return to paradise
Known for its idyllic ring-shaped atolls, beautiful beaches, blue lagoons and extensive reefs, the Maldives is a safe and welcoming destination, says Clare Walsh
The seaplane glides to a graceful halt, touching down on its floating platform. During the 25-minute transfer from Malé, the mesmerising seascape of the glittering Maldivian atolls has ensured my camera hasn’t had a moment’s rest.
Stepping off the plane and breathing in the warm fragrant air, my shoulders relax. Switching to ‘island time’ is easy.
The Maldives, in all its white-sanded, palmtreed glory, is the stuff of dreams and a trip here is a perfect dose of natural medicine for stressed-out Brits looking for a little escapism.
With no busy schedule or work deadlines to worry about my most pressing concern is which spa treatment to try at my allinclusive resort. But first port of call: the beach. I’ve long been dreaming of stepping into these worldrenowned waters and immersing myself in the ethereal world that lies beneath.
The Maldives won a raft of travel awards last year, including the ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination’. The impossible clarity of the water provides perfect viewing conditions for the multi-hued array of exotic fish that dart between vivid coral; something I’ll be witnessing first-hand later in the week during a scuba lesson, courtesy of the resort’s dive school.
Business as usual
Time spent in the Maldives feels like being spirited away into an otherworldly bubble. However, its hard-earned ‘Edenlike’ status has recently come under threat from ongoing political unrest in Malé, the capital, leaving some potential visitors anxious about the safety of the destination.
And In late February, the Embassy of the Maldives in London announced that a state of emergency was to be extended for another 30 days – but this was lifted on March 22.
The Embassy’s underpinning message was one of reassurance that the politics would not impact visitors and, where tourism is concerned, it’s very much business as usual.
The UKs Foreign Office current advice takes a slightly more cautious tone, suggesting that further political demonstrations in the capital are likely and advising visitors to stay well clear of any demonstrations.
It also notes that “Most visits to the Maldives are trouble free, with the most common problem faced by British nationals being lost passports”.
Certainly many in the travel industry remain unpreturbed with Hayes and
Jarvis confirming that the Maldives remains one of its best-selling destinations and that they
“hadn’t received any cancellations”.
Taylor Oliver, the operator’s Indian Ocean Destination Specialist, commented: “Made up of over 1,000 islands, the Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries, with all resorts and businesses throughout the nation’s atolls unaffected by any recent events.
“All flights and resorts are operating as usual and remain very safe to tourists.
We are continuing to promote the destination with confidence as a safe and incredible place to visit.”
“Gold Medal and Travel 2 continue to work alongside our industry partners to support any agents with customers querying the current state of emergency in Malé”
Tricia Birmingham, Senior Product Manager of Middle East and Indian Ocean at Gold Medal
And Tricia Birmingham, Senior Product Manager of Middle East and Indian Ocean at Gold Medal, said: “Very localised protests and rallies have taken place in the capital, Malé, but there have been no reports of similar protests at Malé International Airport on Velana Island or on the outlying islands where the majority of resorts and hotels are located.”
Top experiences
Culture: Clients hoping to infuse a little culture into their holiday can enjoy a unique experience at the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi (sirrufenfushi.com).
Set to open this month (April), the lagoon resort will feature the Maldives’ first underwater sculpture museum. Created by celebrated underwater artist Jason deCaires Taylor, his work has been hailed by National Geographic as one of the top 25 wonders of the world.
Adventure: Why discover just one island when there are so many more out there to explore? Dream Yacht Charter (dreamyachtcharter.co.uk) has just started selling through travel agents and selected tour operators, having recently appointed Sunrise Marketing to handle its trade relationships. It offers adventurous clients the chance to go island hopping onboard luxury catamarans.
The itineraries (between seven and ten nights) visit unspoiled lagoons and uninhabited islands that are ideal for snorkelling and swimming. A crew takes care of the sailing and meal preparation.
Health and wellness: At Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas (kihavah-maldives. anantara.com), health-conscious clients can start their holiday with a personal consultation from a resident wellness coach who draws up a tailored programme.
