious and gave us a very comfortable stay. The main bedroom is large with a huge en suite with deep soaking tub and plenty of piping hot water (big tick!) The kids bedroom, directly off the master bedroom is small but has a full bathroom with shower and a tub. Upstairs, there is a further room currently set up as a lounge with day bed, mini bar, TV and a further shower room making it perfect for a family with lots of children. Outside the villa had a good-sized pool and spacious garden and seating area. The beach villas are nicely spaced out so that you rarely see anyone else. We were assigned a butler who works very much like a Six Senses butler works. This whole system works very well. Unfortunately our main luggage was not offloaded from the seaplane which wasn’t a good start, especially as we had had to wait over three hours for the plane on arrival to Male. Thankfully, our butler Hassan tracked it down and had it back at the hotel four hours later. Unfortunately this meant that along with the seaplane wait we wasted a whole day of our holiday. Back to the plus points - The staff, they are a huge credit to the hotel. Everyone we met was so kind and friendly. They literally fall over themselves to help. They are quick to learn your likes and dislikes and people call you by your name. My son had an accident when playing football. The medic was called, he was treated, I was contacted by WhatsApp. My son said everyone was very caring. They proceeded to check up on him for the next two days. The quality of treatments in the spa are super. Joyce gave the best massages. I am very wary of taking a massage as the last time I was in the Maldives a therapist caused a lot of damage to a shoulder which resulted in steroid injections , physio and a lot of pain for almost a year, so poor Joyce was given a lot of instructions of what not to do or touch. She was incredible. The only downside was the cost of a massage, by the time you add the ++ you are looking at $200 for 50 mins. Quality of food in general very good but the cost is outrageous. They are more than double what we have paid in other Maldives hotels - including The Four Seasons . Meal packages are also very expensive. Every price is ++ so thats an extra 22% on top of the price you see. If you want to upgrade to the all inclusive package thats $450 ++ for anyone 12 years and older - so essentially $550USD and tips are expected on top! Children 12 and over are expected to pay adult price for meal packages! Alternatively you can opt to eat in Aliaa every night and pay extra for any speciality buffets. I am uploading some of the menus so you can make a decision if you can afford to stay here or not. Theres nothing that ruins a holiday more than fearing a bill you can’t afford or having that horrid taste in your mouth when you know you are being completely fleeced. Thankfully, having read the reviews we bought some snacks and drinks with us, good thing too as a mini 150ml Pepsi in the mini bar was a whopping $8٫00 - for a mini can! There is a distinct lack of restaurants in the evening. The Thai and Italian are only open for lunch which is a shame. All you have for the evening is the main restaurant, Japanese or steak house. The menus are not extensive enough to eat in more than twice. My daughter is vegetarian and struggled to find options in the Japanese and steakhouse. Aliaa was the only place with decent vegan and vegetarian options. Breakfast is small with little variety and very average for a five star hotel. But the staff are brilliant, keen to make you happy and there are plenty of people serving. Next disappointment is the location. This is a 1hr seaplane journey from Male. I don’t know if it is because it is so far or just the deal the hotel has but you have to wait for the plane to be full before it goes - we incurred a 3 hour wait. The joy of the Maldives is the sealife. Here it is pretty much non existent. I walked for over an hour every day along the beach and walkway but all I saw was two rays on our entire stay and a couple of blue fish. On other trips to Maldives we would see baby sharks, rays and a whole manner of fish whilst walking along the shore. The house reef was also disappointing, even on the calmest day the current was so strong we were washed up by the waves on the coral causing a whole manner of scratches, scrapes and bruises. Most disappointing of all, we hardly saw anything. Most days the sea was violent beyond anything we have ever experienced in the Maldives. I imagine it is always like it. We kept thinking ourselves so lucky we weren’t in an overwater villa. You do not want to stay in one of these with children. The villas sprout off a wooden walkway that is almost 1km long (0.85KM to be precise). Waves crash over the walkway making it a hazard. The rope fence is too low to offer any protection of falling off. The villas themselves have no safety fence or wall around them. The family villas are at the very end of the walkway a whopping 1km away from the main hotel reception. Although there are lots of buggies to transport people back and forth, on one evening the weather was so violent that even the buggies were not allowed to drive to the overwater villas. People need to be made aware of this. To surmise this hotel does not possess the qualities that makes Maldives so special. We had a disappointing but comfortable stay but would not return to this hotel. There are so many better options that don’t make you feel ripped off and have better sealife. Read less

