Great — for a luxury Maldives holiday you’ll usually pick by style (ultra‑private island, iconic over‑water villa, design‑forward, family‑friendly, wellness) and by how you want to travel (seaplane vs speedboat, proximity to Male). Below are top luxury options grouped by what they’re best for, with quick notes and sources so you can compare.

Top picks by style

• Ultra‑private / full‑island buyouts

  • Cheval Blanc Randheli — private‑island villas and an entire 1‑ha Private Island option (very high privacy, large villas and butler service). (chevalblanc.com)
  • Velaa Private Island — (if you want extreme exclusivity and tailored experiences; small‑island private residences). (widely listed among ultra‑luxury private islands — check resort site for current offers.)

• Signature over‑water villas and spectacular design

  • Soneva Jani — huge, often multi‑bedroom water villas with waterslides, retractable stargazing roofs and very private, family‑friendly residences. Excellent for families/groups and experience‑led luxury. (Soneva.com)
  • Gili Lankanfushi — barefoot‑luxury overwater villas, famous Private Reserve (very large overwater villa), strong sustainability/barefoot ethos. Great for romantic stays and understated luxury. (gili-lankanfushi.com)

• Classic five‑star resort resorts (fine dining, pampering, variety of villas)

  • One&Only Reethi Rah — large island resort with beachfront and overwater villas, many restaurants and facilities (iconic choice for luxury). (oneandonlyresorts.com)
  • Cheval Blanc Randheli (also fits here) — high design, gastronomy and bespoke service. (chevalblanc.com)
  • Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru / Four Seasons Kuda Huraa — trusted brand for service, dive/wildlife programs and private residences (excellent wellness & marine programs). (Four Seasons site for specifics.)

• Wellness / design‑led / contemporary luxury

  • JOALI Maldives (Joali Being wellness offerings) — design‑driven properties with wellness and art‑led programming.
  • Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi — known for dramatic overwater villas, large luxury facilities and flagship dining.

How to choose

• If you want total privacy and kitchen/pool space for a group: look at Private Islands or multi‑bedroom Residences (Cheval Blanc Private Island, Soneva Jani Residences, Gili Private Reserve). (chevalblanc.com)
• If you want iconic over‑water experiences (slides, rooftop observatories, huge decks): Soneva Jani and Gili Lankanfushi are standouts. (staging.Soneva.com)
• If you want lots of dining/activities on a larger island with many villa types: One&Only Reethi Rah, Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria. (oneandonlyresorts.com)
• For wellness and contemporary design: Joali Being, COMO Maalifushi, Patina/JOALI Maldives are strong candidates (check each for current wellness programs).

Practical travel notes

• Best time to go: most visitors choose the dry season (November–April) for the most reliable sunshine and best underwater visibility; shoulder months (November and April) can be slightly cheaper with good weather. Peak season = Dec–Mar (book well in advance). (themaldives.co.uk)
• Transfers: many top resorts require a seaplane transfer from Malé (scenic but timed to daylight flights) or a domestic flight + speedboat. Some nearer islands use speedboat only — useful if you want to avoid expensive seaplane transfers. (Check your resort’s arrival instructions before booking.) (cntraveler.com)
• Price expectations: luxury resorts commonly run from several hundred to several thousand USD per night; ultra‑luxury villas/residences and private‑island buyouts can be multiple thousands to tens of thousands per night. Look for all‑inclusive or half‑board packages to control costs. (thesun.co.uk)

Next steps I can do for you (I can):

• Narrow choices by travel dates, budget, and who’s traveling (couple vs family vs group).
• Compare 3–4 resorts side‑by‑side (villa types, transfer time, approximate nightly rates, signature experiences).
• Check current special offers or availability for specific dates.

If you tell me your travel dates, budget range and who’s traveling, I’ll prepare a tailored shortlist with stay recommendations and expected transfer logistics.