Last Updated on June 17, 2022
The Le Meridien Maldives Resort is one of the newest resorts in the Maldives. The resort is quickly making a name for itself in the Marriott portfolio of Maldives resorts offering outstanding value, excellent dining, and service fitting of a much more expensive resort. With the Maldives brimming with beautiful resorts, the incredible service we experienced at the Le Meridien Maldives Resort really sets it apart as one of the best Maldives resorts for your next vacation. Look no further if you want to spend the ultimate honeymoon, romantic trip, or family vacation on a dreamy tropical island with excellent food, top-notch friendly service, and stunning turquoise waters.
We spent 3 nights at the Le Meridien Maldives Resort trying out all the food and activities so that we could put together this Le Meridien Maldives review for you to better plan your next trip to the Maldives!
Disclaimer: We booked and paid for our stay at the Le Meridien Maldives Resort ourselves, however were provided with an upgrade and meal package courtesy of the resort. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and as always, all our opinions on this Le Meridien Maldives review and what to do are our own. Please note that some of the links in the below article are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. Click here for the full disclosure statement. Thank you for supporting the businesses that support us!
Table of Contents
Le Meridien Maldives Resort Location
The Le Meridien Maldives Resort is located on a private island in the Lhaviyani Atoll. The Lhaviyani Atoll is approximately 76 miles (122 km) north of Male. Everyone arriving in the Maldives will initially fly into Male International Airport. From here, you will then take a 35-minute flight on a seaplane to the Le Meridien Maldives Resort.
If you’re visiting the Maldives for the first time, the whole arrival process can be quite intimidating. It’s a bit of complex organized chaos which always seems to work. It can be a stressful experience, especially if your incoming flight is delayed, but in reality, it will all work out and there’s nothing to worry about. Check out our Maldives for First-Timers Guide for all of the in’s and out’s of how traveling to the Maldives and the private islands works.
As the only way to reach the Le Meridien Maldives Resort is by seaplane, this mandatory charge is part of the Maldives experience, similar to nearly all other Maldives resorts. The cost is $420 USD per person for roundtrip airfare, which is one of the more affordable seaplane transfer fees around, and it will be included as part of your final hotel bill when you check-out.
Le Meridien Maldives Resort Arrival
When you clear Maldivian Customs & Immigration, grab your bags and head outside the airport. You will be met with hundreds of representatives from different hotels, all waving their resort’s sign in the air. Look for the friendly Le Meridien representative, or if you’re not able to find them you can ask a representative from a different hotel to help you find them. The Marriott property representatives from the other Marriott resorts would be your best bet. The Le Meridien representative will take you through all the steps to get on your TransMaldivian Airways flight.
Once aboard your TransMaldivian Airways flight to the Le Meridien, there’s nothing to do except sit back and enjoy some of the best seaplane views in the world. You’ll fly over countless atolls with their turquoise waters, as well as other resorts with beautiful overwater villas. Flying on TransMaldivian Airways never gets old – we included all the details of flying with them in our Maldives Travel Guide.
The Le Meridien Maldives Resort has its own dock and platforms where the seaplanes arrive. As you descend toward the island, you’ll get some more amazing views of the beautiful waters here and the reefs that surround the Le Meridien Maldives.
As the seaplane pulls up to the dock, be prepared for a warm and friendly welcome to the Maldives from the staff at the Le Meridien. You’ll be greeted and welcomed, and then will make the short walk to the reception area.
As we arrived during COVID-19 times, safety precautions were taken. A PCR test is required to arrive on the island, whether you arrive directly from your international flight (where your initial PCR test to get on the flight and enter the Maldives is all that is required) or if you arrive from another resort (where you will need to take a PCR test at that resort before arriving at the Le Meridien Maldives). Additionally, the Le Meridien Maldives can organize PCR tests for your departure while on island. At the time of our stay the cost was $120 USD, plus taxes, per person.
As we arrived in the check-in area, our temperatures were taken, and we were provided with hand sanitizer. All staff are wearing masks, and guests are asked to wear masks only in the buffet restaurant when obtaining food.
Check-in was completed quickly, and the layout of the resort, dining options, and other amenities were all explained to us. We were then taken by golf cart along with our luggage to our room!
