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indian ocean
weddings & honeymoons
competitive offers and discounts,” added Scott. That’s great news for couples who, in the current economic climate, are demanding more value for money. Alex Artitzone, Product Manager of Osborne and Ebel says: “In the last couple of years, ‘premium all-inclusive’ options have become popular because clients get a good-value, luxurious, unforgettable experience and can take care of all their holiday costs up front.” The Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives’ premium all-inclusive offering, Platinum Plus, for example, ensures a fi ve-star resort experience, with a fi ne collection of premium wines and spirits; a combination of buffet, fi ne dining and theme-night dining options; an array of activities ranging from excursions, sunset fi shing, snorkelling and non-motorised water sports, as well as a personal service that starts from the moment the client is escorted to the sea plane terminal and whisked away. Elsewhere in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius perhaps offers some of the most unusual choices of venues to get married – including underwater in a submarine, at a traditional colonial house or on LUX* Resorts’ Robinson Crusoe-style private island Ile Deux Cocos.
What’s new ♦ Wedding packages: The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi
(
thesunsiyam.com/irufushi), the 221-luxury ocean- front villa paradise beach resort in the Noonu Atoll, Maldives, has new wedding packages, with options including Maldivian Bodu Beru drummers; a private sunset cruise including canapés on a traditional Maldivian Dhoni and a candlelit four- course dinner. Honeymoon offers: Throughout 2015, Shanti Maurice Mauritius (
shantimaurice.com/en) has a honeymoon and anniversary offer of 50% off ac- commodation and a selection of romantic options including dinner and spa treatments.
Baros Maldives (
baros.com), a recently refurbished small independent fi ve-star boutique resort, is offering one free night and a 10% discount on bookings made 90 days in advance, including wine, chocolates, honeymoon photo and candlelit
dinner, valid May-end of September 2015. Accommodation: The new fi ve-star boutique Sun Aqua Pasikudah (
sunaqua.com) on the east Sri Lankan coastline, is perfect for diving, exploring jungle, mountains and Minneriya National Park. In Mauritius, Maritim Hotels has opened the 181-room Maritim Crystals Beach Hotel (
maritim.com/en/hotels/mauritius/hotel-mauritius- crystals-beach), while the former Movenpick Resort and Spa has reopened as Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa (
outrigger.com), featuring exclusive Club level rooms and suites. Attitude Resorts has opened its second property on the island, the 51-room Friday Attitude (
friday-hotel-mauritius.com). This month (February) sees the offi cial opening of Maldives resort Amilla Fushi (
amillafushimaldives.com). The property claims to have a relaxed ‘open island’ philosophy and encourages adventurous clients to visit other resorts on Baa Atoll and vice versa. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas (sixsenses.
com) opens its fi rst resort in the Seychelles – Si Senses Zil Pasyon – later this year on the private island of Félicité The eagerly awaited Coco Residences
(
cocoboduhithi.com) will open in May 2015 at Coco Bodu Hithi, Maldives, offering private butler service, in-villa movie nights and dedicated yoga classes, with easy access to the STARS restaurant and over-water Coco Spa
Tourism Talk “We have seen our wedding bookings increase over the past couple of years as we have become more accessible with
more air capacity. Together with the cooperation
sellingtravel.co.uk
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL BY RUTH AND TIM JOHNSON HONEYMOON COUPLE "After a wedding in the UK that had been about making sure everyone else was included, our Seychelles honeymoon on Denis Island was purely about us! We felt relaxed and welcome as soon as we arrived – just in time to watch the fisherman bring a massive fish onto the beach from one of the boats. Throughout our honeymoon we enjoyed wonderfully fresh meals in the restaurant, took open-air showers and lazily drank champagne on our stretch of beach whilst watching the sun set. The little friendly green geckos kept us amused, and the giant tortoises were fascinating. One afternoon we walked round the whole island barefoot, swimming in places where the path ended and loved our Robinson Crusoe moments. We tried snorkelling for the first time, booked a boat tour and had a candlelit dinner on the beach. It was so romantic and special."
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