A Month-by-Month Guide for Visiting the Maldives

Picture-postcard scenery, crystal-clear waters that teem with a myriad of marine life, and footprint-free white sandy beaches shaded by swaying coconut palms that are lapped by gentle waves, the Maldives is easily one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Home to more than 1,200 tropical islands, atolls, and sandbanks, the Maldives offer a wealth of activities for all tastes, ranging from snorkeling and scuba-diving to swimming, surfing, and sun-worshipping, which can be enjoyed year-round.
The Maldives is hot and sunny all year, with average temperatures of between 23ºC / 74ºF and 31ºC / 88 ºF, making it an ideal year-round destination for some fun in the sun. There are, however, better times of the year to travel to the Maldives, as some months see higher rainfall and winds than others. The island nation enjoys the best weather between November and April with full days of sunshine, warm air and sea temperatures, and very little rainfall. The monsoon season runs between May and October, peaking around June, with the northern atolls seeing the highest rainfall between May and November, and the southern atolls between November and March.

Dry Season and Wet Season

The dry season in the Maldives typically runs from around mid-December through early May, but these tend to change each year. The Northeast Monsoon season, which is most prevalent in the northern atolls, actually occurs between November and March, but due to being the dry season, it rarely amounts to anything more than a quick downpour or shower, a couple times a week. The rainy season in the Maldives runs from early May through mid-December, with the Southwest Monsoon season (in the southern atolls) officially being in July and August.

Cloudbursts and Sunshine

Typical of the tropics, when it rains in the Maldives, it pours down heavily for a short time and then clears up just as quickly. Even during the dry season, it is not unusual to have a brief, torrential downpour in the afternoon, followed by a beautifully clear and balmy evening. During the rainy season, it tends to rain more at night, so days are sunny and bright with just a few interspersed clouds and some light rainfall. It’s rare to have more than a few cloudy days per week with sunny days in between.

Humidity

It is relatively humid all year round in the Maldives with a typically muggy tropical feel, which takes a few days to become acclimatized to. The temperature, however, rarely peaks much above the averages, so even the high humidity is never unbearable like it can be in Mediterranean Europe during the hottest summer months.

Winds

Being an archipelagic island nation strung through a vast portion of the Indian Ocean, steady winds cross through the Maldives throughout the year, bringing cool breezes to the islands. During the Southern Hemisphere winter, which lasts from March until October, the North-East and South-West monsoons bring off-shore winds that create beautiful, peaking surfing waves for those who are there to surf.

1. January

The Maldives’ weather in January sees hot, sunny days with low humidity and plenty of sunshine. There might be a slight chance of some rain, but this tends to occur in the afternoons and passes over quickly. The ocean is clear and warm with excellent visibility and is perfect for snorkeling and scuba-diving.

2. February

February is probably one of the best months to visit the Maldives. It’s the nation’s driest month, with less than 70mm of monthly rainfall, around 10 hours of sunshine every day, and balmy temperatures of 30°C / 86°F plus. Visibility is excellent for snorkeling and scuba-diving.

3. March

March in the Maldives sees temperatures rising to an average of 30°C / 88°F which are great for long, lazy days on the beach, sunbathing, snorkeling and swimming. There might be a few possible short bursts of rain, which offer relief from the steaming temperatures, and visibility is excellent for snorkeling and scuba-diving. March is also the beginning of the surfing season in the Maldives, which brings beautiful waves and last until October. During this ‘surfing season,’ the biggest waves are most likely to occur between June and August, caused by storms in the Roaring Forties bringing big swells to the archipelago.

4. April

This is another gorgeously hot month in the Maldives with temperatures reaching into the mid-30s / 80s. April is officially the end of the dry season, and frequent showers begin to occur around the middle of the month. The air also becomes more humid, however, visibility for snorkeling and scuba-diving is excellent.

5. May

May is officially the beginning of the wet season with hot, muggy days, average temperatures of 31°C / 88°F, and a high risk of heavy rainfall and storms during the day. Due to the heavy rainfall and higher levels of plankton in the water, visibility for snorkeling and scuba-diving is slightly reduced, but still enjoyable. Be aware that if there are thunderstorms in the area, it’s not a good idea to be in the water, so head down to the beach for some water-based activities.

6. June

While June has a high chance of rainfall and reduced visibility due to the plankton in the water, this is a fantastic time to dive with manta rays and whale sharks that come to feed on the vast amounts of plankton in the water. This month sees many of the resorts offering special deals where visitors can enjoy the plethora of non-beach and water-based amenities that they have to offer. 

7. July

The Maldives’ weather in July is hot and humid, with short heavy downpours. This is a particularly good time of the year for surfers with the largest waves stemming from the storms in the Roaring Forties bringing big swells to the archipelago. Swell is amazingly consistent during this time of the year, with the average wave measuring two to eight-foot in height. It is also still a great time to dive with manta rays and whale sharks that come to feed on the enormous amounts of plankton in the water. The 26th July is the Maldivian Independence Day and sees parades and public celebrations on most of the resort islands.

8. August

August is hot, humid and wet, with an average of seven hours of sunshine each day and short heavy downpours throughout the day. Visibility is slightly reduced due to the plankton in the water, but many of the resorts offer enticing deals, making it a favorite time to visit.

9. September

September in the Maldives is one of the wettest months with average maximum temperatures of 30°C / 86°F and around seven hours of sunshine each day. Due to the heavy rainfall and higher levels of plankton in the water, visibility for snorkeling and scuba-diving is slightly reduced, but still enjoyable with excellent chances of seeing manta rays and whale sharks.

10. October

October is the Maldives’ wettest month, with high humidity and full days of rain. This is the last month of the Maldives’ surfing season, with the South-West monsoons, which occur between May and October, providing outstanding surfing the Northern and Central Atolls. Due to the heavy rainfall and higher levels of plankton in the water, visibility for snorkeling and scuba-diving is slightly reduced, but still, a great time to dive with manta rays and whale sharks.

11. November

November in the Maldives is the end of the wet season with short showers in the afternoons and otherwise bright, sunny days. Temperatures average around 30°C / 86°F, and the visibility of the water begins to clear of the plankton, making for good scuba-diving and snorkeling.

12. December

The climate in December is primarily hot and dry with showers around the middle of the month. This time of year is ideal for a mid-winter escape and some sun. Christmas and New Year are particularly popular and may include minimum stays at some resorts.

LUX* NORTH MALÉ ATOLL INTRODUCES A SURFER’S PARADISE

LUX* North Malé Atoll introduces The LUX* Break; its very own surf point with ideal conditions for kite and wave surfing.Whether seeking exclusive kite surfing spots or the perfect mix of waves to ride just minutes from the resort, LUX* North Malé Atoll serves it all for avid surfers and beginners alike.

