Robinson Club Maldives

Set on its own private island, the Robinson Club Maldives is for couples seeking a relaxing retreat. The vibe here is quiet and peaceful, with just some fitness and wellness classes during the day, live music in the evening, and no kids. The resort occupies over 26 acres of lush land abutting pristine beaches with clear waters teeming with fish. Some of its rooms are located directly on the beach, while others are built on stilts along wooden walkways that jut out into the sea. Garden Villas are tucked away amid lush greenery in the central part of the island. Indoor common spaces are all housed in open pavilions with thatched roofs, and the lobby, with its sand floors and steep pitched ceilings, sets the mood for a peaceful, upscale Maldives experience. Renovated in 2013, the hotel is overall in good shape and decor is pleasant without being luxe, drawing heavily on wood furniture with clean lines and local architectural elements and building materials. 

All-inclusive rates are on par with other upscale resorts in the Maldives, but extras are expensive, and getting there from Male requires not only quite a bit of time but also hundreds of dollars per person. In the same price range as the Robinson Club, The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives is easier to get to and offers more on-site amenities, including plenty of dining options and two pools. For something even closer to Male, consider the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, which has cheaper overwater bungalows and free non-motorized water sports. Travelers seeking something truly high-end in the same area as the Robinson Club may want to compare rates at the Raffles Maldives Meradhoo. 

The Robinson Club Maldives is located on Funamadua, a 26-acre private island in the southern atoll of Gaaf-Alif. This location is great for those wanting to get away from it all and immerse themselves in a remote island experience, but getting there is no easy feat, as it requires taking a 70-minute flight from Male to Kadhdhoo Island, plus a 30-minute speedboat ride. Flight delays are to be expected and waiting times between the flight and the speedboat ride can be long, which means most guests end up spending all day traveling. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, but some guests have said that snorkeling is better than diving in the area, and that the coral has suffered some damage in the last few years. 

The hotel offers 121 rooms, all housed in stand-alone bungalows that are either built on land or on stilts over the water. There is a total of seven room types ranging from Economic Bungalows and Garden Villas -- which have garden views and are the smallest at 700 square feet -- to two-bedroom, 2,583-square-foot Presidential Suites with private infinity pools and direct access to the sea. All units have integrated living areas outfitted with sofa beds and coffee tables, and separated from the bedrooms by low walls and a couple of steps. Decor is elegant yet understated in all units, with either off-white tiles or wood on floors, heavy wooden furniture (that in most cases includes romantic four-poster king beds with muslin curtains), and a soft color palette of blues, yellows, and whites. Pitched wood-and-straw ceilings and wood finishes throughout add lots of local charm. 

In-room amenities include coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, minibars, DVD players, safes, and air-conditioning, and all rooms have outdoor spaces, offering either direct access to the beach or the gardens, or panoramic sea views and steps to the water. Some Lagoon Villas and Presidential Suites feature private infinity pools overlooking the ocean. Most rooms have large open bathrooms with separate showers and tubs, while the rest have spacious bathrooms that in some cases open directly onto the terrace and the sea. 

While there are plenty of diving opportunities around the resort, some guests have pointed out that the reefs have suffered some damage in recent years. Snorkeling, however, seems to be much more exciting, with plenty of opportunities to observe many kinds of fish and other sea life. Other motorized and non-motorized water sports can be booked at the resort, but they all come with an extra charge. 

The pool is large and pleasant, with a small swim-up bar serving drinks, tons of greenery around it, and a long wooden deck overlooking the sea. Massages, body treatments, and salon services are available for a fee at the spa, and the fitness center offers an array of cardio and strength-training machines, as well as a sauna and yoga, Pilates, and meditation sessions. Personal trainers are available for a fee. 

There are two restaurants on-site: a buffet serving all three main meals, and an a la carte eatery open only for dinner. Food gets great reviews for freshness, taste, and variety. The Sundowner Bar is a guest favorite for sunset drinks, with bean bags on the beach, panoramic views, and a good drink menu. The all-inclusive package covers all buffet meals, late breakfast, weekly gala nights, and all drinks except spirits and some wines.