Located on the escapist island of Fesdu, the W Retreat & Spa is the latest luxury lifestyle resort in the Maldives. It welcomed its first guests in August 2006, its promise of cool sophistication combining with its ground-breaking design concepts to ensure it opened with a bang. Indeed, this is a resort that prides itself on detail and little has been
forgotten when it comes to the 78 Beach Oasis, Ocean Oasis and Seascape Escapes - or oceanfront and overwater villas to you and me! Big things like 42 inch plasma TVs, outdoor showers and infinity plunge pools are enhanced by little things such as Bliss body products, soulful Bose sound systems and soft and dreamy W Signature beds.

You can help yourself to snacks from the Munchie Box or a bottle of your favourite bubbly from your fridge and there’s nothing to stop you firing up the grill on your private sundeck. Nothing, that is, but the thought of the fresh seafood presentations of FISH or the modern bistro fare of KITCHEN and let’s not forget the outdoor jungle barbecues of FIRE. The funky 15 BELOW bar is straight out of London or New York.

There’s also a long list of things-to-do here, the usual activities like scuba-diving, working out, big game fishing and sailing complemented by unusual offerings like underwater video courses and house reef scooter trips with a marine biologist. You can even sign up for an overnight sailing trip to Hammer Head Shark Point. But if all that seems a little on the adventurous side, you are also encouraged to take up painting or simply lie back in the AWAY spa and think
of ... simply nothing at all.

ACCOMMODATION: 28 BEACH OASIS, 46 OCEAN OASIS, 3 SEASCAPE ESCAPES & 1 OCEAN HAVEN.
ACCESS: 25 MINUTES BY SEAPLANE FROM MALÉ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
CHILDREN: NOT ACCEPTED UNDER 13 YEARS.
7 NIGHTS: FROM £3,155 P.P. IN THE HIGH-SEASON (£325 P.P.P.N.) & £2,045 P.P. IN THE LOW-SEASON (£170 P.P.P.N.).
MEAL PLAN: BREAKFAST INCLUDED.