We gave our Outoria Team one job:
Find the best and most popular All-Inclusive Resorts in Maldives
Here you go, now you should be all set for your next trip to Maldives.
What’s Special About This Resort
The Maldives and its 1,190 islands are synonymous with many things: ridiculously clear water, thriving marine life, super-luxury resorts, and unreal overwater bungalows. While these hotel suites perched on stilts over lagoons aren’t hard to find around the country, LUX South Ari Atoll does it better than most – especially among all-inclusive resorts. Overwater rooms here are better referred to as overwater villas as they are massive in size, luxurious in nature, and offer huge, furnished decks with direct ocean access and individual infinity pools.
You can opt for the all-inclusive package at the LUX South Ari Atoll in order to combine your accommodation package with all meals, snacks, and most drinks. All outlets are included with the exceptions of Umami and Allegria, two à-la-carte dinner restaurants, at which most all-inclusive guests get a discount – however, stays in higher room categories for longer durations may have a dinner at each included. Entertainment, resort activities, and spa facility access are other inclusions.
Things we like:
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Setting on a private island makes for idyllic beaches and views -
On-island dive center can take divers to see vibrant reefs and giant whale sharks, among other things
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This resort takes overwater bungalows to the next level, with private pools and villa-like luxury
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Large size of the private island is rare for the Maldives, and you can walk for 30 minutes from end-to-end
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All-inclusive benefits begin on your arrival and last until you leave the resort, regardless of check-out time
Things we don't like:
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Like many Maldives resorts, you can only reach the resort by a very expensive seaplane or speed boat transfer -
In-room dining not included with all-inclusive stays
What to Do
If you manage to bring yourself to leave your villa’s private deck, ocean access, and swimming pool, there’s a ton to do on this idyllic island. There are also two additional resort pools, as well as long stretches of picture-perfect sandy beachfront.
The all-inclusive package includes the use of snorkel equipment, pedal boats, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards to get out and enjoy the peaceful waters of the lagoon. Scheduled snorkeling trips to a nearby reef are also included.
Scuba divers looking to get even closer to the reef and marine life will be pleased with the on-site PADI dive center, ready with tanks and local expertise on the best spots to see whale sharks and manta rays. Multiple dive packages are available to maximize what you see and minimize the price you pay. Curious first-timers can even get certified here.
Other Maldivian favorites available around the atoll include sport fishing, kite surfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, and even flyboarding.
What to Eat & Drink
Six restaurants, five bars, and in-villa dining are available on the island. Buffet breakfasts are served at both MIXE and East Market, with traditional morning-starting favorites and interesting stations cooking food from around the world.
Switch to à-la-carte dining for lunch at one of several options around the resort. Senses Restaurant, Bar, & Lounge serves Indian, Middle Eastern, and Maldivian-inspired cuisine, while Beach Rouge specializes in Mediterranean tapas. Veli Bar and Lagoon Bar are two relaxed pool and beachside spots for resort favorites like crab burgers and tuna tartare.
Senses and Beach Rouge continue their à-la-carte specialties at dinner time, while MIXE and East Market lay out extensive buffets. Umami, a Japanese sushi and teppanyaki experience, and Allegria, serving traditional Italian fare, are two additional à-la-carte options that are not part of the all-inclusive package but can be enjoyed with a discount.
Room Guide
There’s not a bad room at LUX South Ari Atoll. Your main choice is to decide whether you want to be over the water or on the beach, as well as whether you’d like your own pool.
Beach Pavilions & Villas: These beach huts on the sandy atoll shores are luxuriously appointed with espresso machines, chic furniture, and a private terrace to enjoy the island air. Beach Pavilions are 645 square feet in size (60 square meters), while Beach Villas sport more than 1,000 square feet (95 square meters) of space, including a luxurious indoor-outdoor bathroom with a giant tub outside.
Two-Bedroom Family Lagoon or Beach Pavilions: These larger, multi-bedroom bungalows are perfect for families with kids who don’t want to worry about safety issues that may arise over the water. They have direct access to the beach and sea, luxurious terraces, and two bathrooms.
Maldives Water Villas: This category gets you over the crystal clear water of the lagoon – undoubtedly a bucket-list stay for many travelers and great for a romantic stay. More than 1,050 square feet (98 square meters) of living space is complete with touches like a glass floor window, a massive deck with direct ocean access, and a catamaran net hammock over the water.
Beach Pool Villas: Back on the beach, there’s one more room type that may win you over. These have private plunge pools on the terrace, along with an oversized jacuzzi tub and outdoor shower, allowing for maximum privacy and relaxation on the shore.
Romantic Pool Water Villas & Temptation Pool Water Villas: These are the room types that won the resort its rating from us. The Romantic villa consists of nearly 1,200 square feet (110 square meters) of space with an infinity pool, hanging bird’s nest swing, and a drop-down projector for movies in bed. The Temptation villa is double the size with an even larger infinity pool, a circular bed, a separate living room area, and a jacuzzi.
Lux* Villa: The presidential suite here is more like a mansion on stilts in the lagoon. It comes with a butler, private buggy service, premium bicycles, a secluded spot, see-through glass floors, and more luxurious touches. The infinity pool on the deck is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
Special Experiences
Staying in an overwater bungalow is an extraordinary experience itself, but there are a few ways to take your fun to the next level at LUX South Ari Atoll.
One of the special experiences the resort offers is yoga and a sound bath aboard a traditional Maldivian dhoni boat. Booking this excursion is totally private and just for a couple, and you’ll enjoy golden hour on the water with meditation and peace.
For something more active, book a jet ski safari to explore what the Maldives is most famous for – its waters. You’ll race across the calm lagoon, seeing the deep shades of blue of the deep and the colorful reefs of the shallows, and may even land on an isolated sandbank for lunch.
You can also get into the deep part of the lagoon and learn all about one of the country’s most famous creatures: the gentle, giant whale shark. A marine biologist accompanies you on a dhoni journey to find them, and you’ll even get in the water with a mask and snorkel.
Read all about the specifics of an all-inclusive stay at LUX South Ari Atoll here.
Related Reviews
Things we like:
-
Setting on a private island makes for idyllic beaches and views
-
On-island dive center can take divers to see vibrant reefs and giant whale sharks, among other things
-
This resort takes overwater bungalows to the next level, with private pools and villa-like luxury
-
Large size of the private island is rare for the Maldives, and you can walk for 30 minutes from end-to-end
-
All-inclusive benefits begin on your arrival and last until you leave the resort, regardless of check-out time
Things we don't like:
-
Like many Maldives resorts, you can only reach the resort by a very expensive seaplane or speed boat transfer
-
In-room dining not included with all-inclusive stays
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