SO/ Maldives, New 5-Star Island Resort & Hotel, Opened in Nov 2023 (full tour in 4K)

SO/ Maldives, New 5-Star Island Resort & Hotel, Opened in Nov 2023 (full tour in 4K)

SO/ Maldives is a new resort that opened in November 2023. Overwater villas. Facilities such as gym, spa, pool, etc. Dinner. Breakfast. Please enjoy the resort tour. Let’s start from Male International Airport in the Maldives. We met up with the SO/ maldives resort staff at the airport.

There is a boat dock just a few minutes walk from the airport. It’s a small boat called “Sea Shine 3”. Wear a life jacket on the boat. The back seat has no window. Departing from Male Airport. The resort is a 15-minute boat ride from Male Airport.

We can see the cityscape of Male and the airport from the boat. One of the benefits is that the resort is close to Male Airport. The resort “SO/ Maldives” is located in Emboodhoo, South Male Atoll. The resort island looks like this. We can see the Arrival Pavilion in the back.

We can see the water villas in the back. The water villas have a modern design. Arrival Pavilion is approaching. Water villas can be seen nearby. The design of the arrival pavilion is stylish. One of the reasons I chose this resort is the stylishly designed Arrival Pavilion. The resort staffs welcome us.

It’s a 15 minute boat ride from the airport, so we arrived quickly. I will briefly explain SO/. SO/ is one of the hotel brands of the major group Accor Hotels, and is positioned as a luxury hotel.

SO/ is one of the brands of a major hotel group, so there is a sense of security. This is an arrival pavilion as well as a bar and restaurant. We received a welcome drink. This is the bar. One butler per villa. The butler will guide us through the resort.

This is the pier leading to the water villas. There are 83 villas in total, 55 overwater villas and 28 beach villas. We were able to see a manta ray on the way. Arrived at the villa. Check-in in the room.

This water villa is priced at $1,890 per night with a plan that includes dinner and breakfast. The card key is pure white. A villa called W02. The switch has a modern design. Unlock with card key. The room size including the terrace is 120 square meters (1291 feet). Mini-bar. Desk. Storage space.

Toilet inside the black door. Shower. Twin sink washbasin. Bathtub. Double bed. The whole room. There is a pool on the terrace. There is also a sofa, table, and shower on the terrace. A map and evacuation route are written at the entrance.

The W02 villa we are in is at the edge of the resort. There are two internal keys. The switches in the room also have a modern design. This can be used to hang umbrellas and clothes. The air conditioner is touch panel type.

I thought there was a chair under the table, but there was no chair. Welcome fruits. Chocolates. Macarons. Plate and cutleries. A $15 sparkling wine called Montelliana Prosecco. This is free. This is a minibar. Crisps. Alcohol (all charges apply). Nuts etc. Nespresso machine. An electric kettle with a simple design. Manufacturer unknown.

4 bottles of water without gas. Thin cups. Ice bucket. This is···. Coffee cups made in England called Alchemy. There are 6 types of coffee flavors. Singapore’s luxury tea “TWG”. There’s nothing on the bottom shelf. For some reason there is an outlet in the back. Three lights are hung. This is the desk.

Power outlets and USB ports are provided. Pink stool. This shelf… Sewing kit. Laundry set. Let’s take a look at the storage space. Safety box. Everything in the refrigerator is charged. Alcohols such as champagne and wine, Evian. Two bottles of each are available. A rosé wine called Aix. Red bull, tonic water, cola.

Fruit juice. Protein drink. Energy bar. Chocolate. Two life vests. Simple hangers. Two umbrellas. Opposite side. Bathrobes. It’s thin and comfortable. Beach bag. Includes SO/ logo and SO/ Maldives text. Standing light. Hairdryer. A Swiss brand called Valera. Dental kits, shaving kits. Vanity kits. Indoor slippers. Toilet. The toilet does not open and close automatically.

KOHLER hand shower and rain shower. Shower cap and loofah sponge. Shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner from a Parisian brand called CODAGE. Twin sink washbasin. The water flow is good. Hand cleansing gel and body lotion from a Parisian brand called CODAGE. Bathtub. SO/ is a fashionable hotel brand with decorations on the walls.

