Review: JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Maldives

The JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa opened up in 2019 and has been a solid contender among the luxury properties in the archipelago. Yet 6 years later we wanted to know if it’s still on top of their game cause the competition in fierce and new resorts are popping up faster than ever before. Being branded as a family friendly resort we felt this was the perfect occasion to test it out.

So following our stay at Le Méridien Maldives we flew onwards to the beautiful JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa. To be clear, this is not the new JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island Resort which equally looks impressive yet is still on our ‘to do’ list.

The welcome

From the moment the doors of your seaplane open, it feels like you’re stepping into a James Bond movie and everyone on the island heard about your arrival. Truly a wonderful welcome by a small army of employees that clearly have unlocked the secret of being happy at work cause you couldn’t wipe the smile of their face, even if you tried.

The room

We stayed in a duplex beach pool villa. A mouth full but so is the villa. Tons of space, 2 bedrooms, an upper level which is like a tv-room that can double as an extra bedroom in case your husband snores or your wife is nagging about why it took this long before coming over here.

From the moment you walk in you’ll notice the practicality of the villa. A massive dressing where you can easily store all your luggage, high ceilings, 3 bathrooms (there are never enough if you stay as a family of 4), loads of windows to take in the verdant gardens and pool surrounding the villa and a big garden with multiple seating arrangements just to make sure you and everyone else in your family finds their own favourite spot in the sun.

The direct beach access is of course ideal but to be fair, it is equally fun just to hang around your own private pool and chill out in the privacy of your own garden.

The bathroom

The bathrooms are bathing in natural light and all the little toiletries you might think of are at your disposal, thoughtfully presented in eco-friendly packaging. Bathrobes for everyone, slippers for inside, slippers for outside, the list goes on and on but suffice to say that everything is well taken care of.

The facilities

As with many luxury resorts in the Maldives, there is a plethora of facilities on the island, starting off with the kids-and teens club. Already splitting the two is a great way to make everyone happy. See, my youngest is 6 and my oldest is 11. While the first one loves group games and all that jazz, my oldest feels he’s too cool for that and rather hangs out between the PS5 and the air hockey table. Both clubs are really welcoming and it allowed us as parents to increase our own free time significantly.

It’s not hard to crack the code of a good kids club, cause it always comes down to the staff working with the kids in order to keep them entertained and engaged. Still too many resorts keep thinking that an overload of toys and space will keep any child happy, but luckily JW Marriott got it right over here. Add to that a massive pirate ship in the garden, right next to the pool and you have the perfect combo.

So what does a middle-aged couple do when they get some kids-free time on a tropical island? Indeed….first stop is the spa! Spa by JW is ideal for couples featuring 6 couple’s treatment rooms and even a whole deluxe treatment suite. Of course went for the latter, I mean who wouldn’t?! And to be fair, it was the most impressive treatment suite I’ve seen and experienced in the Maldives with a plunge pool, glorious views outside, experience showers, relaxation area,….not to mention the massage itself which was perfectly executed.

Next stop? The wine room! JW Marriott Maldives truly has an impressive wine collection with over 300 labels which in a remote location as this, isn’t a given. Lots of choice from both the old and new world. We even found wines from the South African wine estate where we got married, so you can already guess which one we picked.

Drinks are great but what about the food options? Well, I’m happy to report that none of us even remotely remembered what is was to feel hungry when we left the resort as the food is consistently of very high quality. There are 5 different restaurants ranging from Italian and Thai to international and Japanese. Each of them offering a wide range of food options, and for the kids there’s equally an adjusted menu in each outlet which is much appreciated as a parent and often overlooked by competitors. My favourite was Hashi, the Japanese restaurant. I instantly felt like I was back in the streets of Tokyo, trying out all kinds of yummy dishes.

An honourable mention goes to Kasha, the Thai restaurant. Not only because of the outdoor kitchen that reminded me of the countless open kitchens in Bangkok, but mainly because of the design of the restaurant. It’s located on stilts in between the trees, with small suspension bridges in between, making it feel like you are in a true jungle restaurant several feet up.

