Gili Lankanfushi

While other luxurious resorts in the Maldives whisk guests away from the airport in sleek yachts or seaplanes, Gili Lankanfushi’s boat is more understated, while still exuding good taste. Friendly crew members come around to offer a house-made lemongrass drink in cute glass bottles, and then request guests to remove their shoes (placed inside tote bags) to encourage the "No News, No Shoes" spirit of the Maldives. This trademark gesture is optional but sets the tone for the entire Gili experience. Many guests choose to experience their entire vacation barefoot, and everyone we encountered seemed totally free of worry and stress (just make sure to arrive with plenty of room on your credit card!).
When the boat arrives at the jetty, guests are given the opportunity to take photos from the bow of the enormous villas spread over the gorgeous turquoise lagoon. The GM or manager on duty provides a warm greeting, along with a Mr. (or Ms.) Friday—the title for personal butlers here, named for the fictional character who served as Robinson Crusoe's personal assistant. All of the rooms here are enormous overwater villas, and most of these charming wood units (notice the authentic cottage-y smell) are located along one of three separate jetties connected to the island. Meanwhile, seven Crusoe Residences, unconnected, offer more privacy and are accessed with on-demand pontoon boat service. Guests receive a tour of their unit from Mr. Friday, during which he demonstrates the button on the house phone that connects to his cell phone for immediate assistance, available 24 hours a day.
This is a small resort attracting mostly couples, as well as a few families. Even when at full occupancy, it is impossible to see a crowd, though breakfast and dinner tend to witness the most action.

Gili Lankanfushi Maldives is located on a private island in North Malé Atoll, part of the Kaafu Atoll. After passing through customs at Malé International Airport, guests are met by a friendly representative at a numbered kiosk who will take their luggage and lead the way to a speedboat towards the property. This process is friendly and efficient, and the journey takes under 30 minutes. The next time guests see their luggage is when they arrive at the villa, making the process easy and worry-free.
One of the best surf breaks in the country is nearby, and white-sand beaches encircle the entire island for those who just want to relax. While many areas of the resort feel incredibly peaceful, this is a central location, so boat and airplane noise will be experienced (views might also be obstructed from certain areas of the villas). Though the state religion of the Maldives is Sunni Islam, private islands like these are allowed to serve alcohol.

Service is a standout at Gili Lankanfushi resort (there are nearly 300 staff that live on the island!), and each villa is paired with a Mr. (or Ms.) Friday, who is the point of contact for everything, including excursions, spa appointments, sunset cruises, and restaurant reservations. For the seven Crusoe Residences, they are also the point of contact for transportation back and forth to the island. The resort is surrounded by a lagoon and each villa has direct access to the water from its private sundeck. The island is surrounded by beautiful white-sand beaches, as well as plenty of palm trees for shade. Next to the main restaurant is an outdoor infinity-edge pool with ocean views.
There are shallow areas for swimming so the few families that are at the resort tend to congregate here. This area of the beach is also the only area that is regularly set up with lounge chairs. The Meera Spa is another overwater wooden structure with six treatment rooms and holistic treatments. One section has a yoga and meditation area, and another has steam and sauna rooms. On the second floor is a relaxation area overlooking the water.
Sustainable modern bamboo bikes from Singapore are available at no charge. Non-motorized water sports are free and include use of catamarans, kayaks, windsurfing gear, canoes, and Hobie Cat sailboats. The Ocean Paradise Dive Center has multilingual PADI instructors and offers trips to the best dive sites in the area. A number of other excursions, like deep-sea fishing and snorkeling, can be arranged. Outdoor movies can be watched at the Jungle Cinema, which offers comfortable outdoor lounge chairs, popcorn, and refreshments.

Service is a standout at Gili Lankanfushi resort (there are nearly 300 staff that live on the island!), and each villa is paired with a Mr. (or Ms.) Friday, who is the point of contact for everything, including excursions, spa appointments, sunset cruises, and restaurant reservations. For the seven Crusoe Residences, they are also the point of contact for transportation back and forth to the island. The resort is surrounded by a lagoon and each villa has direct access to the water from its private sundeck. The island is surrounded by beautiful white-sand beaches, as well as plenty of palm trees for shade. Next to the main restaurant is an outdoor infinity-edge pool with ocean views.
There are shallow areas for swimming so the few families that are at the resort tend to congregate here. This area of the beach is also the only area that is regularly set up with lounge chairs. The Meera Spa is another overwater wooden structure with six treatment rooms and holistic treatments. One section has a yoga and meditation area, and another has steam and sauna rooms. On the second floor is a relaxation area overlooking the water.
Sustainable modern bamboo bikes from Singapore are available at no charge. Non-motorized water sports are free and include use of catamarans, kayaks, windsurfing gear, canoes, and Hobie Cat sailboats. The Ocean Paradise Dive Center has multilingual PADI instructors and offers trips to the best dive sites in the area. A number of other excursions, like deep-sea fishing and snorkeling, can be arranged. Outdoor movies can be watched at the Jungle Cinema, which offers comfortable outdoor lounge chairs, popcorn, and refreshments.

The main restaurant on the west side of the island offers daily menus using ingredients from the island’s vegetable and herb garden. Breakfast, served along the beach, is a major event here. It starts with herbal medicines from Sri Lanka, wheatgrass shots, and an extraordinary fresh juice station, as well as Champagne. Past the drink station is the fresh fruit station, house-made cereals and granolas, 12 types of honey, and freshly baked pastries such as whole wheat chocolate croissants. In the Underground Wine Cellar and Chocolate Cave guests can load up on artisanal cheeses and chocolates (for breakfast!). At the table, the server will bring an à la carte menu with spa juices, smoothies, and 13 made-to-order egg dishes, which can be enjoyed with French press coffee.
For lunch, the attractive Overwater Bar offers healthy salads, sushi, fish specials, and live cooking stations, as well as a number of seating areas looking over the lagoon. At dinner, in addition to the main restaurant and the themed night, guests can make a reservation at By the Sea for Japanese fusion and saké. Fini Foni is a poolside spot for ice cream, popsicles, and cocktails, plus some snacks. The Underground Wine Cellar has a private dining table and cellar with hundreds of wine labels, and guests can make a reservation for special dinners and tastings from the sommelier. In addition, guests can arrange dinner in the villas, or eat in any one of more than seven private dining spots around the resort, such as One Palm Island, which faces the sunset. Half- and full-board meal plans are available, but they’re not all-inclusive, as they do not include alcohol.