Magic of the Maldives: Clear Emerald Waters, Beautiful Beaches, and Stunning Properties
by Monique Owen, Luxury Travel Advisor
We take our beaches very seriously at Huffman Travel. When it comes to sun-drenched days, stunning sunsets, amazing sealife for snorkeling and scuba, and powder white sand–it does not get much better than the Maldives. An archipelago of more than 1,000 islands in the Indian Ocean, it is one of those rare destinations where the dreams and visions evoked by websites and social media are indeed the reality.
Most resorts are located on their own private island. During our visit, we stayed at three different properties, all with their own unique character and feel. All three offered something special in terms of approach and charm. Luxury resorts in the Maldives use a true butler service model, and we had a dedicated butler for the duration of our stay. In addition to high-touch service and fulfilling guests’ needs, perhaps the most magical and rare guest service offering (and Mom's best friend!) was the service to unpack on arrival and pack for departure. Having packed up a family for an international relocation, this elicited tears of joy! We opted for three properties that could be linked by speedboat, and I would encourage visitors to the Maldives to think about more than one property, given they are all so uniquely different.
This was our first stop and the top pick for a family hotel that delivered on every level and then some. For us, the Maldives was a school holiday vacation and reset after a couple of years of living down in Australia before repatriating to the USA. “Velaa” (meaning turtle in the native language) enveloped us like a big, warm hug. Wayne Milgate, the Australian GM, has assembled a dedicated and seasoned team on this perfect little island disc. Choose between a beach villa or an overwater bungalow, but either way, you would be hard-pressed to get through every water toy they offer during your stay. As much fun, adrenaline, and nothing to do as you wish. Unbeatable kids' offerings and programming–even an undercover tennis court with a giant fan to keep you cool as you rally with the on-site pro. We checked our shoes on arrival at the dock and did not put them back on for six days. Heaven!
Set in the pristine Noonu Atoll, Cheval Blanc Randheli is an intimate and contemporary haven, a 40-minute seaplane journey north of Malé (for us, a 40-minute speedboat ride from Velaa). The 46-villa Maison is LVMH’s Maldivian offering with a perfect balance of uber-chic service and laidback beach hospitality. As the preeminent French offering in the Maldives, it should come as no surprise that food and beverage take center stage. The GM was a past Executive Chef and the current chefs, Eric and Remy, were omnipresent on property, spoiling us with little treats and favorite family recipes. Randheli is comprised of a collection of islands–in fact, the spa has its own dedicated island, as does the tennis offering!
For the young, or even just for those young at heart, it is difficult not to be completely giddy at the prospect of an over-water villa with its own private waterslide! There is something quite whimsical about the incredible eco-village created by Sonny and his wife Eva. We marveled at their unwavering commitment to sustainability and ability to deliver this alongside a raft of mind-blowing offerings – think resident astronomer, Michelin-star dining, and world-class wine list.
Pioneering barefoot luxury, Sonny and his wife Eva opened Soneva Fushi 20+ years ago and have not taken their eyes off of sustainability and authenticity since. Guests at Fushi tend to stay at least a week to take advantage of the endless programming events featured weekly in a 6+ page newspaper with offerings to opt into what they call ‘intelligent luxury’ courses. Offerings range from marine biology, conservation and glass making to cooking classes, yoga retreats with gurus from India, and zip lining to dinner at a pop up by one of the world’s greatest restaurants (when we were there, it was Odette, from Singapore, ranked #8 in Asia). Fushi is not for everyone, but if you are looking to get away from it all, relax and expand your thinking while enjoying incredible food and wine, look here!
“Patina is the new lifestyle brand by Capella. I was lucky enough to stay here with my family and we loved it! It is sort of ‘breaking the rules’ of the Maldives in the best of ways: It is the ’social hub' of 3 islands that are clustered together and share signing rights and facilities. Patina is about creating an energized environment versus capitalizing only on the solitude of the Maldives. It boasts 11 distinct places to dine, a large marina with some pretty amazing yachts for charter, a rotating artist in residence program, and lots of cool places to chill. Guests from the neighboring islands of Capella and The Ritz-Carlton congregate at the Marina Village located at Patina creating a lively and cool ‘vibe’.” - Shawna Huffman Owen