Meeru Island Resort & Spa

Set on Meerufenfushi Island in North Male Atoll, Meeru Island Resort and Spa spans roughly 32 hectares of coconut palm and white sand, ringed by a shallow lagoon and coral reef. The island runs 1,200 metres long and 350 metres wide, reached by a speedboat transfer of about 55 minutes from Velana International Airport. It is a working island resort, not a boutique hideaway. Across 282 rooms in nine categories, choices range from Garden Rooms set among the palms to overwater Jacuzzi Water Villas reached by private jetty, where steps lead straight into the sea. Beach Villas are timber bungalows facing the lagoon, while Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villas run to 195 m2 with a private pool and direct beach access, suited to families or groups of up to six adults. Ocean Villas and Water Front Villas are reserved for adults, each with a jacuzzi and uninterrupted sunset views over the Indian Ocean. Guests can dive with Euro-Divers, play tennis or pitch-and-putt golf, or visit the island's own museum, home to a blue whale skeleton. Six restaurants and bars, several set over water, round out a stay built for long, unhurried days.