1. LUX* NORTH MALE ATOLL

A short speedboat transfer from Malé airport and you reach LUX* North Malé Atoll, where 67 whitewashed two-storey penthouses replace the usual aesthetic of thatchedroof water villas – this is where Miami meets the Maldives, and the South Beach vibe was partly inspired by the curves and lines of a luxury yacht. Accommodation sits right on the beach (or over the ocean), and a roof deck can be used for dinner parties, private cinemas and stargazing. Three restaurants and a beach club ensure guests are kept well fed and thirst-free.

Rooms from £1,933; luxresorts.com three bedrooms, infinity pool, whirlpool tub and the ocean simply below. There are three restaurants (one is Italian, of course). A flicker of la dolce vita just 40 minutes by seaplane from the capital, Malé.

Rooms from £542; baglionihotels.com Open space and complete privacy compete as highlights across 173 thatched-roof villas, which are furnished with a blend of bespoke local artefacts, natural material and modern elements. A Clarins spa (the only one in the Maldives) brings holistic wellness to the resort, though slipping into the infinity pool after a day of watersports – or yoga, or traversing uninhabited islands – is sure to ease body and mind as well.

Rooms from £703; cenizaro.com/ theresidence island and big-time beauty is what you’re looking for, with a focus on simple indulgence. Chief curiosity may be the casual beachside restaurant, Athiri, which serves an unusual fusion of tapas and teppanyaki.

Rooms from £1,050; faarufushi.com