The Maldives archipelago is home to about 100 luxury resorts. So how do you decide which one is right for you? Some cater more to honeymooners, some to families, some to adventure lovers and some are best for complete relaxation. Whatever you choose you’re guaranteed azure water, luxury spas and an abundance of gourmet food.
PERFECT FOR
Thanks to the recent expansion of the resort to incorporate both “play” and “chill” sections, Niyama caters to everyone from families with tiny tots (with a turbocharged kids’ club) to honeymooners not wishing to leave their over-water bungalow. The vast choice of dining options also makes it a magnet for foodies, while adventurers will love the range of water-based activities.
THE EXPERIENCE
I have to rub my eyes to ensure I am not seeing things. Fresh from a private snorkelling trip around a coral reef near the resort, we are blitzing across the clearest water I have seen when something red appears on the horizon. One umbrella soon becomes three, which soon becomes our own private island for a picnic lunch. Squeals erupt, cameras start shooting.
While it would be easy to rank our two-hour “marooning” – complete with champagne, individualised bento boxes and a playlist of chilled beats – as the pinch-me moment of the trip, there is a list as long as my sarong (a post-dinner massage and champagne bath comes a close second).
For those who live to eat, Niyama offers a multi-altitudinal experience. One night, it’s dinner in the treetops at Nest, while lunch the next day could be a short boat ride to Subsix, the underwater seafood restaurant, where you can dine with the fish – without getting wet.
But sometimes it’s the simple things that excite the most. Popcorn makers and a daily supply of homemade ice-cream in every villa make for lazy afternoons by the plunge pool.
Villas at Niyama are decked out in more modern hues than other resorts, so expect splashes of red and yellow and the latest gadgets. But the hallmarks of luxury remain. Outdoor bathrooms, luxury toiletries and plush beds, to name a few. And accommodations don’t come more grand than the two-bedroom beach villa, which has a sunken lounge, full-size pool (and plunge pool for mum and dad), a private massage room and staff quarters, although we did hear the one about the private chef who found himself sidelined by his wealthy employers after they realised the resort food was so good.
DON’T MISS
Most first-time visitors to the Maldives would be hard-pressed to name a traditional dish but at Blu, cooking demonstrations and classes introduce guests to the cuisine and costumes of the region, in a fully interactive setting. The Maldives has a strong tradition of indigenous snack foods called “short eats”, which borrow ingredients and flavours from nearby Sri Lanka and India. Be prepared for lots of tuna and coconut.
DETAILS
From Male, seaplane transfers take about 40 minutes, and cost $US620 return per guest. Children under 11 travel at half price. Rooms from $1260 per night, including taxes. For information, visit niyama.peraquum.com.
PERFECT FOR
Couples, families with older kids, and water-sports lovers. Rooms range from the sunrise beach bungalows to the over-water pavilions with private pool. Family rooms are available, including the 312-square-metre two-bedroom pool villa.
THE EXPERIENCE
This resort is the Maldives of my dreams – thatched roofs, open-air bathrooms, infinity pools and sand so white it’s blinding, even with the best designer sunglasses. But with more than 100 island resorts in the archipelago competing for your cash – the Maldives is capital “E” expensive – the level of personalisation at Dhigu (no small thanks to the incredible staff) sets it apart. An effort is made to learn guests’ likes and dislikes, and to tailor a trip accordingly – even if that means a preference for total solitude. On more than one occasion I perform a little happy dance after finding a personal touch in my bungalow, such as a DIY negroni kit (my favourite cocktail) with a carefully curated playlist of my favourite tunes.
This level of tailoring extends to the range of activities on offer, from a trip to a local island village to an afternoon of surrender at the over-water spa. Or, combine some water sports with a soothing foot massage, for the best of both worlds. The spa also has a fabulous wet area with two plunge pools (hot and cold), sauna and steam room for the ultimate in pre or post-treatment relaxation.
With three Anantara resorts in such close proximity (Veli is a couples-only retreat, while Nhaladu is an all-villa property), guests can also dine at a broader choice of restaurants than in other parts of the Maldives. A teppanyaki lunch banquet may feature scallops flown in from Hokkaido, while a special “death row” dinner, where each member of the group nominates their preferred last meal on earth, includes crab from Singapore and Australian beef. The takeout from all this? Anything is possible in the Maldives, for a price.
