Ithaafushi - The Private Island, Waldorf Astoria Maldives resort With this positive news, it surely doesn’t hurt to daydream about lazing on a sandy atoll and there are plenty of new places to choose from. One is Ithaafushi—The Private Island, the latest addition to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives resort, which at nearly 345,000 sq ft makes it the largest of its kind in the country. In Dhivehi, the local language of the Maldives, its name means “Pearl Island”, which befits this crown jewel of Hilton’s luxury portfolio in the region. The expansive private island has a two-bedroom overwater villa, a three-bedroom beach villa and a four-bedroom residence that together accommodate a total of 24 guests, who can spend their days relaxing by the myriad pools or snorkelling in the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean.