The Standard Huruvalhi Maldives

A glass-bottomed nightclub hovering over the lagoon, with local DJs and a sunset drumming ceremony, sets the tone for what kind of Maldives resort this is. The beach and overwater villas are genuinely luxurious, the desert-island seclusion is intact, and a restaurant dedicated to down-home Maldivian cooking adds something most island resorts skip. It reads as paradise for people who'd find pure tranquility a little exhausting. Seaplane from Malé, rates from $500 a night.