Soneva Jani

The Maldives comprise some 1,190 islands, and it only seems as though there are 1,190 luxury resorts — few of them, however, are on the level of the Soneva hotel group, whose Soneva Fushi is among the most rarefied luxury resorts in the world. And the newest one, Soneva Jani, is eminently worthy of the name. It’s hard to compare them in terms of extravagance, but where Fushi is known for its dry-land beachfront villas, Jani is comprised mostly of overwater villas, the sine qua non of Maldivian luxury hospitality.

You’d think space would be at a premium, but apparently not — the one-bedroom “water retreats” are enormous, spanning some four thousand square feet, including plunge pools, roof decks, and vast amounts of lounge space. A small upgrade earns you a waterslide from the second-floor deck, and larger villas add second, third, or fourth bedrooms, as well as, at the top end, extras like personal gyms and en-suite wine cellars.

There’s a spa, of course, as well as a dive center, and the activities include some unique offerings, from dolphin cruises to guided astronomy sessions in the hotel’s own observatory. The restaurants are as extravagant as the accommodations, though the atmosphere remains elegently casual. And the most exclusive restaurant concept features a series of dinners by a rotating cast of chefs, all of them from Michelin-starred restaurants, serving small groups of guests — a destination dining concept in the most extraordinary setting.