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Baglioni Resort Maldives opens
Baglioni Resort Maldives has opened.
Touted as the first Italian luxury resort in the heart of the Indian Ocean, the Baglioni Resort Maldives welcomed its first guests on Thursday.
Basking on the island of Maagau in the pristine Dhaalu atoll, just a 40-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport, the resort’s 96 exquisite villas are surrounded by tropical nature, turquoise waters and velvet-smooth white sands. The resort features:
- 1 Presidential Water Villa: 360 sqm indoors + 310 sqm outdoors + private pool
- 6 Pool Suite Beach Villas: 115 sqm indoors + 60 sqm outdoors + 55 sqm private beach + private pool
- 3 Family Beach Villas: 135 sqm indoors + 45 sqm outdoors + 55 sqm private beach
- 5 Pool Grand Beach Villas: 77 sqm indoors + 43 sqm outdoors + 30 sqm private beach + private pool
- 9 Pool Water Villas: 60 sqm + 45 sqm solarium + private pool
- 33 Water Villas: 60 sqm + 45 sqm solarium
- 31 Beach Villas: 65 sqm + 22 sqm terrace + 30 sqm private beach
- 8 Garden Villas: 65 sqm + 22 sqm terrace
Sublime Maldivian views, elegant Italian flavours
From breakfast to after dinner, a panorama of food and drinks are available to delight the most exclusive international clientele, all in the resort’s signature Italian style.
A pool bar and three superb restaurants – Gusto, for Italian verve; Umami, the place to eat Japanese; and Taste, the home of international cuisine – serve gourmet dishes alongside a healthy menu of light, nutritious creations and a kids’ menu crafted especially for younger guests. Sophisticated aperitivi, wine tastings and personalised private dinners complete the offering.
Italian wellbeing, tropical relaxation
The Baglioni Spa is an Italian oasis deep in the heart of nature. Amidst the tropical vegetation’s warm embrace, the Baglioni Spa is the perfect place to ease your way to a profound sense of peace.
This exclusive centre, with concept design by Raison d’Etre, vaunts four open-air wooden pavilions for individual treatments, two double pavilions for treatments for two, and a yoga pavilion for practising yoga, meditation and breathing exercises. There is also a well-equipped gym.
Cosmetics used at the Baglioni Spa are sourced from Insium, a 100 per cent Italian brand that markets vegan products certified cruelty-free by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world’s largest animal-rights organisation.
The spa menu includes Thai and Balinese rituals, personalised massages, and treatments to tone, purify and rejuvenate the face and body or to strengthen hair stressed by sun and sea. The Baglioni Spa also offers beauty and wellness experiences for children, groups and families.
Adventure, Italian style
A gym, beach volleyball and non-motorised watersports, pedalos, windsurfing, kayaking, boat trips and snorkelling with full equipment provided. The choice is yours!
PADI Gold Palm five-star diving centre is a gateway to some of the finest dive sites on the planet, with daytime excursions and some special trips to enjoy by night. From its strategic position away from the crowded atolls, it offers a wealth of opportunities to explore a pristine reef. All the dive points are near the island, so travel time is kept to a minimum.
The Baglioni Resort Maldives has been planned in meticulous detail for guests to experience a tailor-made stay in the heart of the Indian Ocean with a touch of exclusive Italian hospitality by Baglioni Hotels.
At the Baglioni Resort Maldives, nothing is left to chance. The holiday experience includes multilingual staff available 24/7, a freshwater swimming pool, butler service, laundry, and a beach service with loungers. There is a boutique for treating yourself to a spot of shopping, and a kids’ club to keep younger guests aged 3–12 well entertained. All for an unforgettable holiday with a feast of sport, relax and gourmet experiences.
The resort also benefits from exclusive partnerships forged by Baglioni Hotels with some of the most prestigious Italian brands, including Ferrari Trento, makers of the world’s favourite Italian bubbles; Frette, sumptuous handmade bed linen and bath towels; MC2 Saint Barth, swimwear characterised by exclusive designs; and Insium, innovative anti-ageing cosmetics.
Designed with materials carefully chosen to minimise the environmental impact, the Baglioni Resort Maldives is the ideal destination for those dreaming of an exclusive holiday surrounded by nature and numerous sporting activities to take advantage of.
As Baglioni Resort Maldives celebrates its soft opening from August 1, a special opening rate is available for stays between August 1 and September 30. For more information and reservations, please visit the resort’s official website.
Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives has been nominated in the Resorts category for the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (UK) and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (US), marking a further development in the resort’s international recognition.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on traveller feedback and are considered a key benchmark within the global travel industry. The dual nomination reflects the resort’s presence across international markets and its engagement with guests from different regions.
The nomination follows a series of recognitions for the resort. In 2025, Kuda Villingili was ranked among the Top 5 Overseas Leisure Resorts Worldwide in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards, placing fifth globally. It was also listed among the Top Resorts in the Indian Ocean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 (US). The resort was similarly recognised in the 2024 edition of the awards.
Located in North Malé Atoll, approximately 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers 75 villas and residences, each with private pools and views of the surrounding ocean.
The resort features eight restaurants and three bars, including Japanese-Peruvian dining at Mar-Umi and Teppanyaki by Mar-Umi. Other dining options include Asian cuisine at East and grill offerings at Fire. Additional facilities include a cigar lounge, a large swimming pool, a spa with overwater treatment villas, and a range of wellness and recreational activities such as yoga, sound therapy and surfing.
Amjad Thaufeeg, Commercial Director at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, stated that the nominations reflect feedback from guests across international markets and noted the importance of maintaining consistent service standards.
Voting for the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 is open until 30 June 2026, with results scheduled to be announced in November 2026.
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives has been recognised as a Quality Winner at the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2026, an accolade based on guest feedback from travellers worldwide. The recognition reflects the resort’s delivery of guest experiences shaped by service standards, facilities and alignment with evolving traveller preferences.
Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers a range of accommodation options, with more than 140 units including overwater suites, beach bungalows and duplex garden bungalows. The resort is designed to accommodate couples, families and groups.
The resort features seven dining venues offering a mix of international and local cuisine. Tex Mex serves Mexican and Spanish-inspired dishes, while Dalchini offers an Indian à la carte menu available for lunch and dinner. Raalhu Bar provides a setting for evening refreshments, with views of the sunset.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is also known for Pasta Point, a surf break recognised for its left-hand waves. The resort attracts surfers from international markets who travel to access the location. Surf operations at Pasta Point are managed by Atoll Adventures, with bookings handled through Atoll Travel to ensure a structured approach to surf access.
The TUI Global Hotel Awards are determined by guest reviews, making the recognition an indicator of guest satisfaction. The resort’s inclusion as a Quality Winner reflects its performance in meeting guest expectations within the Maldives tourism sector.
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