Few countries conjure up the ultimate tropical vibe of the Maldives. The amazing blue of the sea, the brilliant white sand and that touch of luxury are just what you need for a special getaway, or a romantic holiday! Get your travel senses tingling with this roundup of new and notable island resorts.
COMO Maalifushi
COMO Maalifushi is the first luxury resort in the Maldives to open in the pristine Thaa Atoll in the archipelago’s southwest. There are 62 over-water villas and garden suites, all designed with references to indigenous architecture and a pared-back feel that reflects the resort’s peaceful setting.
Maalifushi is a nature-lover’s paradise. Thick jungle gives it a real tropical island feel, and wildlife is never far away, with crabs digging holes in the sand, fruit bats hanging in the trees, and majestic rays traversing the house reef and coral gardens.
As well as accommodation ideally suited for families, the resort has a fully equipped Kids Club with both indoor and outdoor play areas. You can choose relaxation as the ultimate goal of your holiday, or make the most of the wide range of excursions and activities available, from snorkelling in the azure waters to surfing the nearby breaks, and private island picnics.
Psst … Book your 2020 stay at COMO Maalifushi and benefit from a discount of up to 35 percent!
For more information, visit scottdunn.com or call +65 3165 4050.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
Welcoming its first guests this month is Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, an all-villa resort spanning three islands in the heart of the South Malé Atoll. Reached via a 30-minute yacht ride from Malé, the resort’s 122 luxe villas each have an infinity pool, indoor/ outdoor deck with swinging daybed, dining gazebo, in-water lounge, outdoor shower, and uninterrupted Indian Ocean views.
Want something extra special? Book the resort’s Private Island: a two-bedroom overwater villa and three-bedroom beach villa on a 32,000-square-foot island sanctuary, with a personal concierge team and dedicated chef, a private spa, gym, five swimming pools, an entertainment centre and more.
Elsewhere, the resort spa features ten idyllic treatment villas, with Asian-inspired therapies focusing on relaxation and rebalance; the Young Discovery Park is a water park for children; the Ocean Pavilion hosts a range of wellness activities; and there’s a combined water sport and PADI dive centre – not to mention 11 specialty dining venues, including an elevated treetop-dining concept at Terra.
Hilton Honors members can earn an additional 5,000 Points (minimum three-night stay) between now and September 2019, when booking directly with Hilton.
+960 4 000300 | waldorfastoriamaldives.com
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
Tying the knot and keen to do things a bit differently? Make a statement with an underwater wedding at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, where you can exchange vows with a dive certified minister as your witness, and with each moment captured by an underwater photographer. Your altar is a coral bed, your rings presented in a white shell; you can even adopt a coral to memorialise the occasion, returning on an anniversary to see how it has bloomed.
The package begins back on land with professional hair styling and make-up for the bride. Following the wedding, a dinner of barbecued lobster is served by a butler on a candlelit stretch of beach, and then you’ll enjoy a Slumber Guru experience in your villa, with a lavender oil massage. Champagne breakfast is served in bed the next morning.
If you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, you can exchange vows in Kihavah’s underwater venue SEA as fish swim past floorto-ceiling glass, or on a palm-fringed beach at the resort, a deserted island at sunset, on a private yacht, or in an overwater residence.
Wedding packages start from US$4,400 for two. (Note: ceremonies in the Maldives as a Muslim country are not legally binding.)
To start planning, call +960 660 1020 or email kihavah.maldives@anantara.com.
kihavah-maldives.anantara.com
Raffles Maldives Meradhoo
Recently opened is Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, a 21-villa “beach island experience” in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, in the south of the Maldives. This is Accor’s fourth property in the country and the first under the Raffles brand.
The main island is home to Beach Villas and Beach Residences with private pools, generous living areas, lavish marble bathrooms with sunken bathtubs, and outdoor showers. The Raffles Royal Residence and a collection of overwater villas and residences will launch later in 2019.
The resort occupies two reefs that provide a thriving habitat for marine life including baby sharks, turtles and tropical fish – all of which can be marvelled at from your villa, courtesy of glass flooring panels. If you’d like to learn more, a resident marine biologist and a team of “marine butlers” are on hand to personalise your experience.
There’s a huge range of gastronomic delights on offer at Raffles, from Peruvian and Japanese fusion dishes at Yuzu, to a private caviar breakfast on a sandbank accessed by jet ski. And, this being Raffles, there’s a Long Bar, where you can enjoy the world’s best champagnes and wines.
The spa offers luxury facials by Biologique Recherche, body treatments by Aromatherapy Associates, and a high-end manipedi concept by Magaret Dabbs London.
+960 6828800 | reservations.maldives@raffles.com
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This article first appeared in the July 2019 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
