Dusit Thani Maldives

Dusit Thani is located on its own private island, Mudhdhoo,
which stretches just over 600 meters from tip to tip. Guests can walk between
the restaurants, outdoor pool, main bar, spa, and sports facilities using shady
pathways that wind through a lush jungle interior (loaner bicycles and a
shuttle are also available). An excellent Thai restaurant, bar, and 54 villas
are built over the lagoon on stilts (the other 54 villas are on land, next to
the beach). Owned by a Thai company based in Bangkok, Dusit Thani incorporates
subtle elements from both Thailand and the Maldives throughout the resort. The
odd triangle pillow or piece of oriental artwork gives a nod to Thailand, while
thatched palm roofs, high ceilings, and sandy floors in the lobby and main bar are
classic features of Maldivian resorts. Most of the decor is contemporary and
stylish, with wooden furniture and fluffy pillows in shades of blue, green,
yellow, orange, and brown. The resort is polished and well maintained.Families are welcome at Dusit Thani, but the bulk of guests
are couples from Russia, Asia, and the Middle East. Most people spend their
days snorkeling, going on diving or boating excursions, or relaxing on the
white-sand beaches. The place was quiet during our November visit, with plenty
of empty recliners up for grabs. 

Located 120 kilometers northwest of Male in Baa Atoll, Dusit
Thani is one of the more inaccessible resorts in the Maldives. The cheapest way
to reach the resort is to catch a 30-minute domestic flight to the local island
of Dharavandhoo, followed by a two-minute golf cart ride to a marina and a
10-minute speedboat ride to resort’s private island (locally known as Mudhdhoo).
Guests willing to pay extra can take a more direct (and more scenic) 35-minute seaplaneflight to the island. Recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Baa Atoll
has some of the richest marine life in the Maldives. Hanifaru Bay, one of the
world’s best places to swim with whale sharks and giant manta rays, is 10
minutes away by speedboat (excursions are offered every other day). A
250-person staff lives in the middle of the island year-round.

Dusit Thani has six categories of villas. Half (Ocean Villas, Water Villas, and Ocean Pavilions) are perched over the lagoon on stilts, and the rest (Beach Villas, Family Villas, and Beach Residences) are situated next to the beach. With the exception of 20 Beach Villas, every room on the island
has a private outdoor pool.Villas start at 1,313 square feet and have
traditional thatched roofs, hardwood floors, and stylish modern decor accented
by colorful throw pillows. Rooms also feature Thai-inspired touches like oriental paintings and bamboo-shaped frames. Highlights include large bathrooms with
soaking tubs and separate rain showers, private patios, Molton Brown bathamenities, bathrobes, flat-screen TVs, and fully stocked minibars with wine
chillers. Nespresso machines, coffee, tea, bottled water, and Wi-Fi are
included for free. The lower-tier Beach Villas and Water Villas come with
“villa ambassadors,” but not full-time butlers. Family Beach Villas, OceanPavilions, and Beach Residences -- the top-tier villa categories -- come with
two bedrooms, larger pools, and range from 2,820 square feet to 6,028 square
feet.

Dusit Thani has a solid range of amenities. An attractive
beachfront infinity pool offers bar service and has a unique banyan tree
growing in the center; staff claims that it’s the largest infinity pool in the
Maldives. A free kids' club with a playground is available for children ages three to 11. An above-average spa features six treetop treatment rooms, a sauna,
steam room, pool, and an all-Thai staff. The resort also has a gift shop,
jewelry store, 24-hour medical clinic, and modern fitness center (most cardio
machines have personal TV screens).

Plenty of perks are available for those willing to pay
extra. Guests can take advantage of the resort’s “borderless dining” concept to
arrange meals just about anywhere -- on the beach, on a sand bar, or even in
the lagoon with the table and chairs in the water. Babysitting can be arranged by the hour. A number of excursions are offered daily, such as local
island photography tours, dolphin-watching cruises, and fishing trips. Maldivian
and Thai cooking classes are also offered throughout the week. Free Wi-Fi is
accessible in rooms and most public areas -- even speedboats have Wi-Fi that guests
can use during excursions. Room service is available, but it’s not 24-hour. The
higher-end villas include on-call butlers who will arrange excursions, unpack
luggage, run a hot bath -- you name it. DJs play music at the bars on select
nights.

Like most resorts in the Maldives, Dusit Thani is surrounded
by lovely white-sand beaches and a clear, turquoise lagoon. Guests can take
their pick from a number of public lounge chairs with umbrellas, or those
staying in beach villas can use the loungers outside their room. An impressive
reef is located just off shore, and sea turtles are a common sighting. The
water temperature was perfect (warm but refreshing) during our visit. We
couldn’t find a speck of trash anywhere. There are other resorts with more sand and wider stretches, however. 

The resort’s main restaurant, The Market, serves a nice
array of international buffet cuisine for breakfast and dinner, with buffets themed after different countries' cuisines (Italian, Korean, and South American) offered in the evenings. An
international seafood restaurant, Sea Grill, features live grilling stations
and a wine cellar (available for private tastings); it’s open for lunch and
dinner. Our favorite restaurant on the island was Benjarong, which serves
authentic, a la carte Thai cuisine (prepared by an all-Thai staff). Benjarong
is open for dinner only. Guests can pay for meals as they go or upgrade to an
all-inclusive dining package; full-board, half-board, and breakfast packages
are available.

There are plenty of great water activities at (and around)
Dusit Thani. A dive center offers lessons and organizes excursions to nearby
dive sites, and guests can even explore three underwater caves next to the
island’s reef.  One of the top excursions
is a snorkeling trip to Hanifaru Bay, a protected area famous for its whale
sharks and manta rays (available every other day). A water sports center rents
free snorkeling gear, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. Guests can also pay to
rent Jet Skis, windsurfing gear, and catamarans. There’s less to do on land,
but the resort does have two lighted tennis courts and offers free yoga lessons
multiple times per day.