Guinness world record holder for the first to cross The Bering Strait from Russia to Alaska in 2011, as well as four-time Russian national champion of Kite Freestyle, Evgeny (Jackson) Novozheev, has given his seal of approval to LUX* North Malé Atoll’s various surfing spots.

“The resort is a kite surfer’s paradise with its wind conditions, shallow waters and warm temperatures. The breezier months from May to September offers wind speeds between 11 and 20 knots, complemented by the spacious lagoon as well as the nearby sandbank, which is perfect for kite surfers to take off in any direction. Beginners can also use the sandbank as a playground to learn to manoeuvre the equipment. Overall, the light to medium consistent winds are perfect for kite foiling” says Jackson.The LUX* Break, just five minutes from the resort, serves up gentle, rolling waves during certain conditions between May and October, exemplary for all levels of experience for riding the waves. For surfers seeking additional adventures, the resort provides guided excursions to five of the country’s most famous surf spots located 20 to 40 minutes by speedboat.

In collaboration with Best Dives Maldives, the resort offers the highest standards of equipment for rent from PASSION MKIX and VISION MKIX kites to BLISS 39 V5 LTD and PLACEBO V6 M boards, as well as board binding, fins, harnesses and pumps.

For beginners, experienced instructors are on hand for one-on-one instruction. The resort can also organise private speed boat transfers with catered lunch as well as a photographer to capture the exhilarating moments.

Source: visitmaldives

Surfing Chronicles: Cokes in Maldives beach

Surfing Chronicles: Cokes in Maldives Beach

Surfing in the beach of Maldives 

‘Cokes’ is one of the best surfing camps in North Malé Atoll. This world-renowned surfing spot in the Maldives is named after a Coca-Cola factory on the nearby island of Thulusdhoo.

By speedboat, Thulusdhoo is less than an hour and a half away from the main airport island, Velaanaa International Airport. The island is inhabited, with a population slightly over 800.

Guesthouse businesses boomed on the island thanks to the endless flow of surfers drawn to it by the allure of the Cokes surfing spot. In addition to Cokes, many other surfing breaks are accessible via Thulusdhoo. Two of these popular spots are Chickens and Jailbreaks.

Cokes is a surfing favourite because the reef there is really shallow. This causes some pretty impressive swells.

Surfers should be wary of the reef, especially during low tide.

Injuries inflicted by the sharp corals there will not end up well, so the more experienced you are, the better.




In fact, Cokes is recommended for advanced surfers.

Cokes is best experienced during a straight south swell with northwest winds, especially on mid to high tide. It’s easiest to avoid the strong current in the channel during high tide. The same rings true for Chickens.

The prime period of travel to Thulusdhoo and Cokes is March until October. The swells are at their peak in July and August.

Being a surfing hotspot, you’ll easily find several fellow surfers congregating there. They stay on Thulusdhoo, and head out to a tiny island that shares the lagoon to catch the waves; the island is accessible over a makeshift plank-bridge over shallow aquamarine water.

Thanks to the location of Cokes, the swells are consistent. It’s a highly recommended addition to the bucket-list of any surfing enthusiast.


Throw in the prospect of affordable guesthouses on Thulusdhoo, with its laidback rural life, and you can live a backpackers dream!

Dream Hotel Group Signs Two Resort Hotels In The Maldives

Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group signed two hotels in the Maldives with local entrepreneur Mohamed Manik and Alpha Kinam Holdings to develop The Chatwal Maaga Maldives and Dream Gasveli Maldives. Set to open in 2019 and 2020 respectively, the new locations triple the group's presence in Asia and mark a pivotal step in Dream Hotel Group's global expansion strategy.

"Last year, we signed more new hotels and resorts than ever before," said Dream Hotel Group CEO Jay Stein. "I'm thrilled to announce another equally strong year of growth momentum with the signing of The Chatwal Maaga and Dream Gasveli in the Maldives, one of the strongest luxury leisure resort markets in the world."

Nestled in picturesque North Ari Atoll, The Chatwal Maaga Maldives will feature 80 ultra-luxury villas, six private beach villas and two presidential villas, as well as three world-class culinary experiences bringing fine dining and casual barefoot elegance to the lagoon's edge. The Chatwal Maaga Maldives will be the second location to debut in The Chatwal collection of luxury hotels.

Dream Gasveli Maldives will feature 500 villas, eight experiential dining and nightlife venues, including the brand's signature Dream Beach Club, a 20,000-square-foot wellness spa and a dozen designer brand retail outlets for exclusive duty-free shopping on site. Spanning across three islands in Meemu Atoll, Dream Gasveli will be the largest fully-integrated resort ever developed in the Indian Ocean.

"I've been in the resort and hotel business for over 30 years in the Maldives," said Mohamed Manik, Chairman of Alpha Kinam Holdings. "I am pleased to partner with Dream Hotel Group in bringing its leading edge lifestyle brands to the Maldives and look forward to taking our luxury market experiences one step beyond here with many more projects in the future."

"I have known Mohamed Manik for a number of years and there is no better partner we'd rather work with to bring The Chatwal and Dream brands of hospitality into the Maldives, delivering on the standards of excellence we hold so high." said Kevin Wallace, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Dream Hotel Group.

Late last year, Dream Hotel Group announced the signing of its first hotel in Vietnam with locally owned Beegreen Group to develop Dream Oceanami Villas & Spa in Long Hai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, the country's top tourist destination. Set to open in June 2017, Dream Oceanami Villas & Spa will be the first of four new resort hotels developed by Beegreen Group and managed by Dream Hotel Group in Vietnam over the next two years. Future locations include Vung Tau City, Hoi An, Ho Tram and Con Dao.

Dream Hotel Group plans to sign more than 150 hotels and resorts worldwide across all its brands – Dream, Time, The Chatwal and Unscripted – over the next four years, continuing to solidify its burgeoning portfolio worldwide.

"This will be a milestone year for us as we welcome an unprecedented number of new hotels into our ever-growing family of brands across the globe," added Stein.

New gateway in Maldives a gamechanger for southern atolls

Gan, in the south of the Maldives, recently opened up to international airlines, a development that could translate to an estimated three hours in time saving for travel to resorts in the south.

The introduction of this gateway eliminates the need to connect with a scheduled commercial flight from Male, 545km away, to get to the domestic airports in the south.

On December 1, SriLankan Airlines started flying from Colombo to the upgraded Gan airport, which was previously only served by domestic carriers Maldivian and Flyme.

SriLanka’s 110-minute flight departs Colombo at 06.55 four times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) using a 150-seat Airbus 320.

“Since we consider the Maldives our extended home market, we will explore every avenue to make sure that Gan receives the attention and visibility that it deserves,” said Saminda Perera, general manager – marketing, SriLankan Airlines.

Resorts in the southern atolls are expected to benefit from this, with John Allanson, general manager of Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, saying that Gan is “virtually on the doorstep” of the resort and others in Seenu, Gnaviyani, Gaafu Dhaalu and Gaafu Alifu.

