Luxury hotels are understandably ten a penny in this island paradise but Amilla manages to maintain, elevate even, the standards of luxury while offering a new way to experience the Maldives’ stunning backdrops with new ways to dine, experience the range of activities on offer and even sleep. Rather than room ‘categories’, Amilla’s philosophy is that its accommodation should feel like a home, so there are 10 different houses or residences to choose from, depending on your requirements. One thing is consistent across all the various choices however: the attention to design detail is outstanding. All overlook the breathtaking turquoise lagoon, with either direct access to the ocean or just a few steps from the beach, freshwater pools and outdoor showers. The terraces that either extend gracefully from the houses, or wraparound the entire residence enveloping you in a wealth of outside space, are perfect for soaking up the sun or a spot of late-night stargazing. A personal butler will be at your disposal for the duration of your visit.
For eating out you’ll be spoiled for choice. Lonu by Luke Mangan is the resort’s overwater fine dining restaurant, offering a range of a la carte dishes and degustation menus that even cater for vegetarians and vegans. You can catch your own fish and choose to have it prepared and cooked for you any number of ways, from steamed or baked to crispy battered with chipotle mayonnaise. We love the general store with its coffee shop, library and wine collection, housing 8,000 bottles where you can choose a case or a single bottle of your choice. Also operating as a cellar door, you can partake in curated wine tastings accompanied by a selection of artisanal cheeses. At the Bazaar, centred around the 1,200m² pool, you’ll find a tapas bar and grill, a pizza parlour, a fresh salad bar and a fish and chip shop – with a twist of course: battered oysters and the daily catch of snapper or dory with a plethora of sides is more likely than the traditional fish-pie-and-pasty fare – don’t worry though, we’ve made sure that they have ketchup.
The resort is packed with a range of activities to keep you occupied, from exploring the Blue Hole of the nearby house reef on a diving or snorkelling trip, seeing the manta rays and turtles at nearby Hanifaru Bay or partaking in a spot of Maldivian fishing. There’s also an impressive gym, yoga, a beauty salon, barber shop, tennis courts and a wealth of watersports on offer. Nannies are offered free of charge.
