SO/ Maldives Review: Overwater Villas, 5-Star Dining And More

SO/ Maldives, one of the Maldives’ newest resorts, represents the epitome of luxury, restoration, culinary artistry and guest service. From its numerous white sand beaches and dreamy overwater villas to its 5-star dining and smiling staff, this SO/ Maldives review is about to alter the top of your bucket list.

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From the moment you pass through customs at Male airport, you are met with kindhearted staff members who genuinely want to serve you. Upon arrival to the resort via boat, luxurious overwater villas with private pools, clear Maldivian waters and a complimentary welcome drink await.

SO/ Maldives Quick Facts

SO/ Maldives is pronounced, “so Maldives,” not “S.O. Maldives.” The slash is silent.

SO/ Maldives is a quick 15-minute boat ride from Male’s Velana International Airport. Like most Maldives resorts, you cannot drive there. The resort staff will pick you up from the airport. They will be holding a sign after baggage claim that says “SO/ Maldives.”

SO/ Maldives is the only resort on the island.

No drones are allowed anywhere on SO/ Maldives property. This rule is to protect the privacy of other villa guests.

The resort is home to 80 overwater villas each with private pools, XX beachfront villas, three specialty dining restaurants, two bars, an infinity pool, a beach club and more. Here’s my honest review of these amenities in detail.

SO/ Maldives Resort Villas

Room Amenities: 10/10

SO/ Maldives seamlessly incorporated every luxury room amenity imaginable into every villa on property. A private infinity pool, a hammock hanging over the clear Maldivian ocean and a soaking tub with optimal viewing await. Not to mention, there’s a fully stocked minibar (coffee, tea and bottled water are free), double vanity, his and her closet space, and the staff asked me beforehand if I preferred firm or extra fluffy bedding.

With our VIP Traveler vacation package, we were given several free off-site excursions. We opted out of most of the excursions because, honestly, we just wanted to stay in our villa.

Comfort:9.5/10

Like I said, the SO/ Maldives staff went out of their way before my trip to email me asking for my bedding preference. I picked extra fluffy bedding, of course, and the bedding was indeed extra fluffy. Whether it was the cloudy quilt or my jet-lag — or a combination of the two — I dreamt like a baby every single night.

Moreover, the solar-powered air conditioning was flawless. My family heritage is Scandinavian, which means my body is not built for extreme heat. I was worried our room would be hot and sticky, but the whole villa remained crisp and refreshing even through the hottest part of the day.

Needless to say, our villa was extremely comfortable.

Service: 9/10

As previously mentioned, from the moment you pass through airport customs, you are met with SO/ Maldives staff members who are eager to serve. Their uniforms are topped with a smile, and they are sure to be apologetic even at the most minor inconvenience.

You can tell by their acts of service that humility, hospitality and gentleness are engrained into Maldivian culture. They are constantly excited to share their beautiful country with you.

Every villa is assigned a GEM (guest experience manager), which is essentially a butler. Your GEM is available throughout your stay to answer any questions, accommodate any special requests, make speciality dining reservations, parade you in a golf cart across the property, and sign you up for any desired activities or excursions. They are happily accessible 24/7 via WhatsApp.

Make sure you bring cash for tipping. Even though tipping is not expected in the Maldives, it is appreciated. And, you will most likely feel obligated to tip at least your GEM for his or her impeccable service. I saw several guests tipping with US dollars, so currency exchange isn’t necessary to tip.

SO/ Maldives Restaurants

Food & Beverages: 10/10

Speaking of meals, there are three restaurants at SO/ Maldives. All of them are impeccable — we’re talking authentic wagyu ribeye, bottomless king prawns and caviar-topped avocado toast. Additionally, most meals will begin with a free freshly made health shot. You will eat like royalty at SO/ Maldives.

Citronelle, where you’ll likely eat most of your meals, offers a beachside bistro vibe with elaborate breakfasts and romantic candle-lit dinners by the water. Breakfast highlights include the buffet (exotic fruits, French pastries, meats, cheeses, pure honeycomb and more), cold pressed juices, wagyu beef sausages, decorated acai bowls, and slow cooked eggs and avocado toast both topped with caviar. All of this is included in your stay.