DON’T MISS
The Maldives is a beacon for serious surfers but to find the best breaks, you will need a boat and a guide. Tropic Surf, based at Anantara Dhigu, has world-class instructors who can guide you through everything from a half-day lesson to the full-on five-day surf adventure. If you’d rather take things at a more relaxed pace, as I did, a two-hour stand-up paddleboard lesson ($US90) is the way to go. Hannah, a former South African surf champion, will guide you through the basics on the beach and hopefully have you standing within minutes. An active but peaceful way – your abs and legs will still thank you – to see the lagoon without worrying about whether your travel insurance covers you for bizarre surfing injuries.
DETAILS
From Male airport, a luxury speedboat will whisk you to Anantara Dhigu in about 35 minutes. Rooms from $1628 per night, including taxes. For more details, visit dhigu-maldives.anantara.com.
PERFECT FOR
Honeymooners and couples looking to celebrate a special anniversary or birthday. Definitely not one for the ankle-biters – not sure other guests would appreciate it either, when they are paying top dollar.
THE EXPERIENCE
Linda Evangelista, she of the not-getting-out-of-bed-for-less-than-$10,000 quip, has stayed here, and so have George Clooney and Kate Moss, so expect the best of everything. Gourmet lunches fit for a supermodel at Raw, the resort’s health-food eatery, may include tuna sashimi pizza with a side order of relaxation. The unwinding continues at Lime Spa – the brand is the same as Niyama but – hello! – there is an underwater treatment room. Yes, you read that correctly. Come during the day for a delectable massage with the calming view of the aquariums (with some help from a strategically placed mirror) and return at night with a UV light and the in-house marine biologist for your best chance at seeing a shark up close. The pinch-me moments continue daily at dusk, when a fever of stingrays laps the shore for their nightly feed, before guests can board a traditional dhoni for a sunset cruise.
For a truly memorable dining experience, descend the staircase at Vinum, the first underground wine cellar in the Maldives. Warm your tootsies on volcanic rocks while you indulge in a five-course chef’s dinner, with matched wines from the 5200 bottles encircling the space.
While honeymooners will love the over-water bungalows, the deluxe beach bungalows – with two pools, front and back – are perfect for guests who love the feeling of sand between their toes, and closer to the central facilities, including the spa and the gym (even in the Maldives some people like to work out).
DON’T MISS
An afternoon at Lime Spa is the perfect antidote to the action-packed timetable at Niyama. Elizabeth and her team are superbly equipped to tailor an experience, starting with a cute scoop of lime sorbet to cool the head. If skin has seen a bit too much fun and sun, a cryogenic facial, which uses ice cubes and tiny fingertip massage to stimulate the skin, is an absolute essential before your flight home.
DETAILS
From Male, a speedboat transfer takes about 30 minutes. Rooms from $3461 per night, including taxes. For more details, visit huvafenfushi.peraquum.com.
MALDIVES GLOSSARY
THUKURU Like a butler, your thukuru (at select resorts) will take care of restaurant and spa bookings, ferry your bags and even wrap delicate objects, such as corals, to take home.
MST (Maldives Standard Time) – some resorts, such as Huvafen Fushi, adjust their clocks so that sunset falls just at the time people are going to dinner (i.e. 7pm), rather than when nature dictates.
FUSHI An island. About 1200 islands make up the Maldives, which is split into several atolls. About 200 of the islands are inhabited, about 100 of those by luxury resorts.
TRIP NOTES
MORE INFORMATION
GETTING THERE
Singapore Airlines has daily flights from major Australian capital cities to Singapore, with twice daily connections to Male. For schedules and prices, visit singaporeair.com.
STAYING THERE
If your flight forces you to spend a night in Singapore, the Orchard Hotel has comfortable rooms, right in the heart of the Orchard Road shopping precinct. If you would rather hang at Changi airport (a city in itself), the Crowne Plaza is a cut above most airport hotels.
VISITING THERE
Mulling a trip to the Maldives? You’ll need at least five days, and a healthy credit limit on the credit card. Remember, the Maldives is a Muslim country, so while bikinis are the standard dress on the Western resorts, trips to the local communities – and in the airport – will require a more modest standard of dress. And the importation of alcohol is strictly prohibited, so no BYO on the duty-free gin. Sadly, drink prices are steep but, after all, you’re in the Maldives.
Melissa Singer was a guest of Anantara and PER AQUUM hotels, and flew courtesy of Singapore Airlines Holidays.