p56-57 ttg_lux_tried and tested maldives 5/3/10 16:20 Page 57
HOW TO SELL IT
■ Clients with a love of design will be
impressed by its strong style
statement. Ismail’s minimalist ethic
blends easily with local influences to
create a stylish yet relaxed resort
■ The spa is one of the best in the
Maldives by far, if not the Indian Ocean,
with an expert Ayurvedic Retreat
■ The resort has a Marine Research
Centre which undertakes a number of
environmental initiatives, such as coral
propagation and is the base for the
Maldivian Manta Ray Project
■ Unspolit beautiful location in the Baa
Atoll so a great one for water-babies.
Top dive sites are minutes away and
the resort has created snorkeling trails
with underwater signs
boat trip raised my spirits. And spending so
much time in the villa was no hardship, given
its super-comfortable bed, non-stop films on
the TV, steady stream of ginger and honey tea
from room service, in addition to a private
FOUR SEASONS RESORT LANDAA GIRAAVARU
garden with swing, pool, dining area and sofa.
MALDIVES
A stroll along the beach took me to the
main jetty and the dive centre, and onwards to
Cafe Landaa – my Asian lunch there provided
Walking down the long sandy path which leads grandly in places like the Maldives and pay a premium “to just just the spicy tonic I needed. Other options
from the resort’s arrival jetty, it seemed as if even the tall get away”. include excellent Lebanese at Al Barakat.
palms lining the way were deferentially bowing in the I know the feeling. They say if you work too hard, the The island is big enough that you never
breeze to welcome me along with the myriad staff. minute you slow down to go on holiday, illness kicks in. It feel you’ve seen it all and is deeply tropical
This resort is one of the most beautiful I have seen in did – I was soon resigned to being flaked out in the villa and lush with more than enough space for the
the Maldives, with a constant sense of peacefulness and with a rotten cold. There are worse places to be ill, but I maximum 200 guests (it has 102 villas). If the
no coral left unturned in the pursuit of exquisite design would rather have been snorkelling with the marine modern definition of luxury is privacy, space
and comfort. Architect Murad Ismail was influenced by biologists to see their coral propagation programme or and time, then this place certainly delivers.
revered fellow Sri Lankan designer Geoffrey Bawa, and enjoying morning yoga instead of nearly passing out. A whiz over to Blu in the golf buggy and
he set out to design something beyond the predictable, Luckily the resort has one of the best holistic spas in you’ve found another impeccably-designed
yet still referencing the local architecture of the Maldives. the Maldives, if not the Indian Ocean, including an expert area for lounging and dining, overlooking a
The result is high-pitched thatched roofs and chalky white range of treatments carried out at the dedicated Ayurvedic stunning lagoon. This Italian restaurant is
coral for walls surrounding inner sanctuaries. Retreat within the spa. The spa is also home to gardens worked around a sandspit into two pavilions
Ismail’s idea for Landaa Giraavaru was to give the planted with medicinal herbs, trees and flowers used in and a pool, one of four on the island. At night,
guests “a sense of space” – his belief is that stressed-out ayurvedic oils and herbal concoctions. the candles come on at Blu and the atmos-
high-end Western travellers seek tranquillity and freedom Seeing almost a hundred spinner dolphins on a morning phere is magical.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT KUDA HURAA
HOW TO SELL IT
MALDIVES
■ A wealth of water-based
activities means this is ideal
A hotel in preparation for Christmas guarantees island. However, the upside is that Kuda excels pavilion of Cafe Huraa overlooking the
for families, with a dedicated
surf school and Furaavaru
a happy atmosphere of anticipation that not at creating an intimate cosy atmosphere free-form swimming pool and lagoon.
Teen Centre to appeal to
even a couple of island downpours can which can’t be found on Landaa. Packed onto the island are 96 rooms in a
13 to 18-year-olds
dampen. The Christmas trees and poinsettias Dining experiences at Kuda include the bewildering range of categories, but design-
somehow fitted in well among the abundant delicious Taste of India themed buffet every wise, there’s not much in it – it comes down
■ Close to Male, great for
tropical flora of the island. Sunday night at Baraabaru and the Italian to budget, whether clients prefer to be on
those who prefer quick boat
All the staff had taken their own happy pills flavours and relaxed atmosphere at Reef land or over-water, and whether they’re early transfers and don’t like the
for my arrival, with at least 10 smiling people Club. There’s also a library, kids club’, risers who want to sunbathe at the villa early, idea of waiting for another
waiting on the dock to greet me. A short walk boutique, and the open Maldivian-style or to watch the sun set from their room.
flight after arriving in the
down the jetty and I was into the high-
Maldives
ceilinged sand-floored lobby with a cool drink
in hand. The small proportions of the resort
■ The two-bedroom Royal
Beach Villa is the ultimate
were immediately obvious; you could walk
accommodation option on
round the whole place in 10 minutes but golf
the island
buggies are on call if you need them.
I arrived from Landaa Giraavaru by seaplane,
■ One of the only spas in
which gave a completely different perspective
the world that you reach by
than guests would get arriving by the usual tiny dhoni; seven thatched
method – speedboat from Male. The aerial over-water treatment
view showed how close the resort is to neigh-
pavilions await on their
bouring islands - on Landaa I felt castaway in
own little island
the middle of nowhere and on a much larger
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