The Waldorf Astoria Maldives beach villa is considered a standard room. It’s anything but “standard”: This beach-front room has 2,518 sqft of space, a private pool, two cabanas and tons of outdoor seating. You can book it for 120,000 points per night or use a Hilton free night certificate.
The villa features a main bedroom/living room with a massive ceiling, followed by the bathroom, which is about the same size as the bedroom. I later realized the villas at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives were almost identical to those at Cheval Blanc Randheli. Everything from the furniture to the pool and even ceilings seemed to be modeled after that resort.
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Checking into the Waldorf Astoria Maldives
I arrived six hours before check-in and did not expect them to have a room ready, but they did. They needed just an hour to get it ready, so they offered me free breakfast at Tasting Table.
Normally, the resort charges a fee for early check-in equivalent to 50% of the room rate. This was waived since I was a Diamond member. I also received the following benefits:
- Complimentary daily breakfast.
- In-villa VIP welcome champagne, sweet and savory amenities.
- Complimentary 30-minute, with a selected 60-minute massage.
- Complimentary afternoon tea at Peacock Alley from 16:00 to 17:00.
- 50% off selected beverages at Nava Beach Club from 22:00 to 23:30.
After I checked in, my concierge handed me an old-school Samsung phone. This would be our primary communication tool during my stay. She told me to text her for anything: Restaurant reservations, spa appointments, activity suggestions, golf cart rides around the island, etc.
This phone was super old school and texting anything took forever. I do wish the hotel would replace these with a smartphone.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Beach Villa
I was assigned to beach villa 613, which is on the north side of the island. It was pretty close to the main lobby, but my concierge drove me there in a golf cart, through a narrow road surrounded by palm trees and greenery.
The villa was walled-off by trees, shrubs and an actual wall. There was a large blue door leading out into the patio area. The door could be locked from the inside and there is a doorbell for guests to ring.
To the right of the gate were two bicycles with baskets and the villa number attached. This became my go-to mode of transportation around the island.
The beach villa is furnished with either a King or two Twin beds. There’s a seating area with a TV and bar and glass sliding doors leading out onto the pool deck.
There’s a nice little desk area next to the door, stocked with plenty of stationery.
On the nightstand, there are several power outlets and light controls. The curtains and lights could all be controlled with the iPad. It also included a map of the island guide to the resort – everything you could possibly need, including a list of daily activities (on and off-site), room service, spa and pillow menu.
My only small gripe with this iPad was that it was essentially an island phone book: If you wanted to book anything, you still had to call or text your concierge. It would be more convenient if bookings could be made through the iPad/app.
Diamond member welcome gift
The Diamond member welcome gift was placed on the table by the seating area. There was a jar of brownies and another jar or jam. The hotel offers Diamond members a free bottle of champagne, but since I don’t drink I asked them to leave it out. I was pleasantly surprised when I found a bottle of sparkling apple juice with edible gold flakes instead.
Beach villa seating area and bar
The room has a wet bar stocked with alcohol, snacks and essentials like sunscreen and aloe vera gel. Everything is for sale and prices are displayed on a card.
I ended up using the aloe vera gel when I got a vicious sunburn on day 1. But it provided zero relief and made my skin burn even worse. The next day, I went to the on-site boutique, where the sales girl recommended vegan aloe vera for sale at the store. This ended up being way more effective.
Aside from the items for sale, there was has a Nespresso machine and a drawer filled with complimentary coffee pods, tea, sugar and cups.
Every guest also gets two complimentary bottles of water, which are refilled daily. My concierge told me to let her know if I need more than this. I ended up using maybe half a bottle a day and the staff not only replaced it but always added an extra bottle. By the last day, I had five untouched water bottles in my room.
Beach villa closet space
Past the pocket doors, you’ll find two large closet units on both sides.
The closet on the left has a safe, bathroom scale as well as slippers, sandals and a complimentary Waldorf Astoria tote bag. My concierge pointed out that I was free to take this with me, though I can’t remember if the flip flops were also freebies.
The closet on the right contained two light jackets, perfect for those occasional downpours.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives beach villa
bathroom
The bathroom was massive. It featured a bathtub overlooking the pool, his-and-hers sinks in the middle and glass panels separating the shower and toilet.
The toilet was one of those smart toilets that flushed on its own and opened its own lid when you approached.
The shower had glass doors on both sides. One separating it from the bathroom and the other leading outside…to the outdoor shower!
The bathroom was stocked with beach towels and refillable amenities from Salvatore Ferragamo. These are kind of a point of contention for some travelers, but I’m all for it. They’re environmentally friendly and as long as they’re cleaned properly (which they appeared to be), I’m good with that.
There were two jars by the sink, labeled “His” and “Hers.” They were filled with everything you could possibly need.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives beach villa outdoor area
The outdoor area was bigger than the Beach Villa itself. There was a saltwater pool, covered deck with a daybed and enough additional seating for four.
There were two loungers inside the pool, with a table in between.
On the other edge of the pool was a large table with seating for four. Past that, was yet another swing bed, which was much more exposed to the sun and thus not as ideal for lounging.
Most beach villas have one swing bed and a hammock, so I was kind of bummed when mine had two swing beds instead.
Past the swim was a walkway leading up to the beach.
When you’re done taking a stroll, you can wash off your sandy feet at the other outdoor shower on the way back.
Just a few short steps ahead was the beach, with two small loungers to the right for those days when you just want to sit by the ocean and chill.
Snorkeling outside the beach villa
The resort offers free snorkeling equipment, which I picked up on my first day, during a tour of the grounds. I went snorkeling twice, right outside my villa but there wasn’t much in the way of fish.
I did notice a school of fish right by the rocky area, but they weren’t particularly vibrant or interesting to look at. That being said, I love the tranquility of being under water, so it’s fun either way.
If you want a more interesting snorkeling experience, head out to the south side of the island. This is where I caught a glimpse of a shark on my last day. I also regularly saw schools of fish swimming near the bridges on that side. Stick to the south side and rocky areas if you want to see some fish.
Otherwise, the resort also has off-site excursions you can book (spoiler alert: It won’t be cheap).
Final thoughts on the Beach Villa
The Beach Villa at the Waldorf Astoria is pretty spectacular. Both the indoor and outdoor spaces are massive, yet comfortable and home-y. They’ve really designed the villas to provide everything you could possibly want, with practical amenities like jackets, flip flops and tote bags in case you leave your own behind.
As beautiful as the resort is, they’ve designed the villas so you don’t even have to leave. Whether it’s eating, swimming, snorkeling or just enjoying the sunset, you can do it all from the comfort of your incredible beach villa.
Upgrading to an overwater villa?
A lot of people equate the quintessential Maldives experience with staying in an overwater villa, but I honestly don’t think that’s necessary or worth the $400+ nightly upcharge.
With a beach villa, you’re still just steps from the water and will have just as incredible of a room. And if you absolutely want to sit outside and stare at the ocean, you can do that on the beach loungers.
On a side note, the sand at the resort is rough. But I guess that’s what you get with reclaimed sand. Maybe over time, as the water beats it down and people cut their toes walking barefoot, it will soften.
The Beach Villa also offers plenty of privacy and cover from the sun. I know I keep mentioning that, but the sun, sand and water are all conspiring to burn you to a crisp. The more cover you have, the better.
Now there is a cheaper alternative for $200+ per night: The reef villas. The villas are built on land, while the pool is overwater. It kind of gives you the same experience as being overwater. But again, I think the beach villa is perfectly fine and you’re better off spending your money elsewhere at the resort.
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