Naladhu Private Island

There is a mature, yet decadent, colonial feel about Naladhu. Significantly, there are just 20 villas here, and they are simply vast in comparison with many at the same price-point in the Maldives. It takes just 40 minutes to get here from the airport in Male, on a Wi-Fi-enabled, 53ft Sunseeker yacht. Naladhu is unique in that you are next to two other islands – all part of the same hotel group. You can walk across to Anantara Veli, or take a speedboat (or swim) to Anantara Dhigu. As a result, you can make use of their facilities, but as this is the exclusive part, they can’t come across to Naladhu.

The villas feature their own infinity pools, spacious outdoor decks and come with your own butler. It’s almost as if you don’t even need to leave the privacy of your own villa. State-of-the-art facilities are the name of the game, from a home entertainment system, private wine cellar, espresso machines and vast bathrooms. Opt for Ocean Villas which perch out over the lagoon, or a Beach Villa which leads directly onto the beach. There is also a vast two-bedroom villa with 20x5m swimming pool.

There’s just one restaurant at Naladhu (although you can walk or speedboat across to other resorts). Al la carte is the name of the game here. There are a total of six restaurants to choose at the other resorts. There’s also a gym on the island, and the spa is located on Anantara Veli. In truth, there isn’t a house reef at Naladhu, although a speedboat journey takes you to some great spots.