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beach club, boutiques and restaurants, while boats will shuttle you between the various restaurants on the islands. Still, it’s not all about the newcomers in the Maldives.
One long-established resort showing it still has what it takes is Soneva Fushi, now 25 years old and celebrating by unveiling its one- and two-bedroom Water Retreats, which it claims are the largest villas of their kind in the world. Tere are eight of them, each with a retractable roof above the master bed and its own 19-metre water slide.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Many guests visit the Maldives for its abundant marine life; the Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island; Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands
Tere’s always a new resort to get excited about here,
too – granted, 2020 was a slower year for openings but there are now some significant new hotels on the horizon. A good choice for couples, families or groups will be Siyam World, which will open in October with its own floating water park and an entire village dedicated to kids, as well as a 24-hour all-inclusive plan for its 12 restaurants and bars. For something more refined, keep an eye out for one of
the most exclusive new enclaves in the country – the Fari Islands project. Tis high-end archipelago includes Patina Maldives, the first property for this brand which opens in May 2021 – it offers such a sleek proposition that it has been accepted into Design Hotels. Te Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands is set to open the following month and has been designed by Kerry Hill Architects. Just as prestigious will be Capella Maldives, which is due to be launched next year and will feature interiors by André Fu. You will also be able to enjoy the Fari Marina, home to a
MAY/JUNE 20 2 1
MAURITIUS Mauritius is all about fields of sugar cane swaying in the wind, little churches nudging up next to pastel-coloured Hindu temples, bustling little towns, and people who are a friendly mix of Indian, Creole and Chinese, its past peppered with Dutch, French and British colonial influence. Tat’s not forgetting some outstanding resorts from
the likes of Four Seasons (temporarily closed but due to reopen in August) and One and Only, and an extensive range of water sports – if it can be done on or under the water, it’s probably available somewhere in Mauritius. Te island’s 177km coastline is fringed by coral reef, a barrier running virtually the whole way around, so it’s little surprise that this is one of the top diving destinations on the planet, loved for its warm waters, good underwater visibility and abundant marine life. At 61km long and 47km wide, nothing is ever too far
away in Mauritius, and hiring a car to explore is a nice option. Te north lays claim to some fantastic white beaches and proximity to the capital, Port Louis, making this area a tourism hotspot, especially around Grand Baie. On the east coast you’ll find some of the best beaches,
such as the 10km Belle Mare, making it obvious why this area gave life to many of the island’s original luxury hotels,→
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
ISHAN SEEFROMTHESKY/UNSPLASH; JUSTIN NICHOLAS
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