Outrigger was quick to respond to the development, adding an on-demand 30-minute Trans Maldivian Airlines seaplane service from Gan, Seenu said.

Hoteliers in the southern atolls now hope that more international airlines, especially those with big feeder hubs in the Middle East, will also introduce flights to Gan.

PER AQUUM Niyama Maldives 3-night luxury romantic getaway Valentine's Day offer

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and Anantara & PER AQUUM have luxury romantic getaways on offer.

At PER AQUUM Niyama Maldives, the package, for stays of three nights or more, includes  a bottle of champagne on arrival, 90-minute spa ritual for two at LIME Spa, Dream Dhoni sunset cruise, the Destination Dining experience on a deserted sandbank, and a professional photoshoot in three locations, with makeup and wardrobe.

The price is $3407 a person a night.

Or at Anantara Kihavah Maldives, celebrate Valentine's with an exclusive Dining by Design package at SEA, the underwater world where guests can hire the entire venue to truly impress.

It includes an eight-course tasting menu, a vintage wine menu including a bottle of Cristal Rose 2006 and Chateau Petrus 1998.

The price is $19,313 a couple.

One&Only Reethi Rah review, Maldives: The resort that will ruin you

THE PLACE

One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives

THE LOCATION

One&Only Reethi Rah ("beautiful island" in Dhivehi, the Maldivian language) is an all-villa resort on one of the largest private islands in the Maldives. One of nine One&Only properties worldwide (including Hayman Island and Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains), it even has its own time zone: one hour ahead of Male, for longer evenings.

THE SPACE

The 128 beachfront and over-water villas, some of the largest in the Maldives, fringe this lush 12-beach island and are linked by sandy roads canopied by palm trees; guests get around on bikes or in chauffeur-driven golf carts. There are all the facilities you'd expect at a big resort: pools, tennis courts, a fitness centre, a kids' club.

What makes One&Only special is its "one world" vibe – the 800 staff members hail from 35 nations and guests come from all over Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It almost feels like an island utopia, particularly when a waiter or massage therapist greets you with One&Only's Namaste-like gesture, right hand over the heart (which is oddly contagious).

THE ROOM

My beach villa with pool is a high-ceilinged sanctuary of regal reds and purples and natural materials such as wood and coconut shell. Sliding glass doors open onto a large plunge pool, a hammock built for two, sun lounges and my own stretch of beach.

The bathroom has his and hers vanities, indoor and outdoor rainwater showers and an enormous sunken stone bath under a window, with bath salts, loofah and essential oil burner; there's an aromatherapy menu as well as a pillow menu. There's a yoga mat to use, a beach bag to keep and a mobile phone for making restaurant and spa bookings or for calling my villa concierge. The minibar includes an Illy espresso machine and gourmet teas.

THE FOOD

There are six restaurants: Reethi Restaurant where the breakfast buffet has to be seen to be believed; the organic Chef's Garden, surrounded by its own living produce; Tapasake over-water Japanese restaurant with outdoor teppanyaki bar; Beach Club, where you can dine on fresh seafood and salads with your toes in the sand; Rah Bar, which stays open late; and the Arabic Fanditha, where you can lounge on giant cushions or in curtained cabanas beside the sea, flanked by hurricane lanterns and shisha pipes. There's also 24-hour room service.

STEPPING OUT

Marine outings are a must in the Maldives and there are plenty of offerings, from whale shark swims and dive trips to day-cruises on dhoni (traditional fishing boats) and sunset sandbank experiences.

Terrestrial offerings include climbing (on the Maldives' first climbing wall) and tai chi and yoga classes – including aerial yoga where you can swing like a low-flying acrobat in an over-water pavilion. You could spend an entire day in the temple-like spa complex, which has an idyllic garden with wicker swings, fountains and hammocks under the coconut palms.

THE VERDICT

With its dreamy location, private apartment-sized villas and first-class service, One&Only Reethi Rah is the kind of resort that spoils you for all others.

ESSENTIALS

Singapore Airlines flies to Male via Singapore with same-day connections daily; see singaporeair.com. One&Only Reethi Rah is 45 minutes by speed boat from Male airport. Villa rates start at US$1190 a night plus taxes.

Check Out Soneva Jani, An Exclusive Resort In Maldives That Lets You WaterSlide To The Ocean

If you're planning an ultimate beach getaway, why not do it in style? There's a new luxury beach resort in the Maldives, and with all the hearsay and awesome features, we're sure it's going to be an ultimate travel destination.

Soneva Jani Resort, a subsidiary of Soneva Properties, already had a soft opening to the public last October 2016, but final development stages won't be finished until February this year. It's a luxury resort located on the virgin Island of Medhufaru in the northern Atoll of Noonu, and it is surrounded by a 4km long beach coastline, with lush vegetation and clear, turquoise waters.
Soneva Properties is renowned for their excellence in integrating "Eco-Luxury Hospitality" in all their resorts, and Soneva Jani will be no exception. Sustainable and eco-friendly, Soneva Jani is a sure-fire hit for nature-conscious travelers.

The island lagoon of Soneva Jani will comprise of only 57 villas. There would be 24 water villas and 23 beach villas. All the villas will enjoy all the amenities of the resort, and each would get their own personal butler as the same in all Soneva Properties, called Mr./Mrs. Friday.
The water villas are only reachable by boat, and the largest villa could accommodate a family of ten. According to dreamingofmaldives, "Each Water Villa will feature an amazing water slide and its private Pool, large lounge areas with open views on the blue, ample wooden decks, kids' sleeping area, a living area with sunken seats, top floor with seating and a dining sala and several other amazing living spaces."

What guests couldn't get enough of is the waterslide, which lets you slide your way to the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean. As if a private pool isn't enough!
The amenities for the beach villas are more or less the same, and all guests can enjoy the resort's exclusive amenities. Soneva Jani Resort has a cinema, a beach restaurant, a spa, and a water and sports center.

Already making headlines in the hospitality industry, it's not surprising if Soneva Jani will make it as one of the must-visit luxury resorts in the world. Forget the noise and stress of the city, and relax and slide all your troubles away, only at Soneva Jani.

Centara Grand Island Resort And Spa's New Menu Inspires Euphoria With Every Meal

The Club at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives launches colourful feasts, presenting an exciting new menu created by Executive Chef Yvan Marclay and Executive Sous Chef Ashish Domme. The resort strives to enchant all club guests with an extraordinary dining experience with these new creations that have bold and eccentric flavors, made with the freshest high-quality produce.

Chef Yvan Marclay, with more than 15 years of experience being in charge of professional kitchens in luxury hotels and resorts in the Middle East and North Africa, brings with him expertise and competence that shows in the exciting revamped menu.

