In early April 2025, our long-awaited dream finally came true — we spent eight unforgettable nights at one of the world’s most luxurious resorts: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. Was it everything we hoped for? In this post, we share our honest review of this extraordinary Maldivian escape.
Booking Our Stay
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is not only one of the most luxurious resorts in the Maldives — it’s also among the most expensive properties in the entire Hilton portfolio. Fortunately, there’s a way to experience this dream destination without breaking the bank: by using Hilton Honors points.
If you’re planning a stay of a week or more, like we did, you’ll either need to book far in advance or be extremely flexible with your travel dates. Securing a standard award room—specifically the Reef Villa with Pool (a stunning 279 sq.m / 3,002 sq.ft villa) — is notoriously difficult, as only a limited number of standard villas are made available for points bookings. At times, it may even seem like they’re completely blocked and the availability is released gradually.
That said, if you’re flexible, there’s a good chance that additional standard room rewards will suddenly appear in the coming weeks. While it’s not guaranteed, we’ve often seen this happen, especially closer to the intended travel date. It pays to keep checking availability regularly.
A standard award night costs 150,000 Hilton Honors points, and if you manage to find five consecutive nights, you can take advantage of Hilton’s Stay 5, Pay for 4 promotion. Considering that cash rates often exceed $3,000 per night, this redemption is an exceptional value.
We were lucky to book five consecutive nights for early April 2025 for a total of 600,000 points — well in advance, back in August 2024 — and later added three more nights using free night certificates to complete our 8-night stay.
Arrival and Private Yacht Transfer
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi doesn’t offer a traditional waiting lounge at Velana International Airport in Malé — simply because it isn’t necessary. Upon arrival, guests are greeted directly in the arrivals hall and immediately escorted to the resort’s private yacht. This seamless transition sets the tone for what’s to come and feels exclusive from the very first moment.
The yacht transfer itself is a unique and luxurious experience—especially when, like us, you have the entire vessel to yourselves. The journey to the island takes approximately 45 minutes. The yacht features two bedrooms, allowing you to take a quick nap if needed, although we chose to make the most of the sunshine. We spent part of the ride on the upper deck enjoying panoramic ocean views and the rest chatting with the friendly and professional crew on the main deck.
As of 2025, the transfer costs $900 per adult and $450 per child (ages 6–11), plus taxes and fees, bringing the total to around $1,200 per adult person. While you can technically redeem Hilton Honors points for this service — 480,000 points for adults and 240,000 for children — the value is quite poor, so we wouldn’t recommend using points for the transfer.
Check-in
Upon arrival at the island, we were warmly greeted at the arrival jetty by the smiling, welcoming staff and introduced to our dedicated personal concierge, Yoonus. After enjoying a refreshing welcome drink, Yoonus gave us a guided tour of the resort, sharing helpful information and first impressions along the way. He then escorted us to our villa, where we completed the check-in process and the personalized luxury experience truly began.
Several weeks before our stay, we were contacted by the front office team with a detailed pre-arrival questionnaire covering a wide range of personal preferences. This included everything from our choice of still or sparkling water, preferred coffee and tea, allergies, dietary restrictions, restaurant reservation requests, and even our preferred sizes for bathrobes and slippers. We also requested that no alcohol be placed in the minibar, and this was fully respected.
The only minor hiccup was that our concierge, Yoonus, asked us again for some of the information we had already provided in the questionnaire upon arrival, which felt a bit redundant. However, this didn’t affect our overall experience, and we truly appreciated his dedication to making everything perfect.
Yoonus did a great job throughout our stay — he was always available through WhatsApp when we needed something and consistently helpful and very friendly. We also genuinely enjoyed chatting with him. As a local Maldivian, he shared fascinating insights into the culture and daily life of the islands, which made our experience even richer and more memorable.
