Editor’s Choice: 6 Best Maldives water-villa resorts with private pools

• Water villas: 56
• Total rooms/suites: 119

Extremely popular among previous guests, the Lily Beach Resort and Spa operates on an all-inclusive basis. Here you’ll find 56 water villas, the 16 smaller of which can be found just out over the edge of the lagoon.The 36 Deluxe Water Villas each have what they call a “Jacuzzi-pool” that is 7m² with room for about 8 to sit down and even more room to splash around. This is an interesting feature that many rave about in their resort reviews.

Onsite, you’ll find 2 great restaurants alongside a lounge. Like more resorts in this area, you’ll find the usual long list of water sports and activities for those who rather not just splash around in their water villa’s own pool. If you love fishing you’ll find plenty of fishing opportunities here with fishing trips available throughout your entire stay.

• Low season online specials from US$1,223 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,314 per night

• Water villas: 55
• Total rooms/suites: 64

Featuring 55 water villas at its location which happens to be very conveniently close to the Male International Airport, the Taj Exotica Resort is part of the decorated India-based chain with many famous properties around Asia. The water villas here present themselves in a variety of sizes, though even the smallest and cheapest of those is quite large. Each of the rooms here feature air conditioning, an entertainment system, room service, and Wi-Fi.

You’ll also find that the 31 Deluxe Lagoon Villas include their own private plunge pool on the deck, plus many other luxury amenities. They even have a Presidential Villa Suite, which is one of the largest and most luxurious water villas in the world. You’ll also find 4 dining options, a water sports centre, and a spa, which happens to be located on its own private island.

• Low season online specials from US$1,182 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,376 per night

• Water villas: 57
• Total rooms/suites: 86

While most Maldives private-island resorts offer plunge pools in their higher room categories and those categories only, the Constance Halaveli has a plunge pool on the deck of every single one of its 57 water villas. It’s tough to even get a private Jacuzzi in this price category, so this resort is a fantastic bargain for pool lovers looking to escape.

The rooms here are all very large as well as nicely appointed, each even coming with an iMac entertainment system, something that very few resorts offer. There are 3 restaurants and bars onsite, and even some scheduled nightlife, which is another feature you don’t see at many resorts in this region. The low-season rates are amazing here, but considering the private pool and everything else, even the high-season rates are appealing.

• Low season online specials from US$677 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,282 per night

• Water villas: 42
• Total rooms/suites: 78

This resort only opened in early 2011, and is considered one of the most luxurious and upscale in the entirety of the Maldives. The Anantara Kihavah Villas Resort has 42 gigantic water villas, with each featuring a private infinity-edge pool on the private sundeck, as well as a personal 24-hour butler. Guests will also find Wi-Fi, a tub with a view, a dining room, and a wine refrigerator.

In this price category it’s not surprising to get a private pool, but these are larger and nicer than pretty much all the others on this list. If you are traveling with a group you might consider one of the 2-bedroom water villas that actually have 2 private infinity-edge pools on its decks.

• Low season online specials from US$1,835 per night
• High season online specials from US$2,098 per night

• Water villas: 26
• Total rooms/suites: 43

Home to only 26 water villas and 17 additional island rooms and suites, the Huvafen Fushi Resort is considered to be on the small and exclusive side. It’s also in a price category that may scare off most potential visitors. Most resorts of this size offer only one restaurant and a limited number of daytime activities, but this 5-star property has several restaurants to choose from and a long list of activities for its exclusive clientele.

Each of those 26 water villas is huge, perhaps as large as the house you grew up in, but your house probably didn’t have a refreshing plunge pool built into the sundeck like these do, or a 24 hour room service. Most of us can only dream of booking a week in a resort like this, but for those who can afford the best, this should be a top choice.

• Low season online specials from US$1,634 per night
• High season online specials from US$2,021 per night

• Water villas: 80
• Total rooms/suites: 150

One of our favorite resorts due to the excellent online specials they offer during the slower weeks of the year, the Irufushi Beach and Spa Resort (formerly known as the Hilton Maldives) features 80 water villas that are all either large or very large. The largest are called King Infinity Water Villas with private infinity pool and are 150 m², making them some of the larger such villas in the Maldives. No matter the size, each villa comes with a wine cellar, a private courtyard, a mini bar and a mini fridge, and a glass floor cutout that allows you to view sealife from the inside of your room.

The Irufushi impresses with 10 restaurants and bars. When it was a Hilton is was indeed one of the finest luxury resorts in that chain, and the new management seem dedicated to keeping standards at least that high.

• Low season online specials from US$997 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,405 per night