Sonam Kapoor: Tips On How To Enjoy A Trip To Maldives Like The Actor

Sonam Kapoor recently went to Maldives with her husband, Anand Ahuja. Here are a few tips for the fans to enjoy a vacation to Maldives like the actor

Sonam Kapoor recently took a vacation with her husband, Anand Ahuja. The duo went to the Maldives together and have been sharing endless pictures on their social media. The couple's fans are loving these pictures immensely, as is evident from the plethora of likes and comments on Sonam's post. From the pictures, it is pretty evident that the duo enjoyed their vacation. Here are a few tips on how to enjoy a Maldives vacation.

Tips for enjoying a vacation in the Maldives 
The Maldives is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. Spread across multiple islands, Maldives will never cease to amuse you. These travel tips can come in handy right from where your planning process for the vacation begins. Make sure you follow them as well as you can.

Avoid booking a long trip
Maldives is not the type of place you can stay for more than a week. It gets monotonous after a while. Also, it is much more preferable if you stay in a single hotel through your trip because transport is really expensive.

Expensive Food
Since the Maldives comprises of multiple islands, they are usually resort islands with only one restaurant available on each. The food choices are limited and expensive. Look for deals that include all three meals and also provide drinks.

Do not carry alcohol
It is illegal in the Maldives to attempt to bring alcohol with you. Alcohol is banned for the local crowds, but the tourists can purchase and drink it on resort islands. All resorts are licensed to serve alcohol to their guests. One cannot buy alcohol in Male and other local islands.

Bioluminescent Beach
Lastly, do not miss out on visiting the bioluminescent beach. Visiting Baa Atoll will be an amazing life experience for you. Make sure you check the timing of this phenomenon and choose your islands accordingly. Also, if you are opting for a bioluminescent tour, don’t forget to verify the authenticity of it.

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Being a beach bum with my favourite people for a few days in the sun was absolutely priceless! @karanboolani @rohan_manglani @anandahuja @cookieboolani @rheakapoor @mohit216 @kashmab @discoversoneva #discoversoneva #sonevafushi #experiencesoneva

A post shared by Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamkapoor) on Oct 10, 2019 at 7:42am PDT

Every Villa at InterContinental’s New Maldives Resort Comes With Butler Service

Every Villa at InterContinental’s New Maldives Resort Comes With Butler Service“We’re not just in the business of selling rooms, we sell experiences,” says Stefan O. Huemer, general manager of the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau.

 After three years of development and construction, the sparkling new resort—officially opened on September 1 in the southern tip of the Raa Atoll, not far from the country’s only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve—is poised to prove him right. In addition to being the brand’s first hub in the Maldives, the 81-villa property is also the first anywhere to offer Club InterContinental benefits to all guests, elevating the experience for all who check in.
The upgraded journey starts upon arrival at Male International Airport, where staffers organize a seamless transfer to the dedicated InterContinental lounge (also opened on September 1), where you can wait in air-conditioned, WiFi-equipped comfort for the seaplane to the resort. (If cloudy skies prohibit seaplane take-offs, guests will be booked on a short domestic flight to Dharavandhoo island, followed by a 30-minute luxury speedboat ride to the hotel.) However you arrive, you’ll get a hero’s welcome, with a band of traditionally clad drummers, smiling staff members, and your “curator” (a.k.a. butler) awaiting you on the dock. Check-in is then performed in your villa, which might be on the beach, over the water, or around a swimmable lagoon.
The curator service is one of the signatures of the resort, with the dedicated host taking care of everything from personalizing your mini-bar and making spa appointments to organizing activities like secluded island dinners, stargazing sessions, outdoor movie nights, campfire storytelling, wine tastings, and all manner of water sports and snorkeling/diving/sailing excursions. Along with the butler service, complimentary Club benefits enjoyed by all guests include daily buffet and a la carte breakfast (served at the all-day dining Café Umi and the adults-only The Retreat), multi-tiered afternoon tea service, and evening cocktails and canapes. Other meals and drinks can be taken at one of the six restaurants and bars, which range from the seafood-focused, Southeast Asian-flavored Fish Market (also home to a boat-shaped Sunset Bar and an impressive wine cellar) to The Lighthouse, a romantic spot for 360-degree views and Mediterranean-influenced fare from an El Bulli-trained Spanish chef.
An engaging, well-equipped Planet Trekkers kids club, marine biologist-led marine center (which also oversees the resort’s manta ray conservation project), and the overwater AVI Spa—offering treatments like Balinese massages and full traditional Chinese medicine wellness programs—are some of the other on-island attractions, as are its long stretches of powdery soft sand and snorkeling-friendly waters. At the end of the sun-filled days, retreat to one of the villas or multi-bedroom residences, each featuring a private pool and a vibrant, comfortable décor inspired by the eclectic collections of a “wandering nomad.” With room types catering to different needs—overwater for the couples, beachside for families, and duplex lagoon villas tucked between both the ocean and sand—the resort rarely feels crowded, ensuring that tranquility remains the biggest perk of all. Rates start at $995 per night for a beach villa, $1,145 per night for an overwater villa, and $1,295 for a lagoon villa.

