Emerald Maldives Resort and Spa

From the very first contact, even before the holiday began, to the moment we left the resort (and beyond), you could feel the care and thoughtfulness that go into creating this experience but even more so in the people who bring it to life. The staff you meet, who soon become familiar faces and smiles; the genuine connections they build with you; the way they remember the little things, ask questions beyond the usual "how are you?"; greet you with a warm smile and, of course, the little ways they spoil you along the way.

At Emerald, it’s all about surprise and delight. About making you feel special. And who doesn’t love that?

We came looking for a place to fully disconnect, and while we absolutely managed to do that, we also found ourselves connecting deeply with the resort, its generous infrastructure (specially the beautiful rooms both at the beach and water villas), its experiences, its people and its incredible nature. Waking up and jumping straight into the sea to discover the amazing marine life we came to know was one of those simple pleasures that remind you how beautiful life can be.

Having lunch at the Beach Grill, sitting by the sea, enjoying a glass (or two… or three) of wine and delicious food, was a core memory for sure. But even more, knowing that someone was specifically looking after us, paying attention to what we wanted to do and making sure we had the best possible experience, made everything feel even more special. That sense of personalisation is evident from day one, and it’s in the little details that you realise just how much thought goes into making each guest feel unique.

A huge shoutout to every single person who made our honeymoon sweeter than we could have ever imagined, including those whose paths we may not have crossed personally.

A special thank you to Shafi, our kindest Villa Host; Adam, who kept our villa looking beautiful and added those lovely artistic details; and our minibar gatekeeper, who made sure we always had the beer we loved and doubled up on my all-time favourite granola. To Pritam, for delighting us with his special culinary creations at Asiatique for us; to Vikas, for being the funniest soul and making his teppanyaki sessions so entertaining; and to Jael, for bringing the best energy from day one, along with the best churros and cakes. To Saama, for the lovely long conversations and for spoiling us with avocado at breakfast; to David, Bright and Chris, for keeping us smiling with the best wine conversations; to Piyush and John, for making our honeymoon dinner truly special; and to every single person who crossed our path with a smile, an asparagus risotto :) or a question that went beyond a simple “hello.”

You all made us feel welcome, remembered and genuinely cared for.

This is what makes you want to come back. 💚

See you soon, Laura & Thomas

Dear General Manager Rohit Chhettri, Congratulations, and thank you for the excellent management of the hotel and the team. We now understand the high rate of returning guests. Your outstanding teamwork, as well as all the care and surprises you prepared for us during our stay, left us speechless and genuinely moved. This was our fourth visit to the Maldives. We have always stayed in 5 star resorts, and we always believed we would never repeat a hotel. However, our experience at Emerald made us change our minds, and we are already planning our return 😊 Besides the beautifully decorated villas and the cleanliness, their excellent thermal and acoustic construction allows guests to truly rest. The management of the restaurants is the best we have found so far. You give guests the freedom to dine in the restaurants they enjoy most, which in our opinion is a sign of great management. It avoids buffet waste, which is good for the hotel and for sustainability… very well done 😊 To the team at the Sunset Bar, the Beach Grill and the Asiatique, thank you very much for the kindness and attention you gave us… Mr Pawan, Mr Kamal, Mr Ferry, Mr Imthiyaz, and all those whose names we could not record but who treated us so well. Mr KD, congratulations and thank you for the surprises you prepared for us, not only for the moments themselves, but also because through your attitudes and humility you showed us that you genuinely took great pleasure in making us happy. To the chef at Asiatique, thank you very much for the excellent sushi prepared with such care for us. To the team and chef at Aqua, thank you for the warm welcome and for the special table for our dinner. Amaan, our host, always available and always with a smile, thank you. To the duo of musicians who provide the evening entertainment: very kind and very talented. It was a pleasure to end the day listening to you. We hope to return soon, especially because we spent our 12 day stay on only half of the island.. we still need to discover the other half.