Our King Reef Villa with Pool
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi offers three villa categories: Reef Villas, Overwater Villas, and Beach Villas. As of 2025, only the King Reef Villa with Pool and Two Queen Reef Villa with Pool can be booked using Hilton Honors points. We were thrilled with our Reef Villa (no. 503) from the moment we arrived—and even discovered a few advantages compared to the overwater options.
The Reef Villas offer more privacy, and their location is significantly more convenient, being closer to most restaurants, the breakfast area, and the vibrant house reef ideal for snorkeling. Our villa was so perfectly positioned that we could easily walk to meals and activities. We also enjoyed cycling around the resort to reach the spa and fitness center — we never needed to call for a buggy during our stay.
Opening the large turquoise doors, we were greeted by a stunning ocean-view terrace. Stepping inside through the grand entrance, we were immediately impressed by the spacious and luxurious interior. The villa features cathedral-style high ceilings, an oversized chandelier, and a calming, elegant island design. Two woven armchairs at the foot of the bed added a cozy, tropical touch to the beautifully decorated bedroom.
As a welcome amenity, we received a generous fruit basket and a bottle of wine. The fruit lasted us nearly the entire stay, and once it was finished, we were delighted to receive fresh apples daily—a thoughtful gesture that made us feel truly cared for.
The bed itself was enormous and extremely comfortable, adorned with elegant island-style decorations. Just beyond the dressing area was the villa’s palatial bathroom, nearly as large as the bedroom. The centerpiece was a deep soaking tub facing the Indian Ocean—an undeniable highlight.
The bathroom also featured a central island, perfect for organizing towels, bags, and other belongings. Outside, we discovered a beautiful open-air rain shower, which felt like a private garden oasis.
The villa’s outdoor space was just as spectacular. We spent many hours on the terrace, particularly enjoying the swinging sofa while gazing out at the turquoise ocean. The snorkeling just steps from our villa was unforgettable—we spotted an incredible variety of marine life, including clownfish, moray eels, reef sharks, octopuses, and even manta rays. To top it off, we were lucky enough to see dolphins right from our terrace.
Dining Experience
Breakfast was served daily from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM at The Tasting Table, and the buffet selection was nothing short of impressive — offering everything one could wish for, all fresh and beautifully presented. There was a vast array of Western, Chinese, and Indian breakfast dishes, complemented by plenty of healthy options including a well-stocked salad bar, a fresh fruit juice station, and a selection of cold cuts.
In addition to the buffet, guests could also order from an à la carte menu featuring egg dishes, soups, and even desserts. The service was exceptionally efficient and friendly—we were always seated immediately, and servers were attentive without being intrusive. As soon as our glasses were half empty, we were offered refills or alternatives. While breakfast was the only time we saw more guests gathered in one place, it never felt crowded, and we never had to wait for a table.
Every other dining venue we tried exceeded our expectations. From the authentic Arabic flavors at Yasmeen, the Mediterranean flair at Glow, and the elevated beachside bites at Nava Beach Club, to in-room dining and small bites at Peacock Alley and the sunset bar Amber — each offered extraordinary quality, refined taste, and flawless service.
One of the standout moments of our stay was the five-course dinner at Terra, the resort’s romantic bamboo treetop venue. The tasting menu was exquisitely crafted, and paired with first-class service, stunning sunset views, and perfect weather, it turned into an unforgettable evening.
Of course, we couldn’t resist enjoying the comfort of our villa’s spectacular terrace, and in-room dining did not disappoint. We tried the pizza and club sandwich, and both were surprisingly delicious and thoughtfully presented.
Another must during good weather is the sunset bar Amber, where we enjoyed creative cocktails paired with unique snacks as the sun melted into the ocean.
You can view the menus for all restaurants, along with current prices, on the official Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi website.
As expected at a luxury resort of this caliber, dining at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is not budget-friendly. Main courses typically start around $50, with an additional 26% added for service charge and taxes. A typical meal for two, excluding alcoholic beverages, usually costs no less than $200. Set menus are significantly more expensive — for example, the five-course tasting menu at Terra is priced at $360++ per person, while the seven-course menu is $420++.