Source: yahoo

First Hard Rock Hotel opens in the Maldives

Hard Rock International and S Hotels & Resorts introduced memorable music-inspired stays to the Maldives for the first time on 1st September 2019, when Hard Rock Hotel Maldives officially opened.
Nestled within the exquisite Emboodhoo Lagoon, just 15 minutes by boat from Malé International Airport, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives forms part of CROSSROADS Maldives, the country’s first and only integrated resort.
Inspired by local Maldivian culture, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives infuses contemporary design features with tropical architecture throughout the property, alongside regionally-inspired, authentic music memorabilia, including items from regional sensations Chun Xioa and Khun Asanee Chotikul, as well as international superstars like Shakira and Justin Timberlake.
“We’re excited to showcase the property’s unique experience and signature brand amenities to locals and visitors from around the world,” said Dale Hipsh, senior vice president of Hard Rock Hotels.

Source: eturbonews

Maldivian tourism industry at its highest peak in 5 years: MMPRC

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has said the tourism industry saw significant improvements in the first 6 months of the year, when compared with the statistics from the past 5 years. MMPRC noted over 1.1 million tourists had arrived in Maldives by August 25, making it the most improved period for the tourism industry during a period of 5 years.
Speaking at a press conference, Managing Director of MMPRC Thoyyib Mohamed revealed an increase of 19 percent was seen in the first half of the year. He highlighted there were significant improvements made in the traditional markets contributing to the tourism industry of Maldives, adding tourists arriving from Germany, Italy and the UK have increased. In this regard, tourists arriving from Italy have increase by 34 percent, which was attributed to the efforts of MMPRC in promoting Maldives as a travel destination.
The overall number of tourists arriving from Europe increased by 20 percent, according to Thoyyib, who also noted the number of tourists arriving from the UK had also increased by 13 percent.
However, it was China with highest contribution for the Maldivian tourism industry, with over 140,000 tourists arriving in Maldives in the first 6 months of 2019.
MMPRC further revealed more promotional activities targeted for Australia and the Americas will be conducted in the future.

Source: psmnews

Sheraton Maldives Revamps Family Offering

Situated on the large private island of Furanafushi, Sheraton Maldives is the ideal family retreat uniquely located just 1km and a 15-minute speedboat ride away from Malé International Airport.

At the heart of the island resort’s wide-scale renovations has been newly designed family services that offer entertainment for young children through newly fitted top-of-the-range amenities.
The resort boasts 10 different luxury room categories dotted around the island, comprising three types of cottages, all of which feature interconnecting rooms for parents and children. As part of the renovation, the resort has just introduced a new category, ‘Cottage with Pool’, specifically designed with families in mind and including a private plunge pool for young children to safely splash around and with direct access to the white sandy beaches.
The upgraded Sheraton Adventure Club, meanwhile, has been designed for children aged 4 to 12 and provides an abundance of activities all around the resort, ranging from water-sports, cooking classes to interactive beach activities.
Furthermore, the resort has also curated a selection of tailored themed evenings for families to enjoy, including several seasonal experiences, such as Father Christmas gate crashing the full-resort festive sandbank picnic on a fly board.Emilio Fortini, General Manager at Sheraton Maldives, said: “What sets Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa apart from other Maldivian resorts is, undeniably our family appeal. Since completing our renovation programme we have seen a significant increase in parents with young children or teens choosing our resort for their annual family holiday.
“Our offering is so varied from the new range of room categories, the easy access location, our tailored childcare services and our bespoke waters-sports and wellness experiences. As a result of this, families can spend quality time together without feeling on top of each other – this is also largely due to the strategic layout of the island.
“We are now starting to see an increase in multi-generational visits too, as our tropical paradise suits the whole team – from toddlers to grandparents.”

Source: theworldnews

Unique design and local artists in Faarufushi Maldives

A trip to Faarufushi Maldives will especially appeal to connoisseurs of sophisticated modern design and those who want to get to know more about the real art of the Maldives.

Villas, restaurants, bars and other spaces of the hotel are decorated in the current minimalist eco-style: a lot of wood, stone and natural textiles of restrained shades, a lot of free space and interesting design solutions.Bright accents in the interior of the villas, large panels in the main restaurant Eclipse - the work of the Maldivian artist. The local nature inspired her to create the patterns: the incredible pattern of the coral reef, the deep and multifaceted color of the ocean, the unique sand and coconut shell. These are not primitive tourist souvenirs, but real art objects.Of course, it will not work to pick up bright pillows from your room, but Faarufushi has a boutique that you should definitely look into. Here are collected the works of modern Maldivian masters: textiles, ceramics, wood. These are not just souvenirs, but unique and inimitable things that can decorate any modern interior. And they can only be purchased at Faarufushi Maldives.