One culinary experience I haven’t talked about yet is the newest addition Riha. Imagine a sunken dining and kitchen area on the beach where you go on a culinary 8-course journey through India. Thanks to the centuries of trading between the Maldives and India, this experience is one not to be missed. I would suggest making reservations on time cause seating is very limited.

And did I mention the floating breakfast which looked more like a floating marketplace due to the amount of food that was presented? It didn’t even fit on the floating device, resulting in our whole outdoor area being covered in the most yummy breakfast spread I’ve seen in a very long time.

Let’s talk about how you can try to leave at least of few of all these gathered calories on the island. There’s a gym with stunning views over the lagoon and we saw an abundance of marine life swimming right underneath it. Same goes for the yoga deck which is located nearby and where you can practice your downward facing dog in the morning while the sun gently rises on the horizon. If you can gather a few friends, or want to cheat and bribe the teens in the teens club, you can show your soccer skills on the field which is located right behind the kids club. And of course you’ll also find all possible water-sports available if you’re tired of playing on land.

All of this makes you thirsty isn’t it? Luckily there’s this cool JW Garden where you, accompanied by the in-house mixologist, can forage your own ingredients to create your personal cocktail (or cocktail for the kids). I really liked this garden to glass concept, and it’s a fun activity for the whole family which eventually ends up with a cocktail in your hand. That’s a win-win in my books!

The location

The JW Marriott Resort & Spa is located in the Shiviyani atoll, about a 90-min flight with the seaplane from Malé. It’s a bit further than most of the other resorts which you fly to BUT….because it is a little bit more remote, it also feels a little bit more tropical island. Let me explain.

Most resorts in and around Malé have planes flying over and ships crossing your horizon all day long. I don’t mind that, but many people do. However, if you go somewhere a bit more remote like this resort, you’ll have endless views with hardly any ships passing through, and the only planes you’ll hear and see are the seaplanes dropping or picking up guest which is maximum a handful of times a day.

One final bonus of its location is the fact that you get a slightly longer flight on one of the Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) aircraft, allowing you to soak in some of the most stunning scenery on the planet for free. And you get to experience what is probably the only airline in the world whee the pilots rock up in shorts and slippers.

Other nice touches

Another advantage of the more remote location is the fact that you can go on excursions where few other people come. For example, we went line fishing with the local staff on a dhow near a deserted island in the late afternoon. Literally just 20-30 minutes out, dropping anchor and starting to fish with some good camaraderie and banter among everyone. Experiencing this in such a remote location is not always a given but here it’s relatively easy to do.

Best part of it all? Whatever we caught would be brought to the chefs on the island and they would prepare it for us as dinner or lunch, depending on your preference. My son got lucky and as a lover of Japanese cuisine he had the best sashimi for dinner and lunch thanks to his massive catch, putting me to shame in front of everyone.

Cost

Surprisingly the cost for staying at this luxury resort in the Maldives starts from around 470 USD per night for a 1 bedroom beach pool villa. Of course, taxes, fees and transfers still need to be added (and they do add up), but for that price you get a solid product in one of the most high-end destinations in the world.

Our 2 bedroom duplex beach pool villa start from around 700 USD per night without the taxes, fees and transfers. Of course being a Marriott Bonvoy property you can book a night here from as low as 79.000 points which in my opinion is a steal!

The best bit

The people….no question about it. An experience I will cherish was the one during our final evening where we organised a beach dinner and all of a sudden a dozen of staff members came to bring our Maldivian feast but stick around to sing and make music under the beautiful night sky. Simply amazing and an absolute treat for the whole family.

The final verdict

While there is a new JW Marriott resort just opened up, the original one is still shining bright with tons of activities, very spacious and well-appointed villas and a thriving culinary scene. Very family friendly but perfectly suitable for couples too.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa.