Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi has us dreaming of turquoise waters and pristine beaches

IT'S PERFECT FOR YOUR NEXT GETAWAY

The vibe:

This idyllic 120-villa resort, a part of AccorHotels, is a 50-minute seaplane ride from Malé. Check into one of their luxurious Tented Jungle Villas, which are set amid lush surroundings, and take in the starlit sky from the privacy of your plunge pool or the large outdoor bathtub built for two.

The activities:

Spend your days kayaking or snorkelling off the resort’s reef, where you can spot sea turtles and manta rays as they lazily swim by. Or take off for a private picnic on one of the resort’s neighbouring islands, where you’ll be left alone to spend the day on a sandbank and swim to your heart’s content, before tucking into a gourmet meal. And if you want to immerse yourself in local culture, visit the neighbouring island of Utheemu, where you can learn about the island nation’s history.

The food:

The overwater Japanese restaurant Kata serves Kaiseki set menus, Robatayaki-style fare, and of course, sushi and sashimi. Azure is all about fresh seafood, and a meal here entails the daily catch paired with fine wine (the Maldivian tuna curry is a must try). After dinner, make a pit stop at the gorgeous all-bamboo poolside bar Onu Onu for a nightcap and a walk on the beach.

Don’t leave without:

A little self-indulgence at Willow Stream Spa, which offers massages, facials and Ayurvedic treatments. Try the Coconut Experience, an authentic Maldivian therapy that begins with full-body exfoliation, followed by a rub-down, warm healing stones, and finally, a wrap. Or opt for the Caviar Marine Facial, which harnesses the anti-aging potential of caviar protein, coupled with an algae-based sheet mask that will leave you radiant.

Source: elle.in

Best 10 Dining in paradise: The Maldives' finest tables

Maldives is made up of 26 atolls filled with over 1,000 islands occupied by dozens of resorts -- all spread out over 90,000 square kilometers -- so hopping between properties for meals isn't really an option. Not to worry, the food in these 10 resorts is as much of a draw as the white sand and stunning sunsets.

1. Shades of Green, Soneva Fushi

The barefoot luxury resort of choice for celebrities including Madonna, Paul McCartney and the Beckhams, it's no surprise that Soneva Fushi's dining options are among the very best in the Maldives. Choices on this private island include sushi restaurant So Hands On, an eight-seat private dining space developed in a partnership with three Michelin-starred Japanese chef Kenji Gyoten. And then there's Shades of Green. As the name suggests, the focus is on plant-based cuisine and diners begin their tasting menu by chef Carsten Kyster with a tour of Soneva Fushi's extensive gardens, where snacks are hidden amongst the foliage. The bounty of produce surrounding diners is then crafted into five impressive gourmet courses.

2. Fenesse, Jumeirah Vittaveli

Amongst a selection of no fewer than nine places to eat, Jumeirah Vittaveli's fine dining restaurant Fenesse combines both classic and contemporary French cuisine. Kobe beef tartare, organic herb-crusted rack of lamb, Lobster Thermidor or the classic French fish stew bouillabaisse are just some of the choices on the menu for gourmets dining above the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. Guest Michelin-starred chefs from around the world like Ollie Dabbous and Anthony Demetre are regular visitors too, bringing their own unique style and experience to the resort's lucky diners.

3. Manta Ray Treehouse, Joali Maldives

The recently opened Joali Maldives features a particularly unusual dining destination. At the Manta Ray Treehouse, guests eat nestled amidst the trees in spaces crafted from natural materials that are designed to resemble two of the giant aquatic beauties. Each space seats up to eight diners, who feast on Maldivian menus featuring local favorites such as tuna with chilli and lime, fish curry and native lobster.

4. Le 1947, Cheval Blanc Randheli

Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc Randheli takes its name from a famed vintage wine from Château Cheval Blanc. It's no surprise then that the restaurant's focus is elegant French gastronomy served in a setting that is as haute as the cuisine. Eric Vidal is the culinary director. Inspired by local ingredients, he crafts a 12-course tasting menu that changes weekly. Diners can expect dishes that draw on his global experience, such as warm king crab with caviar and yuzu, or tuna and watermelon foam with basil powder.

5. Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Ithaa at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island scored a unique first when it opened in 2005, becoming the world's first undersea restaurant. Five meters under the waves, diners look out to coral gardens and take in the ocean's remarkably diverse marine life. Lunch could include a salad of butter poached lobster with white peach, artichoke and roasted garlic soup or a honey-roasted pumpkin cheesecake. Open for cocktails, lunch and dinner, Ithaa can also be reserved for private dining or even a wedding.

6. Aragu, Velaa Private Island

Aragu means "essence" in the Maldives' Dhivehi language and is the name of the signature restaurant at Velaa Private Island. Here, chef Gaushan de Silva lets diners choose ingredients, then works his magic in personalized menus. Chef Gaushan has worked around the world, including as private chef to the Jordanian royal family. His menus could feature produce including Gillardeau oysters or pigeon from France, local lobster and Japanese tuna. Vino fans with deep pockets can also enjoy one of the Maldives' biggest wine collections.

