Families looking for a stunning and intimate escape need look no further than the newly opened JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island Resort

Editor’s note: See other Escape Plan stories here.

I hadn’t expected to think about my family. Especially not when surrounded by the arresting and ever-stimulating views of the Indian Ocean. Yet by the time I step onto the jetty at JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island Resort, their absence feels palpable.

It, of course, doesn’t help that the resort, recently opened in February, seems to offer the perfect setting for an intimate family retreat. Beyond its postcard-perfect waters and swaying palms, the resort is effortlessly geared to welcoming families, equipped with a dedicated Kids’ and Teens’ Club and a series of spacious villas, some boasting multiple bedrooms.

Set within Kaafu Atoll’s largest natural lagoon and just a 15-minute speedboat ride from Malé, the teardrop-shaped island immediately embraces you with its lush greenery and thick foliage. The resort reveals itself slowly, with tree-lined paths and softly shaded pavilions offering a sense of containment, of being cocooned in nature.

Accentuating this experience is the resort’s design, led by Turkish architect Cuneyt Bukulmez of Atolye4N. Bukulmez and his team have shaped the 80 villas and central spaces to follow the island’s natural curves, resulting in a flow that feels both organic and deliberate.

As you walk through the resort, winding through shaded paths surrounded by dense foliage, you are naturally drawn into a languid pace—as if the island itself is reminding you to slow down.

Speaking of slowing down, every structure and space appears to frame its stunning surroundings. Whether lounging beside the oceanfront pool or dining within one of the seven restaurants and bars, the design always seems to draw the eye outwards—towards water, sky, and horizon.

It may sound like a simple gesture, but when you sit beneath a gently arching roof, gazing out at glimmering waters and soft white sands, the view—illuminated by the sun’s pastel light as it casts slow-moving shadows across timber beams and stone walls—envelops you in a sense of stillness.

During these moments, it is—as I reluctantly discover—difficult not to wish your family were with you. It’s an earnest truism that I feel almost embarrassed to admit. But the best things in life, the very best, are meant to be shared with the people you love most.

An Exuberant Exhale

My arm is not tired. In fact, my entire body is relaxed. I’ve just left a massage session at Spa by JW, a serene, six-treatment-room facility complete with a steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, and dedicated yoga space. I was told the massage would last an hour, but I swear only half an hour passes before the masseuse begins rousing me from the restful slumber she’d induced.

It’s just as well I’m relaxed. I will soon board a yacht that will bring me far into the ocean to snorkel alongside sharks. Okay, they’re nurse sharks and they’re supposedly placid creatures that only eat fish. Still, my bravado is slipping as time passes.

Until then, I stretch out in the resort’s largest overwater accommodation: a spectacular three-bedroom Ocean Residence spanning an impressive 729sqm, complete with a private spa, gym, infinity pool, kitchen, and a sweeping upper terrace with a waterslide that plunges into the sea. Boasting two master suites, a guest room, and a large living room, it’s perfect for multi-generation families.

Just like the rest of the resort, and its other overwater and beach villas that range from 155sqm to 327sqm, the residence offers sweeping views of the sea and sun, framed elegantly by floor-to-ceiling windows that invite the outdoors in. The resort’s villas are all similarly furnished, decked with a blend of contemporary materials like marble that are contrasted by traditional local elements like lacquer and timber.

Soon, however, I will be leaving comfort behind. Just the day before, I’d gone on board a different vessel, basking in the sun as we skimmed across the water in search of dolphins. It didn’t take long. They appeared in pods, leaping and spinning through the air with surreal ease.

That’s something this island and resort seem to do effortlessly. Whether it’s chasing dolphins, swimming with sharks, or watching the sun melt into pastel skies, it conjures moments that are magical. And perhaps that’s why it’s important to revel in each of them. I pick up my snorkelling gear. Here goes nothing.

JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island Resort

This story first appeared in the August 2025 issue. Purchase it as a print or digital copy, or consider subscribing to us here