Travel enthusiasts globally share a similar thought while contemplating their travels for 2020 and beyond – ‘will the trip materialise’. This year has been rough, undoubtedly, but as locations around the world are slowly reopening, travellers are getting into cars, planes, trains and yachts albeit the perceived risks — the pandemic is not able to extinguish the desire for travel.
Maldives, one of the rare Asian countries that recently reopened its borders for leisure travellers immediately observed jet-setters and enthusiastic honeymooners head to its beautiful atolls. The concept of social distancing is fairly straightforward for tourists to the Maldives simply because of the country’s policy of ‘one resort one island’. Several luxurious resorts welcomed their first guests in awe and absolute excitement.
Constance Halaveli Maldives, North Ari Atoll
The team at Constance Halaveli offered a warm welcome to returning guests. Constance, with two hideaways in the Maldives, is intimate, luxurious and perfectly represents the ‘sun, sand and sea’ theme. Within Constance Halaveli, safe distancing comes easy for guests with the 57 water villas, 9 beach villas, 19 beach villas or the lavish presidential beach villa.
Activities & Experiences: Movie night on the beach under a curtain of stars, snorkel amongst the abundant marine life and laze around the private sun terrace with regular dips in either the plunge pool or the ocean – follow your heart.
Four Seasons Resort Maldives
After launching an enhanced programme to ensure the safety of their guests, both the Four Seasons Resort Maldives opened their doors to welcome guests from all across the world. Apart from being surrounded by tropical greens and mesmerising ocean, the arriving guests can experience both their resorts on the same holiday – a few nights at Kuda Huraa resort, North Male Atoll while awaiting a seaplane transfer to Landaa Giraavaru at Baa Atoll.
Activities & Experiences: Learn about the initiatives to protect marine ecosystems at Marine Discovery Centre, head out for a scuba dive during the day and end the day with a spa therapy or cocktails by the sunset.
LUX* North Male Atoll
The surf season is in full swing and the island’s most thrilling waves await the return of their guests. LUX* North Male Atoll, with its own seasonal surf spot welcomes guests back. The returning guests are guaranteed an enjoyable summer in this paradise of penthouse villas and spectacularly designed spaces to play, relax and retreat.
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Sail away exploring deserted islands and exotic reefs, live like a Maldivian. #luxnorthmaleatoll
Activities & Experiences: Sail along the sandbanks and islets that make up the atoll chain in a catamaran, enjoy pink and orange sunsets from the top floor of the overwater penthouses or the private plunge pools and enjoy an entire menu card of water sports in this world-class location.
Soneva Fushi, Baa Atoll
After ensuring a high level of safety and wellness for returning guests, Soneva Fushi welcomed travellers from around the world in style. Soneva’s bare-foot luxury villas hidden among dense foliage on a private island are ideal for those looking for a secluded retreat to relax and unwind.
Activities & Experiences: Get in touch with nature in this fragile landscape, a world far away from blaring news as you picnic on a deserted island with a personal chef. Slow things down to match speed of your breath, be it when scuba divining or contemplating life as the entire night sky floods with a billion stars.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
Waldorf Astoria Maldives in South Male Atoll is a tropical paradise spanning across three islands. All rooms and suites come generously appointed with a private pool and for those keen to enter a fantasy style ‘Narnia’, the resort has a private island with a beach villa, overwater villa, a residence, 5 pools and a private entertainment clubhouse. How’s that for exclusivity. With all the safety measures in place, Waldorf welcomes returning guests with open arms.
Activities & Experiences: Eleven dining venues, a world-class spa, you very own private ‘play’ island and beyond that every possible activity in the Maldives is at your fingertips.
Velaa Private Island, Maldives
Checking all the boxes in a luxury island getaway list, Velaa Private Island in x, is a place of seclusion in harmony with the environment and giving you a glimpse of the tranquil Maldivian way of life. Here, the mornings are fresh and calming, the afternoons cool when snorkelling along the island’s edges and the evenings take on shades of champagne irrespective of where you find yourself when on this island – it’s the inner child at play here.
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Your safe haven is only a flight away. #VelaaPrivateIsland #VelaaMoments #VistaJet #SafeHaven
Activities & Experiences: Indulge in a round of golf in a tropical island setting in the middle of the Indian Ocean or seek solace at Tavaru tower, a white coral-like tube of a structure hiding an extensive wine cellar. When having difficulty weighing the options between golfing or wine, head to Cloud9 for a session of indulgent pampering and cool off in their snow room; try and remember, you are still in the Maldives. ◼
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© This article was first published online in Aug 2020 – World Travel Magazine.