7. Destination Dining, Baros Maldives

Baros Maldives opened to the public back in 1973 and, more than 45 years later, the former coconut plantation still offers fine dining experiences. In common with other resorts in the Maldives, options include both traditional restaurants and private dining spots. Amongst the latter, their secluded sandbank is a popular choice and can be booked throughout the day. That could mean a breakfast of smoked salmon and champagne, a sushi lunch or a barbecue for dinner. Whichever you choose, the romance quotient is undeniably high.

8. Tai, COMO Maalifushi

Amongst COMO Maalifushi's culinary choices for guests, one favorite is oceanside dining at Tai. It translates as "red snapper" in Japanese, a sustainable fish served along with many others in their sunken sushi bar. Their signature dishes include partially-grilled aburi rolls with ocean trout or Wagyu, as well as toothfish saikyoyaki, which means it's marinated in white miso. One special feature at Tai is the regular appearance of a 1.5-meter wingspan stingray known as Aki-san, which swims close to the restaurant at sunset and enjoys being fed premium sashimi.

9. Baraabaru, Four Seasons Kuda Huraa

South Asia is the focus at Baraabaru, which means "excellent" in the local Dhivehi language, at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa. The restaurant's design is inspired partly by the architecture of the southern Indian state of Kerala, while Indian flavors are matched with local seafood. Their Thali offering lets diners sample a selection of home-style dishes served together on an elegant tray, while they also offer "Tandoor Tapas," small plates of contemporary Indian street food that can be served on their torch-lit deck under the stars.

10. White Orchid Restaurant, JA Manafaru

JA Manafaru is celebrating fine Chinese cuisine through a partnership with famed Beijing-based chef Dong Zhenxiang, more popularly known as DaDong. The resort's White Orchid restaurant serves his innovative contemporary Chinese cuisine, created with local ingredients. That approach translates into dishes including wok-tossed spicy Maldivian lobster, Maldives seafood hot pot or Wagyu with leek and basil.

Source: edition.cnn

The Baglioni Resort Maldives: the Italian side of the Maldives

The holiday experience includes multilingual staff available 24/7, a freshwater swimming pool, butler service, laundry and a beach service with loungers. There is a pool bar and three restaurants, a spa with yoga pavilion deep in unsullied nature, a boutique, and a Kids’ Club.

MILAN – The Baglioni Resort Maldives officially opens to the public on 1 October 2019. But before that, with a soft opening from August 1st, a special opening rate will be available for stays between August 1st and September 30th, 2019.

Basking on the island of Maagau in pristine Dhaalu atoll, just a 40-minute seaplane ride from the capital Male, the Resort’s 96 exquisite villas are surrounded by tropical nature, turquoise waters and velvet-smooth white sands. The Resort has been planned in meticulous detail for guests to experience a tailor-made stay in the heart of the Indian Ocean with a touch of exclusive Italian hospitality by Baglioni Hotels.

At the Baglioni Resort Maldives, nothing is left to chance. The holiday experience includes multilingual staff available 24/7, a freshwater swimming pool, butler service, laundry and a beach service with loungers. There is a pool bar and three restaurants, a spa with yoga pavilion deep in unsullied nature, a boutique for treating yourself to a spot of shopping, and a Kids’ Club to keep younger guests aged 3–12 well entertained. All for an unforgettable holiday with a feast of sport, relax and gourmet experiences.

Sport and leisure. Adventure, Italian style

A gym, beach volleyball and non-motorised watersports, pedalos, windsurfing, kayaking, boat trips and snorkelling with full equipment provided. The choice is yours!

Gourmet. Sublime Maldivian views, elegant Italian flavours

From breakfast to after dinner, a panorama of food and drink to delight the most exclusive international clientele, all in the Resort’s signature Italian style. A pool bar and three superb restaurants – Gusto, for Italian verve; Umami, the place to eat Japanese; and Taste, the home of international cuisine – serve gourmet dishes alongside a Healthy Menu of light, nutritious creations and a Kids’ Menu crafted especially for younger guests. Sophisticated aperitivi, wine tastings and personalised private dinners complete the offering.

The exclusive Baglioni Spa. Italian wellbeing, tropical relaxation

The Baglioni Spa is an Italian oasis deep in the heart of nature. This exclusive centre, with concept design by Raison d’Etre, vaunts 4 open-air wooden pavilions for individual treatments, 2 double pavilions for treatments for two, a Yoga Pavilion for practising yoga, meditation and breathing, and a well-equipped gym. Amid the tropical vegetation’s warm embrace, the Baglioni Spa is the perfect place to ease your way to a profound sense of peace.

The Spa menu includes Thai and Balinese rituals, personalisable massages, and treatments to tone, purify and rejuvenate the face and body or to strengthen hair stressed by sun and sea. The Baglioni Spa also offers beauty and wellness experiences for children, groups and families.

