W distinguishes itself in 2 striking ways: firstly, the company mantra ‘Whatever/Whenever’ and, secondly, their particular style of service and presentation. In a way ‘Whatever/Whenever’ can be intimidating or annoying. You may feel you are missing out by not coming up with great ideas to make your holiday amazing, and then feel bad about it. And anyway, isn’t the resort supposed to lay all this out for us? Well they do, we are talking here about the extra extras, things that spring into your head or are suggested by someone or something on, or off, the island.

Sunset fishing, for example, is usually over when the boat arrives back at the jetty. A few resorts take it further by offering to serve you your fish in the restaurant. W say “How would you like it cooked? Where would you like it served? In your room, on the beach or perhaps on our desert island?” You might want to take it even further. A night snorkel on the desert island reef? I’m sure they would get a dive master over to guide you. I don’t know if it was a long-established desire or a spur of the moment thing but one guest badly wanted to fly a seaplane. Despite their best efforts, the resort could not manage this but they did get him up into the co-pilots seat for a flight and an unofficial lesson.

W sometimes describe themselves as ‘luxury with a sense of humour’ and this does sum up their style of service. Staff are clearly highly trained yet there is not a jot of stiff, 5 star formality here. Rather, there is relaxed interaction between the staff and guests which sets the mood that then sees guests pick up conversations, make acquaintances and have a good time together. You might not like the idea of an enthusiastic guy urging you to join the snorkeling trip today as yesterday they saw whale sharks. Or the Greek chef coming out of kitchen to sit at your table and enthuse about his egg benedict. But that’s W. It’s more for people who drive Aston Martins rather than Bentleys, and whose spare car is a Mini Cooper. It’s a bit funky and contemporary.

So naturally there is a beat about the place. Everywhere there’s a background accompaniment of electro, dance and buddha bar with occasional indie and soul. It is default in your room (with Bose speakers above and a base unit below) but you can turn it off room by room or all at once. You can ask for it to be turned down in the restaurant too, if you like, just as you can ask for the lights to be turned down or up. It is even on the water villa jetty, which is great during the day but might not hit the spot when strolling back to your room beneath a moonlit sky after a quiet, romantic dinner.

Children under 12 are strictly not allowed on W but teenagers are encouraged. This place is great for them. The staff are relaxed and friendly, the watersports centre is packed with good stuff and if you know how to use the equipment it’s all free. That goes for the snorkeling gear, the kayaks, windsurfers, catamarans and kitesurfers. The guys here are superb and act as trainers and guides, along with the marine biologist, for a number of great excursions and adventures. The beautiful, exclusive desert island, Gaathafushi, is another big draw. Here teenagers can get away and live out their imaginations.

As for the island itself, well, it may seem a bit unfair that W has so much because this is a wonderful little island: a classic circular island in the middle of an atoll with a wide beach and great reef all the way around. The snorkeling is particularly good just around where the spa is. And, being very smart people, they have incorporated this aspect into the spa experience. After your treatment (or really at any time of course) you will be given a canvas, an easel and paints. Then you sit or stand over the water’s edge and express creatively what you see and feel.

There is, finally, one thing I can say that holds W back from a level of perfection that no resort can attain. The rooms are as good as you would expect but they are closer to each other than many a 5 star resort and the trees, flowers and vegetation are still not fully mature again between the rooms. This key aspect of complete privacy will dismay a few guests, until beautiful Fesdhoo grows back to full maturity.