The Maldives has welcomed a new addition to its luxury resort offerings with the opening of the second JW Marriott in the country. The JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island Resort is conveniently located just 15 minutes by speedboat from Male’s Velana International Airport (MLE), positioned on the atoll’s largest lagoon.
The resort features pool villas, including 47 overwater villas designed to resemble traditional Maldivian huts known as gedhoru. These accommodations boast kajan roofs, turquoise doors, and floor-to-ceiling windows for expansive views of the surrounding waters. Each villa includes a private pool and outdoor showers.
Guests at the resort can enjoy various activities, such as treatments at Spa by JW using Babor products, workouts in the gym or lap pool, and excursions like dolphin safaris or parasailing arranged through the concierge. The property caters to families with clubs for teenagers and children offering swimming and entertainment options. Families can also participate in shared experiences like cooking classes using produce from an on-site garden.
Dining options are plentiful with seven bars and restaurants across the resort. Choices include an infinity pool bar, a two-story steakhouse, a craft cocktail bar with Peruvian-Japanese influences, an international restaurant, an eatery featuring Indian and Sri Lankan flavors, and a deli-patisserie.
Sustainability is a focus for the resort as it partners with Invena and MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab to construct an underwater coastal structure aimed at preventing beach erosion while creating a reef system for marine life. Guests have opportunities to engage in these conservation efforts during their stay.
This marks the second JW Marriott property in the Maldives following its predecessor reviewed favorably by TPG in 2020. Booking rates start at $841 or 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during off-peak seasons; peak season availability typically requires closer to 100,000 points per night.