The Resort in figures

• 1 Presidential Water Villa: 360 sqm indoors + 310 sqm outdoors + private pool
• 6 Pool Suite Beach Villas: 115 sqm indoors + 60 sqm outdoors + 55 sqm private beach + private pool 3 Family Beach Villas: 135 sqm indoors + 45 sqm outdoors + 55 sqm private beach 
• 5 Pool Grand Beach Villas: 77 sqm indoors + 43 sqm outdoors + 30 sqm private beach + private pool 9 Pool Water Villas: 60 sqm + 45 sqm solarium + private pool 
• 33 Water Villas: 60 sqm + 45 sqm solarium 
• 31 Beach Villas: 65 sqm + 22 sqm terrace + 30 sqm private beach 
• 8 Garden Villas: 65 sqm + 22 sqm terrace

Source: traveldailynews

Zitek takes up sous culinary specialist part

Zitek takes up sous culinary specialist part at St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has announced Olda Zitek has been appointed as executive sous chef.

Zitek will join the private island resort in early May 2018 from Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square where he worked as executive sous chef from November 2016.

Prior to this, Zitek held the position of head chef at Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Hotel London, after roles in other five-star London hotels such as Claridge’s and The May Fair Hotel.

Zitek will support the executive chef at The St. Regis Maldives in supervising operations at the resort’s six distinct dining venues, which offer sophisticated cuisine from around the world.

He will oversee the entire culinary team, which delivers exceptional food and drink experiences to guests.

Commenting on the appointment, Alexander Blair, general manager, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have Olda join us at The St. Regis Maldives.

“We pride ourselves on delivering unrivalled experiences and exceptional service, so Olda’s background with some of London’s most luxury hotels means he is great fit for our team.

“We look forward to working with him and can’t wait to see to see his skillset being put to use for our guests.”

Zitek is originally from the Czech Republic and is fluent in Czech, English, and Slovak.

World Spa Awards

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort will host the World Spa Awards later this year.

Taking place on October 26th, the event will welcome leaders from the global wellness industry to the Maldives.


Find out more on the official Website:-  http://worldspaawards.com/

Amila Fushi Teams Up with Gordon Ramsay To Host a Series of Restaurant Pop Ups

Amilla Fushi’s relaxed and unstuffy approach to glamour has ensured its place as a favourite among elite travellers visiting the Maldives. Nowhere is its barefoot luxury approach more evident than in its chilled-out foodie hub Baazaar, which gives guests the opportunity to indulge in diverse culinary offerings from around the world whilst relaxing around one of the biggest swimming pools in the Maldives. As part of Amilla Fushi’s always exciting and ever-evolving food and beverage offerings, a visiting chef’s programme has been created that introduces internationally renowned culinary talents as well as world famous brands to enhance guests’ island experience.

In the coming 12 months, Barolo Grill at Baazaar will showcase a select series of pop-ups by culinary greats, kicking off on 1 – 10 May 2017 with the first of four stages this year by the team from Gordon Ramsay’s celebrated London restaurant, Bread Street Kitchen. A further three Bread Street Kitchen pop-ups are scheduled for 16 – 27 October, 19 December 2017 to 10 January 2018 (Festive Season) and 23 March to 7 April 2018 (Easter).

Reflecting a similarly relaxed approach, London’s Bread Street Kitchen is a lively hangout that uses fresh, seasonal ingredients and delivers globally inspired menus to the high standards expected from a Gordon Ramsay Restaurant. The pop up’s menu at Amilla Fushi will feature signature dishes from Bread Street Kitchen London, many of which have been given unique Maldivian twists. Grass-fed meats cooked on an open flame grill, will sit alongside classics recreated using local ingredients, such as Red Snapper carpaccio, ginger dressing, horseradish, avocado and wakame; spicy tuna tartare with chilli garlic, sesame oil, spring onions and wonton crisps; Chermoula spiced prawns with pickled veg, shallots, celery and chilli dressing, and a compressed Bombay Gin watermelon salad. The Bread Street Kitchen Amilla Fushi will also offer a daily fish special. Gordon Ramsay chefs will choose a fish that has come in on the boats and create a bespoke fish dish each day.

The Bread Street Kitchen London cocktail list has also been given a Maldivian makeover, bringing tropical flavours into classic cocktails. Mouthwatering cocktails created especially for the event include It’s About Thyme, a refreshing vodka-based cocktail with Limoncello, thyme syrup, Champagne and lemon foam, the fruity Grey Goose Royal, with Grey Goose vodka, Aperol, lime, passion fruit and Testulat Brut cart d’Or and many more.

The upcoming calendar of pop up events further underlines Amilla’s deserved reputation for culinary excellence and creativity, complementing the sophisticated, gourmet Emperor General Store café-deli, the carefully curated fine wines and artisanal cheeses at the island’s The Wine Shop & Cellar Door. Amilla’s fabulous 60-cover, signature over-water restaurant Feeling Koi – brainchild of the resort’s curator and CEO of the Small Maldives Island Co., Mark Hehir – showcases a selection of artfully crafted sushi, nigiri and sashimi in Japanese-inspired minimalist surroundings, with a private open-air dining room and open deck seating by the water’s edge and an open kitchen.

‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed Easter at Jumeirah Vittaveli in the Maldives

Jumeirah Vittaveli brings a new twist to Easter this year with an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Guests can expect captivating family entertainment, a lavish Easter dinner and a mesmerizing tea party under the enchanting ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme where the Mad Hatter, Cheshire cat, White Queen and Alice come to life.

The resort has issued a Family Fun package for the occasion which starts from USD 2,968 and includes accommodation in a Two Bedroom Beach Suite, daily breakfast and dinner, a family Beach BBQ, a Maldivian Cooking Class and a babysitting service. Quote the promotional code “FAMILYJV” to avail the offer.

“The famous tea party from Alice in Wonderland is a dream canvas for Chefs. We have created a quirky menu for our young guests, ranging from strawberry tiramisu, cotton candy, lollies, popsicles to chocolate mousse topped by a crispy hat decoration. We are excited to surprise our guests with our Easter culinary delights – traditional and novel at the same time!” said Francis Cornelius, Executive Sous Chef, Jumeirah Vittaveli.

Easter isn’t complete without the Easter Bunny and chocolate eggs – in keeping with the tropical mood, the Easter egg hunt will be transformed into a snorkelling adventure where kids will go hunting for eggs underwater. As guests cross the turquoise waters they’ll swim by an underwater party, where Alice and the Mad Hatter will be sipping on tea and waving to passers-by.

The Kuda Koli Kids Club will host Alice in Wonderland themed games including flamingo croquet, a jabberwocky piñata, an obstacle race and an egg hunt. After a packed morning, the afternoon brings cakes, chocolates and potions. Tea will be served to guests as the boardwalk around Samsara restaurant is turned into a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Poised against the rich blue ocean, gazebos will be set up as a degustation menu of chocolates, treats, snacks and drinks is served.

The resident musician will set the mood with violin and piano performances. On Easter Sunday, a host of entertainers will perform such as the Art of Poi fire dance, a magic show, LED light show and the Melody Duo live band as guests sit down by the Samsara beach and enjoy a traditional Easter dinner.

Families can enjoy the resort’s land- and water-based activities, including a PADI Dive base, water sports centre, Kuda Koli Kids Club and babysitting services, four restaurants, two bars and a Talise Spa with overwater and garden treatment rooms.

Dusit Thani Wins Favourite ‘Hotel Or Resort For Families’ Award

Dusit Thani Maldives on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa Atoll - the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - was recently awarded ‘Favourite Hotel or Resort for Families’ in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards 2016.

Operated by luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler, which prints regional editions in Europe, USA, Asia and the Middle East. The annual Readers’ Choice Awards was established in 1987 and today, it is one of the most esteemed programmes recognized in hospitality excellence. More than 300,000 international readers cast their votes online this year, resulting in a list of the world’s finest travel experiences.

Dedicated to readers in the Middle East, the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards featured 21 categories this year. Voting opened earlier in the year and winners were officially announced at a gala dinner held on 14th November 2016 at the Park Hyatt Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dusit Thani Maldives comprises 94 villas and residences, along with three restaurants, two bars, and Dusit’s signature Devarana Spa. The resort is ocated just 35 minutes by seaplane from the capital city, Malé, followed by a 10-minute speedboat ride from Dharavandhoo Domestic Airport in Baa Atoll. The resort is surrounded by a vibrant house reef, soft sandy beaches and a turquoise lagoon. A well-equipped Kids’ Club is an appealing factor to the resort’s guests who travel with children.

“We are extremely proud to win this prestigious award which recognizes the quality of the resort’s luxury accommodation and distinctive services,” said Mr Lim Boon Kwee, Chief Operating Officer of Dusit International, the Bangkok-based, global hospitality company which owns and operates Dusit Thani Maldives. “From our gracious, Thai-inspired hospitality, to our well-appointed rooms and esteemed dining experiences, we do everything we can to create memorable guest experiences. And we are delighted to know we are getting it right.”

The Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Award caps a successful year for the resort. Along with other accolades received such as; Gold Magellan Award, Luxury Resort Category – 2016 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, Luxury Modern Resort of the Year 2016 – Luxury Travel Guide Global Awards 2016 and Asia’s Top Leisure Hotel – Now Travel Asia Awards 2016.

PARADISE IN THE MALDIVES

Poking precariously above the water, Mirihi Island appears on the horizon like a beached turtle. The pilot of the tiny seaplane that is taking me to the Maldivian resort, recently voted the seventh best hotel in the world, is sitting within arm’s reach. He is not wearing any shoes.

After a splash landing, a posse of islanders greets me on the pontoon. They also are barefoot. Before I have checked in, a staff member politely asks me to remove my sneakers and leave them lying in the sand to be picked up and taken, together with my bags, to my water villa, a straw-roofed hut suspended on stilts above the water 20 feet from shore.

I quickly learn why footwear is not just unnecessary but actually a hindrance on Mirihi. Sand is everywhere. It spills from the beaches that skirt the island, leaving a 2-inch-deep layer of white on the floors of the reception area, restaurant and bar. One waiter tells me he hasn’t worn shoes in more than four months, not since the last time he left the island to visit family in Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. “I hated it,” he says. “Shoes are like foot prisons.”