It seems that this area is also conscious of fashion. The bathtub is circular and quite spacious. All water parts are made by KOHLER. It feels clean overall. Bath towel. Lace curtains and thick curtains. There are blinds that go down from top to bottom. There are only double beds.

Light switches, electrical outlet, and USB port next to the bed. The phone is made of wood. There’s nothing in the drawer. The bed board and cushion have fancy patterns. Pillows and mattresses are medium hard. The windows are wide. Opposite bedside. I’m glad there are plenty of outlets.

This is a sofa where we can lie down. Welcome message. Butler will take care of everything for us. The TV remote control is simple. I’ll go out to the terrace. It is a large terrace. The pool is 1.0m deep. The water temperature felt cold. I like the circular sofa and table. One chair.

Lifebuoy. Outdoor shower. What about privacy? Unless we’re at the edge of the villa, we won’t be able to see it from anywhere else. Many resorts these days have nets like hammocks. We can directly access the sea from your villa. Diagonally ahead we can see another resort called Hard Rock Hotel in Crossroad Maldives.

There are also small fishes and manta ray in the sea near the villa. We can see the Arrival Pavilion over there. The villa is of sufficient size. The design of the villa feels like it’s aimed at young people. People from other resorts are doing water sports over there. There are fish.

The water near the villa is quite shallow. After the room tour, we took a break. We communicate with the butler through an app called WhatsApp. Resort map. Arrival jetty and pavilion. Restaurant, Beach Club, and Water Sports Center. 27 overwater villas on the west side of the island.

28 beach villas on the central east side of the island. Clinic and spa. 28 overwater villas on the southeastern part of the island. This is a bicycle used within the resort. There is no handbrake, and the brakes are applied by rotating the pedal in the opposite direction.

Before we pedal our bikes, we take a look around the villa. Let’s go to the end of the pier. There are many small birds. The water around the villa and pier is shallow. There are stairs. We can enter the sea from this staircase. Many of the walls of the villa are white.

It seems like there are more and more villas with this kind of appearance these days. We will move by bicycle. The width of the pier seems to be narrow. We often pass by the resort staff’s buggies. The scenery that looks left and right continues. The island came into view.

The view from the road between the pier and the island is beautiful. Enter the island. Since it is an artificially created island, the sand certainly feels artificial. That’s the arrival pavilion. This is the pier that connects to the Arrival Pavilion. There are restaurants and the beach on the left.

The center of the island is a beach. Red fences. Equipment such as exhaust is placed inside. There are also red fences on the second floor of the pavilion. When we look at it up close, it looks a little cheap. There’s another water villas area over there. That is the beach villas area.

The rocks prevent waves from coming. The water around here is shallow. Pavilion bar. Food service is available from morning until evening, and beverage service is available from morning until evening. We came to the Arrival Pavilion again. This red stuff is wire and is hard to the touch. This is the Pavilion Bar.

Although the Maldives is an Islamic country, we can drink alcohol at the resort. There are colorful things on the walls as well as the room. The interior design of the pavilion is also nice. The SO/ monument is huge. The view from the Arrival Jetty.

Again, I personally like the design of the Arrival Pavilion. Hadaba is an Arabic and Mediterranean restaurant. Open for dinner only. The second floor of the Arrival Pavilion is the restaurant Hadaba. We arrived at the second floor. There are sofa seats and table seats.

Unusual in the Maldives, the dress code for dinner at Hadaba is semi-formal. The windows are large and it looks like it will create a nice atmosphere during dinner. Unfortunately, Hadaba was not open when I stayed at SO/.

Hadaba is currently open, so if you are going to SO/ from now on, please enjoy dinner. The Citronelle Club is an all-day dining restaurant. The Citronelle Club serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a large menu of Asian cuisine. This is The Citronelle Club. Located near the Arrival Pavilion. The Citronelle Club sign.

Inside The Citronelle Club. Lots of tables. The kitchen is located in the center of the restaurant. Since there are 83 villas in total, the main restaurant is designed to be spacious. A semi-private area where groups can dine. This is a terrace seat. Tables and chairs are also provided on the beach.