A holistic chef prepares customised menus with a focus on raw plant-based cuisine and works with the resident yogi to create Ayurveda cuisine. Clients can also enjoy meditation and yoga with one-on-one training.
Sport: Scuba enthusiasts can get their fix on a seven-day cruise offered by Carpe Diem Maldives (carpediemmaldives.com).
On board the Carpe Vita, expert tuition is offered to up to 20 divers after their PADI
Open Water Diver Certificate. Starting in Malé and ending in Baa Atoll, it will also include a snorkelling visit to the region’s annual manta ray migration in Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, a UNESCO-protected marine biosphere area.
What’s new
Offers: Clients travelling on their own can take advantage of solo travel by Mirihi Island (mirihi.com/en), which runs from May 20-September 30, 2018.
The resort has removed the single supplements on rooms, and guests can socialise on sunset sailing trips, whale shark safaris, diving trips, group yoga classes and at weekly beach cinemas.
Activities: New for 2018, Six Senses Laamu (sixsenses.com/resorts/laamu/destination) plans to open a dive centre, Deep Blue Divers. Both PADI courses and daily-guided trips will be on offer in the reefs surrounding the resort.
The Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort
(accorhotels.com) opens in 2018 and guests can train at its over-water fitness centre before relaxing in an award-winning spa.
Hotels: Hard Rock Hotel Maldives (hardrockhotels.com/maldives.htm) and Hard Rock Cafe Maldives is set to open October 1 2018. Located within one of the country’s largest lagoons, it will feature 178 guest rooms, family suites, beach villas and over-water villas. It will offer complimentary use of Fender guitars and Crosley record players for in-room jam sessions.
Mӧvenpick Resort & Spa (movenpick.com) is opening its first resort in the Maldives later this year. Situated on the remote Kuredhivaru Island in Noona Atoll, it will feature 32 beach villas and 70 over-water villas. The first Marine National Park in the Maldives is a 15-minute speedboat ride away - ideal for clients interested in diving.
Set to open in spring 2018, Carpe Diem Beach Resort & Spa (carpediemmaldives.com/carpe-diembeach-resort-spa/) will be the first resort opening for Carpe Diem Maldives. Located in Raa
Atoll on one of a trio of uninhabited islands on the edge of Baa Atoll, it will feature 115 pool villas, a spa, a selection of restaurants, and a private water park of inflatable slides.
Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts is opening OBLU SELECT at Sangeli (oblu-sangeli.com) on July 1 in Malé Atoll. The four-star deluxe resort will feature 137 villas and over-water honeymoon pool suites.
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa completed a refurbishment last year. Two new villa categories, a Deluxe Park Pool Villa and a two-bedroom Park Pool Villa, offer an additional 100- and 135-squaremetres of space respectively.
Set to open in the latter half of 2018,
JOALI Maldives (joali.com) will feature 73 private beach and water villas. It also boasts
“Customers do not travel via Malé Island when transferring from Velana Island to other atolls by seaplane or speedboat”
four restaurants, an art gallery and studio, whisky lounge, library and museum.
Tourism talk
“We would like to reassure Selling Travel readers that all travel-related businesses in the Maldives continue to operate as normal. The message to our UK tourism partners is the same: the Maldives continues to be a safe holiday destination for UK travellers.
“All international airports, domestic airports, hotel resorts and guest houses are in full operation and tourists can look forward to a wonderful holiday experience. We would therefore ask that all our tourism partners continue to confidently promote the Maldives to their clients as a safe place to visit.”
Mr Haris Mohamed, Managing Director of MMPRC
Where to book it
TRAVEL 2 – 0800 022 4182
Seven nights at the four-star Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, staying in a beach villa on an all-inclusive basis, starts from £1,269pp. The deal includes free accommodation for one night, an early-booking discount, and return seaplane transfers. Flights are available from Heathrow with Qatar Airways. This package is valid for travel between
May 21 and June 18 2018. travel2.com
TURQUOISE – 01494 678400
Seven nights all-inclusive at the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa in a Park Villa is from £4,079pp, low-season. Includes return flights, domestic flights and return private speedboat transfers. turquoiseholidays.co.uk