Hadaba, where your GEM will make you one or two reservations during your stay, is the resort’s specialty dining restaurant. This moody eatery serves authentic Arabic foods, such as the best pita bread to ever meet your tastebuds, saffron tomato cous cous, quail, decadent desserts and more culinary masterpieces.

Pavilion Bar, just beneath the elevated Hadaba restaurant, is the perfect sunset location. Here, you can enjoy cotton candy skies, and a stunning cocktail, mocktail, soft drink or latte. If you’re in the mood for a mocktail, the Arabian beverage is delicious. Made with dates and cinnamon, and topped with a whole cinnamon stick, this mocktail boasts a sweet and spicy tang that matches Hadaba’s atmosphere upstairs.

Lastly, at Lazuli Beach Club, you can sit poolside while the joyful waiters bring you ice water, as well as drink and lunch menus. I highly recommend the margherita pizza with a virgin pina colada on the side. Their freshly squeezed pineapple juice in the drink plus the fresh basil on the pizza equal a refreshing yet filling snack amid the heat of the day.

Service: 9/10

Like I’ve said multiple times now, the service at SO/ Maldives is far above any service I’ve ever experienced before. I aspire to be as kind and servant-hearted on a personal level as the SO/ Maldives staff.

Furthermore, if you have any food allergies, SO/ Maldives are happy to accommodate. They asked us several times upon arrival to the resort if we had any food allergies. They are very cognizant and cautious of allergies, so I have no doubt those of you with allergies are safe here.

Although, to play devil’s advocate in this SO/ Maldives review, prepare to eat on island time while at SO/ Maldives. Every meal is a two-hour activity, filled with drinks, starters (plural), a main course and, obviously, dessert. If you’re typically a 15-minute eater, patience may be in tow. Enjoy living slowly while you’re here.

If you’re short on time, ask to sign your receipt right away when your food comes. This applies to all-inclusive or half board guests too.

SO/ Maldives Resort Amenities

Beaches: 9.5/10

There is no wondering why the Maldives beaches are regularly featured on magazine covers. And, the beaches at SO/ Maldives are no different. You can expect an abundance of pearly white sand and ocean waves as clear as tap water.

There are numerous beaches on the SO/ Maldives island. The main beach, which is quite long and almost always empty, is located along the Citronelle and Lazuli restaurants and stretches past numerous beachfront villas. It’s hard to miss.

There are also several other beaches accessible to guests, all of which my husband and I had completely to ourselves during our visit. They are located on the side of the island opposite of the main beach, near the resort spa and gym. You can easily walk to these beaches from your villa, or you can request free bikes from your GEM.

Water Sports: 8.5/10

There is a plethora of complimentary water sports you can enjoy at SO/ Maldives free of charge. Some of these water sports include snorkeling, kayaking and paddle boating. You’ll have to pay extra for additional water sports, such as clear bottom kayaking, jet skiing or scuba diving.

No doubt, these water sports are a spectacular way to explore the resort lagoon. However, you can only use the complimentary paddle boats and kayaks in select areas of the lagoon. While this is likely for safety reasons, it would be especially fun to be able to explore beyond the lagoon.

Spa: 9/10

Moreover, the SO/ Maldives spa is next level relaxation. Small but mighty, the spa check-in area warmly welcomes you with moist towels and a fancy massage oil selection. The private massage cabins are a short, beautifully landscaped outdoor walk from the check-in area.

In each cabin, there is a private changing room, fully equipped with robes, disposable undergarments, a toilet, towels doused in essential oils, a shower and a large soaking tub with a view.

My husband and I had a 60-minute deep tissue couples massage, which, as you could imagine, was absolutely lovely. It started with a warm floral foot bath before moving to the massage table. It ended with a glass pot of a hot floral tea of our choice.

Book SO/ Maldives

So, have I convinced you yet? I promise, you won’t regret a trip to this new, dreamy, exclusive Maldives resort. You can book your own slice of paradise at SO/ Maldives here.

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