Le Meridien Maldives Resort Rooms
The Le Meridien Maldives Resort only just opened in September 2021, and it shows. The rooms have that ‘just new’ smell, and everything is fresh, modern, and in spotless condition. No matter which room type you are staying in on the island you can expect daily housekeeping as well as a daily turn-down service. Bottled water and in-room coffee as well as tea are included complimentary and is replenished each day.
Beach Bungalow Villas
The entry level rooms are the Beach Bungalow villas, which are located with the other beach villa types along both the north and south sides of the island. All rooms, no matter the location, include all the amenities you’d expect of a resort such as a high-quality coffee maker, mini bar, ironing board, large flat-screen TV, bathrobes, as well as fun Le Meridien branded flip-flops!
All beach villas have walk-out access to the beach with some having open views to the ocean and some having more privacy with tropical plants around the terrace. Larger beach villas feature private pools right on your terrace.
Overwater Villas
Heading out to the overwater villas along the walkway is a fantastic experience. The turquoise water shines brightly along the walkway and the anticipation builds as you get closer to your room! Overwater villas are categorized between Sunrise and Sunset, depending on which side they face. During our stay at the Le Meridien Maldives Resort, we stayed in a Sunrise Overwater Villa. We think this is the preferable side, based on the bright turquoise water on the sunrise side, whereas the sunset side has a few more waves and reefs, causing the water to not be quite as bright blue.
The overwater villas have a large bedroom that opens to the water with floor to ceiling glass doors. The design of the rooms at the Le Meridien Maldives Resort is a fantastic mix of modern features, understated luxury, and island inspired finishes. In addition to the impressively comfortable bed, the room features a mini-bar, Illy coffee maker, huge walk-in closet, make-up table, and a very impressive bathroom.
To keep things open and bright, the bathroom opens to the bedroom through bright turquoise shutters. The design is beautiful, but the piece de resistance is undoubtedly the bathtub and shower room. The room opens up to three glass walls, allowing you to take in the full view of all that the Maldives offers. Due to the design of each of the villas, despite all of the windows, it still feels very private.
Outside on the large terrace you have a seating area, lounging area, and incredible overwater net. The net is a fantastic way to relax and take in the full overwater experience. Of course, there is also direct access to the water. Great swimming and snorkeling are just outside your room. When you head out into the water and are looking back at all of the villas it can be hard to tell which one is yours, but once you get closer you realize that each one has the room number printed on the water side as well, a nice touch!
Le Meridien Maldives Resort Amenities
When you go to any resort in the Maldives it’s important to consider all of the amenities available on the island because you don’t have the option of heading somewhere else if you’re bored. Luckily, the Le Meridien Maldives has lots of options to keep you busy, for those times that you don’t feel like relaxing.
Complimentary Amenities
The Le Meridien Maldives Resort has a number of amenities available on the island to keep you busy throughout your stay. The main pool area is located just in front of the Velaa Bar + Grill restaurant and can be accessed any time of day. Right next to this area is where you will also find the water sports hut where you can book all sorts of excursions out on the water. There is a second pool area in front of the Riviera restaurant on the west side of the island, shown below.
One helpful inclusion at the Le Meridien Maldives Resort is complimentary usage of stand up paddle boards as well as glass bottom canoes! These can be rented at the water sports hut. The lagoon out in front of the water sports area all the way to the overwater villas is reasonably protected, so is your best bet for heading out on the water on a kayak or paddle board with the least waves.
The Le Meridien Maldives Resort also has a gym which is available 24/7 and located in the center of the island on the western side. No need to worry about missing out on the epic island views while in the gym as its second-floor location affords beautiful views out over the island and of the stunning turquoise waters. The trail that runs the length of the island also works well as a jogging trail, or of course you can do a full lap of the island jogging in the sand!
For families staying at the Le Meridien Maldives Resort, there is a Kids Hub which has daily curated programs available for all the kids staying on the island.
One of the great things that the Le Meridien Maldives Resort includes is complimentary snorkel equipment. You can pick it up at the Dive Center, which is located on the platform where you arrived by seaplane. The staff will help you find the right size gear, and then you can keep it for the duration of your stay. There are also lifejackets included in the rooms, specifically for snorkeling. This is perfect, especially if you’re staying in an overwater villa, as you’re never more than a few steps away from some epic snorkeling.
