BEST FOR WELLBEING
New Wellbeing Programmes at COMO Cocoa Island
Boutique in size and personal in approach, COMO Cocoa Island is perched on the Maldives’ South Male Atoll, one of the quietest and most undisturbed areas of the archipelago. A third of the private island is now occupied by the COMO Shambhala Retreat, and its facilities have been spread out to give guests even more time and space to focus on their wellbeing. A new Pilates Studio and open-sided yoga pavilion (with striking views of the lagoon) accompany one of the only hydrotherapy pools in the Maldives, and treatment rooms have received a full facelift. Choose from Asian-inspired treatments, signature COMO Shambhala massages and Guinot Facials, or a holistic wellness path, designed to calm the mind, relieve stress and rejuvenate the body.
New for 2021, COMO Cocoa Island are launching new wellness programmes, including Body Alignment and Body Screening to help alleviate poor posture, and uniquely, personalised Hydrotherapy Circuit Instruction, a 60-minute experience in the hydrotherapy pool to improve flexibility and strength. When they’re not in the spa, guests can dive with vibrant parrot fish, sharks and gliding manta rays, learn the power of pranayama and meditation or take a personal training session on the sand, before dining on nutritious COMO Shambhala Cuisine at seafront Ufaa restaurant – a menu designed to restore balance with organic, vitamin-rich ingredients.
Abercrombie & Kent (www.abercrombiekent.co.uk; 01242 547 760) is offering savings up to £980pp at COMO Cocoa Island – from £2,635pp. Valid for travel until 19 December 2020. Must be booked 45 days before travel. From £2,635 per person. Based on two adults sharing for seven nights, excluding flights.
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BEST FOR ADVENTURE
NEW Diving and Surfing Experiences at COMO Maalifushi
As the only resort in the Thaa Atoll, COMO Maalifushi is surrounded by a bustling house reef and, after months of silence, the coral and its underwater residents are thriving. Thanks to the remote location of the island, guests often have entire dive sites to themselves – spotting green turtles, parrot fish, octopus and even reef shark. Qualified divers can explore the underwater world with the new Maalifushi dive experience: an opportunity to enjoy 20 dives, each at the heart of COMO Maalifushi’s revitalised ecosystem. For beginners, there are scuba diving courses, PADI Open Water courses and snorkelling the reefs with the resident marine biologist.
Seasoned water babies can even try their hand at surfing at the TropicSurf school; the COMO Maalifushi Surf Pass offers an expedition to the finest breaks and best-kept secrets of the region, surfing at three secluded atolls – the ‘Surf Machines’ at Laamu, ‘Farms’ at Thaa and ‘Kasabu’ at Dhaalu. Guests can learn from scratch or simply brush up on their board skills with a seasoned guide. Adventurous travellers can also kayak, paddle board or windsurf, before taking the ultimate splash net dolphin cruise in search of pods migrating through the Thaa Atoll.
The Maalifushi diving package includes 20 comp dives per room during stay, diving equipment, exclusive room rates, half board dining, complimentary yoga classes and complimentary non-motorised water sports activities. Starts from £595 per night, to book visit comohotels.com. Surf Pass starts from £180 including access to atolls and private guide.
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BEST FOR FAMILIES
New All-Inclusive Experience with Return Flights from Malé
After months of pent-up demand, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is making it even easier for families to spend quality, away-from-it-all time together with its new all-inclusive experience. For the first time, those booking a stay in one of the luxurious villas – ranging from overwater lodgings to safari-style tents nestled in the island’s jungle – can enjoy an exclusive Dream Stay experience, including return flights from Malé. Breakfast and lunch are served at Raha Market, a marketplace of heady Indonesian aromas with food served from live stations, while dinner is a-la-carte at signature Japanese, Kata, or seafood haunt, Azure.
This might be a private island, but there’s plenty to keep guests entertained. Dive into the crystal ocean, where over 250 species of tropical fish, manta rays and turtles patrol the Maldives’ only underwater art gallery and coral regeneration project – the Coralarium. Learn about marine conservation on an underwater art tour, guided by the resort’s resident marine biologist before creating your own marine-inspired masterpiece in the Art Studio. For a deep-dive into Maldivian culture, take an authentic cookery class with a local chef, or visit a local island on a cultural tour to learn more about the archipelago’s colourful heritage.
