p30-36 ttg_lux_maldives Aut09 25/9/09 17:10 Page 32
there are deals to be had at great resorts. cuisine is one of the ways in which Diva is
T
Thomas Cook Signature, for example, has already making its mark. It opened at the
been offering seven nights at the five-star end of last year and is the latest property
Diva resort for £1,599 full-board in a junior from Naiade, known for Beau Rivage and
suite – down from £2,699. Legends in Mauritius.
The operator’s product and contract Diva is on Didhoonolhu in South Ari
manager, Charlie Greenwood, says she is Atoll, an island resort Naiade took over,
he last 12 months have seen no happy with the way the destination has but at the hands of Mauritian designer
let up in new resort openings in the performed this year. “The Maldives is Virginie Koenig, it has been transformed
Maldives, but is it really still possible to get outrageously beautiful and it will never into a bells-and-whistles 21st-century
punters to part with thousands of pounds be anything other than an absolute treat resort with six restaurants. And though
for a week on a speck of sand 11 hours’ to go there,” she says. its name might suggest otherwise, Diva is
flight away? an understated and relaxed place.
The answer seems to be yes. “It is Diva-licious Didhoonolhu is one of the biggest
expensive, no-one would deny that,” says Diva is one of the newcomers, offering a islands in the Maldives, and its size is
Elegant Resorts’ commercial director, seriously impressive array of facilities. utilised well. The great kids club, teen club
Alison Scott. “But it’s somewhere people From its Japanese restaurant Pure, through and range of activities and facilities make
still want to go and smart hoteliers have to the delicious wine pairings and Italian this one of the leading options for families
been making sure they address cost fare created in the open kitchen of Allegria, here, but at the infinity pool with sleek
concerns by offering added value.” bars and restaurants either side,
The launch of thrice-weekly British fashionable couples can languish in quiet
Airways flights to Male from Gatwick from luxury too. “At Easter, we must have had
October 25 will also ensure a flurry of
Armani-clad bums on seats to the islands.
I passed out, which
about 200 children here, but couples could
still get quiet and privacy,” sales manager
BA head of sales Richard Tams reports
demand has been high so far: “The
is apparently the
Akiko Takahashi tells me.
Pre-opening, the spa was originally
Maldives has been growing in popularity
over the years, yet the options for premium
point. It could have
billed as Anne Semonin, the expanding
French brand, but Diva now has a fairly
travellers have so far been pretty limited,
happened when
non-descript Coconut Spa instead. It’s
especially non-stop from the UK. Our large enough, and there are four over-
three-class service including new Club
the spa therapist
water treatment rooms, but my massage
World cabin will change that.” was a little lacklustre and the overall
A week at many
broke into a
service not as heartfelt as that experienced
of the Maldives’
Main picture: Alila
at spas elsewhere in the islands.
top five-star islands
Villas Hadahaa Maldivian lullaby
At Diva there is a charge to hire bikes
may not leave
Previous page: Cowrie
– on an island this big, I would have hoped
much change out shell treatment at it would be included – and guests have to
32
of £3,500, but Shangri-La’s Chi Spa rely on scheduled golf buggy shuttles to
feature maldives
autumn 09 ttgluxury.com
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