THE INTO BLUE

With 1,200 islands, year-round dry, sunny weather and more than 130 resorts to choose from, it’s hard to think of a more tropical idyll than the Maldives. Cerulean waters, powder white sand dunes and ombre sunsets make the island nation an aspirational spot for honeymooners yearning for romantic seclusion and a dreamy escapade for leisure seekers looking to disconnect from the world.

Even the most Instagram-worthy photo of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi can scarcely prepare you for the staggering expansiveness of the newly opened resort. A two-year project in the making, the 122 all-villa paradise - each with its own pool - spans three interconnected islands in the South Malé Atoll. To explore the entire length of the resort – all three and a half kilometres of it - will require a languorous 40-minute bicycle ride.

EASE AND LUXURY

Part of the charm – and