One&Only Reethi Rah – Maldives

One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives lives up to its name: it sprawls across its own island, and has the Maldives’ first PADI National Geographic dive centre, sun spa and climbing wall. Did we mention the eight dining spots, the tennis courts and the 12 beaches? Keep reading.

On an octopus-shaped island edged with white-sand beaches and carpeted in jungle foliage, just 40 minutes by speedboat from the international airport at Malé.

More than 60 per cent of the island is made up of reclaimed land, making it one of the largest in the North Male Atoll.

Let’s get this straight, you’ll feel spoiled rotten, whichever sleeping quarters you opt for: all the villas are vast, with huge soaring ceilings, and they’re all deliciously secluded – even the lead-in category (the Beach Villa) spans 135sq m and has its own pretty-much-deserted patch of sand.

Beach Villas also have two sun loungers, a white hammock (idyllically swaying between palm trees) and a table and chairs under a shady veranda, perfect for private breakfasts or antisocial dining. The Grand Beach Villas deliver the same wow, with a living room and an extra bedroom. (Grand and Duplex villas come with their own buggy, so you can be carted from beach to bar without breaking a sweat.)

Want to bend it like Beckham? Opt for Grand Beach Villa 142, where the Brit pack like to celebrate Christmas (beats turkey with the in-laws).

An exceptional level of choice, including romantic Botanica, a lantern-lit spot under the trees with an emphasis on ‘garden-to-fork’ dishes; Reethi, an extraordinary space inspired by Chinese architecture, for Asian, French and Italian cuisine; and Tapasake, a great spot for sunset views – and reef sharks swimming in the water below – for modern Japanese tapas-style.

The Fanditha Bar is the place to be at sunset, with its cabana beds, shisha pipes and chilled-Ibiza vibe. Afternoon tea is available at Fanditha daily.

Reethi is also the setting for breakfast, with views out across the island’s loveliest beach, for an astonishing array of options, including a walk-in cold store stuffed with fruit, fish, pastries (and more besides) and a superfoods area for cleansing juices.