'Barefoot Luxury'

Going barefoot is part of the character that Swiss-born co-owner Amy Stierli has spent the past 15 years trying to create on the island. “Barefoot luxury” is how she describes it over a welcome drink (a coconut with a straw stuck in it). She calls Mirihi “a desert island but with a five-star service.” There is a definite Robinson Crusoe-feel to the place, albeit carefully choreographed: no bathtubs, no swimming pools, no TV sets in the rooms. Their absence means that, absurdly, Mirihi Island is classified as only a four-star resort.

With 157 staffers serving the needs of just 76 guests when the resort is fully booked, Mirihi’s motto is to deliver an experience “as unique as you are.” This cliché feels especially apposite when you consider the homogeneity of the guests. They are almost exclusively couples, ranging from the semi-young to the semi-old: Younger people might not be able to afford a resort like this, while the very old might find all the sand difficult to navigate. Everything is tailored for two: two loungers on the deck, two sinks in the bathroom, two bathrobes in the cupboard. Even the bats have made this a romantic destination, piercing the evening quiet with their mating screeches.

The island’s motto becomes less convincing still when you consider that it is one of more than 100 luxury resorts in the Maldives, spread throughout the roughly 1,200 similarly archetypal tropical island paradises. Yet somehow Mirihi does manage to feel unique. It has its own currency—the hotel gives shells to repeat visitors to spend on the island—and even its own time zone. Stierli has set the island’s clocks one hour ahead of the rest of the country, which allows guests returning from afternoon activities time to catch the sunset. Day excursions to neighboring islands, diving with whale sharks and dolphin spotting offer guests the opportunity to escape the island, which, at just 1,300 feet long by 165 feet wide, can begin to feel claustrophobic, especially because there are no independent shops, bars or cafés on its land mass. One restless afternoon I found myself doing laps of the island, first by foot (seven and a half minutes), then by canoe (18 minutes) and finally swimming (33 minutes, if you discount the time spent marveling at the fish and turtles wallowing around the surrounding coral reef).

Mirihi looks like a cartoon of a desert island: Each picture I take seems worthy of a postcard, largely thanks to the small armies of workers who meticulously rake and comb the sand across the entire island from predawn to dusk. The manicured sand is as soft and sanitized as talcum powder. Even the sun seems preset for my comfort, the bright wide sky as clear as the water. There are also no mosquitoes to worry about, nor mice or dangerous creatures. Though I don’t see any, Stierli tells me there is the odd rat, though clever rebranding means the staffers refer to them as palm squirrels.

Threat of Climate Change

This island paradise image, which helped Mirihi Island Resort earn the rank of seventh best hotel in the world in TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards, fits a broader notion that all this may well be too good to be true. It is a paradoxical paradise, one that conceals global problems that will almost certainly lead to its demise—if not within years, then in mere decades from now.

The most obvious and talked about problem is climate change, which environmental forecasters predict could make the lowest-lying country in the world disappear below the ocean it now peeks above. (At just under 8 feet, the highest point in the Maldives is 2 inches lower than the highest jump recorded by a human.)

In contrast to climate change activists in some other parts of the Maldives, Mirihi locals can occasionally seem apathetic about the risks. “You don’t really notice it on a year-to-year basis, but you can see in the last 20 years that climate change has affected the Maldives,” Stierli tells me. “Some experts say it will disappear in 20 years, some say 100. I don’t know—it’s something I try not to think too much about.”

If you look closely, you can already see its effects. Sand sucked up from the ocean floor by specially adapted ships tops up Mirihi’s beaches, while a wall on the island’s eastern side prevents more land from slipping into the sea.

To add to these woes, the Maldives also topped a recent list of the world’s 10 most unstable countries, owing to political upheaval and a rise in radical extremism. Estimates suggest the Maldives has the highest number of foreign fighters per capita to have joined the ranks of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS), leading some to declare that climate change is the least of the Maldives’s worries. One attack on a resort from a returning jihadi fighter would be a disaster for tourism, which accounts for 80 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

It is a testament to Stierli’s utopian vision that one’s capacity for comprehending such profound concerns is so severely compromised while on the island. On this pristine Eden, you are Adam or Crusoe, barefoot upon unblemished sands as they slowly sink to join the turtles beneath.

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.

New Year's Eve In Maldives!

Memorable or regretful, eventful or insignificant, 2016 has come to an end. Maldives welcomed the 2017 with a bang! New Year’s parties spread throughout the archipelago on New Year’s Eve. People say the way one starts their new year is the way they’d spend the rest of it. For those who were fortunate enough to be ‘stranded’ on one of the beautiful beaches of Maldives that hosted a New Year’s Party, their year would be filled with laughter, favorable music and the best hospitality.

W Maldives with their reputation for excellent taste in music, New Year’s Eve started with a Glamorous Cocktail Party along to DJ Ivan Zubo’s festive tunes. Sipping champagne and nibbling down canapés at the LIVING ROOM lounge until it was time for the final dinner that took place on FIRE beach. Appropriately named, The White Sensation Gala Dinner included endless choices of fresh local sea food, savory bites of oysters, prime meat cuts and unlimited canapés. ‘Let the Countdown Begin’ displayed a remarkable firework show at the stroke of midnight and the rest of the night presented an impressive line-up of DJs including a special guest performance by talented violinist, Céline Roscheck from Vienna.

