Where is it? On the island of Huruvalhi, in the Maldives’ Raa Atoll, a 35-minute seaplane flight northwest of Malé’s Velana International Airport. Ah, so it’s another honeymooners’ retreat? Not exactly. The former Carpe Diem Beach Resort & Spa was recently taken over by funky American hotel brand The Standard, which has completely renovated the 88 overwater villas, 27 beach villas and various venues and facilities in its signature style. Known for lively city hotels in Los Angeles , Miami, New York and London , The Standard’s first resort caters to those looking for a more sociable and playful Maldives experience, an ethos characterised by the design, best described as quirky minimalism. Quirky how? The overwater villas’ exteriors are painted in bright shades – from mustard yellow and terracotta orange to cornflower blue and Prince purple – making that portion of the resort resemble an enormous Pantone chart. Inside, the rooms and furnishings are predominantly white, punctuated by occasional bursts of vibrant colour – a mint green cushion here, a hot-pink stripe there – while a multihued lighting system can be adjusted to suit a guest’s mood. Behind the bed is a wall adorned with brilliant-white snorkelling equipment and a hot-pink inflatable ring, ready to be grabbed on a whim. There’s also a glitterball that dangles above the capacious circular bathtub. Because … disco. I want to be pampered. Tell me about the spa. The Standard’s LA roots are reflected in the spa, where the tailored treatments range from gemstone-powered vibrational sleep rituals to cannabidiol-enhanced hot stone massages. Thrice daily yoga sessions take place by the sea and scrubs and mud baths are offered in the largest hammam in the Maldives. Helping the resident practitioners to feed the soul, The Standard flies in a revolving roster of maverick specialists, from sex therapists and astrologers to acupuncturists and qigong masters. What about feeding my stomach? Choose between seven restaurants and bars, from all-day dining spot Kula to beach grill BBQ Shak. The resort’s signature restaurant, Guduguda, is named after the local shisha water pipe and serves Maldivian dishes. Prepared by Maldivian “aunties” in the show kitchen, locally caught seafood is served on traditional low tables to guests who are provided with customary garments and encouraged to eat with their hands. Many of the herbs and vegetables used are grown on the resort’s nearby farm island. What else can I do there? There’s an abundance of water-based activities, including snorkelling the house reef, surfing, scuba diving and fishing, as well as an 82-square-metre inflatable water park. Guests can hop aboard a boat to go swimming with sea turtles, giant manta rays and whale sharks, or visit “Castaway Island”, a picture-perfect uninhabited isle that guests can hire for secluded picnics, romantic dinners under the stars or hedonistic private parties. Back at the resort, overwater venue Beru Bar gets going in the evenings, DJs supply the soundtrack as guests strut their stuff on a glowing, glass-bottomed dance floor while the largest disco ball in the Maldives – quite a niche boast, I know – twinkles above. Sounds fun! But am I going to feel guilty about the environmental impact? Probably, given the carbon it’ll take to get you here, but sustainability and waste reduction underpin all the resort’s operations and amenities. Water drawn from 40 metres below the seabed is desalinated and filtered at the island’s purification plant and served to guests in refillable glass bottles. Single-use plastics are nowhere to be seen, straws are biodegradable, in-room amenities are presented in cardboard or reusable containers and even the disposable toothbrushes and razors are made of wood. Reef-friendly sunblock is offered, to help protect the coral. What’s the bottom line? Nightly room rates range from US$362 to US$1,534, depending on the season. Round-trip Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane transfers are US$450 per adult and US$225 per child, with guests guided by a Standard representative through the international airport terminal to the seaplane.