One thing we wanted to note in this Le Meridien Maldives review is that it is still very new, having just opened less than two months before we visited, there are still a few areas of the resort that are being finalized, including some construction near the arrivals area, and the finishing touches that are being put on the second full area of overwater villas located at the southeast corner of the island. This was not an issue at all, and of course you benefit from everything on the island being fresh, new, and in tip-top shape.
Another great thing about staying at the Le Meridien Maldives is that there is excellent high-speed wi-fi available everywhere on the island, so you’re always connected, that is if you choose to be!
Additional Available Amenities
As mentioned above, there’s both a dive center and water sports center on the island. You can arrange a multitude of different dives and dive certifications, including night dives. The water sports center also rents jet skis, windsurfing boards, or you can arrange a boat trip for sightseeing, snorkeling, water-skiing, and more. They also offer guided trips for sailing, fishing, and diving.
If you’re looking to really up the relaxation factor on your Maldives vacation, the Explore Spa has all of the typical spa treatments available. What makes this spa unique is its beautiful location over the water on the south side of the island.
Le Meridien Maldives Resort Dining
No matter where you are staying in the Maldives, you can’t just leave the resort to head out for dinner. That’s why the dining options at Maldives resorts are so important as you don’t have the flexibility of a typical vacation. Luckily, the Le Meridien Maldives Resort includes a few excellent dining options to keep you very well fed during your stay. Given the nature of dining in the Maldives, the Le Meridien Maldives Resort offers a few different meal plan packages to best suite your needs.
Meal Plan Options
It pays to do some research on the dining options available at your selected Maldives resort beforehand, and incorporate that information into your decision of where to stay in the Maldives. At the Le Meridien Maldives Resort nearly every paid room rate will already include breakfast, however for those that do not, including stays booked with Marriott free night certificates or Marriott Bonvoy points, the buffet breakfast is offered for those with Marriott Platinum status and above.
The next step up is a half-board meal plan. The cost of this is $95 USD daily per person and includes the full buffet breakfast as well as dinner each night at either the Turquoise Restaurant (buffet and a la carte, depending on the night) and Velaa Bar + Grill. If dining a la carte, the half-board meal plan includes your choice of an appetizer, main dish, and dessert. Lunch, snacks, all beverages, and dining at the other restaurants will be charged extra. If you are a Marriott Platinum elite or above and select the breakfast as your elite benefit, the cost will be reduced to $65 USD daily.
Lastly, you can also opt for a full-board meal plan at a cost of $230 USD daily per person. With this meal plan you again get the full breakfast buffet at Turquoise Restaurant included, lunch at any of the restaurants on the island, and an appetizer, main dish, and dessert at any of the restaurants open for dinner. All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are also included. If you are a Marriott Platinum elite or above and select the breakfast as your elite benefit, the cost will be reduced to $200 USD daily.
Turquoise Restaurant
The Turquoise Restaurant is the primary dining place on the island, and is located in the central area of the island on the north beach. It has a large dining area with lots of doors and windows that open up to take in the fresh sea breezes and beautiful Maldivian waters.
The only option for breakfast is the Turquoise restaurant, offering an impressive display every morning. Think freshly baked breads and pastries, a fresh Indian cuisine section, a fresh Asian cuisine section, fresh fruit, salad bar, omelet station, and so much more. You can also choose to order off the a la carte menu which has even more options.
All of the food at the breakfast buffet was good quality, especially everything that was made to order in front of you, but the standout options were the daily Indian curries, and the local Maldivian options. We found these dishes were consistently top-notch with incredible flavor and fresh ingredients.
You can also order your coffee or favorite morning beverage however you like it made by the barista. We had some of the creamiest and frothiest almond milk lattes we’ve ever had here! We also got to meet the pastry chef, and learned that absolutely everything is made from scratch – the house made breads were amazing each morning, as was the unique Pain au Chocolat that included a touch of cayenne pepper for added kick and flavor.
Throughout the day, Turquoise is open for a la carte dining for lunch or a light snack.
For dinner, the Turquoise restaurant offers a buffet spread some days, and other days a la carte. The dinner buffet was just as impressive as the breakfast one, with more options than you could possibly try. During one of the a la carte evenings we sampled the Butter Chicken and Green Curry dishes and they were absolutely fantastic, possibly the best meal of our entire trip to the Maldives!
