Manafaru Island Hotels

As it strives to stay above water, the island country has duly become a paragon poster child for the global activist and scientific community. The most shallow nation-state on the planet, in a strict literal sense of course, may well disappear one island at a time if ocean levels rise over the next century at current clips.

The gloomy forecast of such has led to many avant-garde proposals, from land purchase plans in Australia, India and Sri Lanka to creative eco-crusades. Tourism is up too, as more and more international holiday-makers decide that now is the time to see firsthand what the incomparable paradise is all about. For the fortunate few who can afford it, Manafaru is the epitome of island resort idyll. The upscale realm of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is a short seaplane ride from Male International Airport.

WHEN TO GO

Manafaru has a typical tropical wet and dry climate for the Maldives. A long wet season runs from May to December and blankets the archipelago with the bulk of annual rainfall.

Temperatures in the Maldives waver from 73°F (23°C) to 88°F (31°C) for the year, with minimal fluctuation.

GETTING AROUND

Male International Airport is adjacent to Maldives capital Male on Hulhule island. Guests of the Waldorf Astoria Maldives land at the hub and have access to the Hilton Worldwide Lounge at the Trans Maldivian Air Terminal. A stay in Male may be necessary for international flights after 3:00 p.m. Either way, a complimentary 75 minute seaplane ride provides access to Manafaru Island.