Westin Maldives Resort – The Brand New Wellness Island

Where? The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort

Exactly? Baa Atoll, Maldives

When? I visited in April 2019

Why? This year saw the grand opening of one the Westin Groups loveliest new properties, The Westin Maldives. So in order to review the hotel they invited me onto the resort for a few nights to sample and experience the spectacular beaches, pools, views, fantastic wellness and sports facilities, great restaurants and stylish beach and water villas. Who am I to refuse! Let the pampering begin!

Outfits worn throughout by Melissa Odabash

The resort is located on the BAA Atoll of the Maldives which is about a half hour sea plane journey from Male the capital city and home to the international airport. The resort is stunning featuring a mixture of beach villas and over sea villas each with their own private decks and plunge pools.

The Rooms

We were lucky enough to stay in one of the newly renovated beach villas. A stunning open-plan, beach-facing room with beautiful, dark-wood, minimal furnishings, a fabulous indoor/ outdoor bathroom with al fresco rain shower, walk in wardrobe section, private plunge pool and a large area of the beach exclusively for your private use.

The beds were super comfy with fragrant white linens, an amazing surround sound system in the living area and my favourite treat for the morning, a great espresso machine and orange juice juicer (which they replenished every time we squeezed!).

Oh and did I mention we got a butler too, who was always on hand to make reservations and ferry us around the island to where ever we needed to be. I could get used to this!

I loved waking up every morning and having a refreshing outdoor rain shower. The showers are completely secluded with high walls so no one can see you, but you can see the blue skies up above.

The over water villas also had outdoor private pools and direct step ladder access to the sea.

Me enjoying the daily fruit platter left in the room with a complimentary bottle of champagne which is given to all guests on arrival. Cheers!

Above: The sea plane jetty where hotel guests are greeted on arrival. It’s lovely arriving at the resort, they have welcome drinks, cold towels and give you a guided tour of the island on the little electric buggies.

Me hanging out in my private beach area behind my villa.

Food and Drink

With a choice of four eating options, from the daily poolside restaurant, The Island Kitchen which is home to the incredible (and healthy) morning buffet, through to Hawker, an eastern fusion beach restaurant, serving asian street food classics or for an evening out head to The Pearl the elegant Japanese restaurant.

We arrived so late at night on the first day we also tried the in room service, which I’m very pleased to tell you also had a ‘sleep friendly’ menu with lighter healthy options, which was perfect for me after the long flight.

Above: a beautifully presented dessert creation at The Pearl and below: watching the sunset over dinner at the romantic poolside restaurant, The Island Kitchen.

Chilling on the day beds by the main hotel pool. It’s lovely and quiet here most of the time (as people are busy in their own private pools) so we practically had the pool to ourselves all day.

What to do in the day

There is literally every water sport activity you can think of on the island, from scuba diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, paddle boarding and canoeing to more specialist activities like swimming with the turtles, which was my favourite boat trip.

The turtles are such graceful and beautiful creatures, on our 2 hour safari I saw at least 6 or 7 and one swam right up in front of us (to say hello) then swam off into the ocean. It was so lovely.

Photo taken from Scuba Diver Magazine.

Wellness Offering

But of course the main thing that The Westin Hotels are most famous for is the wellness and fitness offering. And the Westin Maldives is no exception. Housing a Westin Workout huge fitness studio, a purpose built, state of the art gym with fantastic new equipment and beautiful views out to the villas from the running machines, I didn’t want to leave!

They also have fantastic in-house PT’s, trainers and yoga gurus who create personal programs for guests including private yoga sessions and beach running.

The Overwater Spa

No wellness package is complete without a spa and the Heavenly Spa by Westin is built on stilts over the water, so you can view the sea from all around, including from inside your flower bath to when you’re face down on the massage table. I loved seeing the fish swim by whilst chilling out in my massage.

That’s all from the Westin Maldives for now. Thanks so much for such a marvellous stay. I really did feel truly rested and relaxed when I left.

For more information head to the Westin Maldives website.

Bon voyage xx