Arrival Pavilion seen from the beach. It’s a wide beach. The restaurant, beach club and water sports center are all connected to the beach. Lazuli Beach Club serves Mediterranean cuisine, healthy food and cocktails. It is open from morning until night. This is Lazuli Beach Club. Located next to The Citronelle Club.

The tables and sofas are green, giving it a beach feel. That’s the bar counter. Various drinks are available. The entrance is on the opposite side of where we were earlier. There are also chairs and tables here. The beach umbrellas and daybeds are also colorful. This is the main pool. Pastel colored tiles.

Even looking at the design of the pool, it feels like a resort for young people. The depth of the pool is 0.9m. Unusual design with colorful pool. The atmosphere may be a little similar to Marriott’s W Hotel. This is also a flashy design.

It has a slightly unique feel, and tastes are likely to be divided. Pool rules. It contains basic information. It’s a toilet. It also has an amazing interior. There are hanging chairs here. Pastel colors are also used in the shower tiles. The edge of the beach. There are many places to sit.

There is a place like an observation deck. List of activities. Activities include snorkeling, dolphin quests, Male city visits, and evening fishing. Diving course. Water sports. snorkeling and windsurfing. Private trips. This is a water sports center called THE ZONE. We see a surfboard. There are instructions for Dolphin Quest and jet skiing. Kayak boats.

Life jackets. Paddle boats. Bowdoury. We will go to the beach the next day. If we look closely, we can see that there are two islands, and there is a bridge that connects the two islands. There is something like a white chair placed at the end.

We will go snorkeling in this area the next day. THE NEST is a kids club. The inside of the kids club is also a bit colorful. This is a TV and game room. The TV board is in the form of a controller. There are sofas and shelves on the upper floor.

I will also look outside. A fountain comes out from here. There are children’s play equipment. This is a shower. Ocean view in the back. Next, we will cross the bridge that connects the two islands. The sea to the left of here is a snorkeling spot. This is the beach villas area.

Beach villas are lined up on the right. Looking at the photos on the website, the beach villa looks nice. The beach is on the left side, and guests of beach villas can access the beach right away. There are clinic and spa around here. The gym and spa is called Wellness Camp.

Spa on the right, gym on the left. This is the gym. It’s not that wide. Gym rules. There are dumbbells. Bench press table. Running machines. All machines are made by Technogym. There are balance balls etc. The towels are neatly arranged. The same water as in the room is placed. Spa reception.

They have products such as SUNKISS sunscreen. Soaps etc. Mud packs, oil, etc. The same body lotion that was in the room. FRELLA and ADC01 brand cosmetics. SUNKISS products are also available here. This is the locker room. There is one shower room. The steam sauna is large enough to accommodate about 4 people.

The dry sauna is small and can only accommodate one person. This room…? There is a small jacuzzi outside. Move to the spa treatment room. There are two treatment rooms for two people. Good location with ocean view. The treatment room has a shower.

There are two treatment rooms for one person. The lights in this room are moody. Another treatment room for one person. All rooms have a shower. If we look closely, there is also a bathtub. Continue south through the beach villas area. There aren’t many people and it’s very quiet.

The atmosphere is completely different between beach villas area and water villas area. There are large beach villas. Continuing south is a pier that leads to the overwater villas. Some work is being done. Let’s take a look inside. There is nothing in front of the water villas facing this direction.

There is a welcome pavilion over there. We can see the beach clearly from here. Go inside. The disadvantage of the water villas in this area is that they are far away from restaurants. We have reached the back. Our water villa and welcome pavilion over there. We can see restaurants and beach club.

Even within the same resort, the scenery can be completely different depending on where we look. Move to the other end of this pier. When we actually ride the bicycle, the pier feels long. There are spacious water villas in the back.

The price of a water villa increases in proportion to the area occupied by the room. These are large two-story water villas. We can also enter the sea directly from this pier. It is likely that another resort will be built on that island in the future.