Source: myseldon

Maldives posts 19.7pc increase in ME tourist numbers

The Maldives continues to be an attractive holiday destination for Middle East tourists, with the island nation recording a 19.7 per cent increase in the traveller numbers from the region in the first half of 2019.
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives, a total of 27,679 visitors arrived in the Maldives between January and June, up from the 23,130 visitors recorded during the same period last year.
Commenting on the increase of tourist arrivals, managing director of MMPRC, Thoyyib Mohamed said: “We are very pleased to see a notable increase in the number of Middle East and worldwide arrivals to the Maldives. Efforts from the industry stakeholders combined with the unparalleled service, luxury and levels of hospitality and privacy that Maldivian resorts offer, will definitely spill over in remaining months of 2019 and into 2020 as well and ring in unprecedented arrival numbers for Maldives from the Middle East market. We look forward to welcoming even more tourists from the Middle East to our shores.”

Source: tradearabia

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.

Four Seasons Adds Even More Luxury to Resort in Maldives

Stays at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru should probably come with a government health warning, as I doubt any guest ever wants to leave!
And the luxury resort will soon make leaving even harder, as its reimagined all-pool water villas will open on 1 November 2019.
The new villas will feature twice as much living space outside than in to create vastly extended indoor-outdoor hideaways that bring the ocean closer at all times.
A spectacular extension brings the total outdoor area to 182 square metres (1,960 square feet), split into multiple, dedicated zones: sun-drenched decks, shaded social spots and dining areas, over-water hammocks, day bed and an al fresco shower.A new shaded oceanside living and dining pavilion with swing couch flanks the 12-metre (40 foot) pool, which extends into the lagoon for uninterrupted Indian Ocean views.
Pale wooden indoor floors mimic the external sun-bleached decks for a seamless inside-out connection, which combines with the elevated second floor lounge for a sense of space that extends both horizontally and vertically.Inside, suspended feature walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and a contemporary design with light colours and dark blue accents imbue the 90 square metre (970 square foot) space with a sophisticated serenity. Reconfigured bathrooms include sea-view bathtubs and direct deck access, while new overwater hammocks and steps directly into the blue ensure maximum connection to the sea.
Commenting on the new Water Villas, General Manager and Regional Vice President, Armando Kraenzlin, said, “In an ever-crowded world, luxury is increasingly sought in a sense of space and an ability to enjoy an unrestricted connection with the natural world. Our new Water Villas not only offer twice more space outside than in with pools that make you feel as though you are swimming out into the ocean but also extend upwards into a sea-view loft and downwards via steps into the ocean for an enhanced sense of space and connection in all directions.”
Declared the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011, the Baa Atoll ecosystem is renowned as one of the most beautiful in the country, home to the world’s largest known population of manta rays, scores of whale sharks, towering thilas, exhilarating kandus, and stunning coral gardens.
In addition, the waters directly around Landaa Giraavaru are home to one of the world’s largest and most successful coral propagation projects. With its 4,000th coral frame planted in May 2019, the Reefscapers project has been working to support the existing reef since before the Resort opened, and is now even putting robots and artificial intelligence to work placing the Resort’s Marine Savers team at the pioneering forefront of global coral reef restoration.
Turtles, baby sharks, mantas and even dolphins visit the Resort’s lagoon while the coral frames attract an ever-expanding abundance of exotic flora and fauna to within a close snorkel of each Water Villa deck.

Source: asiatraveltips

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa Preserves Island Home

Green Globe recently recertified Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, August 22, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Located in North Huvadhoo, one of the largest natural atolls in the world, the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is a haven with natural white beach, azure lagoon and a 360° house reef steps away from each villa.

Green Globe recently recertified Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa with the resort achieving a high compliance score of 86%.Pravin Kumar, General Manager at the property said, “Environmental preservation and sustainability was not just an idea created during the resort’s operational years. Ever since the resort’s early design phases, the dedicated commitment to environmental preservation and sustainability has very much been and continues to be a culture. While we provide guests with a barefoot luxury holiday experience, we also acknowledge that our presence leaves a footprint. We will continue our green efforts and strive to sustain and preserve this place that we call home.”

Management and staff members adhere to a comprehensive Sustainability Management Plan. Water and energy consumption, monitored daily and monthly, have met predicted targets and reduction goals for 2020 have already been set. A solar panel on one of the buggies has been trialled at the resort and it is hoped that solar powered buggies will be launched on a larger scale in coming years.Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa ensures that Maldivian culture is represented throughout the resort. Locally made beads and fabric have been incorporated into Do Not Disturb signs on doors and tasty Maldivian short eats are provided for snacks. Fun facts about the islands are promoted in all rooms via an iPad compendium that can access information about Maldivian history and culture, and environmental knowledge such as the formation of the atolls.

Locally employed team members who can best showcase and explain daily life on an island act as guides for guests when visiting other neighboring islands. Furthermore, the resort plans to train local residents as dive instructors in the future, which will provide viable livelihoods for those in the wider community.

Waste management in the Maldives has been challenge in the past and the resort keeps an up-to-date record of where all waste goes and how much is recycled. Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa recycles approximately 50% of its waste. Almost all glass and used oil is recycled. Plastics are sent to an international non-profit organization, which collects and re-cycles plastic waste that can be used in products such as branded sports apparel and shoes.

Source: einnews