A Maldives resort lets guests stay socially distant in luxurious villas with private pools perched over the ocean

Sophie-Claire HoellerJul 29, 2020, 23:35 IST

The hotel is 60 minutes by speedboat or 15 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport.Lux North Male Atoll

The recently reopened Lux North Male Atoll in the Maldives is a luxury resort made up of stylish overwater and land-based villas.
Each villa comes with a private infinity pool and roof deck, according to a press release from the resort.
The modern, Art Deco-inspired villas are a departure from the thatched-roof overwater huts that are popular with tourists visiting the Maldives.
It's worth noting that although the Maldives has opened its borders, nonessential travel is still discouraged in many places — including the US, where the CDC warns against it — due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The recently reopened Lux North Male Atoll in the Maldives lets guests stay in luxurious overwater villas that come with their own pools and roof decks.

A stay at the luxury resort — which began taking reservations again on July 15 after being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic — starts at around $467 per person per night depending on the season, based on a search on the hotel's website. Guests can also rent the entire 15-acre resort for $180,000 per night, according to a press release from the resort.

It's important to note that although the Maldives' borders are open, many countries are still discouraging nonessential travel — including the US, where the Centers for Disease Control warns against it — so it's best to check before booking any trips.

The Maldives welcomed back visitors on July 15, after the nation's Ministry of Tourism published 27 pages of health and safety guidelines. These include guidance for resorts on handling guest luggage, requiring staff to wear masks, and having a resident medical officer on site who is trained in COVID-19 management.

Representatives for the resort did not immediately respond for comment when asked about what precautions it's taking to keep guests safe during the pandemic.

Keep scrolling to see what Lux North Male Atoll looks like, and what it offers guests, according to the same press release from the resort.

The Lux North Male Atoll, a luxury resort in the Maldives, is 60 minutes by speedboat or 15 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport.

Lux North Male Atoll has 67 villas. Lux North Male Atoll

Unlike most overwater villas in the Maldives, which often have thatched roofs and are made with bamboo, these are modern and minimalist.

The hotel has a Miami Art-Deco vibe. Lux North Male Atoll

MIAJA, the design group behind the hotel, described it in the press release as inspired by superyachts, with "a vibrant South Beach pulse."

Each villa has two or three floors. Lux North Male Atoll

The 67 villas range in size from having one to three bedrooms and are either two or three stories high.

Each villa comes with a private infinity pool. Lux North Male Atoll

Each villa has a private infinity pool, an outdoor shower, and a 1,300-square-foot roof deck.

The villas offer unrivaled privacy. Lux North Male Atoll

The massive roof deck is ideal for doing yoga, watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean, or for having candlelit dinners and movie screenings.

You can have a movie night with the Indian Ocean as your backdrop. Lux North Male Atoll

Every villa has a spacious living room and all beds are king-sized.

Villas range in size from having one bedroom to having three bedrooms. Lux North Male Atoll

The bathrooms are enormous, with double-sized showers and standalone tubs.

There's an indoor and outdoor shower. Lux North Male Atoll

Some villas come with a private dock where guests can park their yacht.

The largest villas have a dock and come with a butler. Lux North Male Atoll

Some of the resort's villas are on land, and give guests access to their own stretch of private beach.

Some villas are on land, near the hotel's restaurants. Lux North Male Atoll

Lux North Male Atoll also has a sauna, spa, and hammam …

There are plenty of spa treatments to choose from. Lux North male Atoll

… as well as a state-of-the-art gym and tennis courts.

You can also take yoga classes. Lux North male Atoll

Guests can also snorkel, dive, surf, kayak, or water ski.

The glass-bottom kayak is a favorite. Lux North Male Atoll

Speedboat, yacht, sailing boat, and catamaran excursions are available, too.

Boating activities are popular in the Maldives. Lux North Male Atoll

There are four restaurants and bars ...

The resort's INTI restaurant serves Peruvian-Japanese cuisine. Lux North Male Atoll

... as well as a coffee shop and ice cream parlor.

Café LUX* serves the resort's own coffee blend. Lux North Male Atoll

Guests can also book a "destination dinner," a private dining experience with a scenic backdrop …

There's a variety of "destination dinners" to choose from. Lux North Male Atoll

... whether that's on their roof deck …

You can have a private candlelit dinner on your roof deck. Lux North Male Atoll

… on a private dock jutting out into the ocean ...

You can order hookah pipes. Lux North Male Atoll

... or even in their pool.

Have breakfast on a floating tray. Lux North Male Atoll

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