These impressive dishes that distinctly portrays the essence of sophisticated dining were officially introduced on the 21st of November 2016. Dishes that were featured include; Quinoa Couscous with Goat Cheese, Filled Zucchini Flowers, Baby Fennel Tempura, Pomegranate Reduction and Coriander Oil, White Onion Soup Served with Pan Seared Scallops, Salmon Roe and Baby Spinach, Olive Oil Poached Barramundi with Chlorophyll, Dry Fig Risotto, White Balsamic Beurre Blanc and Herbs, along with desserts that were delicious even to the eyes such as Walk On Saturn, Nutella -Hazelnut, White Chocolate-Pistachio Croquet Ice Parfait Served with Trio Sauces.

Their first serving received remarkable reviews from guests who had the privilege of visiting the resort at that time. Executive Chef Marclay said “These comments on the new dishes are the best feedback we’ve ever received. Some English guests told us our new dishes were the best they ever experienced”.

The Executive Sous Chef Domme also added that “An Australian couple told me that they had never had anything this amazing before and this was like spending 500 Australian dollars to dine at one of Sydney’s top restaurants”.

The two notable chefs have explained that their focus is on trying to take a modern and healthy approach on creating the dishes. They aim to create dishes full of flavour that are also aesthetically pleasing - and they really are! The dishes are available all day at The Club, Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives, it is really worth trying.

Jennifer Hawkins Enjoys A Luxurious Vacation In The Maldives

Former Miss Universe and TV Persona Jennifer Hawkins is spending her holidays vacationing in the Maldives with her husband Jake Wall.

Jennifer Hawkins is known for her title as Miss Universe in 2014 and also as the host of Australia’s next top model. The 33-year-old Australian model has her own line of swimwear that is recognizable around the world. She is also a model, entrepreneur and brand ambassador that has over 821k followers on Instagram. Her fans adore her and follow the trends she set, including the most recent vacation she is on in the Maldives.

Jennifer is reported to be staying in Amillafushi Resort and spa, a well-known property to host distinguished celebrity guests. Amillafushi Resort and Spa is among one of the most exclusive and expensive resorts in the Maldives, sources stated that she was occupying a room that cost 5000 dollars per night.

These rooms cost as much with reason. Resorts such as Amillafushi provides their most VIP guests with as much privacy and seclusion as they would require. Often times, celebrities find that it is a hassle to find a spot to vacation in without the paparazzi popping in.

Other celebrities that have visited the resort within this year include the Beckhams and Gordon Ramsey during New Year’s.

AMILLA FUSHI, THE MALDIVES

The Maldives was once a haven for honeymooners, but “there’s been a significant shift from loved-up couples to the high-end family market”, says Michael Flynn, chair and founder of The Small Maldives Island, which owns Amilla Fushi, a resort on Baa Atoll, 30 minutes by seaplane from Male’s Ibrahim Nasir airport.

Amilla Fushi features large villas as well as more mainstream resort-style accommodation, including overwater configurations with lagoon access and deck pools. “But families want to stay under one roof ... and have a high-end holiday villa experience,” Flynn says.

Amilla Fushi touts itself as “a home away from home”, but with its resident marine biologist, design magazine-worthy interiors and high ratio of staff to guests, this isn’t like any home we’ve experienced.

Baa Atoll is a World Biosphere Reserve, meaning it’s a protected marine haven rich in soft and hard coral, reef fish, manta rays, turtles and other underwater life.

And so to bed: There are six four-bedroom Villa Residences, including garden-level and upper-storey guest suites, beach courtyard, dining deck and staff quarters. The Amilla Villa Estate boasts six bedrooms, while the Great Beach Villa is the largest, with eight bedrooms.

Vibe: All villas are sleek, cool and contemporary and, given the location, each has a beachy, relaxed ambience. There are neutral colours, polished teakwood floors and glass walls that open to sand and sea. Attention to detail and family-friendly facilities such as a kids’ club are an attractive drawcard for the growing market of (mostly Australian) holiday-makers.

Dining: Each villa has a kitchen and katheeb (butler) on hand to prepare meals in-house but there are plenty of resort dining options along sandy paths, including Baazaar overlooking the infinity pool, which encompasses relaxed eateries such as Joe’s Pizza, Fresh, Fish & Chips, Grill and Wok. A recently opened Japanese restaurant, Feeling Koi, sits on stilts high above the lagoon. The Wine Shop and Cellar Door houses a deli and more than 250 labels from across the world.

Highlights: If turtles and dolphins swimming by the house reef aren’t enough, there’s world-class diving on Amilla’s doorstep, run by Dive Butler International, and Hanifaru Bay, a manta ray and whale shark hot spot, is a 10-minute speedboat ride away.

Tip: International music lounge franchise 1 OAK will open at Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives, the nearby sister island “party” resort to Amilla Fushi, this year.

Idyllic Indian Ocean Retreats

Rumour has is that when Jean Michel Gathy was commissioned to shape the architecture of One&Only Reethi Rah, he said he wanted each guest to “feel like a king”. I’m happy to say that he failed... spectacularly... because from the moment we set foot on the island we felt like a god and goddess. In other words we were in Heaven. A cynic might dismiss this as hollow hyperbole, but I would challenge anyone to visit One & Only Reethi Rah and not feel as though they had transcended to a higher plain.

Even from the moment we touched down, I was aware that something very special was about to happen, not least because we were greeted by a band of merry men who promptly swooped in and ushered us on to a luxury private yacht with seasoned precision. Feeling like Jay Z and Beyoncé, we kicked back and pressed the start button on our Honeymoon. If first impressions were anything to go by, our marriage was off to a perfect start!

If you are brave enough to give yourself the title ‘One and Only’, it’s safe to say that you had better know your stuff, because customer expectations are bound to be pretty gargantuan. In a country where Island resorts are its primary income, there is going be a lot of competition to be the best. And by heck do One&Only Reethi Rah put up a darn good fistfight.

We arrived to warm and welcoming faces before meandering down the tiny, sandy “roads” towards our beach villa in a golf buggy - cars have no business in island life. Along the way, our personal concierge, Gizem, told us that staff outnumber guests by a ratio of more than 3 to 1, although you would never know, as the level of privacy made us feel like we were on a deserted paradise. When they were visible, staff pirouetted around us with balletic precision noting our requests and making them happen without ever breaking a sweat in the 30+ degree heat.

The Spa

Intricate carvings in wood and exquisite decor adorn the reception of the One & Only SPA. It is a haven of serenity and set amongst a beautiful expanse of manicured trees and grass leading to the ocean. You can practically feel your shoulders un-hunch and your mind letting go. There are chill out huts, a chi room, overwater treatment rooms, massive his and hers steam and sauna rooms with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a courtyard. It’s hard not to relax in a place where treatment rooms go by the names Devotion, Romance, Wisdom, Healing and Vitality....

So what is it about One&Only Reethi Rah that makes it an experience that stands out even for those who have been fortunate enough to enjoy luxury travel in the past? Well, I suppose it is the result of an overall vision to create paradise and then sheer determination to never lose it.

