Every now and then, the Maldives calls my name — and this time, it led me to Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa, a stunning retreat tucked away in the Lhaviyani Atoll. Known for its powdery white beaches, this relatively new addition to the Maldives’ luxury scene can be found on Thilamaafushi Island and has been making serious waves — especially for families traveling with kids.
With school holidays approaching, and having heard lots of glowing feedback, it felt like the perfect moment to keep the kids entertained and see if this island paradise could live up to the promise.
The welcome
From the moment my family and I stepped out of the seaplane onto the jetty, we were greeted by several staff members who would welcome us with cold towels, refreshing drinks and a warm smile on their faces. A few ladies from the kids club were equally waiting to welcome both our kids to the island while instantly spoiling them with a branded sun hat which they didn’t let go of during the remainder of our stay.
The room
We stayed in a 2-bedroom beach pool villa which is ideal for families like us. Not only does it have 2 separate bedrooms but equally two separate bathrooms, dressings, toilets, terraces and so on, making sure you are never cramped for space, on the contrary.
The interior is fresh yet still cozy and there’s an overload of little details all across that you wouldn’t always expect like slippers for inside, but equally a set of flip-flops for outside. Welcome amenities included a bottle of sparkling wine, juices for the kids, a whole tower full of sweet bites, marshmallows with chocolate fishes on the side,…. Ah well, calories don’t count on holidays!
Outside there’s a small pool which is perfect to cool down, but it’s equally great for the kids to have some proper fun without disturbing any of the other guests on the island. And with direct beach access it’s hard to get the kids away from the villa as they have literally an endless playground right in front of them.
The bathroom
The bathrooms are outside (it’s a tropical island after all) but semi covered so you’ll always stay dry in case of rain but at the same time you can indulge in the joys of an outdoor shower in the sunshine or moonlight….or both. Hair dryers, robes, slippers, great smelling gels and creams, it’s all here.
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The facilities
There’s a lot to cover but let’s start with the the food. There are 4 restaurants ranging from Japanese to Mediterranean and international. Overall, I was really pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of food. The fact that the island boasts its own massive vegetable garden does help with providing the freshest salads I’ve ever eaten in the Maldives. The stand out restaurant for me must be Tabemasu as it served some superb Japanese food and the mocha whiskey-sour was a true revelation!
Also don’t miss out on some of the very tasteful dishes at Riviera during lunch, as it sits as bit more hidden than Turquoise and Velaa Grill (which have great lunch options too of course) and serves up some true gems.
Of course there’s also a great kids club which is always a gift from heaven when you travel as a family. In my opinion and experience there’s 1 single thing that creates a good kids club, and that’s engaging and enthusiastic staff. Throughout the years my kids have visited tons of different clubs and the ones they prefer and stand out are the ones where the staff is truly happy to see them walk in, have fun with them and just love the interaction with the younger guests. Loads of toys, amenities and what not are great, but they will never make the real difference. Luckily Le Meridien understood the brief and the kids club was a success throughout our whole stay.
So where d parents go right after they left the kids at the club? Indeed…..the spa! And the Explore Spa didn’t disappoint, on the contrary. Being located fully overwater it instantly creates a relaxing atmosphere. The different treatment rooms are also separated from each other, making sure there’s no noise disturbance whatsoever during your treatment. We had a superb couple massage and the glass floor panels were perfect to dream away while looking at the marine wildlife going about their day in the reef underneath you.
Another highlight for the parents is La Vie which offers a nice cocktail bar and an adults-only pool which is always a winner among parents.
For those who like to be a bit more active I can gladly say that the island has the most beautiful padel court I’ve ever seen! Beautifully positioned between the lush natural greenery of the island and the light turquoise blue ocean, this court even makes the most lazy guest rethink their choice not to be active in the Maldives.
Location
The moment I arrived at Velana Airport in Malé together with my wife and 2 kids, we were greeted by the friendly staff from Le Méridien. They swiftly whisked us to the Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) desk where we literally checked in our luggage within 5 minutes. It always surprises me how effortless seaplane transfers are in Malé and this was no exception.
Le Meridien is located in the Lhaviyani atoll which is around a 30-40 minute flight with the seaplane. As per usual, the views along the way are some of the most mesmerising in the world with tropical islands popping up left, right and centre. The whole seaplane flight is such a quintessential Maldivian experience so while it takes a bit longer to reach your resort, the views and overall excitement do make up for it.
Other nice touches
Le Meridien has a really nice airport lounge in the new seaplane terminal, making the whole transfer experience even more relaxing and seamless. With showers, dressing rooms, wifi, a buffet and even an outdoor terrace, you literally can start you holiday here.
Another superb experience you can’t miss out on is the movie under the stars. Sitting back in open air under the stars while watching a blockbuster is something very unique. Add to it freshly made popcorn and the knowledge that you’re sitting on a tropical island in one of the most beautiful spots in the world, and you’ll quickly understand how special it all is.
And for those who like to learn more about marine life, or just want to dive into some of the most stunning coral reefs, there’s the superb dive centre. The staff are really friendly, making sure everyone has the best experience out there, irrelevant if it’s on a snorkelling trip, a coral reef dive or even a sunset dolphin cruise. Speaking of the latter, we were lucky enough to have dozens of dolphins swim out in front of our boat for about 40 minutes during one of these sunset cruises. You can imagine the excitement of our kids (and everyone else on the ship).
Cost
As we all know, the Maldives are never going to be cheap. But that being said, I do feel that some resorts offer better value for money compared to others, and Le Meridien is certainly among those that give good bang for the buck. Prices in low season start from around 390 USD (taxes, fees and charges included) which is pretty rare for a solid product in this island archipelago. For our 2-bedroom beach pool villa prices start around 850 USD.
However, if you are a Bonvoy member, you can book the resort from as little as 45.000 points/night which is really a steal. Of course you need to add the transfer cost in all of the above prices.
The best bit
What truly stands out to me is the fact that Le Meridien is a resort that offers many of the amenities which you’ll only find in the really high-end properties. And to do this without charging you an arm and a leg is truly refreshing to see. One other thing that is worth mentioning is the fact that it’s located on a natural island which always adds more tropical vibes to your holiday due to the rich vegetation everywhere you look.
The final verdict
In the end it’s a wonderful resort which serves perfectly for both families and couples. Solid amenities, loads of different villa options, a wide variety of food outlets and great value for money. Would I return? Absolutely!
Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa
Kristof Eyckmans
Kristof Eyckmans is a travel writer from Antwerp, Belgium. He’s been living all across the globe and while he loves wildlife and nature, he can still enjoy a good urban jungle.
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