How the Maldives takes luxury to new heights

The Maldives is synonymous with the word luxury, with iconic water villas and personal butler service set against a backdrop of white sand and turquoise lagoons. Every resort in the Maldives is located on a private island of its own, due to the country’s unique ‘one island, one resort’ policy, with the exception of Crossroads Maldives. But 2023’s luxury travellers want more than just five-star accommodation, they also desire experiential, highly customised and more environmentally aware holidays. ‘The Maldives was mostly advertised as a romantic destination for honeymooners, but now we’ve started to see travellers talking about much more – the amazing nature of the islands, wellness opportunities to discover here, and family holiday experiences,’ says Anastasiya Babenko, who oversees creative strategies at LUX* South Ari resort. The expanding market, demand for new experiences and fierce competition between the 170 resorts has become a catalyst for luxury resorts to pioneer increasingly remarkable concepts. Walking on sunshine Bobbing on the tranquil water adjacent to LUX* South Ari Atoll is a collection of dark blue boxes. From shore, they blend seamlessly into the turquoise and vermillion seascape. Beneath them, turtles and small fish seek refuge while they silently generate 191kWp of solar energy. This is SolarSea, one of the world’s largest floating solar power systems. ‘On a sunny day, our solar systems can support up to 30% of the resort’s energy needs,’ says Anastasiya, adding many rooftops are covered in solar panels too. ‘We’re now working on the next stage of the project to make it even more efficient. Guests are able to track how much energy is stored and consumed daily on their in-room TV’s Solar Channel. We try to make all our initiatives engaging and interactive, so the guests feel that they also contribute to our sustainable efforts’. The eco projects also include a marine biology centre, which studies the local whale shark population and helps regenerate corals by attaching tiny fragments of hardy corals to frames, which are helping to rebuild parts of the reef damaged by coral bleaching. As a guest, you can sponsor a coral frame and go on a guided snorkelling eco-tour. You’ll also notice when you eat and drink that glass and bamboo fibre replaces plastic bottles and cups. Step behind the scenes to see how the vegetable and herb gardens keep some of the produce locally sourced. Despite its secluded location, there’s no compromise on the luxury amenities. In your sleek, coconut-thatched villa poised on stilts over the water, or scattered along the beach, enjoy a modern sound system, luxury linen and even pillow menus. All this combined with butler service and bespoke guest itineraries makes for the epitome of Maldivian resort hospitality. Cuisine without limits Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences in Baa Atoll Unesco World Biosphere Reserve is another resort brimming with immersive experiences. The resort’s New Year’s Eve parties featuring international singers and DJs are legendary. But perhaps the most appealing are the award-winning ‘Wellness Your Way’ menus. Wellness manager Victoria Kruse was inspired by her own experience as a coeliac, and discovering ways of managing it through diet. She also observed that many guests also follow an ‘eating lifestyle’ (such as gluten-free, dairy-free, or paleo). But most resorts only offered limited options. ‘Wellness cuisine has become a real expectation from guests,’ says Victoria. ‘And choice is so important, because food is such a big component of a holiday.’ This led her to create ‘Wellness Your Way’ (WYW), the Maldives’ most extensive specialty menus. ‘Around 60% of our guests use WYW menus, if not for every single meal,’ says Victoria, adding that almost half of all of Amilla’s guests follow an eating lifestyle. ‘Around 35% of guests book with us because of the Wellness Your Way menus’. The menus can be integrated into a personalised wellness programme, combined with movement and spa treatments. Enjoy a workout in the strength or cardio studios, but don’t miss the quirky ‘Jungle Gymnasium’, an island-made activity zone set under an enormous Banyan tree. The Amilla Bubble is another one-of-a-kind experience, where you can spend a night ‘glamping’ under the stars in a transparent air-conditioned inflatable bubble on a private patch of beach. Dinner, massages and champagne complete the pampering. Or for a cultural experience on one of the country’s most authentic island village excursions. Listen to stories about the area’s history and folklore and visit a private museum. Small island, big fun Across the atoll from Amilla lies the Westin Maldives. This high-end family-oriented resort boasts luxurious wellness facilities and large villas, ideal for multi-generational holidays. In response to demand for family-friendly Maldivian getaways, The Westin constructed one of the biggest kids’ clubs in the Maldives for kids aged four to 12, with its own monitored pool. ‘It’s not just a kids club, says general manager Vijay Kumar. ‘We have a lot of educational but fun activities, such as our marine biology programme. Our marine biologist takes them snorkelling and explains to them about the marine life.” With so much available for kids, you can seize the opportunity to discover the spa while your little ones are being entertained. Or enjoy activities for the whole family, from tennis to cooking classes and even personal training sessions. The family-friendly approach takes nothing away from the blissful sense of ‘island chic’ at this picturesque property. The tasteful design blends tropical and contemporary aesthetics seamlessly. ‘There’s no compromise on luxury. What we have is a beautiful resort and all our villas have private pools so families can have their own space,’ adds Vijay. A wellbeing world In the past, the Maldives was mostly known as a romantic destination for honeymooners but the make-up of the guests at JOALI BEING, the only wellbeing retreat in the Maldives, show that its appeal is broadening. “We didn’t open as another luxury resort in the Maldives. Our vision was to create something truly unique – the first wellbeing island of its kind in the Maldives. As a result, we have been able to attract a significant number of solo travellers, particularly women, who have been actively seeking authentic wellbeing journeys worldwide. Once they discover JOALI BEING, they often become immediate repeaters, choosing us as their preferred destination,’ says general manager Ozgur Cengiz. ‘Our commitment to creating a true wellbeing experience is evident in every aspect of our island. We collaborated with esteemed experts who played an integral role in developing our concept. From the biophilic design concept to a comprehensive range of services, every element has been carefully designed with the wellbeing of our guests in mind,’ he adds. Before you even arrive, the resort arranges a health questionnaire and video call with a consultant such as a naturopath, herbalist, or nutritionist, based on your responses. They then draw up a bespoke wellbeing programme for you built around their ‘Four Pillars’: mind, skin, microbiome and energy. Discover how this translates into delicious a la carte menus, a sensory room, Discovery Sound Path, Ayurvedic doctor, cryotherapy and much more. Natural materials and soft hues create beautiful living spaces, treatment rooms, exercise zones and dining venues; the epitome of a luxury-meets-wellbeing experience. ‘At JOALI BEING, we have successfully created an environment where individuals can embark on transformative journeys. We take great pride in being pioneers in this space and are dedicated to providing a truly exceptional experience for every guest who chooses to embrace the essence of our wellbeing island.” It’s frequently said by Maldives insiders that anyone who believes there is nothing to do in the Maldives has never actually been. ‘We customise things according to every guest’s needs, and have different activities lined up for them for days to come,’ explains Vijay. ‘But they also can choose to do whatever they want. Every single day, there’s something new to try’.