The Treatment

Once in a Blue Moon - A two hour experience for couples, starts by being guided to the romantic, private and secluded treatment area specially set up on the beach. Once there a hand ritual with sea salt and rose petals begins.

Side by Side - A 90 minute aromatherapy body massage will be performed and followed by a tea ceremony. Finally, back to your villa where you will enjoy a signature bath, a glass of champagne and a plate of exotic fruits. True Romance!

Other Treatments

One&Only Essence of Reethi Rah (180 minutes)
One&Only in Harmony (120 minutes)
Ultimate Lifting, Firming & Toning Facial feat. NuFACE® (90 minutes)
Hoona Herbal Massage (90 minutes)

To Stay

Of the 10 villa types on offer, we were assigned a beach villa with a pool. Let me get one thing straight, no matter where you end up laying your head, rest assured, it will be a den of luxury. Behind our large, wooden front gate, there was a distinct and blissful feeling of isolation. A secluded patch of beach to call our own, with two palm trees harbouring a hammock. This was more than a destination, it was a picture-perfect postcard.

Our digs for the next few days were a thatched cottage villa complete with high ceilings and a beautiful Balinese-style decor. We were spoiled with an unpacking service, a pillow and essential oils menu, a bathroom with two massive sinks complete with his and hers soaps and wooden shutters everywhere (which stayed open during our stay, as I didn’t want to miss one ounce of that view). Plus a second shower outdoors should you want to recreate a shampoo advert for fun (you know I did).

To Eat

There are four main restaurants to tickle your taste buds. The main Reethi restaurant is beautifully constructed of high ceilings and carved wooden pillars and doors, serving contemporary Asian and Mediterranean fusion food. This is also where breakfast is served. Warning: come hungry. We are big breakfast buffet connoisseurs, and by golly this is one to behold.

Another favourite for dinner is Tapasake that serves exquisite modern Japanese dishes with oodles of fish from the ocean that you are staring at from your dinner table. Fandita - which means magical in the Maldivian language Dhivehi - is aptly named, with its Arabian Nights-inspired restaurant and bar with beautiful sunset views.

And the Chef’s Garden also hosts a restaurant, which is a candlelit patch of the vegetable garden, designed with romance in mind.

Activities

You’d be forgiven for never leaving your villa, but it would be a foolish tactic. The 24-hour golf buggy service will happily whisk you to any one of the fantastic amenities of which there are many.

For the sporty guests there is state of the art gym, with knowledgeable gym instructors who put me through my paces in an outdoor circuit Jessica Ennis would be proud of. There is a yoga pavilion where you can partake in aerial yoga - not for those afraid of heights, a full size football pitch, a badminton court and tennis courts. There is also an art gallery, a Taylor Taylor hair salon, a mani-pedi salon, barber shop and a KIDS ONLY club - exclusive to the mini-me’s. The beach club is alive all day with tunes pumping from the DJ’s box.

A favourite pass time for us was to grab an afternoon ice cream straight from the club’s ice cream bar, before swimming off the sugar rush out on the hotels massive water trampoline. Big Kids Only Need Apply.

They take their sea excursions seriously at the Marine Concierge Centre where trips such as luxury yacht big game fishing, turtle adventures, sunrise handling fishing, reef snorkelling, sunset and dolphin cruises, and shark safaris can be arranged on a whim.

Don’t Miss

The buffet complete with a cold room in the centre. Enter at your peril, the food is exquisite.

Splash - The water sports centre offering fun and shenanigans in the Indian Ocean on banana boats, canoes, paddle board, water-skiing and windsurfing.

The Maldives’ only PADI National Geographic dive centre is also here at Reethi, and if you believe the local sharks are vegetarian, visit the country’s best shark site close by. There is also an opportunity to plant coral with updates after you leave, making you wish you could live there and watch it grow.

Maldives is ‘Best Remote Beach Destination’

The 'Best Remote Beach Destination' award at the 29th Annual Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards Middle East went to the Maldives. More than 300,000 travellers took part in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards Survey, which led to the short listing of the nominees. A great honour any destination to be featured among the shortlists, and Maldives was pitted alongside Seychelles and Zanzibar.

From January to September last year, there was a 23.9 per cent increase in visitor arrival from the Middle East to Maldives, as compared to 33,675 numbers of visitors in same period in 2015. The Maldives has been seeing an increasing number of Middle Eastern travellers over the years; and it is a popular destination for travellers from the region as it gives them the perfect combination of luxury, privacy, adventure activities for an unbeatable holiday experience.

Apart from winning the Best Remote Beach Destination Award, Dusit Thani Maldives won the award for the Favourite Hotel or Resort for Families. The resort’s BaanSanook Kids Club is a runaway favourite among kids.

Maldives continues to see more developments, and prestigious brands descending on the exotic islands. The latest in the line of prestigious properties is the Four Seasons First Private Island Escape at Voavah, Baa Atoll.

It is the world’s first exclusive-use hideaway in a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve, a secluded five-acre (two hectare) haven transcends the private island experience: 'entirely yours' from the moment of booking, seven bedrooms, a Beach House, dive school and 62-foot (18.9 metre) yacht extend the oceanic spoils of the Maldives’ only Unesco Biosphere Reserve for to up to 22 guests at a time.

What’s more, guests decide the schedule, staff and services, redefining Voavah with every visit as somewhere to retreat, explore, connect, celebrate, and dream with one’s eyes open. A 62 foot (18.9 metre) private yacht – Voavah Summer – invites exploration of a dazzling and undisturbed UNESCO domain. Experiences focus on the Unesco territory, guided by a team that has already spent a decade protecting it: diving with whale sharks, snorkelling with manta rays, swimming with neighbourhood turtles, fishing for dinner, visiting local islands, surfing unknown breaks and cruising into breath-taking Baa Atoll sunsets.

Experience ‘intelligent’ luxury at Soneva Jani, Maldives

Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, the creators of Soneva, made the modern Maldives and now they’re doing it again, making intelligent luxury even sharper, writes John Arlidge.

New. It’s what we want and what all manner of purveyors of snazzy, shiny things want to sell us. Sadly, it rarely lives up to its billing. How many times have you been promised a fresh experience, only to find it’s a half-hearted re-bake of something same-old, same-old? But occasionally just occasionally something genuinely refreshing does come along.

Before most people had heard of intelligent luxury, Sonu Shivdasani and his wife, Eva, who grew up variously in India, England and Sweden, combined their names and talents to create it. Soneva resorts are not flashy. The dress code is ‘No shoes’ (they kidnap your footwear). They are green. Rooms and villas are made from sustainable wood, including local coconut trees. Motor vehicles are banned in favour of bicycles and electric buggies. Boats run on electric motors where possible. Even the fire engines are electric.