Dream Stay at Fairmont Maldives starts from $740 (approx. £575) per night based on two people sharing a Sunrise Water Villa on an all-inclusive basis (daily breakfast, lunch and dinner including standard beverage package). This includes return seaplane transfers from Malé. For more information visit Fairmont-maldives.com
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BEST FOR GASTRONOMY
NEW dining experiences at Emerald Resort and Spa
Championing an outstanding deluxe all-inclusive offering which allow guests to dine at any of the resort’s restaurants as many times as they like during their stay without incurring in any extra cost, Emerald Resort has established itself as prime dining destination boasting the Maldives’ first and only South American restaurant; Amazònico. Serving dishes like ceviche with passion fruit dressing and meats and fish from the huge open fire grill Amazònico will transport guests to the rainforest thanks the strategically placed red lanterns which mirror the effect of an open campfire.
Serving delicacies from Asia, Asiatique restaurant will astound with its live cooking shows in front of the teppanyaki grill, while the Beach Club Grill Restaurant offer delicious locally sourced fish in a vibrant atmosphere. The signature Aqua Restaurant offers bare-foot luxury at its finest, and with a variety of cooking stations chefs are able to bring guest’s culinary dreams to life.
NEW – This festive season, traditional Russian cuisine lands in the Maldives, making the existing culinary offer at Emerald Resort a true 360 experience. Paying homage to Russia cultural background and traditions, guest Chef Nikita Martynov will impress guests with an array of traditional New Year salads and appetizers as well as smoked fish, caviar, jellied meats and cold cuts.
The resort is also currently running a ‘Sun Escape’ Winter Offer – 20% off best available rate for guests booking to stay between 1st November and 28th December 2020. Visit emerald-maldives.com for more information.
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BEST FOR WORKCATIONS
Vakkaru Maldives Launch NEW Work Well Package
Following the new trend of ‘Extended Workcations’, the luxury Vakkaru Maldives is delighted to announce its new out of this world ‘Work Well’ concept. For guests staying for 21 days or longer, the luxury resort is offering the blissfully inclusive residency package, including a number of luxury and highly useful features, such as a ‘Beach Boardroom’, ‘Vacay PA’, a health and wellbeing goal plan and Brain and Body Fuel inclusions for efficient working.
Nestled in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Vakkaru Maldives is a timeless sanctuary intuitively designed for guests seeking unassuming luxury and cherishable experiences. A scenic 30-minute seaplane journey from Male International Airport takes you to this secluded reef island blessed with timeless ocean views, powder-soft white sand beaches, unique deep blue holes and spectacular marine biodiversity. The 113 beautifully appointed Over Water and Beach Villas are elegantly designed to respect the surrounding tropical nature and Maldivian charms. Additionally, indulgent dining choices, a world-class wine cellar – home to a curated selection of fine vintage and non-vintage offerings from Old to New World as well as curated leisure activities and amenities create enriched experiences for everyone.
Pricing starts from $18,000 (£13,959) for 21 nights or from $25,000 (£19,388) for a month-long stay for two adults.
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BEST FOR LUXURY
Velaa Private Island Partner with VistaJet
Nestled within the constellation of islands that form the Noonu Atoll in the Maldives, Velaa Private Island takes exclusivity to the next level with facilities and service that go beyond traditional resorts. Now partnered with global jet provider VistaJet as part of their Safe Havens Collection, those travelling to the Maldives can do so in the safety and comfort of their own private plane. Once there, Velaa Private Island offers a variety of ultra-luxe facilities for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, including:
- An overwater residence only accessible by boat
- The possibility to hire out the entire island
- An on-island golf course
- An on-site semi-submarine to see some of the most amazing marine life the Maldives has to offer
- Water hoverboards/ & jet packs
- State-of-the-art Sleep Pod in the spa (pictured above)
- Staff-to-guest ratio of 8 to 1
- Private yacht for sunset cruises, dinners and diving expeditions
- NEW: ultimate ‘Velaa Spa’ with new range of out-of-this-world treatments (including a chardonnay body scrub and a green caviar facial) and visiting wellness practitioners
With the only resort in the Maldives to have a no-drone policy, Velaa is the pinnacle of a ‘beyond luxury’ exclusive boutique hideaway and with their ‘anything is possible’ outlook, they are sure to surpass the expectations of even the most sophisticated world traveller.
Beach Villas start from £1,900 per night (inclusive of tax and service). For more information visit velaaprivateisland.com