I'm the world's top Maldives expert who's stayed in 55 resorts. Here is my ultimate guide to the top 22 island getaways - and the ones to avoid - from as little as £185 a night

Scattered across 500 miles of the Indian Ocean and made up of nearly 1,200 coral islands ringed with powdery white sands and Tiffany blue waters, it’s no surprise that almost everyone dreams of visiting the Maldives. RAFFLES MERADHOO Best for: Splendid isolation Book it: Rooms from £980, B&B, a night The sensational overwater pool villas at Raffles Meradhoo are set together on a pontoon island that can only be reached by boat but it’s the gigantic beach villas that I loved the most for their huge bougainvillea-draped gardens, large private swimming pools and direct access to the glittering seashore. CONRAD MALDIVES RANGALI ISLAND Best for: Underwater action Book it: Rooms from £461, B&B, a night The Conrad Rangali – nestled in the South Ari Atoll, a 40-minute seaplane journey south of the airport – might be best known for its amazing underwater suite, The Muraka, where Paris Hilton and Carter Reum spent part of their honeymoon. JUMEIRAH OLHAHALI ISLAND Best for: Big groups of friends Book it: Rooms from £1,068, B&B, a night Located a 50-minute wind-in-your-hair speedboat ride from Velana International Airport, this mid-sized island is relatively easy to reach but feels a world away from Malé’s busy sea and air traffic corridors. Retox with champagne-fuelled brunches, Indian banquets and late-night cocktails, JW MARRIOTT MALDIVES RESORT & SPA Best for: Families Book it: Beach villas from £776, B&B, a night The kids club at this Shaviyani Atoll escape has a 43-feet-long pirate ship to clamber on, a splash zone and more than 100 activities a week – treasure hunts, beach Olympics.