Review: SO/ Maldives Resort – the Luxury Travel Expert

August 8, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

I recently enjoyed a phenomenal holiday in the Maldives, where I stayed at the archipelago’s four most exclusive ultra-luxury resorts. You can read my reviews here:

Today: Review of SO/ Maldives

Located just a 15-minute speedboat ride from Malé’s Velana International Airport, SO/ Maldives harmoniously blends rare accessibility with exquisite privacy, with each of the 80 individually designed villas nestled directly on its own slice of white-sand beach or on stilts above the lagoon. Innovative restaurant and bar concepts are designed to offer a refreshing counterpart to the ubiquitous resort all-day dining buffet, while the cultural programming brings together the best of music, fashion, design and art. With diverse dining, a playful beach club and serene spa all set in a private lagoon enclave, SO/ Maldives offers moments to escape, explore and play.

Have you ever stayed at SO/ Maldives? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

In this review (more info and photos below my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

SO/ Maldives is set in the Emboodhoo Lagoon within the multi-island destination of Crossroads Maldives, just a 15-minute speedboat ride from Malé’s Velana International Airport (making transfers from/to the airport easy). Crossoards is an artificial island complex located in the Emboodhoo lagoon at the northern tip of the South Male Atoll. Going beyond the traditional ‘one island, one resort’ concept that typifies the region, Crossroads Maldives offers a new integrated experience, offering its guests access to over 14 restaurants, a night-club, a marine discovery centre, large-scale event venues and much more. The project houses several hotels: SAii Lagoon Maldives (Curio Collection by Hilton), Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, and SO/ Maldives.

In a break with the traditional tropical architecture which is omni-present in the Maldives, SO/ Maldives features a bold design, drawing inspiration from the craftsmanship and theatricality of contemporary couture, and appealing to a younger clientele. Upon arrival, guests are met by a modern glass over-water pavilion, which sets the aesthetic tone of the hotel with clean lines, cool neutrals, and natural wood, juxtaposed against vibrant accents and a sculptural, red-latticed central staircase. The hotel’s distinctive walkways are framed by billowing fabrics or architectural timber canopies, making a striking counterpart to the island’s lush natural flora, and referencing the dramatic styling of high fashion presentations.

Created in collaboration with leading artists and fashion designers, SO/ Maldives has curated a stylish collection of 80 beachfront and overwater villas that epitomize modern luxury and command attention with their avant-garde design. Spanning one to three bedrooms and eight categories, the villas are designed for open plan living, each with a private pool and deck from which guests can enjoy ocean views. From the 120 sqm. Lagoon Water Pool Villa Collection and the 410sqm. Three-Bedroom Ocean Water Pool Atelier, to the 238 sqm Family Beach Pool Villa with Capsule, which features adjoining “sleep pods” for younger travelers and multi-generational groups, each villa is a cocoon of modern luxury that comes with Maison CODAGE toiletries, which employ sustainably-sourced vegan ingredients; plush robes and slippers; and individualized concierge service

A complete antithesis of the staid all-day dining buffet, SO/ Maldives offers three distinct dining options, each with its own unique food-driven concept.
- The Citronelle Club is an all-day dining destination where flavors are woven into a menu of Pan-Asian cuisine.
- The French, Riviera-inspired Lazuli Beach Club is a sophisticated day-to-night beach bar where guests can enjoy sunbathing around the multicolored mosaic pool. The menu features creative and healthy Mediterranean fare, including a Prosciutto di Parm pizza with olives, wild arugula, parmigiano Reggiano and stracciatella, while vibrant cocktails are waiting to be sipped alongside tunes by visiting DJs in the evenings.
- Located in the hotel’s modern arrival pavilion, Hadaba celebrates the atmosphere and flavors of Arabian nights with Levantine slow-cooked dishes and smoked delicacies, such as Saltbush Lamb Cutlets with glazed eggplant, za’atar and toum and Maldivian Lobster with Aleppo pepper, garlic butter and finger lime.

The property’s small spa facility – called Wellness Camp – is an East-meets-West concept that offers unlimited access to fitness and relaxation in an unparalleled setting. A restorative spa menu curated alongside Salon C. Stellar, featuring Maison CODAGE, Comfort Zone and Odacité products to name a few, offers a nutritive approach to wellness with tailor-made care. This includes LED and quartz beds for cutting-edge relaxation, ancient wisdom, and maximum personalization to meet guests’ every need. Each treatment employs carefully selected ingredients, advanced technology and is exquisitely crafted to meet the guests’ desired result. The facilities also include steam and sauna rooms, a Vichy Rainforest Shower, and a revitalizing vitality pool. The state-of-the-art gym showcases the latest Technogym and Alo equipment, offering sweeping views of the cyanic waters.

An array of paid and complimentary water-based adventures including kayaking, parasailing, snorkeling, jet ski, stand-up paddleboarding, and offsite excursions are available to further enhance travelers’ experience of the island. Guests can learn how to scuba dive, or for experienced divers, there is a wide selection of curated dives that can be arranged daily including turtle expeditions, outer reef explorations and traditional Maldivian fishing excursions. Other lessons available for purchase are windsurfing, kitesurfing, catamaran courses, parasailing, surfing, hydro flight rentals and more. Private boats and yachts are also available for guests to charter for private exploration by the hour or the day.

