Luxury Holiday in The Maldives

With its still water, turquoise lagoons, white sand beaches and high level of service, the Maldives — an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean — checks all the boxes for paradise. Here, the rich have access to some of the most fascinating rooms available anywhere in the world, such as the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Hotel’s glassed-in underwater suite that starts around $10,000 per night.

There’s no limit to luxury in the Maldives, which makes it one of the most special places to celebrate. Private yachts, submarines, islands, underwater clubs — it’s all available for a price. Chartering a private yacht for the week runs around $14,000.

Many of the greatest and most impressive innovations in hotel amenities and offerings are happening in the Maldives, says Tom Marchant, cofounder of travel agency Black Tomato based in London and New York City which specialises in luxury bespoke holidays. Take Velaa Private Island, for example, where for about $23,000 per night you can stay in a 1,349 square-meter home on the private island with its own Michelin-starred chef and submarine for outings. When the hotels are always trying to one-up each other the guest gets the very best. Guests pay a lot — and they also get a lot. For example, most everywhere a personal butler is a given.

**Who loves it** Many people end up returning. The picture-perfect setting wins them over immediately, but it’s really the exceptional service that pulls them in, Marchant says. “People there really understand what luxury and service are and look after guests in the best possible way,” he said. The Maldives are fit for royalty, too, as Prince William and Kate Middleton stayed at the five-star Cheval Blanc Randheli earlier this year. (Black Tomato)