The Maldives is a nation of over 1000 islands and atolls spread out across 90000 square kilometres in the Indian Ocean. Visiting any of its resorts requires flying into Malé, the Maldavian capital island and then taking separate transportation, usually via seaplane or speedboat, to the resort itself. For most of the Maldives resorts, once you’ve made a reservation, the resort takes care of all the pre-arrival logistics so that you don’t have to worry about anything. The JW Marriott Maldives was no exception, confirming our seaplane bookings on our behalf and having staff members at the International Airport to take care of arriving and departing guests. Upon arrival into Male, our JW Marriott hosts took our passports and completed check-in with Trans Maldivian Airways on our behalf. After check-in was complete and we had our boarding passes in hand, we boarded the JW Marriott private transport and driven across the airport towards the dedicated lounge facilities for guests who are awaiting their seaplane journey. Along the way, the driver let us know there was complimentary wifi onboard, the first of countless acts of going the extra mile service that we experienced on this trip. We were invited to make ourselves comfortable for the 30-minute wait before it would be time to board the seaplane. The JW Marriott Maldives, which completely encompasses Vagaru island in the remote Shaviyani Atoll, is a spectacular 50 minute seaplane ride and has to be one of the highlights of your holiday. It has to be said, that hotels here are very few and far between, so there’s pretty much uninterrupted views without another island in sight. This island won’t disappoint, with its amazing pure white sandy beaches and electric blue waters, plus, seclusion and serenity are the signature offering here! Vagaru island was a former resort adopted by JW Marriott with the designers having to work around many of the existing buildings. The result is a quirky take on a contemporary style with natural elements. All 60 villas have been designed from the outside to mimic the lines of a traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat. Each has a decent sized outdoor deck as well as a private pool. We booked the duplex villa option which gets a separate second en-suite room. This worked particularly well as we were travelling with two kids and gave us all our own space. Villas are categorised by their sunrise or sunset views and you can choose between overwater or beach, although do note, the overwater villas are set along quite a lengthy jetty. These villas also have bathrooms that overlook the walkway, so you will need to drop the blinds for privacy. For those staying in overwater villas which do not have the direct beach access, there are a plenty of designated sun lounger spots. The JW caters very well for both families and couples alike. There’s a large T-shaped family pool and then a separate pool called Pool 18, designed for adults-only. Pool 18 reaches out over the sea with amazing panoramic views. For the health-conscious holiday makers amongst you, there’s a fitness and wellness zone which incorporates a gym next to the outdoor yoga pavilion. Both have a good choice of complimentary daily fitness and stretching classes. Theres a spa which has six treatment rooms and one deluxe suite featuring a private sauna, steam room and a cold plunge pool. The spa treatments are all centred around the four key pillars of wellness: renewal, calmness, invigoration and indulgence. The spa offers some amazing treatments using Aromatherapy Associates products. For the big kids amongst you there’s a recreational lounge with pool table and table games plus a dedicated library for bookworms. Finally, there’s a water sports centre which incorporates diving facilities for the more adventurous. The JW boasts its own fragrant garden which provides a year-round harvest which amongst others includes cucumbers, purple basil and lemongrass. The dining experience aims to be sustainable, drawing on homegrown ingredients as much as possible. If you are into your cocktails, then there’s no place like the Horizon pool bar, an atmospheric sunset spot with swing seats at the bar. Another superb place to sip a cocktail or two is Rum Baan, positioned in an amazing hand-built treehouse alongside the spectacular Thai restaurant Kaashi. The bar is run by Suraj and Satyam and features their signature cocktails which are crafted from an impressive collection of 98 rums. You can enjoy your drinks alongside delicious dishes such as pad Thai and chicken satay and if wines are your Achilles, then the wine room here is stocked with over 1600 bottles and 320 labels from around the world. If you are looking for comfort food, then Fiamma, with its Italian orientated cuisine should be just the job to satisfy your hunger. Poolside home fired pizzas are a great choice when you are feeling peckish. On the other hand, Hashi and Shio are the more formal dining experience, with the former serving delicious Japanese specialities including some excellent sushi, sashimi and tempura, and the latter focusing on a Maldivian grill, with succulent aged steaks and lobsters cooked to order. Daily breakfast is served buffet-style at Aailaa, where you can get everything from dim sum to freshly prepared juices and delightful home baked pastries. The same restaurant also serves an all-day menu of European and Asian dishes, as well as vegan options. Staff are attentive and most courteous, and a special mention goes to our waiter Abdul Rachman who coped admirably with some serious dietary conditions. With its friendly and attentive staff, elegant villas and excellent facilities, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa more than delivers, and for all ages, too. Best of all, however, is the serene, unspoilt beauty of the island, which the resort highlights gloriously. Read less

From the moment we arrived at the airport, to leaving, the JW took care of us. The welcoming celebration upon arrival is just such a way to arrive at a destination like this. Our butler, Naawish, was so great. He was so responsive, timely, and informative. He took care of literally everything that we needed and the things we did not know we needed. He went above an beyond expectations. Our overwater villa was next level for a hotel room. It is more like a hotel house. It so so large and doesn't feel like you're in a hotel room at all. We were welcomed with a honeymoon cake and bottle of wine, just incredible. Everything about the villa was incredible and luxurious. We got so much use out of the private pool and patio, and got awesome pictures daily with the beautiful ocean behind us. The turn down service is twice a day and they take that very seriously. The staff want to ensure your room is in tip top shape everyday. I have not received that level of commitment from the room staff like that at any other resort. We became friends with "Ali" who was committed to making sure our room and needs were taken care of, he was incredible. Every time we saw him he would ask if we needed anything. Ali even made several animals out of towels for our arrival and often left us notes and snacks. Just incredible service. The amenities on the resort are incredible too. The daily breakfast "buffet" is a