this year, the PlanHotel group quietly added water villas to their two Maldives resorts, which were also both celebrating their 20th anniversary. What makes these water villas unusual is their unique sense of style that is unlike anything else in the Maldives.

The 25 water villas at each resort were designed by Italian Architect Mr. Ettore Mocchetti, and even a quick look shows that the extensive use of white both inside and out gives the villas a 5-star look that contrasts with the thatched-roof hut designs found at most other Maldives overwater bungalow resorts.

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The resorts

The Diamonds Athuruga Beach & Water Villas and the Diamonds Thudufushi Beach & Water Villas are both exclusively all-inclusive resorts, located not far from one another in the South Ari Atoll, about 80 kilometers southwest of Malé International Airport.

 

While they don’t list the total area of the water villas, guest reviews report that they are impressively large and very well appointed. There’s a king-size bed in each in addition to a sofa bed. The bathrooms are also special, with a huge walk-in shower featuring a double shower head and direct private access to an outside terrace.


All inclusive includes more here

For those looking for a full-on all-inclusive resort in the Maldives these two should fit nicely. Many resorts in the country don’t include any alcohol in their packages, charging guests a small fortune for each drink, but at the Diamonds resorts there is beer, house wine, and most spirits included in the one price. You can even have beer or wine in your own mini-bar, also included in the rate. For those of us who like to relax with a cocktail or three while on holiday, this is a welcome feature.

 

The all-inclusive packages also include daily entertainment, daily snorkeling tours of the house reef, and a Fisherman’ s Island excursion once per stay. This is of course in addition to beach lounges and towels and non-motorized water sports.

Your own in-room iMac

According to the websites of the resorts, the Diamonds Athuruga Beach & Water Villas includes an Apple iMac computer with movies and music instead of a typical flat-screen TV entertainment system. This is a first for the Maldives and an interesting development in general. The screen on an iMac might not be as large as some LCD TVs, but it’s of much higher quality and having a selection of movies and music to choose from really seals the deal.

 

The Thudufushi resort, according to its website, only offers iPod docking stations for in-room entertainment, with no listing even for a standard TV. The prices at the resorts appear to be pretty much identical, so if you want your own Apple computer in your room you know which one to book at.


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  2. There are 4 of us that would like to depart Seattle and get to Sunshine in January. We were thinking Bora Bora but are wide open. I was wondering if there are any water bungalows that accommodate 4 people but are still affordable?

    Reply

    1. Theresa,

      Most of the Bora Bora resort hotels allow 3 guests per room, but I’ve only heard about a couple that allow 4, and those are the super expensive ones that go for close to US$2,000 per night.

      The option that might work are the so-called Brando overwater bungalows, which are privately run and not part of a resort. A couple of them have two bedrooms and they are actually more reasonably priced. Good luck! -Roger

      Reply

  3. Hi, there is 5 of us wanting to stay closest to Jacksonville Florida (Mom not doing well). That has the bungalows over the water, but HAS to be clear water? Can you help me? I am a disabled vet, and they wanted to do this for me. Thank you, Lisa🌞

    Reply

    1. Lisa,

      The closest real overwater bungalows to Florida are in Jamaica at two different Sandals resorts, but the water isn’t turquoise like it is in Bora Bora and the Maldives. Unfortunately Florida is pretty much half a world away from the ones with clear water. The closest are probably in Tahiti, but if you go there you might as well go to Moorea, which is right next door. -Roger

      Reply