To keep the party going, W Maldives continued the festivities on after 1 AM when guests withdrew from the beach to 15BELOW, the underground club to enjoy After Midnight Munchies. New Year’s day began with all the guests enjoying a late Hangover Breakfast which served till noon at KITCHEN restaurant.

The resort that has been building up one of the most hype this year in the Maldives is Amilla Fushi in Baa Atoll. Tabloids along with media's discovered that former English football superstar David Beckham and his family are in the Maldives for the third time to celebrate New Year’s. Prior to this, they had enjoyed seeing the end of the years 2012 and 2015 in Maldives.

It was also established that the power couple threw an exclusive New Year’s party that has got the airport packed with private jets. Exclusive guests such as Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana joined the Beckhams for the celebrations. Other guests include Mel C, Victoria’s former band mate and her partner Joe Marshall. Moreover, the destinations raised more attention when Tom Cruise landed in the Maldives, now holidaying at One & Only Reethi Rah, but the excellent privacy and exclusivity provided from the resort has not allowed the media to receive further information.

Jumeirah Vittaveli celebrated the new year with ‘Fire & Ice’ themed festivities. This included live entertainment, exquisite gala dinners and excess variety for guests of all ages. Entertainment was set for families or couples to enjoy. Live shows included a modern string trio ensemble, cabaret performances, belly dancers, a live band, DJs, a spectacular fire show, live dance performances, LED dance and a beach party. Guests indulged in the delights of the string band, had dance offs to the live DJ on the beach, admired the creativity of the resort’s resident sand artist’s display of holiday-themed sand images and sculptures. The guests who contemplated thrills enjoyed fire dancers perform the Art of Poi with flames dancing in the air.

Newly opened resorts such as OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo celebrated New Year’s in style. As a holiday treat, the resort offered a variety of limited edition services. The New Year’s eve count down party incorporated a special Gala Dinner, a DJ, LED butterfly dance, LED water drummers, the countdown to midnight and a face off party. Each activity for the festive season was planned to help inspire amazing memories for their guests.

The Sun Siyam Resorts celebrated 2017 with a bang on all three properties in the Maldives. As the New Year is a time of generosity, shared kindness, laughter and a time to share all things enjoyable with your loved ones, there is a unique feature each property provided; an incredible New Year’s itinerary.

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives put together the best of their culinary expertise with themed food and activities to suit all ages, Festive Wine Pairing Dinner and a Grand Seafood Buffet. For the spa enthusiasts, Limited Edition Festive Rituals are made available at the Spa by Thalgo. The year came to an end with the countdown to New Year on the beach, complete with fly board show and many more special performances for the guests.

An extensive program was offered at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort Maldives, which included live cooking sessions, cocktail promotions, a themed dinner night or private dinners and special excursions scheduled for the new year.

Guests who visited Sun Aqua Vilu Reef Maldives with children enjoyed many activities throughout festive break, from Local Arts & Crafts, Face Painting, Treasure Hunt, Cookie Making and more that had the kids excited. Special events for New Year included a sumptuous grand buffet.

A fun-filled night for the whole family at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives where children and adults worked up an appetite, bowling on the beach with Maldivian coconuts. The resort’s Deep End restaurant prepared a five-course Surf & Turf Gala Dinner. Afterward, the party ramped up in the 24 Degrees Lounge with fireworks, festive music and all-night dancing.

With incredible promotional offers for the festive season, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa celebrated a relaxed New Year and Christmas. New Year’s Day included plenty of chances to sip champagne at Gala Dinners, exquisite feasts and cultural activities while getting regular spa treatments at the Hideaway Spa and Beauty Palace in between celebrations.

Other resorts such as Holiday Inn Resort® Kandooma Maldives also gave out promotional offers such as ‘Stay festive’. The Hotel Asia Culinary Challenge winning resort’s culinary team came up with special festive menus for the New Year’s Gala dinner. For New Year’s Eve, guests were invited to dust off their dancing shoes and grab a mask in a unique, once in a lifetime ‘Carnival Party’.

New Year’s celebrations were not denied to the capital city of Maldives. Hotel Jen Male’, Maldives and Champa Central Hotel hosted New Year’s Eve Dinners and entertainment in Male’ City. Live music, exquisite dining and Roof top views were offered to their guests as they counted down to the end of 2016. The new year in Maldives began with a bang!

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.

A picturesque bonanza

Hanker after an adventurous yet serene break from your hectic urban life? Consider no further than the fascinating islands of The Maldives to have your fill of powdery beaches, water sport activities, seafood and privacy in the various resorts dotting the islands. Tropical climate with an abundance of greenery and cool, blue water all around ensures tourists throughout the year – Westerners come for sun bathing and adventure activities in summer while others visit the island in the months of festivities like Eid, Diwali and New Year.