Velaa Bar + Grill Restaurant
Located just next door to Turquoise is the Velaa Bar + Grill, which is directly in front of the pool area. If you’re walking by during the evenings, you’ll sure smell the delicious aromas from the grill before you reach the restaurant!
Velaa Bar + Grill is open throughout the afternoon for lunch, poolside snacks, and hand-crafted cocktails. In the evening they light the wood-fired grill and offer delicious grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables.
We enjoyed a meal here one evening, sampling some of the delicious grilled meats and seafood. For appetizers we enjoyed the deconstructed Caesar Salad with grilled shrimp and tuna tartare, and the smoked meat sampler platter and grilled catch of the day. Depending on your love for grilled meats and seafood we would expect most people to dine here only once or twice during their stay at the Le Meridien Maldives Resort, saving most meals for the more diverse options at Turquoise or the other restaurants.
Other Dining Options
Of course, you can also order room-service anytime of the day and enjoy a great meal on your terrace, or even have breakfast in bed. Note that in-room dining is not included in any of the meal plans.
At the far western end of the Le Meridien Maldives Resort island, which also happens to be the best spot to watch the famous Maldivian sunsets, you will find a small pool and Riviera seafood restaurant. Riviera is open for lunch and dinner and focuses on light bites, oysters, and chilled seafood accompanied by sparkling wines and cocktails. Of note, Riviera is the only dining location at the Le Meridien Maldives Resort which is adults-only. This is a great place to sit back, relax, and enjoy some fresh seafood and wine all the while taking in those stunning views.
For the coffee lovers out there, there is a small café called Latitude that’s open during the day for your afternoon caffeine fix or a light lunch or snack. Latitude is located at the check-in area. Alternatively, the Waves Café is available during the day near the Fitness Center.
Lastly there is Tabemasu, a Japanese dining experience that is located at the beginning of the pier that connects the overwater villas. The restaurant is open select days of the week, and here you will need to make reservations, but the flagship restaurant of the Le Meridien Maldives Resort was well-regarded when we spoke to other guests about their experience.
Le Meridien Maldives Resort Booking Options
With the Le Meridien brand being a part of the Marriott portfolio, this Le Meridien Maldives review is likely of interest to many Marriott Bonvoy members. In particular, because the Le Meridien Maldives Resort is classified as a Category 5 property, which means that a standard redemption costs just 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to redeem for a free night (40,000 points during Peak time, 30,000 points during Off-Peak Time).
Additionally, many Marriott free night certificates are capped at this level. The icing on the cake is that overwater villas are classified as standard rooms, meaning that these can also be booked using points or free nights, a rarity for Maldives points hotels. This makes the Le Meridien one of the best resorts to find an affordable Maldives water villa for your next vacation.
Paid stays predictably vary quite a bit with the high seasonality of travel demand to the Maldives. Low season rates can be found in the mid $400’s USD with high season rates closing in on $1,000 USD per night for the beach bungalows. Upgrades to larger rooms or overwater villas come at a premium.
When considering between a points stay or paid stay, note that all paid stays do include breakfast, however points stays do not. Additionally to note, the resort does not charge a resort fee, but you will find a 10% service charge added to all items, which acts as a quasi-service charge.
However, if you are a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite or higher, you will have the opportunity for a room upgrade at check-in, a 20% discount on all food and drinks automatically applied to your bill, and your choice of a welcome gift. The welcome gift is a bit of a no-brainer as you can choose between free breakfast (not included if you booked your stay with points), 1,000 bonus points, or a local gift.
You might also be able to score a deal by booking through Booking.com, check availability and deals for your dates here.
Le Meridien Maldives Review Conclusion
Choosing the right Maldives resort for you is incredibly important, as unlike other vacations there is no sightseeing or visiting a city, your resort choice is your vacation destination. The Le Meridien Maldives excels in many areas that make a great resort. The resort facilities and rooms are all beautifully designed, the food is excellent, and the service was outstanding. We really can’t highlight the impressive service enough. If you’re looking for a Maldives resort where all of the staff make a genuine effort to get to know you, and love doing their jobs this is the resort for you. Overall, the Le Meridien Maldives is an excellent resort, which punches above its weight in design, dining, and service.
Pin this post to your Maldives travel Pinterest board to save the best place to stay when you are planning to visit this amazing country. We really hope you enjoyed this Le Meridien Maldives review!
