Honest review
If you want postcard Maldives without the crowds, look south — to Gaafu Atoll. The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah occupies its own island almost three kilometres long: one of those rare resorts where a morning walk takes a full hour, not five minutes.
A practical tip: take a bicycle — the island is green and long, and it opens up best on two wheels. An essential item on the programme is the footbridge to the neighbouring island, home to a second resort of the same chain: the views from the bridge are worth it.
The resort is young, opened in 2019, so the villas are in excellent shape: local materials, Maldivian architecture and a modern interior without compromises.
Among the extras is an uninhabited island 20 minutes away by boat: a daytime excursion or a romantic dinner at sunset.
Who it is for: families who need space and a reef beside the villa, and couples willing to travel further for the quiet. The one caveat is the journey — the south of the archipelago is not close, so allow time for the transfer.
