Joali

It is a challenge to open a new hotel in a place that is already brimming with luxury resorts, but Joali has successfully managed to stand out in the Maldives with a brand new hotel that has everyone talking. The overall look of the hotel is effortlessly cool and stylish, all while keeping the traditional Maldivian style in mind which adds a certain warmth to the property. From the moment of arrival, guests delight at the astonishing arrivals jetty – a Zaha Hadid-inspired structure that looks, from one side, like a manta ray and, from the other, like two fish kissing. Make no mistake, the style is otherwise restrained with each of the 73 villas tastefully designed with thatched roofs, original artwork and soft pastel coloured tones. While Joali possesses a house reef and a resident marine biologist to help you explore the under-water world, diving and snorkelling enthusiasts may be more suited to the Baa Atoll that teams with a greater abundance of marine life. That said, this honeymoon-heaven island offers an endless array of activities to tickle your tastebuds. Learn to cook Maldivian delicacies in the teaching kitchen, relax in the Manta-ray treehouse with a cocktail in hand, or set out for a romantic sunset cruise on a Dhoni while savouring mouth-watering tapas and soaking up the mesmerising view of the Indian Ocean.