Mandarin Oriental is opening a private island resort in the Maldives: Here's what we know so far
Life in the Maldives is really, really sweet — and it's going to get even better when Mandarin Oriental opens a new private island resort in 2025.
Set to be spread across three private islands on the Bolidhuffaru Reef in South Male Atoll, the new resort will be the first Mandarin Oriental property in the nation, which is surprising considering the brand's well-established footprint across the Asia-Pacific region.
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While renderings of the resort aren't yet available, the brand announced that the resort will have 56 overwater villas and 64 overwater villas, including villas that will be private residences. Claiming to have some of the largest villas in the Maldives, guests can expect the smallest villas to be over 2,000 square feet and some that are over 10,000 square feet.
Designed with privacy in mind, the villas will be secluded from each other and have private pools with those dreamy ocean views you go to the Maldives for.
While many Maldivian resorts cater more to couples, this new Mandarin Oriental will be a family-friendly affair with kids and teens clubs, watersports, a dive center, tennis courts, a resort swimming pool and inclusive leisure activities that everyone can enjoy.
The exact details haven't yet been revealed, but Mandarin Oriental says the resort will have six restaurants, including three specialty restaurants and a sunset bar. But judging by the luxury brand's other resorts around the world, you can count on high-quality and delicious food in an upscale environment.
There will also be a spa with 12 treatment rooms, a sauna and steam rooms, a beauty salon and various "vitality pools" that guests can use to relax even deeper. The spa will have seasoned wellness practitioners that offer a variety of experiences and Mandarin Oriental's signature spa treatments.
The resort will also offer meeting and event spaces, including facilities for a wedding — and who wouldn't want to get hitched in one of the most beautiful places on Earth?
To build the resort, Mandarin Oriental is teaming up with DAMAC Properties, a Dubai-based real estate company that has built luxury projects around the world and has a collection of hotels in Dubai. The pair also says it will be working alongside teams of international consultants to ensure sustainable practices are used during construction.
Getting to the Maldives is a dream for many people around the world, albeit an expensive one. While prices for this private island resort aren't yet available, you can count on shelling out a pretty penny, considering that nightly rates at Mandarin Oriental properties in places like New York City are easily over $800 per night.
But that doesn't mean you can't find a way to get to this breathtaking country — especially if you have some points and miles waiting to be burned.
Just this week TPG reported that off-peak points availability at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, is pretty open for the summer. In fact, we found Marriott Bonvoy award nights for 70,000 points each for July of this year. That's a steal considering this new resort is so amazing we named it one of the best hotel openings of 2021 and our reviewer who went there said: "The difference between a great stay and a truly memorable one is in the details — and after a few nights at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, I can say with certainty that it delivers."
And, luckily, we have a bunch of handy tools to help you figure out the best ways to put your airline miles to work to get there for less.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees