A week of island-hopping around the Maldives feels like living on a movie set

Paddle-boarding at Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences

Madeleine Keane

The adventure starts Harrison-Ford style as the aircraft skitters across the water. We pull up to a pontoon and are greeted by smiling, clapping staff, lemon-scented cold compresses and a roll of drums.

Our butler Buddy greets us warmly before directing us to our flower-decked golf buggy. It all feels straight out of White Lotus and is just the first of many moments in this week-long sojourn in the Maldives which will make me think I’m living on a film or TV set.