Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives

Our 16th country to visit! Total satisfaction and a blast. I wouldn't recommend it with kids; it's boring. The rooms are amazing, clean, and the food is delicious. Privacy and relaxation! The Maldives are the Maldives, I highly recommend it.

We have just returned from the most spectacular stay in the Maldives, and I can honestly say this resort was breathtaking from start to finish. The setting is paradise itself—crystal-clear water and pristine beach in a shallow bay, with a calm, intimate atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re worlds away from everything. The resort was spotless, and every member of staff was warm, welcoming, and genuinely committed to making our stay unforgettable. A special mention must go to waitress Ristya, waiter Hussain, and the chef at the meat station (who’ve name we have forgotten so sorry but from Calcutta!), all of whom made every meal feel special. The food was consistently high quality, with different cuisines each night and fresh cooking stations that kept everything vibrant and exciting. And we have to mention the cocktails—the margaritas and mai tais were the best we’ve ever had! The bar staff were also very attentive to my husband’s healthy pace of drinking! The ocean activities were a major highlight. The diving team, led by manager Abu, were nothing short of incredible. Abu literally took my hand and guided me into scuba diving with so much patience and skill that my initial anxiety melted away. I can’t thank him enough, he is a beautiful human being. We also had magical snorkelling trips with Siyam, Bannu, and Mohamed (apologies if I’ve misspelled the names!), where we swam alongside manta rays and turtles—experiences we will treasure forever. Another unforgettable moment was the meditation and sound-bath session with Vanessa, the fitness and yoga instructor. Held on a sandbank under a full moon, it was spiritual, calming, and the most beautiful way to begin our stay. Lastly we indulged in a couples massage on arrival that was out of this world and just what we needed after such a long travel. We both fell asleep due to being in such bliss! Thank you girls. The resort itself feels on the smaller side, but that only adds to its peaceful charm. If you love the ocean, value serenity, and want to be surrounded by natural beauty, this place is absolute perfection. We would come back in a heartbeat. Highly, highly recommended.

Absolutely perfect! We celebrated our honeymoon at the Barceló Whale and we couldn't have made a better choice of hotel in the Maldives. From all the help via email before the trip from Akbota, Sara, and Veronica to the magnificent service of all the staff (special mention to Rejin and Dipo, always smiling and willing to help!!). The room is wonderful, spacious, cleaned twice a day, with a huge bed, direct access to the beach, and an open-air bathroom that is simply amazing! The island is wonderful, and although the hotel was at 100% occupancy, it felt like we were alone most of the time. It's incredible to have one in the Maldives (almost) to yourself! Two large and beautiful pools with plenty of sun loungers, tables, etc. - a 10 out of 10! The beach is wonderful; perhaps it could use a bit more sand (it has some pebbles), but it has plenty of space, and with practically no one else around, it feels like a private beach! The water? Well, that's what you'd expect from the Maldives! Beautiful sunsets, and having a hammock/Balinese bed on the beach next to the bar with those views... Special mention to the yoga instructor (not I remember your name now, sorry!!) She even rearranged her schedule for a Sound Healing session that was absolutely wonderful. We also had a photo shoot with great results. Thank you, Zayaan! The excursions, although we didn't do them because they were out of our budget (the Maldives isn't cheap), looked very promising. We would have loved to snorkel with whale sharks and manta rays! Perhaps the only thing that wasn't perfect was the food. While it wasn't bad, we expected a bit more quality and variety. That said, the service was always wonderful, and at every breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we always found a table in the front row, with views of the beach and the sea... a real treat!