For Hilton Diamond members, the resort offers a lovely evening happy hour at Peacock Alley from 9 to 10 PM, featuring complimentary cocktails, soft drinks, and a snack platter. What made it truly special for us was the live music accompanying the happy hour created the perfect ambiance.
The walk back to our villa from the dining venues at night was truly magical. The pathways throughout the resort were beautifully illuminated, creating a serene and enchanting atmosphere. We often paused on the bridge to admire the vibrant marine life beneath the water, watching fish glide through the lights — a peaceful end to our evenings.
Resort Activities
At the beginning of our stay, our concierge Yoonus sent us detailed information about the resort, including a link to the current schedule of daily activities, which is also available online and updated for 12 consecutive days. The selection of activities is truly impressive, and most of them are complimentary. Options include yoga and meditation sessions at the spa, 30-minute fitness workouts, tennis and padel tennis clinics, and even outdoor movie nights. Art and cooking classes are available for an additional fee. All non-motorized water sports at the beach club, such as kayaking and stand-up paddling, are also complimentary — an excellent way to explore the stunning lagoon.
If you’re in the mood to be active rather than simply relax on your villa’s terrace, at the beach club, or by the pools, there are plenty of options—and it’s recommended to sign up in advance. From the daily activities, we also joined the padel tennis clinic, which turned out to be an intensive but enjoyable training session. At the spa, we participated in an introductory acupuncture session, and we joined a lower-body workout class at the fitness center. All sessions were professionally run and of excellent quality.
Yoonus also shared with us the list of daily ocean excursions, where we found a one-hour glass-bottom boat trip to observe the reef for $95++ per person. We joined this excursion and absolutely loved it. The boat was new, the staff was excellent, and we were taken to a reef farther from the resort. In addition to the abundant marine life you can already see while snorkeling on-site, we were lucky enough to spot six hawksbill turtles—a truly unforgettable experience that brought back memories of our adventure at Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, where we watched hawksbill hatchlings make their way to the Indian Ocean.
Before our trip, we browsed Hilton Honors Experiences and noticed a special offer for a 60-minute Balinese massage for 50,000 points per person, which we booked in advance. The spa itself is expansive, set within lush gardens featuring several tranquil relaxation areas. The staff was warm and welcoming, and before the massage, we were served a soothing herbal tea, after the massage again a tea and dried fruit and nuts. We enjoyed our treatment together in a couples’ room with a glass floor, allowing us to gaze at the ocean below—adding a special touch to the ambiance.
One thing we didn’t particularly appreciate was that the therapists offered several add-on services before the massage, such as face masks priced at $60, which we politely declined. While the massage itself was pleasant and relaxing, it didn’t quite stand out as extraordinary compared to other spa experiences we’ve had.
For families with young children, the resort offers a well-equipped kids’ club featuring a diverse and engaging daily program.
Conclusion
Our stay at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi was nothing short of magical — a perfect mix of barefoot luxury, exceptional service, and natural beauty that exceeded even our high expectations. From the moment we stepped off the plane to the private yacht ride, our spacious reef villa, unforgettable dining experiences, and thoughtful service — it all felt like a once-in-a-lifetime escape. Yes, it’s a splurge, but if you can make it happen (especially with points!), it’s absolutely worth it. We left feeling relaxed, pampered, and full of beautiful memories. If you’re considering a special trip, this island paradise might just be everything you’re looking for — and more.
As your Hilton for Luxury travel advisors, we’re delighted to offer the following exclusive benefits for your stay at Waldorf Astoria Maldives through the Hilton for Luxury program:
- Daily complimentary breakfast for two
- $100 resort credit per stay
- Double Hilton Honors points
- Welcome amenity
- Complimentary villa upgrade (subject to availability at check-in)
- Early check-in / late check-out (subject to availability at check-in)
All bookings are made directly with Hilton under the Hilton for Luxury program, meaning you’ll enjoy your full Hilton Honors status benefits — including elite perks and points, with a generous bonus.