Now that we have seen the resort, let’s move on to the sunset scene. When it gets dark, the pier is lit up and looks beautiful. I think sunset time is the most beautiful time. It is interesting that the lighting varies depending on the resort. Return to the villa.

I think this water villa has a one-room type layout that is easy to use. Move to the terrace. The pool is a little brighter. At this time of day, the terrace is still bright. The sound of the sea is soothing. The inside of the room looks beautiful. A beautiful view of the sunset.

Of course, the resort has Wi-Fi. There was no problem with the Wi-Fi speed, and it actually felt fast. It is connected to the official website of SO/ Maldives. Dinner at The Citronelle Club. Since it was cool outside, there were more people eating on the terrace or on the beach than inside.

The terrace has tables for 4 and tables for 2. The Citronelle Club at night. The palm trees are shining. Service drink. For plans that include dinner, choose one item from the starter menu. There is no additional charge. Choose one main item. Items in red require additional charges. Choose one dessert.

I ordered watermelon juice. Starter “FRIED LOCAL BABY SQUID” $32. The spice in the black sauce underneath was quite effective. Main dish “GRILLED MALDIVIAN LOBSTER” $130. There are many places to eat with big lobster. Lemon and two types of sauce. Comes with ketchup and fries. The lobster was delicious. Dessert “COCONUT PARFAIT” $20.

It’s a modest amount. Chamomile. TWG tea. I will write about my impressions of the dinner while showing the resort at night from the beach. If you choose a half-board plan, the amount of dinner will be small, so if you are a big eater, you may need to order more. The taste was ok.

The dinner menu consisted of 13 starters, 13 mains, and 6 desserts. If you stay for 3 to 4 nights, you won’t get bored with the food. The atmosphere of the beach club at night is nice. There is a DJ on this day.

Unlike during the day, it is beautifully lit up at night and creates a magical atmosphere. There aren’t any people there. The pool is dark and we cannot enter after 7pm. Apparently there was a DJ there that day. Beach club bar at night. Bottles of alcoholic drinks look more beautiful than during the day.

Move to the Arrival Pavilion. The illuminated palm trees are beautiful. I’m curious about how the Arrival Pavilion will be lit up. Inside the arrival pavilion. The red wire stands out even more at night. The Arrival Jetty is lit up in red. The SO/ monument is dazzling…

The restaurant upstairs was not open that day and it was dark. Image. I wanted to see the pavilion when the restaurant upstairs was open. If we look closely at the wire, it looks like it was fixed by hand. From here we will return to our water villa.

It’s a long walk, but it’s only a few minutes by bicycle. Cycling at night. Even though the pier is lit up, it is dark. The difference between it and the buggy is just barely there. Riding a bicycle is one of the fun things to do in the Maldives. We returned to the villa.

Turndown service has finished, and sweets are placed on the table. There are no slippers or water next to the bed. Bath towel and foot towel are included. A view of the terrace at night. The terrace is relatively bright even at night. I can relax by sitting on the sofa on the terrace.

The crescent moon is beautiful on this day. Check the water pressure in the shower. The shower has 3 modes. The water pressure in the KOHLER shower is not very strong. This may not be enough for people who like showers with strong water pressure. Amenities.

The toothbrush and razor handles are made of wood, an environmentally friendly material. We can easily fill up the bathtub with hot water with a single switch. I’ll try lowering the shades. When the shades are completely lowered, almost no light comes in from outside. Lights out. Morning of the second day.

It’s a terrible cloud. It looked like it was going to rain, but it didn’t rain that day. A ship is parked in the distance. It appears to be a boat owned by the resort. A large school of fish. Lots of small birds. It’s close to Male Airport, so seaplanes often fly over.

Let’s take a look at the end of the pier. Lots of small white birds. When I approached it, it went away. It’s a refreshing morning. Breakfast at The Citronelle Club. There are 5 chefs. It’s a beautiful beach. Bakery and fruit. Cold food. Hot food. Side dish. Lunch menu.

Lunch menu is similar to dinner. I ate breakfast late, so I didn’t eat lunch that day. Bakery. Contains 7 types of bread. Fruits. Service juice. Herb tea. The bread was freshly baked and very delicious. It’s a little hot on the terrace in the morning. Omelette with 3 eggs, toast. Breakfast bowl.