Positioned smugly in the clear, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, the atolls (a cluster of islands) of The Maldives – about 20 in all scattered over North and South of its capital city of Male, happens to be an independent island country. In most cases, each small island is owned privately in which beautiful 5-star resorts are constructed as tourism is its only revenue. A popular holiday destination with glittering ocean, white sandy beaches, the resorts are sheltered with dense plantations and provide all the amenities for city dwellers. Male is the only one-point entry to the Maldives and the islands are accessible from Male by speed boats or seaplanes.

With a total population of just around 4 lakhs, this South-Asian island country to the south-west of Sri Lanka and India, is a major tourist attraction. It is the lowest country in the world since even its highest point above sea level is less than 8ft with average elevation being 5ft. which allows you to wade in the ocean and that explains why Maldives is a preferred holiday destination.

Bang in the middle of the ocean, each sandy landmass of the island country rests on the shelf of coral reefs and out of the innumerable coral islands, only around 200 are inhabited since some of them got submerged with rising water and in some places new islands are formed but are not inhabitable. Furanafushi island in North Male’s Kaafu Atoll is one of the nearest to the capital city and it can be reached within 20 minutes by speedboat. Like most other, this island too is privately owned but all islands come under The Maldivian governance. Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa owns Furanafushi, Kurumba in Vihamanaafushi and W Resort & Spa in Fesdu islands or any other resort, all offer a variety of facilities and activities to tourists for a memorable stay.

 Earlier Maldives was a kingdom and the kings promoted Buddhism but since 12 century AD, Islam was adopted as the only religion (they follow the Sunni sect) so much so that it is mandatory for those who wish to acquire Maldivian citizenship to convert to Islam. The official language is Divehi which is a mix of Sanskrit and Arabic. Natives here are simple folk whose main profession involves jobs in resorts/hotels, driving speedboats/cruises/seaplanes or guides and water sports managers. The rest are into local agro industry too.

Adventure activities:

Maldives is famous for its water sports activities by virtue of its low-lying and various other water-friendly features.

If you happen to stay in one of the Ocean or Pool Villas of the resort, your dream to walk around or swim in the shallow ocean bed can be realized. Else, access to the beach allows you to snorkel or swim; for those who like a little more speed and adventure, try water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, in the pristine ocean. If exploring the reefs is up your sleeve then Seabob is the technically advanced powerful toy and the coolest way to indulge in your aqua fantasy. Thrill seekers can go with wind-surfing, scuba-diving and catch sight of sting rays and sharks or soar like a bird to get an aerial view of the Indian Ocean peppered with greenery (islands) as you parasail with expert guidance.

For the less adventurous yet exploring minds – Sunset Dolphin Cruise offers an insight into dolphin behaviour, handline fishing on a Dhoni (a special boat) allows you to experience traditional method of fishing with bait and fishing lines as the Maldivian waters are rich in Tuna, Mahi mahi, Sail fish and Wahoo.

Food and Recreation:

Seafood specialties and live catch are cooked in Sea Salt with global cuisines for breakfast and dinner to suit every guests’ palate being served at Feast while Baan Thai and Asian Tea House take care of oriental food lovers’ choices. Almost every resort offers spa treatments with Maldivian herbal aromatic massages, facials, mudpacks and wraps to soothe exhausted nerves and Shine. The plunge pools in the Pool and Ocean Villas are a great draw since you can swim and enjoy in the seclusion of your private abode.

If you still want to get the city feel, a visit to Male takes care of your retail therapy and you can shop for souvenirs like lacquered artifacts, high quality coral jewelry – even black coral is found here and some pearls. You can visit the Grand Friday Mosque, Victory Square, National Museum, king’s family tomb and catch a glimpse of the President’s Palace.

The Maldives could be a tad expensive destination because practically everything and majorly food related items are brought in from Sri Lanka, India or Australia and a few other countries. Almost everything is imported here yet with their dependency on international resorts/retreat and tourists, it has a clannish and happy population. Poised on live coral reefs and sand bars, Maldivian islands are a picture-postcard paradise for honeymooners and avid leisure travelers for fun, frolic, food and of course great photo ops!

W Maldives is the Perfect Place to be this Eid Al Adha

W Maldives has announced that it will be offering its GCC guests a special holiday package targeted for the upcoming Adha Al Eid holidays.

W Maldives, one the best resorts in the Maldives will be presenting their guests from the Gulf Countries amenities such as Stay 4/Pay 3 price cuts and savings on spa treatments, water sports activities, private dining on one of the island’s seven coral terraces, complimentary incentives in the rooms and daily shisha with Arabic snacks for two on the beach.

Guests will also have the option to choose from the resort’s 78 escapes and suites located both ashore and over water, with all featuring an infinity plunging pool. These escapes include 28 Wonderful Beach Oasis’s, 25 Spectacular Ocean Oasis’s, 21 Fabulous Lagoon Oasis’s, 3 WOW Ocean Escape’s and 1 Extreme WOW Ocean Haven.

For dining, guests can indulge in the islands mixture of 6 bars and restaurants. The W Maldives KITCHEN, the all-day dining bistro, and FIRE, where guests choose from 4 different barbecues, provide menus for everyone’s palate. Other dining options include the resorts pool bar, WET and the private desert island Gaathafushi or FISH of W Maldives.

