Skip to main content

Tax season travel splurge: Vacationing at Gili Lankanfushi Maldives

Modern Nomad is a weekly column dedicated to mobile gear, must-see world destinations, tips for life on the road, and traveling better through technology.

The bad news is that tax season is upon us. The good news is, with any luck, you’re looking at a sizable return. You could squirrel that money away for a rainy day, or splurge on a ridiculously over the top luxury vacation. We’re all for the latter. After all, you can’t take it with you, right?

Few destinations offer more picture perfect beach luxury than Maldives – a 600-mile long island nation that’s home to some of the world’s most staggering natural beauty. Gili Lankanfushi is consistently ranked as TripAdvisor’s #1 hotel in Maldives and it epitomizes the country’s idyllic ocean setting. In a nation that itself embodies the quintessential luxury beach vacation, that’s saying something.

Guests of the resort stay in large, overwater bungalows built atop the clear, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Private ocean pools below each villa offer an intimate opportunity to swim with native fish, rays, and reef sharks. Two private sundecks, an outdoor shower, and an open floorplan all combine to bring as much of the stunning outdoor beauty in as possible.

Related: Micro Guide: Hawaii

Frankly, there’s no reason to ever leave your bungalow. But, just a short walk away, the resort grounds offer a wide array of activities. An on-site dive shop provides guided trips to nearby reefs, which are consistently ranked among the best in the world. Sea turtles, giant rays, sharks, whales, and bright, beautiful coral species are all common sites while diving Maldives. Gili Lankanfushi also offers a unique night snorkeling opportunity where each guest is equipped with a special mask and CSI-style black light to witness the area’s bioluminescent coral and marine life.

The resort features a one-of-a-kind underground wine cave and chocolate bar – a particularly unique feature for an island resort. Here, gourmet chefs routinely offer exclusive tastings, multi-course meals, and sushi-making classes. The hotel can also arrange a romantic dinner for two on your own private island. So, if you’ve ever wanted serious bonus anniversary or honeymoon points, there’s that.

The list of additional amenities reads like every ambitious traveler’s bucket list. Guests can sleep under the stars on their own rooftop moondeck; watch a first-run movie at the resort’s outdoor theater; take a sunset cruise to see the Indian Ocean’s famous spinner dolphins; get a oceanfront massage in a private villa; and even tour the area’s coral reefs by submarine.

Every bungalow on the property is reachable on foot, except one. The Private Reserve at Gili Lankanfushi offers accommodations fit for Richard Branson and Saudi princes. Accessible only by private boat, this massive 1,400 square meter compound is the largest overwater villa in the world. Dual master suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, each with a 2-person bathtub built over a coral garden. An on-site couple’s spa includes a sauna, steam room, indoor/outdoor treatment rooms, and a private gym on the second floor. A water slide leads down from the top deck, past multiple sea level sundecks, down into a private lagoon. On-site butlers (affectionately “Mr./Ms. Friday”) are available 24 hours a day to prepare meals in the villa’s private kitchen or provide transport via private yacht back to the main island.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Orlando travel guide: It’s more than just Disney
Orlando travel guide: Everything you need to know
Lake Eola, Orlando.

If you're not from Florida, you've likely visited there once when you were a kid and spent most of your time at a theme park. Or maybe you went down for spring break, and your memory of Florida is of overly sweet drinks, a gnarly sunburn, and not much else. The good news is Florida, and Orlando specifically, have so much more to offer. Orlando is a growing city (some research says 1500 people move to Orlando each week) and with that comes an influx of great restaurants, drinking establishments, and activities to meet the demands of this ever-growing population.

Whether you're interested in the theme parks or want to avoid them completely, this guide has you covered. If you know you want to travel to Florida but haven't decided exactly where yet, you might also check out Miami and Key West.

Read more
Your Key West travel guide for enjoying Florida’s more bohemian side
Key West travel guide: Where to stay, what to do, and more
Beach in Key West in early morning.

A chain of islands surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Key West is a world apart from the mainland. The southernmost city in the continental United States, the sun-soaked outpost treats visitors to a seamless blend of nature, nightlife, and history. Of course, it's easy to assume the place is little more than a three-mile-long bar -- and that's not entirely untrue. But, beyond the buzz of Duval Street and the side streets full of endless-happy-hour spots, there's more to see in this island paradise than most visitors ever consider.  The town has famously been home to literary giants including Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost, and Elizabeth Bishop. Of course, the tropical outpost was also the longtime home of Jimmy Buffet, who has regularly paid musical homage to Key West in his songs.

Today, locals appreciate the eccentric, the artistic, the bohemian, and celebrate anyone or anything that’s just a little weird. It's typically a bit more laid back than larger, busier Florida mainstays like Miami and Orlando. Here’s a guide to traveling the United States’ southernmost outpost like a proudly off-kilter local.

Read more
How to Enjoy a Hawaiian Vacation with the Kids in Tow
sea life park attraction

Hawaii is a glorious tropical paradise fit for all ages. But as anybody with kids knows, it's not a given that your trip will be one for the record books. If you go about it the right way, every member of the family will have a ball, from the moment you pack your bags to when you're all nursing sunburns back home.

Fortunately, the Hawaiian islands already have a lot of kid-approved qualities, from great weather and beaches to fun and colorful foods like shave ice and poi. There's amazing wildlife, lava, and even snow if you get up high enough. It's practically impossible for a kid to experience boredom here.

Read more