Younger guests at SO/ Maldives can enjoy a wide selection of activities and areas customized to their ages and needs – whether it’s making new friends at The Zone (Teen’s Club for ages 12-16) or The Nest (Kids Club for ages 4-11), which are both fully equipped with toys, games and activities, or enjoying the myriad of family-forward programming such as beach volleyball, bocce ball, soccer, watersports and more. Babysitting for children under 4 years of age is available at an extra cost.

Vivid, vivacious and full of personality, SO/ Hotels & Resorts are only found in socially vibrant destinations such as Berlin, Bangkok and Singapore. One of the fastest-growing brands in Accor’s lifestyle portfolio, it is designed for savvy travellers who have a passion for fashion and like to keep their finger on the pulse. Every stay is underpinned by the brand’s signature ‘Just Say SO’ service, to craft truly unforgettable experiences. SO/ Maldives will join Accor’s collection of five resorts in the Maldives which include the midscale Mercure brand, premium Pullman and Mövenpick brands, and the luxury Raffles and Fairmont brands.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Just like its neighboring resorts in Crossroad Maldives, SO/ Maldives is located on a man-made island, which was built using sand scooped from the ocean floor and layered atop living coral reefs, mimicking a process that usually takes thousands of years. To ensure the construction was as sustainable as possible, marine biologists were brought in to work alongside the architects. Damage-reduction measures included covering the existing reef with silt nets to protect the corals from suffocating sand and dust, examining the currents to avoid interfering with natural flow patterns and stopping construction during the important coral-spawning season. Nonetheless, there is an ongoing debate around this type of construction and the amount of damage it might inflict upon the environment. I am not an environmental expert of course, but if sustainability is something you care about (and you should), you might not feel at peace here.

Regardless of the fact whether the construction of a man-made island resort on a living coral reef is a responsible thing to do in times of environmental protection, the “natural look” of the island is also vastly different from that of the Maldives’ stunningly beautiful natural islands. The vegetation at the island’s center is not as lush compared to the soaring jungle of coconut palms you’ll find at the natural islands (although I assume the vegetation will mature over time). The resort’s man-made beaches (with a rough type of sand) can’t compete with the magic and spectacular beauty of the soft white sand beaches on natural islands. If it’s your first visit to the Maldives, you will still be blown away by the tropical scenery, but if you are a repeat visitor the Maldives (like me), the setting – and especially the look and feel of the artificial beaches and vegetation – might disappoint you.

The remarkable design of the resort might not appeal to everyone, especially when it comes to the colorful pool area, which features a cacophony of red, black, green, pink, yellow and blue tiles. Some might find the design fashionable, trendy and bold, while others might find the design hideous, kitsch and ugly. In all honesty, I wasn’t a fan of the design since I prefer a minimalist modernism or an eco-chic design, which are much more in line with the Maldives’ vibe of tranquillity or serenity. I’m not sure what the thinking behind the colorful design was. I also didn’t like the cheap-looking outfits of the resort staff (pink T-shirts with black & white striped shorts) but that’s a matter of taste of course.

The villas at SO/ Maldives feature an open-plan bathroom layout. So, if you are not traveling with your loved one, mind that there is no separation between the bathroom and the room. The bath tube is located inside the room and the toilet & shower cabins features glass doors (so there’s zero privacy).

SO/ Maldives is located on the northern tip of the South Male Atoll, close to the international airport. This proximity means that guests can quickly transfer from their international flight to the hotel within an hour, unlike many other resorts in this small Indian Ocean island nation, which may require lengthy air or boat transfers to the more remote resorts. However, the downside to its location is that the rather unattractive skyline of the capital city is visible on the horizon, albeit only from the northern part of the resort (most facilities and villas face the south, away from the city). There’s also a bit more boat & plane traffic near the resort (although nothing too bad) which might affect a true castaway feeling.

While SO/ Maldives tick all the boxes for a 5-star resort, it’s not in the same league as the archipelago’s uber-luxurious resorts, such as One&Only Reethi Rah, Cheval Blanc Randheli, Veela Private Island, Soneva Jani of Soneva Fushi. The design is ok but lacks a wow-factor (and feels more trendy than chic); the service is good but not impeccable; the food is great but not sophisticated; and the small-scale spa is nice but not exceptional. That said, the resort also does not pretend to rank among the best in the Maldives and its room rates are half of what the archipelago’s high-end resorts charge (and thus more affordable).

MY VERDICT

Location: 7/10
Design: 7/10
Pool: 7/10
Rooms: 8/10
Food: 7/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Wow factor: 7/10
Value for money: 7/10
Overall experience: good 7.4/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Save money: read here my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like SO/ Maldives (and/or receive many free perks).

Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best weather in the Maldives is between January and April, which also means high season (and skyrocketing hotel rates). The monsoon runs from May to October, peaking in June. It is worth paying higher prices and sticking to the dry season as there is nothing to do on a rainy day except drink, eat, work out, or scuba dive. Especially November and December, which are often labelled as dry season months, have been very unsettled in recent years.

HOW TO GET THERE

SO/ Maldives is easily reached by a 15 min speedboat ride from Male International Airport (MLE). Check the Wikipedia page of Male International Airport for an updated list of airlines that offer flights to Male International Airport.