The JW Marriott and The W Maldives are part of the Marriott brand, so you can earn and burn Marriott Bonvoy points at both resorts.
1. Location: JW Marriott Vs. W Maldives
To get to the JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, you need to take a seaplane from Malé, which takes approximately 90 minutes. The transfer costs around $500 USD per adult, with reduced rates for children.
W Maldives is located on North Ari Atoll, a shorter seaplane ride from Mahe airport. The flight takes just 25 minutes. A cheaper arrival option is a domestic flight to Maamigili Airport, which takes about 20 minutes, followed by a speedboat transfer, which takes about 45 minutes. The transfer price is similar.
2. Style & Character
The JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa artfully blends contemporary design with traditional Maldivian aesthetics. The resort emphasizes seamless integration with its natural surroundings, featuring elegant thatched-roof villas and suites that harmoniously combine modern comforts with Maldivian charm.
W Maldives is undergoing major renovations, with a reopening slated for Q4 2024. It should be beautifully finished in 2025 and well worth visiting. The resort has a warm and friendly vibe. When you are greeted at the W, you are handed a lovely welcome cocktail to start the fun. Fun and a great reef are the main selling points of this resort.
3. Beach & Pools
Both resorts boast pristine white-sand beaches. JW Marriott Maldives boasts several stunning pools catering to different preferences and needs. The main infinity pool, located near the beach, provides a serene and picturesque setting, allowing guests to swim while enjoying unobstructed views of the turquoise waters. The family pool is designed with younger guests in mind, featuring shallow areas and playful elements to ensure a fun and safe environment for children.
W Maldives, Park Hyatt, or Conrad: Deciding Which Is Best
W Maldives is part of the Marriott brand, Park Hyatt is a Hyatt, and Conrad Maldives is part of the Hilton brand. Thus, you can earn and burn Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, and Hilton Honors points at each respective resort. We look at which is the best hotel below. If you are choosing between the best hotels in the Maldives, we have also compared the St. Regis Vs. Ritz-Carlton Maldives, which are similarly good and are worth considering. W Maldives is located on North Ari Atoll, a shorter seaplane ride from Mahe airport. The flight takes just 25 minutes.
The main pool at W Maldives is lively but not busy. It has music playing and jacuzzis on one side. Weekly pool parties offer a great way to make new friends if you are looking for this. The W is a friendly, fun resort.
Both islands offer similar activities, but the W is definitely more adult, and there is no babysitting or kids’ club. Kids are welcome but not particularly well catered for. That said, the adults are very well catered for, and there is a neverending calendar of activities to do, so it’s hard to get bored.
The beaches at both hotels are spectacular, with powdery white sand and crystal-clear waters that are quintessentially Maldivian. Both resort’s beachfront areas are meticulously maintained, providing pristine, idyllic spots for sunbathing, beachcombing, or simply enjoying the stunning natural beauty.
The JW Marriott house reef is teeming with vibrant marine life, making it an excellent location for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. The snorkeling is close to the beach which is great for families, but it’s not a patch on the snorkeling at the W Maldives.
The W Maldives is well known for having one of the best reefs in the Maldives. Expect to see sharks, eagle rays, and a brilliant array of fish. For snorkeling and diving alone, W is the one to pick
Ritz-Carlton Vs. St. Regis. Which Is Best?
Which is best, Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis? Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis are both high-end brands under the Marriott umbrella. They share this elite spot with BVLGARI, EDITION, and The Luxury Collection. These brands occupy a 5-star luxury category, with room quality and size, service, restaurants, and the hotel as a whole offering an ultra-luxurious setting. There are currently 61 St. Regis hotels. There are 11 in North America, 2 in Africa, 24 in Asia, 6 in Central America and the Caribbean, 6 in Europe, and 10 in the Middle East.
5. Rooms
JW Marriott offers a mix of overwater and beach villas, each equipped with its own private pool. Due to safety concerns, younger children are not allowed in the overwater villas. These villas, perched above the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean, combine traditional Maldivian elements, such as thatched roofs and wooden structures, with contemporary design features.
Each overwater villa is spacious, boasting high ceilings and expansive windows. Interiors are adorned with plush furnishings, warm wood tones, and luxurious fabrics. Bathrooms are equipped with a rain shower, a standalone bathtub, and advanced entertainment systems.
One of the standout features of the overwater villas is the private outdoor deck, which includes a personal infinity pool, sun loungers, and direct access to the lagoon. This outdoor space allows guests to soak up the sun, take refreshing dips in the pool, or descend a few steps into the warm, turquoise waters for a swim or snorkel. Unobstructed views of the ocean, especially during sunrise and sunset, add a magical touch to the experience.
The W Maldives rooms are a similar mix of beach and overwater villas, all with thatched roofs. The overwater villas are their base rooms, and the beach villas are a step up. They are more expensive, larger, and semi-detached, so they are attached to the next-door villa.
Best Marriott: St Regis Vs. W Maldives
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort and The W Maldives are part of the Marriott brand, so you can earn and burn Marriott Bonvoy points at both resorts. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is on a private island in the Dhaalu Atoll, requiring a scenic 45-minute but expensive seaplane ride from Malé. W Maldives is located on North Ari Atoll, a shorter seaplane ride from Mahe airport. The flight takes just 25 minutes. A cheaper arrival option is a domestic flight to Maamigili Airport, which takes about 20 minutes, followed by a speedboat transfer, which takes about 45 minutes.
The beds in the beach villas are comfy but quite low to get in and out of, and there are steps from the bed to the living area of the room that would be a nightmare with small kids. The bathrooms are a highlight in the beach villas at W Maldives as they are partially open-air with greenery drooping in. They are really nice and unusual.
6. Price
W Maldives and JW Marriott tend to be similarly priced. Book either of these hotels via our luxury travel concierge to get a better deal. We can gift you free breakfast for two, along with priority room upgrades, hotel credit, and more. You also get your usual Marriott Bonvoy points when you book via our agency.
8. Conclusion
While both resorts offer luxurious experiences in stunning locations, the JW Marriott is better for families with children as it offers a great kids club, a kids pool, and snorkeling just off the beach. The W Maldives has a vibrant but relaxing vibe, a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere and one of the best snorkeling reefs in the Maldives, but no kids club or kids pool.
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