Maldives 19.06.2020 Transindus
Known for their palm fringed and powdered sand beaches, a holiday to the Maldives is one of the best ways to enjoy a social distancing holiday in 2021. Stunning overwater and beachside villas allow for more space than many other hotels and resorts around the world and with dozens of luxury islands to choose from, you need to speak to a specialist in the Maldives to find the resort that’s right for you.
We have done a round up of our favourite and the best resorts in the Maldives for social distancing – guaranteed to be a holiday to remember.
Best for Large Groups: Soneva Fushi
Soneva Fushi’s huge selection of private villas are the best hideaways if you are looking for a holiday with your extended family bubble. Their largest villa, the Private Reserve, sleeps 18 adults and 3 children and comes with its own spa, sauna, gym and childrens room meaning there’s very little reason for you to venture to other parts of the island.
If your family entourage doesn’t extend to an army of 20+ people, we love their smaller private villas including Villa 15 which sits on the quieter sunrise side of the island. It sleeps 6 adults and 4 children and comes with outdoor bathrooms and a water slide.
Book your holiday to The Maldives at the right time, and you could catch some shooting stars through the telescope at the hotel’s very own observatory.
Best for Honeymoons: Milaidhoo
If like many, you have had to cancel your wedding, your honeymoon will be a long awaited time to relax and reflect on 2020. Milhaidhoo really do pull out all the stops for honeymooners even naming a star in the sky after you both. Not only that but you will be greeted on arrival with cake, enjoy a complimentary couples massage, a candlelit private dinner in your villa and a romantic bath with flower petals and scented oils.
For the extra injection of romance, they have over half a dozen exclusive experiences for two to choose from ranging from a sunset sailing cruise to a night on an isolated sandbank under the stars.
Best for Kids & Young Families: Six Senses Laamu
Whilst many days have been spent home schooling this year, a week in The Maldives holds plenty of educational value if you choose the right resort. We love the Six Senses Laamu for it’s focus on sustainability and adventure.
Children can learn about the ocean by watching turtles hatching on the beach or by searching for Nemo on a snorkelling adventure through the coral reefs of the Laamu atoll. A behind the scenes tour of the resort will teach your little ones about sustainability and hotel management while a visit to a local school on a local island excursion educates the whole family with a glimpse into village life.
Best for Sustainability: Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru
The Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru shares the top spot for sustainability with the previously mentioned Six Senses Laamu. The Four Seasons’ quest to become carbon neutral has led to the introduction of widespread yet discreet solar panels generating power to all of the resorts suites for part of the year.
Having removed single use plastic where possible, including plastic straws and water bottles, any plastic brought to the island is also recycled into clothes or shoes and sold in the island’s boutique shop – amazing if you’re looking for a memorable souvenir from your 2021 holiday.
Boasting the largest known population of manta rays (which you can swim and snorkel with) the island also invests in manta research to better protect the ocean’s creatures.
Photo Credit: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island | Justin Nicholas Photography.
Best for the Bucket List: Conrad Maldives
Every luxury resort in the Maldives boasts exclusive experiences which can’t be enjoyed closer to home but not every hotel has an underwater restaurant. Five meters below the surface of the ocean is an award-winning restaurant with panoramic views of the surrounding coral reef. Above and all around, you can spot fish, sharks, turtles and other marine creatures as you enjoy your a la carte lunch or dinner.
Alongside their underwater restaurant, the Conrad also boasts an underwater bedroom suite with similar but equally spectacular views guaranteeing a once-in-a-lifetime sleep. Above water, the same suite enjoys an outdoor deck with an infinity pool, a private chef and butler, on-call fitness trainer and private jet skis.
Best if you don’t like Sea Planes: Baros
For many, the idea of getting on a small twin engine plane that lands on water churns their stomach, putting them off a luxury holiday to the Maldives but there are plenty of alternatives closer to the international airport in Male. Our favourite is Baros, one of the first luxury resorts to be developed and just a short, private 25 minute speedboat ride direct from the city.
The island itself is slightly larger than some of it’s rivals with a jungle in its centre. It boasts plenty of villa options to choose from ranging from the overwater rooms with pools to the Deluxe Villas with huge private gardens, deep free-standing bath tubs and a 24hr villa host.
Being one of the more established resorts in the Maldives, Baros has also had longer to protect and restore its coral reef making for world-class snorkelling with marine biologists to accompany you and show you some of the corals hidden secrets.