must, it is literally my favorite breakfast buffet I've ever had. All the food on the island is an experience. We especially liked the wagyu steak, the sushi, the Maldivian ceviche, and the pizza. But literally everything was an experience. We also did the beach RIHA dining experience, not only is it ALOT of food, but again, it is incredible. The adult pool is great and private, right next to a great private beach. The main pool is also great with amazing bar tenders to make you literally anything. The gym on the island has a beautiful view. I often found myself working out but also looking at new sea life swimming around. The Thai restaurant and rum bar is at the tree house restaurant which is such a unique feature. We loved being at the very top because that is literally lunch with the best view. The excursions were also soooo worth it. I went for a jet ski tour over crystal clear waters, we did snorkeling tours at local islands and saw incredible sea life, and went on the dolphin quest where we saw dozens and dozens of beautiful dolphins. If you stay in the Villa with a pool you also have to do the floating breakfast. Save an appetite because its ALOT of food but again, just freaking delicious. Also, we went to the Spa two different days for treatments and I can not stop telling you how amazing that was. They have an executive spa room that has literally everything in it just for you and your partner. Best Spa experience I have ever had. Everyone on the resort is so friendly and welcoming, they begin to feel like family. Everyone did their individual parts to make sure your stay was as good as it could be. We stayed for 12 nights and most of the staff knew our names and what our daily activities were which is a top tier level experience. I could go on and on about this review, but I will leave it with this: I chose this resort for me and my new wife's honeymoon. I was nervous about where to choose because I wanted this trip to be incredible for her and the celebration of our new marriage. The JW Maldives had a big responsibility in that they were hosting my honeymoon. They absolutely made our honeymoon THE greatest experience either one of us has ever had. They took that responsibility seriously, clearly. I am forever grateful for the resort and the staff that makes it possible. When we left in the seaplane, it was like saying goodbye to family that we know we wont see for a long time. My wife and I literally shed tears as we left in the sea plane. We have never experienced such an inner connection with a vacation experience if that makes sense. Thank you very much JW, from the bottom of our hearts. Read less

Very poorly managed resort. Totally dilapidated and not maintained. The wood panels are falling off the villas, the decking has not been maintained and you can easily hurt yourself as it is full of splinters and shards. The metal ladders that goes into the sea is so thin it hurts yourself going in and out of the water and it is bent and dangerous. I am guessing the resort manager probably does not know how to swim so he thinks people should not be swimming here too. 0 attention to detail. No idea of maintenance. The sea has rocks and is shallow even at high tide and there is strong currents. This part we can forgive as it is just the nature I guess. But there are much better resorts out there. Nothing to do at the island. They give you no bikes. So you are trapped in your room and the restaurants. The Indian food and Maldivian food taste good. The rest of the food - Western is tasteless and not prepared properly. We ordered all of their dishes almost to get a taste, everything overall was good. But ceviche was not a ceviche, it was some kind of a supermarket coleslaw mixed with some kind of fish. For a resort claiming to be a luxury resort not acceptable. I would still rate the food better than the other resorts, the Indian options kind of save this one. The service at the restaurant is terrible. They don’t clean the tables on time so when you arrive it first of all looks unwelcoming with really cheap furniture, dark colors and looks messy and disorganized. It feels like a third world cafeteria, not a luxury resort. Shameful for Marriott. The cheap owner of the resort saved money on tables, they look like the same kind of tables I saw at a casual tea garden in Pakistan not what you would expect from a so-called luxury resort. When you see this kind of experience it makes you think how much you are being had as you are being charged 30-40 dollars for a basic salad. Not a good experience. The glasses, the tables were dirty and they could not properly even serve. And people don’t know how to serve anything they keep asking you if the food is good etc… it gets really tiring. I am posting the picture of how they showcase salmon at breakfast. I guess it costs so much to import it, they want you to see it but not eat it. And it is not served on ice. In this kind of tropical hot weather not how you serve salmon. The breakfast also only goes on until 10 am. So you need to wake up early as if you are going to work to rush to breakfast … not luxurious. The other resorts go until 11. If you want the breakfast to be delivered to your room they charge 27 dollars. In other resorts it is free. So you have to wake up and go to the dirty cafeteria. Sorry, but it looks quite terrible. Like a cafeteria nothing more. Nothing luxurious about it. Island time… they add +1 hour to the schedule so they can put you to bed early to cut the day short. If you are not the kind that wakes up early terrible resort to be at as you are being imposed a day that ends 1 hour early. It is a hamster wheel of a resort to milk the guests and give nothing in return. I asked multiple times for the bed upstairs to be prepared from 10-20 days ago, and we had to ask for it again upon arrival. To our surprise the upstairs actually has a bathroom so it can be used by a second person which is not listed on the content. Overall, if you are ok to eat at a cafeteria, deal with a subpar property that is not maintained and are happy with decent Indian food, this resort is a good fit. If you expect a more global experience and luxury experience, definitely this resort is a 100% miss. The staff seems to be trying their best but the management just sucks so bad. You can not improve lack of maintenance with smiles and bending over backwards and apologizing. Read less