High On Pastel Waters

W Maldives' spirited charm and JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll's enchanting stillness reveal the full spectrum of Maldivian magic.

- Haziq Yusof

NO ONE LIKES to be called a prude. But as I watch couple after couple making kissy faces to one another at the airport, I begin to wonder if I had suddenly become one during the four-hour flight to Malé.

In some ways, their enthusiastic public ardour makes sense. Maldives is a country of excess, boasting absurdly aquamarine oceans, impossibly white sandy beaches, and sunsets drenched in cinematic gold. Why wouldn’t emotions run high here too?

It’s apt then that my first stop is W Maldives. If you’re unfamiliar with the W brand from Marriott’s portfolio of luxury hospitality brands, you’ll need to know that its reputation precedes itself. Ever effusive, expressive, and extroverted, the W brand—with its penchant for neon lights, loud music, and high-octane lifestyle events—has never been afraid to flaunt its youthful energy.

And boosted by this seemingly intoxicating Maldivian air, the nearly 20-year-old resort—recently reopened after a multi- million dollar renovation in 2024—is sure to be electrifying.

A Maturing Sensibility

Pleasantly, it only takes 25 minutes to arrive at the resort via seaplane. Even more pleasant, the resort exudes a sobering stillness. Rather than the sensory overload I'd braced myself for, I find a soothing air of tranquillity, accentuated, of course, by the surreal aquamarine waters that surround it.

Located in the picturesque North Ari Atoll (you get an incredible view of colourful corals when approaching the resort from above), the resort consists of a green and vibrant central area that houses the main facilities. Extending from this central hub is a line of private overwater villas, providing the resort with an almost branching silhouette.

The structure of the resort may not have changed much from before its renovation, but it’s the updated design language—rendered through its revamped rooms and facilities—that expresses its maturing sensibility.