Sonevas serve largely organic food, grown locally, sustainably caught fish. Standout dishes include savoury mango gazpacho, tandoori feta cheese salad, yoghurt and basil sorbet with fresh passion fruit. Thursdays are meat-free. (No exceptions, burger addicts.) The resorts make their own drinking water, instead of importing expensive bottled stuff.

Activities and experiences offer simplicity, quality and ‘wellness’ nature walks, dolphin cruises, diving, including freediving, fishing and picnics on deserted islands, plus more kinds of massage than you ever knew existed. Service is personal and hop-to-it, with a twist. Each guest has their own ‘Mr Friday’ or ‘Ms Friday’ butler-cum-concierge.

Soneva started in the Maldives at a time when tourism there was three star at best. Thanks to the success of the first Soneva (Soneva Fushi, in the Baa atoll), it is now mainly five star. LVMH (under the Cheval Blanc brand), St Regis and Four Seasons have all opened recently. It’s time for Soneva to respond and update the barefoot chic it pioneered. And that’s what Sonu and Eva are doing.

About twenty minutes by seaplane from Soneva Fushi and 40 minutes from Malé, the Maldives’ capital, is Soneva Jani, in the Noonu atoll. Jani means wisdom in Sanskrit, and this place is smarter than the average resort. It comprises one island, 150 acres (or half as big again as Soneva Fushi), plus four other, smaller, deserted islands, all set in a lagoon 3.5 miles by one mile. Thirty-odd villas, a more modern take on those at Soneva Fushi, are rising on the island. Meandering off one end are 24 of those villas on stilts over water that are obligatory on all advertisements for the Maldives.

Look closely at those promo shots and you’ll notice that the villas are tiny and, to save money, cheek by jowl. Not at Soneva Jani. One of the water villas has four bedrooms and a 20-metre swimming pool. Many have water slides that run from the upper floors straight into the lagoon. They are all at least 20 metres apart.

The interiors are modern rustic, with sandblasted pine from sustainable forests in New Zealand, offset with plenty of glass. The bathrooms are inside and outdoors. You can swim under a screen straight into the bathroom for a shower after a dip.


There’s simple fun. The mini kitchens have popcorn makers. There’s natural fun. Glass panels cut in the decks allow you to peer down at the rays and the odd reef (i.e. safe) shark swimming underneath. There’s hi-tech fun. Press a button on the bedside table and the roof above the master bed opens, Bond villain lair-style, so you can stargaze as you fall asleep. (Rain sensors close the roof automatically if the heavens open during the night.)

The most powerful telescope in the Maldives in the new observatory offers pin-sharp stargazing. Images are broadcast on to screens that form bar and restaurant table tops, so you can dine on the stars, under the stars. After dinner, you can watch a private screening of your favourite film at the overwater cinema.

Halfway along the string of water villas is the biggest building ever built over water in the Maldives. The Gathering is three storeys high and has restaurants, bars, a wine cellar, library, gym and spa and den, plus Soneva’s signature ‘rooms’ for cheese and cold cuts, chocolate and ice cream, where you can help yourself any time. ‘There will be a real buzz here but you will still be able to come barefoot,’ Shivdasani told me when I visited in October.

Like Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani will have its own time zone to make the days as long and sunny as possible, without having to get up at 6am. Sun-up is always at about 7am and sundown at 7pm. The vibe will still be ‘it’s OK to do nothing at all’. One of the ‘activities’ listed is ‘lying on the beach’.

Maybe it’s these touches. Maybe it’s the warmth and sense of mischief of general manager Olivia Richli, who was tempted away from running the Aman in Venice. Maybe it’s simply the blissful absence of golf. Whatever the reason, the de-stress is instant and complete. You want proof? Look at the gym. If Soneva Fushi is anything to go by, the gym at Soneva Jani will be deserted. You’ll be hard-pressed to see mobile phones, either. Most people stop using theirs a day or so after arriving.

Soneva is now not only over the water, it is on the water. Soneva in Aqua is a new Maldives-based 65-foot yacht, which is half Asian-inspired sail-powered junk and half hi-tech motor yacht. There are two large bedrooms and kids’ rooms so that the whole family can set sail. The bath has a glass bottom for au naturel fish fancying. The crew comprise the captain, a Mr or Ms Friday, an engineer, a divemaster and a spa-therapist-cum-housekeeper, so you can dive and have a massage on deck, all before breakfast.

Expanding so heavily in the Maldives is risky, thanks to the island nation’s fraying democracy, short leases for property ownership, and rising sea levels. But Shivdasani reckons the super-rich will continue to prize the area above its rivals, notably the Caribbean, thanks to its superior location and far better service and food. Current performance certainly supports him. Sonevans are even more dependent on their fix than Aman junkies. More than half of visitors to Soneva Fushi are repeat customers. The top 100 clients spend between $80,000 and $1 million a year.


Even if you’re not super-rich, I’d go anyway. I’d recommend a few days in a water villa at Soneva Jani, a few days on Soneva in Aqua, and a few days back on the mother ship in a beach villa on Soneva Fushi. If you’re not relaxed after that, seek medical advice.

Cocoon Maldives Is Officially Open!

Designed by famous Italian design firm LAGO, Cocoon Maldives resort has been inaugurated on Monday.

The 5-star resort is located 30 minutes away from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport at Lhaviyani Atoll on the island of Ookolhufinolhu. The property has been developed by Cocoon Investment in association with LAGO.

Cocoon Maldives aims to let the guests be enlightened as they complete a metamorphosis and rediscover their true self. Cocoon Maldives strives to create a unique designer resort that mixes luxury, design aesthetics, and hospitality in one exceptionally beautiful tropical island fashioned from the ground up to provide guests with the ultimate holiday experience aimed to refresh, revitalize and reawaken the soul.

There are 150 villas on the beach and suspended on stilts in the lagoon. LAGO has made it so that the designs incorporate the natural beauty of the island and surrounding. They have assembled the best elements of hospitality into an elegant yet modern resort. Cocoon's understated interiors defer to the extraordinary beauty of the surrounding marine environment: large windows frame scenes of breathtaking beaches, lagoon and ocean, complemented by furniture hewn from 200-year-old Wildwood. This theme is continued across all areas of the resort. In addition to the beautifully designed rooms, there are also three especially designed restaurants and bar contributed by LAGO.

Cocoon Maldives is well located around one of the best diving areas in the archipelago. There are over 50 diving spots around the resort. This gives room for the dive center and water sports facilities of this property to be top notch. In addition to these services, Cocoon Maldives also offers a Spa, Gym and Kid’s Club with experts to facilitate.

The General Manager for the resort, Raam stated that the aim of the resort is to give their guests a chance to have unforgettable experience during their visit.

Finding Bliss In The Maldives

Soft white-sand beaches; endless blue skies; a warm turquoise ocean - and a bar, stocked with cocktails. What more could you ask for?