With its own resident DJ’s, W Maldives can also boast the only underwater nightclub in Maldives the 15 BELOW. Awards winning spa AWAY is also at the guest’s disposal during their stay where more than a 100 treatments are available.

Visitors can experience one of the best dive spots in the Maldives with DOWN UNDER, W Maldives’s very own PAID certified team of dive masters.

To have the perfect holiday this Eid Al Adha, W Maldives may be just the place to be and whatever their guests desire will be provided whenever by the dedicated team going along with the W philosophy of ‘Whatever/Whenever’. Making the resort, the perfect natural sanctuary.

Book Soon

OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo, Maldives

Ozen by Atmosphere opened in the island of maadhoo, south male atoll on 15th July 2016. The tranquil island has been converted into a top class lifestyle luxury resort latest to be unveiled in the Maldives.

Just a short 45minute boat ride away from Ibrahim Nasir international airport, the main international airport of Maldives and the capital city of Male, the island is perfectly situated just close enough to civilization in case of need and far enough for its guests to experience the amazing views that the resort offers of sunsets and sunrises from the east and west and pristine underwater marine life and the large lagoon overseeing the horizon.

Considering the geography and location, few other resorts can boast of the quality of natural beauty that the OZEN by Atmosphere can provide to its guests not only in the Maldives but throughout the whole world even.

Villas and Suites

Accommodating 41 beach villas situated perfectly on the immaculate sandy beach spreads over the turquoise lagoon, with another 49 over-water villas offering a romantic and rare experience hard to find and truly unmatched.

Six different outlets providing different kinds of cuisine for guests at the resort including the most notable underwater restaurant M6M and chefs of high class prestige with experienced teams ensuring that you would get an unforgettable experience at its restaurants.

Activities

Extending an unlimited range of activities conducted on the island spanning from limitless snorkeling excursions for all guests to night fishing expeditions or journeys to nearby uninhabited islands or the exclusive submarine experience that the resort provides with its SUB-ZEN by atmosphere service.

Spotlight on M6m

The first underwater dining experience provided in the Male atoll is in available at OZEN by Atmosphere’s M6m or ‘Minus 6 Meters’, a name which suits the restaurant perfectly. The restaurant provides an exquisite fine dining experience with gourmet and modern seafood cuisine and astonishing views of underwater natural beauty just a glance away from the window.

“Today is a very special day as we welcome our first guests to OZEN by Atmosphere. It is gratifying to see all our hard work come to fruition and our vision coming to life. My team & I am fully excited & prepared to take care of our discerning guests during the coming weeks.

We look forward to welcoming many more to our home away from home during the coming months and create lasting memories!” – Mr. Venkata Giri, General Manager of OZEN

It is expected for the resort to be a huge success with ultra-luxurious services and attractive rates with its perfect location it is certainly a step for Atmosphere following up from Atmosphere Kanifushi.

Why choose OZEN by Atmosphere?

From the lavish services it provides and grand entrance to the market and its key aspects of location wise and its edge over competitive resorts nearby with its underwater dining restaurant and attractive prices, OZEN by Atmosphere has been dubbed the most promising resort of 2016 and its opening has been much waited for anticipated by experts. With a professional team leading the resort and its high quality and expensive designs of villas to give its guests the ultimate luxury experience it is ready to provide, the resort is so far living up to the hype given to it for months leading up to its opening but only time will tell.

Book Now : https://www.zeldivaluxury.com/

Malahani Kuda Bandos returns as Nostalgic picnic island

Just a short 10-minute boat ride away from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, Malahani Kuda Bandos opened its doors to guests late last July. Rated as a four-star property the concept of the resort revolves around a sense of spaciousness and simplicity blending in all the natural elements the Maldives is acclaimed for.

Formerly a picnic island very popular with the local community the island has an unfathomable connection with the locals who have deep memories of the time spent on the island. Most people living in the surrounding region of the island have visited the island more than once, would understand the natural beauty and calmness that the island provides to its visitors.

Offering 82 rooms on two categories each with its own specialties, the sunrise beach bungalows featuring open air showers and direct access to beaches to the sandy pearl white beaches that the Maldives is famed for and spectacular views of the sunrise in addition to the Garden Rooms offering cozy options for those looking to experience the nat

The island also has restaurants providing from international cuisines to light meals. And if you ever crave another option you can always visit the neighboring island of Bandos Maldives Resort offering four more dining outlets.

With nearby magnificent dive spots, a multitude of watersports and excursions such as island hopping, sunset dolphin cruise, and big game fishing at their disposal, it is hard to believe that any guest visiting the island not getting a once in a lifetime experience and innumerable memories for them to revel in on going back to their everyday daily life.

The resorts management works with the philosophy of striving to create a sense of belonging to its travelers. And operates a vibrant crew ready to go the extra mile to make Kuda Bandos the ideal place for good vibes.

Malahani Kuda Bandos ensures that their guests would have the time of their life from the moment they step on to the island to until they leave it.