Emerald Maldives Resort and Spa

The stay at Emerald Maldives was truly a perfect vacation. From the moment we arrived, after many hours of traveling, it was impossible not to smile and immediately feel re-energized. The staff welcomed us like royalty, with genuine smiles and such positive energy.

We stayed in an Overwater Pool Villa, and I honestly couldn't have wished for anything better. The villa was spacious, with a huge bathroom, a beautiful private pool, and direct access to the crystal-clear lagoon, where we could see colorful fish swimming just a few steps away.

The island itself is stunning, and all the hotel facilities—including the restaurants, gym, and water sports center—were excellent. Everything was beautifully designed, tastefully decorated, and impeccably maintained.

The food and drinks were of exceptional quality. The sommeliers in every restaurant were outstanding, demonstrating impressive knowledge and recommending excellent wines, all included in the all-inclusive package.

During our stay, we were lucky enough to see dolphins, countless colorful fish around the resort, three small reef sharks near the beach, and even two graceful rays swimming together.

A special thank you goes to our host, Shafi, who was always available, attentive, and ready to help with anything we needed. We would also like to thank Pawar from the Sunset Bar, who served us delicious drinks every day on the beach and every evening at the bar, always with a sincere smile. One day I asked him if he was tired or struggling with the heat, and he simply replied that no, “I work in Paradise.” That answer perfectly reflects the spirit of Emerald Maldives and its incredible team.

Thank you to everyone who made our holiday so memorable. We left with unforgettable memories and hope to return one day.

Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa exceeded every expectation we had. This was our 4th visit to the Maldives and our 1st visit to Emerald. We travelled as three generations (grandparents, parents and two boys aged 17 and 20), for a 14 night stay, and every single one of us agreed it was the most incredible holiday.

The resort itself is breathtaking. The beaches are every bit as beautiful as the photos, with powder-soft white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water. Even in July, the weather was incredible—we had almost no rain, just one 5–10 minute shower during our entire stay.

The all-inclusive package is, without doubt, the best we’ve ever experienced. This isn’t an all-inclusive where corners are cut. Proper Champagne is included, along with an extensive wine list, premium spirits, cocktails and excellent beers. Our villa minibar was replenished daily with wine, beer, soft drinks, chocolate, sweets, crisps and nuts. We also loved the thoughtful extras such as the Emerald beach bag, slippers and flip-flops.

The food deserves a special mention. Every one of the four restaurants was excellent, and we genuinely struggled to choose a favourite for dinner. The Beach Club Grill became our favourite lunch spot, with fantastic food in a beautiful setting overlooking the sea. The Teppanyaki evening was a real highlight of the trip—great fun and excellent food. We were also treated to a wonderful Sri Lankan meal one evening, and the Thursday Gala Dinner was absolutely spectacular. The welcome cocktail evenings were another lovely touch and created a great atmosphere.

We stayed in 3 Water Villas with Pool, and they were stunning. They were incredibly spacious, with huge walk-in wardrobes, beautiful and huge bathrooms, a fantastic shower and an infinity pool that we used every day. The deck had comfortable loungers, bean bags and a hammock over the water, making it the perfect place to relax.

The marine life was better than we expected. From the jetty we say reef sharks, an octopus and eels. Straight from our water villas we saw reef sharks, eagle rays, stingrays, parrotfish, pufferfish and countless colourful reef fish. The snorkelling directly from the villas (particularly the non-pool side) was the best for us.

The island itself is the perfect size. We all loved cycling every day. They are a must from the water villas. Our sons played padel daily and used the gym and there was always plenty to do without the island ever feeling busy.

The beaches are immaculate, with drink service available at the touch of a bell, and we loved spending time at both the Sunrise and Sunset Bars. The swings at the main beach bar are a lovely spot.

What truly sets Emerald apart, however, is the people. Every member of staff we encountered was warm, genuine and eager to make our holiday special. Nothing was ever too much trouble. Their kindness and attention to detail transformed an amazing resort into an unforgettable experience.

We rarely return to the same place twice because we love exploring new destinations, but Emerald Maldives has become one of those very rare exceptions. We left already talking about when we can come back.

Special thanks to some of the wonderful staff who made our holiday so memorable:

Anthony - Sports Coach (thanks for all the Padel matches!) Shaffi - room host, Cisse & Ahmed - villa cleaners, sommeliers: David, Rai & Chris, Chefs: Vikram & Dipak, Waiters: Areej, Sam, Eyman, Samah, Naveen, Siri & Azu, pool bars: Pawan (we hope you achieve your dream of going to Lords!) Alim, Ansh & Ahmed

Rohit you have such an amazing team supported by the fantastic: Jude, KD & Alok! Thank you everyone.

From the moment my daughter and I landed in Malé to celebrate the end of her GCSEs and her 16th birthday, I felt like we had stepped into another world — one where everything was taken care of for us with kindness, warmth, and genuine attention.

We were greeted immediately by the Emerald SPA team, who collected our bags and whisked us through to the seaplane terminal. Check‑in was effortless, and before we knew it, we were flying over turquoise waters on our way to our beautiful island.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the restaurant manager, music, Prosecco, and of course our incredible host, Amaan, who truly made our 10‑day stay unforgettable. A buggy with our names on it was waiting — such a thoughtful touch — and as we were driven to our water villa with a private pool, Amaan showed us around the resort and encouraged us to check the app where he had already planned our full itinerary. He made sure we wouldn’t miss a single experience and that we could simply relax and enjoy the luxury holiday we had booked.

In our villa, he explained everything clearly and even pointed out the laundry offer — a large sack filled with as many items as you like for $75. From that moment on, we didn’t have to think about anything.

Despite July being rainy season, we had only one short shower lasting less than three minutes. The food was delicious with plenty of variety, and we loved dining on the beach, watching sunsets, and swimming in the crystal‑clear waters. My daughter learned to snorkel, and on her birthday we went snorkelling with turtles — an experience she will never forget. We also enjoyed a dolphin cruise (and saw dolphins!) and a fun fishing trip, even though neither of us caught anything.

Our housekeeper, Cessy, was outstanding. Nothing was ever too much trouble. He cleaned our villa twice a day and changed our sheets daily. Every member of staff went out of their way to make our stay special, and Amaan was always there when we needed him — even checking in when we hadn’t contacted him, offering lifts to dinner, and making sure we were enjoying every moment.

🎉 My Daughter’s 16th Birthday — A Day We Will Never Forget

The birthday celebrations were beyond anything we could have imagined. Cessy decorated the bath with bubbles, flowers, and petals. Throughout the day, staff wished her happy birthday, making her feel truly cherished.

In the evening, Amaan arrived to drive us to dinner, where a beautifully decorated table awaited us. Our usual waiter, Sam, was ready to look after us, and a complimentary bottle of Prosecco was sent to our villa. At the end of the meal, all the staff came together with a chocolate cake, candles, and a heartfelt song.

Before we left, Sam personally brought a small birthday gift for my daughter — a gesture that touched us deeply.

Returning to our villa, we found the bed covered in balloons and a stunning “Happy Birthday” message made from flowers. My daughter shed a tear of happiness. In her own words: “A birthday and holiday I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Now that we are home, we finally understand the comments we read before travelling — the hardest part truly is leaving the Maldives. We are so grateful for the opportunity to experience not only a breathtaking island and culture, but also the kindness and beauty of the people who made our stay extraordinary.

As Amaan said… it’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon. ❤️❤️❤️