As the sun begins to set and the sky mellows from a cobalt blue to shades of pastel pinks and purples, I walk out towards the Indian Ocean for one last dip. The evening breeze has set in, but it’s still comfortably warm. The silky white sand threads through my toes. Around me, there is silence - and I realise this is the most peaceful I’ve felt in a very long time. I take a deep breath and dive under the crystal clear water.

We are in the Maldives - on a tiny island called Thelu Veliga. Our retreat for the next five days is Drift - a laid-back luxury resort nestled among the palms. Located in the South Ari atoll - a marine protected area - we are surrounded by miles of turquoise lagoons and beautiful natural reef - and I’m very aware there is a lot of underwater exploring to be enjoyed here. But for now, I reach over and pick up my fresh passion fruit Mojito. ‘Doing something can wait,’ I think to myself.

Paradise in the middle of the ocean

Made up of 26 natural atolls, and 1190 islands and sandbanks, the Maldives covers an incredible 55,923 square miles of the Indian Ocean - of which just 185 square miles is land. Surprisingly, 187 islands are still uninhabited here, while 106 have been transformed into luxury resorts for sun-seekers, divers, honeymooners and everyone in between.

At just under three acres, Thelu Veliga may be a small island but my partner Brad and I are in our own little haven; from our stunning water villa with a balcony that opens up onto the ocean, to a cosy restaurant and beach bar. With just 30 beach and water villas, the resort never feels busy, more remote and exclusive.

The friendly staff can’t help but greet you with a warm, beaming smile each day. On our first morning, the delightful head Chef Charminda, takes note of my (not-very-easy-to-manage) dietary requirements and somehow produces a feast for every meal.

Meeting Manta rays

After two days of absolute relaxation, we decide it’s time for an underwater adventure. Luckily for us, the South Ari atoll is the perfect place for this, because during the months of June to November, this plankton-rich area becomes a feeding ground for Manta rays. So together with the team from the in-house dive resort, Extra Divers, we head out to sea in search of these beautiful creatures.

It’s not long before we’re ready to jump out of the boat and into the water at the local feeding platform aptly named ‘Manta Point’. After a safety briefing, we pull on our masks and head straight down into the water, re-gathering at 15 metres. And then we see them: the regal Manta rays with their impressive three-metre wingspans, gently gliding around us. They come within a few metres and we watch in absolute awe. We spend nearly an hour observing as six individuals elegantly swim and feed. To be so close to them is wonderful.

The Maldives is made up of three per cent of the world’s coral reefs - and is home to over 200 species of fish, Whale sharks, turtles, Moray eels - and even Scalloped Hammerhead sharks.

Unfortunately this year, the region has suffered record-breaking high temperatures and as a result the reef has been heavily affected by coral bleaching - a sad and inevitable result of climate change. Over 60 per cent of the coral colonies assessed earlier this year had been bleached, according to the Maldives Marine Research Center (MRC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - but experts hope the majority of the reef will recover. Only time will tell.

The extra mile

We end our stay at Drift Retreat with a delicious beach buffet - and are seriously impressed when Chef Charminda and his team offer to prepare our meal in front of us. We choose which ingredients should go into our salads and pasta dishes and watch, as they toss veggies and condiments together to form the perfect blend. A delicious Maldivian curry follows, before our thoughtful Chef concludes his masterpiece by bringing out a surprise chocolate birthday cake for Brad.

We enjoy our last mojitos at the bar with the waves lapping around us, and then head back to our water villa for one more night in paradise.

Five Best Resorts In Maldives That Will Leave Every Tourists Astonished

Maldives is known for its wonderful beaches, sands and resorts. It has been visited by many people around the world and even by Hollywood celebrities. It is also known as one of the best places for couples to have their honeymoons.
The blue waters and white sand of Maldives truly brings about the wonder of nature. Even in pictures, the views in Maldives are truly breath taking. The resorts there are also built very wonderfully to have that "living by the beach" experience once in Maldives. According to Place to see in your lifetime and Touropia, here are some of the best resorts in Maldives.

1. Cocoa Island Resorts- it is one of the most popular resorts in Maldives. The available rooms of this resort is similar and inspired by boats the fishermen in Maldives use which is called the dhoni boats. The rooms are built above the lagoons, which gives the renters a view of the ocean once they step outside the door.

2. W Retreat and Spa- tourists who love modern-like resorts should come here in W Retreat and Spa. Enjoy a relaxing vacation with the resorts offered activities such as two-cabin yacht cruises and an underground nightclub to bring out the youth in you. The modern design of the resort makes it more luxurious and attractive.

3. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa- Enjoy the astonishing view of the Indian Ocean along with a swimming pool, a library, water sports, spa facilities, and wonderful lounges in the Four Seasons Resort. There are also bungalows for guests to relax in. Some of these bungalows even have glass floors to be able to look at the sea below. There is also another resort in Maldives named the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru.

4. Kuramathi Island Resort- this resort offers not just its beautiful white sand beaches but also outdoor Jacuzzis and infinity pools and entertainment. It offers extraordinary water activities and programs for its guests. Guests also choose to stay at the garden, water villas or the beautiful beach with turquoise waters.

5. Naladhu Resort- This resort offers gorgeous designs for a limited number of people. Yes, they only have 19 villas available for their guests. These villas are built uniquely with sliding doors, ceiling glass, large bedroom and living room areas. It also has bathrooms with an infinity edge terrazzo bathtub and an outdoor area.

Certainly a paradise, and one with an eye on its environment

It's about 11.30am Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu time (which is an hour ahead of the mainland Maldivian capital Malé; the private island having taken the brilliantly hedonistic decision to literally alter time to allow for more sunset cocktails) and I'm sat cross-legged on a cream chaise longue in robe under a thatched hut roof surrounded by old books and sipping green tea.

I've been barefoot for four days now, and in that time I think I've seen every colour of blue on the spectrum, including, yes, that otherworldly cerulean of the sea that it turns out doesn't only exist in brochures (on day one, I spent a solid 15 minutes splashing it with my hands like a toddler just to check it's real).

I couldn't tell you what day of the week it is and frankly I don't care.

Nearly 99% of the Maldives is underwater, and flying over it via seaplane to the resort, having been on the infinitely more prosaic method of transport that is the London Underground a few hours before, it looks like a completely different planet. Ringed atolls pucker the ocean's surface like diagrams of eyes, and you're immediately aware of just how incredibly remote each island is.

The Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is isolated then, but not isolating. It offers all the modern conveniences we require these days, but crucially not to the point where you lose that 'desert island' feeling. the Wi-Fi for instance, is understandably patchy, but after an initial millennial crisis I actually warmed to this as I recalibrated to island life and now my phone is mostly discarded.

Today, I have chosen to blissfully do nothing, but the island actually has plenty to keep you entertained, which came to the relief of someone who can stand approximately 2.5 minutes of sunbathing.