Healthy food menu. Chicken sausages. Plain omelette. It’s thick because they use 3 eggs. Breakfast was very delicious. When we returned to the villa, the room was beautifully appointed. Amenities are replenished daily. Snorkeling sets can be rented from the water sports center. Fill out the form. Sign the pledge.

Fins from a manufacturer called Aqua Lung. Goggles and snorkel from the brand BEST DIVES. Preparations are complete. The sea near the water villa is a shallow lagoon, so snorkeling may not be enjoyable. The water is shallow enough to be submerged up to my knees.

This is what the water villa looks like from the sea. There are almost no coral reefs, but I will try diving. Nothing as expected. There were a few corals and fish. The area near the water villa is not suitable for snorkeling, so we will move.

The sea on the left is also shallow and doesn’t seem suitable for snorkeling. There seems to be a coral reef if we go deeper, but there are waves and it feels dangerous. There are surprisingly many fish. I thought the black areas were coral reefs, but they were just rocks.

There doesn’t seem to be any coral reef around here either, so we move on. Moved to the beach. We will take the opportunity to dive into the sea near the beach. Grasses are growing. The grasses are surprisingly beautiful. The sea water near the beach is not very clear.

Move to the bridge connecting the islands. When I asked the people at the water sports center, they told me that there is a snorkeling spot in the sea around here. We will dive into the sea on the beach in front of the beach villa.

There are waves in the deeper part of the sea, so it’s a bit dangerous. There is a coral reef. But there aren’t many fish. I want to find large schools of fish. There are fewer fish compared to the number of corals. There were only a few fish. Move location.

This is the sea between the islands. Contrary to expectations, there are fish. Coral is sparsely attached to the rocks. This area is probably where there was originally a coral reef. There are quite a few small fish. There are no waves in the area I’m looking at, so you can snorkel safely.

There is a snorkeling spot in the sea north of the resort, but there are waves and the sea gets deep quickly, so it might be dangerous if you are not an expert.

There are not very good snorkeling spots in the safety of the resort, so I think it would be better to join a tour organized by the resort. I was happy because I saw a few fish. After snorkeling, I took a break in the room as I was shaken a lot by the waves.

The weather has gotten a lot better. There are many people at Arrival Jetty. It seems like some of the staff are on a ship returning home. Next, We will take a break at the beach club. I took a seat at this counter. Menu. Cocktails. Champagnes, wines. Whiskeies, tequilas, vodkas. Gins, brandies, liqueurs, etc.

Beers and non-alcoholic drinks. Soft drinks, teas, coffees and smokes. Bottle of champagne. Bottle of white wine. There is a wide variety of alcohol. Snacks, starters, salads and sandwiches. Pizzas, sides, and desserts. Water. I ordered watermelon juice. I was tired from snorkeling, so I took a rest during the day. Sunset time. Beautiful scenery.

The Arrival Pavilion is clearly visible. A beautiful sunset. Turndown service was held at 18:30. The person in front had different sweets. Go to dinner around 8pm. The view of the pier at 8pm at night. Arrival Pavilion. SO/ monuments are noticeable even from a distance.

The second night we had dinner again at The Citronelle Club. On this day, I decided to sit on the beach. The impression changes considerably between terrace seats and beach seats. The menu is the same as the previous day. Service drink is the same as the previous day. Chicken and shrimp dumplings.

It looks delicious. Steamed local reef fish. The fish of the day is sea bass. Green onions. Rice has an elongated shape. Exotic fruits. The contents are similar to the fruits served at breakfast. The stool was unstable and felt difficult to sit on.

I also noticed that there was no cup for brushing my teeth and that there were no tissues in the room. I also thought it would be better to have water on the bedside table during turndown service. The bathtub is spacious and I like it. Morning of the third day.

The weather is the best on the third day, and the sea can be seen beautifully. We can request a floating breakfast in the villa. If we wish to have a floating breakfast, we must tell the staff the day before. Water sports are held at another resort.

