- Kudadoo Maldives Private Island has been named the best new luxury hotel of 2019 by the team at Luxury Travel Intelligence.
- The adults-only resort has 15 private residences and is situated in a lagoon.
- Guests have access to a 24-hour butler, a spa, and a swimming pool overlooking the ocean.
- The resort is part of the growing movement of eco-friendly tourism: It’s entirely solar-powered.
A tiny resort in the Maldives has been dubbed the best new luxury resort of 2019.
Kudadoo Maldives is home to 15 one- or two-bedroom overwater residences and, in case the unobstructed ocean views aren’t sufficient, also has an infinity pool that looks out over the water. It opened on December 26, but is already attracting high-profile guests.
The hotel is part of the growing trend of eco-friendly tourism: The resort’s sloped roof generates enough energy to serve 50 guests and 100 staff at any given moment.
Read more: The top 14 boutique hotels in the world that should be on every luxury traveler’s list
Kudadoo now numbers as one of many luxury hotel offerings in the Maldives, including the world's first underwater hotel villa, where a single night's stay costs $50,000, and a resort that's home to an underwater sculpture museum.
It also joins the ranks of a seven-bedroom Swiss chalet that's been named the world's best ski lodge and a resort in Bali with "the world's best views" as must-see stops for wealthy travelers who are seeking the lap of luxury around the world.
Keep reading for a look at the island retreat.
Kudadoo Maldives is on a private island in Lhaviyani Atoll in the Indian Ocean. Guests fly into Malé International Airport ...
Source: Kudadoo
... and are then flown to the resort, which is about 40 minutes away, by private seaplane.
Source: Kudadoo
The resort consists of 15 bungalows that arch out over the water in a circular shape.
Source: Kudadoo
Kudadoo is an adults-only resort that only welcomes guests over the age of 15. Parties can also rent out the entire island for private events, in which case guests of all ages are welcome.
Source: Kudadoo
Both one-bedroom and two-bedroom residences are available.
Source: Kudadoo
The resort prides itself on its exclusivity and its wellness services, not to mention its eco-friendly status.
Source: Kudadoo
The resort's 984 solar panels (visible in the photo below) enable it to be entirely solar-powered.
Source: Kudadoo
And its environmentally friendly approach doesn't end there: The resort relies on minimal single-use plastics (plastic straws and utensils, for example, are banned) ...
Source: Kudadoo
... and the buildings were built with sustainably sourced wood.
Source: Kudadoo
The resort has a bar ...
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... and a restaurant that relies heavily on locally caught seafood.
Source: Kudadoo
According to its website, Kudadoo is also home to the Maldives' first Himalayan salt chamber.
Source: Kudadoo
It's said to cleanse sinuses and ease muscles.
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That's in addition to an extensive range of massages, facials, and acupuncture and reflexology treatments.
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The resort has a gym, but if that's not enough, a yoga and meditation guru is also on site.
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As can be expected for a luxurious, all-inclusive stay in a remote location, it doesn't come cheap.
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A one-bedroom residence booked for two adults starts at $3,400 per night ...
Source: Kudadoo
... and a two-bedroom residence (four guests) starts at $4,800 per night.
Source: Kudadoo