A typical day at the Coco Palm has unfolded like this:

- Wake up at sunrise in my villa (a beach one, but they also have those classic ones you think of on stilts in the water) and wander to one of the resort's restaurants (all floating lotus leaves and zen music) for some passionfruit plucked from vines grown on the island

- Head out on snorkeling trip to hang with some turtles and manta rays

- Return for lunch, then just sort of get repeatedly stroked against the white shore by the sea out the back of my villa, surrounded by a staggery variety of luminous fish

- Maybe a little pool in the main reception. Maybe some badminton if time

- Shower/bathe for the evening (in an outdoor shower/bath no less) before sticking on a smart shirt and trousers (which is fun when you're still barefoot - making you look like a shipwreck victim)

- Drinks at the beach bar, which was formally a lagoon bar but the tides change from year-to-year, and watch the sun set slowly and then all of a sudden

- Dinner, which on some days involves barbecued fresh fish on the beach, and then cocktails at the Conch Bar

- General nighttime beach wandering, being unable to hear anything except the lapping of waves

I could rave for ages about the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, but this is best typified by one Ananth, a waiter who noticed I was enjoying my first taste of Maldivian dish mas huni (a mix of tuna, coconut, chilli and lime) and ordered some to arrive for me for dinner at the resort restaurant while we were still on a different island.

All this luxury and pampering is why people head out to the Maldives, but the resort is doing a lot to assuage concerns about its effects on the environment. The Coco Palm has an on-site marine biologist, actively fights the use of ghost nets, bottles its own water (in glass bottles), makes a staggering amount of its supplies there on the island, and is currently building the Olive Ridley Project Turtle Rescue Centre (above), which will help nurture the many sea turtles that walk up onto the island to lay eggs.

Hanging up my robe and putting my shoes back on, which now feel like medieval instruments of torture, I decide I could definitely have beared to stay a few days/weeks longer.

TV presenter Amanda Byram samples aerial yoga and water trampolining in the tropics

Rumor has it that when the architect was commissioned to shape the One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives, he said he wanted each guest to ‘feel like a king’.
He failed spectacularly. Because from the moment we set foot on the island, we felt like a god and goddess instead – we were in heaven.
After leaving Male’s international airport, we were greeted by a band of merry men who promptly ushered us on to a luxury private yacht to take us to the resort.

Feeling like Jay Z and Beyoncé, my husband Julian and I kicked back and pressed the start button on our honeymoon. If first impressions were anything to go by, our marriage had just got off to the perfect start.

At the resort there were more warm and welcoming faces, before we meandered down the tiny, sandy ‘roads’ towards our beach villa in a golf buggy – cars have no business on this island.

Along the way, our personal concierge Gizem told us that staff at Reethi Rah outnumber guests by a ratio of more than three to one – although you would never know it, as the level of privacy made us feel as if we were on a deserted paradise.

When they were visible, staff pirouetted around us with balletic precision, noting our various requests and making them happen without breaking sweat despite the 30C heat.

Of the ten room types available, we chose the thatched beach villa with high ceilings, beautiful Balinese-style decor, and a pool.
But let me get one thing straight: no matter where you end up laying your head, rest assured you will be in a den of luxury.
Behind our large wooden front gate, there was a distinct and blissful feeling of isolation.
There was a secluded patch of beach to call our own, with two palm trees harboring a hammock.
We were spoiled with an unpacking service, a choice of pillows, an essential oils menu, a bathroom with two massive sinks complete with his-and-hers soaps, and wooden shutters everywhere (which stayed open during our stay, as I didn’t want to miss a single second of that spectacular view).

There was also a second shower outside should guests want to recreate that Timotei advert for fun (yes, of course I did).

You could be forgiven for never leaving your villa, but that would be a foolish tactic. The 24-hour golf buggy service will happily whisk you to any one of the amenities, of which there are countless.

For sporty guests there is a state-of-the-art gym with knowledgeable instructors – they put me through my paces on an outdoor circuit of which Olympic gold medalist Jessica Ennis would be proud.

There is a yoga pavilion where you can do aerial yoga (you are suspended in a low-hanging sling, so it’s not for those who don’t like being upside-down), a full-size football pitch, a badminton court, and tennis courts.

There is also an art gallery, a Taylor Taylor hair salon, a Mani & Pedi nail salon, a barber shop and a kids-only club. Meanwhile, the beach club was alive all day thanks to a DJ playing the latest tunes.

Most afternoons, Julian and I loved grabbing an ice cream before working off the inevitable sugar rush out on the hotel’s massive water trampoline. Big kids only need apply. 

Bouncing up and down on the giant inflatable, I felt like one of the contestants on Total Wipeout, the BBC series I used to co-present with Richard Hammond.

The resort takes seriously its sea excursions – trips such as luxury yacht big-game fishing, turtle adventures, sunrise fishing, reef snorkeling, sunset cruises and shark safaris can be arranged by Marine Concierge Center staff.

There are four main restaurants to tickle your taste buds. 

The main Reethi is beautifully constructed, with high ceilings and carved wooden pillars and doors, and serves contemporary Asian and Mediterranean fusion food. This is also where breakfast is served. 

Warning: make sure you arrive hungry. We are big breakfast buffet connoisseurs, and this one must be seen to be believed.

Another favorite for dinner was Tapasake, serving exquisite modern Japanese dishes with noodles and oodles of fish straight from the ocean outside your villa.

Fandita – which means ‘magical’ in the Maldivian language Dhivehi – is aptly named, thanks to its Arabian Nights-inspired restaurant and bar with beautiful sunset views. 

And the Chef’s Garden also hosts a restaurant – the candlelit area of the vegetable garden is designed with romance in mind.

In keeping with the romantic setting, the spa has massive his-and-hers steam and sauna rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a courtyard. 

It is a haven of serenity, set among a beautiful expanse of manicured trees and grass leading to the ocean. 

During your time here, you can practically feel the stress in your shoulders dissipate and your mind let go. 

So what is it about the Reethi Rah that makes it an experience that stands out, even for those who have been fortunate enough to enjoy luxury travel in the past? 

I suppose it is the result of an overall vision to create paradise and then the sheer determination to never lose it.

On one of the websites about the Maldives that I browsed before our trip, I came across this quote: ‘We travel not to escape life but so that life doesn’t escape us.’

‘Inspirational’ quotes are not usually my cup of herbal tea, but here I found something that rang a bell.

Holidays which invite you to ‘get away from it all’ tend to be connected with the idea of taking a long flight somewhere and just plonking yourself on a beach for the rest of your stay. 

This doesn’t sound like an escape to me – it would be more like some sort of detention center for the soul.

What we discovered on the Maldives was an escape that took you away not just from your nine-to-five routine but offered an entree into another world – a life-affirming boost that lasted much, much longer than a suntan.

We can’t wait to return.

Zeldiva Luxury