EMERALD OOZE
A matchless blend of the classy Hilton pedigree and haute gastronomy puts the brand-new Amingiri on top of the Maldives lust list.
Twenty minutes of gentle bobbing on the emerald waves of the Indian Ocean brings you to the tranquil lagoon-setting of the Hilton Amingiri Resort & Spa, Maldives. The nirvana credentials of this luxury island-hotel are well endorsed by yacht transfers, private pools and personal butlers. The pampering begins as soon as you land at Malé, only to be greeted by the resort’s own convoy of indulgent yachts.
Malé may be close, but it’s far enough to amplify the ‘lost in the ocean’ tranquillity. Thatched roofs set against clumps of fragrant frangipani groves, quintessential palms and hibiscus clusters ensure that beauty and colour are adequate decor accents for the villas’ wooden doorways that dot the sandy lanes. The GEM– Amingiri’s new word for butler–plays up to expectations and the moniker beautifully, and is a bonus check that literally organises the flow and fluidity of everyday at this wonderous island retreat. Indeed, that is the mark of a true holiday when your needs are anticipated and furnished before you have had time to outline them. Facilities are exceptional: From the dive team that offers and organises sub-aquatic excursions (whether you’re looking to encounter black-tip sharks, manta rays, and hawksbill turtles); hiring a jet ski or taking a dolphin-spotting cruise; to the impressive kid’s club. Re Fuel, a rooftop lounge, is unique to the Maldives and is an exclusive party post for teenage guests who are served zero-proof beverages. For landlubbers, there are cooking classes to fancy up your rendition of the typical local fare of fish curry and Roshi (local bread). Whether it’s sunrise yoga, a Corallium tour or a massage at the Spa, there is a constant at play here: The best is at hand.
THE LURE
Honest smiles accompany peerless service, while managers are remarkably hands-on. The Spa, a first to familiarise the traditional Hammam experience– longstanding Turkish bathing ritual–with a 21st century receptivity is a fairytale. Each food and beverage experience is top drawer. From the buzzy Beach Shack where buckets of azure water prawns are washed down with champagne, to the epicurean highs of Origin that revels in sustainable seafood, obtained through ageing techniques and a mindful food upcycling approach is
a first for Maldives. At Aura, don’t miss the Poke Bowl, but do make a pit stop for a session at the cocktail lab that is devoted exclusively to mixology. Enjoying their colourful confections in fiery colours is a great way to bid adieu to the island sun.
Breakfast at their all-day dining restaurant, Habitat, has to be seen to be believed–an impressive buffet is par for the course in all luxury resorts, but this is an indulgent wishlist of extraordinary wiles with everything you could possibly want, hope for and desire. From every imaginable kind of milk to