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maldives
NO NEWS, NO SHOES BY AMANDA STATHAM “I’ve been lucky enough to visit the Maldives several times and have some great memories, from sipping cocktails at sunset on enormous daybeds at One & Only Reethi Rah’s (reethirah.
oneandonlyresorts.com) Arabian-style beach bar Fanditha, to having a spa treatment underwater at Huvafen Fushi’s (
huvafenfushi.peraquum.com) Lime Spa, watching fish glide past the floor-to- ceiling windows while being massaged was a James Bond moment. But the place I lost my heart to was Soneva Fushi (
soneva.com/soneva-fushi), not the most high-tech or showy resort in the archipelagos, but certainly one of the most charming.
I remember having my shoes confiscated on arrival (the resort’s motto is no news, no shoes) and my beautiful wood villa with a pool and treehouse. But most of all I remember my picnic on an uninhabited island. Dropped off by the resort’s speedboat, I walked up the white sand beach to discover a mat covered with cushions and a hamper filled with fresh seafood, fruit and Champagne on ice. Unforgettable.”
accommodation (150 square metres is the lead- in category) and also has six restaurants, a spa and the Cool Zone kids’ club for 4-12 year olds. The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi has rebranded its spa
to ‘The Spa by Thalgo’ and is launching a new menu which will feature 127 treatments (70 are new) using Thalgo products which harness rich
marine properties. Weddings & honeymoons: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru (
banyan.com) is offering the fi rst underwater wedding ceremonies in the Maldives (from £1186). Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa (
maldives.hadahaa.park.hyatt.com) has introduced new romance and honeymoon packages, including a two-day Island Blessing (£1500) with the
ceremony, massages and Champagne. Marketing: Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) ran a global advertising campaign with the BBC in September and October 2014. Its tag line, Sunny Side Of Life, featured the ‘unique aspects of the destination’ in a 30-second commercial that was shown in Europe, Asia, America, North Africa and Middle East.
Tourism talk “Compared to 2013, we are seeing an overall increase in visitors from the UK. We have a number of exciting and interesting projects scheduled to take place including the introduction of the fi rst
Clockwise from top left: The entrance to the Kandholhu Spa; the Conrad’s undersea restaurant, and Park Hyatt from above
“For me, the ultimate luxury honeymoon would include a stay at Anantara Kihavah where the over-water pool villas include a unique glass bottom bathtub
(spot fish from your bath!).” KAREN MUNRO, PRODUCT AND PURCHASING EXECUTIVE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AND INDIAN OCEAN, TRAVEL 2
T
integrated Resort Development Project on the island of Thumburi in the Laamu Atoll in the South, which will offer more affordable accommodation and therefore attract mid-market travellers. “With a larger presence at World Travel Market this
year, we look forward to highlighting the upcoming new developments taking place in the Maldives and welcoming more visitors from the UK in 2015.” Abdulla Ziyath, Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Cooperation
Where to book it ITC LUXURY TRAVEL – 01244 355 527
Seven nights at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island are from £3,389pp based on two adults sharing a water villa, half-board and including return economy class fl ights and seaplane transfers. Valid for travel completed by December 25 2014. Book by December 18.
itcluxurytravel.co.uk
sellingtravel.co.uk
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