Sheraton Full Moon Resort Hotel

The Maldives

If the Maldives has grande dames, the Full Moon Resort is one of them. Dating back to 1937, it is one of the most established in the area, although a £15m refurbishment completed last year has left it as well turned out as a Thirties screen siren. It smoulders in shades of cyan and emerald green, with manicured orchid gardens and waters so crystalline you can see ballerina frills of coral below the surface. The 176 rooms have been given a tropical sprucing, too, with mango-wood furniture, touches of silk and white linen with a thread-count higher than the fashion department of Harrods. All are generously proportioned, but the over-the-water bungalows are the ones to go for if privacy, a waterfront plunge pool and ladder directly into the Indian Ocean are high on your priority list. Villa hosts, another new feature, act as private concierges to set up dolphin-spotting trips or simply
to escort you across the wooden bridge to the excellent spa, perched on its own sandy isle. Of the seven restaurants, Baan Thai stands out for its authentic Thai plates, while castaway Kakuni Hut is a must for cocktails at semi-submerged tables. The hotel’s final draw-card is its location, on Furanafushi Island. Just 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, it makes your Maldivian fantasies eminently more achievable, even for the time-poor.

Words by Mark Sansom. Doubles from £310. marriott.com