Since the weather is nice, we will go to see the situation at the end of the pier. The sea is really beautiful when it’s sunny. Weather is important in the Maldives, and the impression of the place changes greatly depending on whether it is sunny, cloudy, or rainy.

Since it was hot outside, we chose to have breakfast indoors on the third day. The breakfast menu is the same. Fruits. The types of fruit are a little different. Bakery. The type of bread is a little different. All the breads are really delicious. The juice has also changed from the previous day.

Beef sausages and bacons. Eggs Benedict. After breakfast, check out. A buggy will take us to the Arrival Pavilion. Please enjoy the last view of SO/ Maldives. We arrived at the Arrival Pavilion. Check out and pay here. It’s the same boat on the way back. I will write my honest impressions.

The great thing about the resort’s location is that it’s only a 15-minute speedboat ride from Male Airport. The resort’s house reef is not plentiful, and it is not a resort that specializes in snorkeling. The villas are good size, clean and modern in design.

There were some concerns, such as the lack of tissues in the room and the lack of a price list for the minibar, but I think this will be improved in the future. In terms of facilities, it has the bare minimum, including a restaurant, kids club, spa, and gym.

Other resorts have facilities such as tennis courts, billiards, table tennis, theaters, and shops, so I can’t say that SO/’s facilities are very comprehensive. I think the taste of the food was good. An Arabic restaurant called Hadaba, which I couldn’t report on this time, is now open, so the restaurant looks good.

I also thought that the design of the arrival pavilion and the pastel colors were distinctive. I think the staff at the resort were energetic and responded well. When I checked other reviews, there were currently zero bad reviews and only good reviews. Overall, I think SO/ is a good resort.

I think SO/ is a luxury resort, but I wouldn’t say it’s ultra-luxe. I don’t think it can be helped considering the price. On the way back, resort staff will take us to the airline check-in counter. We will be flying back with Singapore Airlines.

We also plan to report on other resorts in the Maldives. The Maldives has many good resorts, and there are still many that I would like to visit. Thank you for your viewing.

This is a review of the stay at SO/ Maldives, a new island resort in the Maldives that opened on November 1, 2023.

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■Information
Resort name: SO/ Maldives
Address: Lagoon, Emboodhoo, Malé 20028, Maldives
Number of rooms: 83
Room: OCEAN WATER POOL VILLA COLLECTION, 1 King Bed
Price: $1,890 per night (including dinner and breakfast) (tax included)
Access: 15 minutes by speedboat from Male Airport
Official website: https://so-hotels.com/en/maldives/
Note: SO/ is one of the brands of the major hotel group “Accor”. SO/ Maldives is located in South Male Atoll and is the third resort of Crossroads Maldives.

■Table of contents
00:00 Welcome to the Maldives new island resort “SO/ Maldives”
00:38 15 minutes by speedboat from Male Airport to the resort
01:43 Check-in & Resort Overview
04:41 Room tour (Ocean Water Pool Villa)
18:11 Resort map
18:58 Cycling & Stroll (Western part of the resort)
22:43 Pavillion Bar
23:35 Arrival Jetty
24:06 Restaurant Hadaba
25:14 Restaurant The Citronelle Club
27:17 Pool/Beach Lazuli Beach Club
30:27 Water sports
32:53 Kids Club The Nest
34:11 Cycling & Stroll (Central eastern part of the resort)
35:06 Gym/Spa Wellness Camp
39:33 Cycling & Stroll (Southeast of the resort)
42:57 Sunset (Day1)
44:36 Wi-Fi
45:10 Dinner at The Citronelle Club (Day 1)
48:16 Night resort view (Day1)
52:19 Night room view (Day1)
54:46 Morning (Day2)
56:31 Breakfast & Lunch at The Citronelle Club (Day 2)
59:09 Snorkeling
1:07:08 Lazuli Beach Club snack & drink menu
1:09:34 Sunset (Day2)
1:10:50 Dinner (Day2)
1:12:44 What I noticed about the room (Day2)
1:13:29 The most sunny morning (Day3)
1:14:47 Breakfast (Day3)
1:16:00 Check out
1:17:01 Impressions & Return speed boat
1:18:52 Thank you for waching

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