THOMPSON
For world-class personal service and unadulterated luxury, the Maldives just can’t be beaten
Maadhoo Island
Despite being several hundred yards from the shore, I was still only waistdeep – and it was another hundred yards before a reef turned the water from bright turquoise to dark blue.
The sea continued to reveal its secrets as the lagoon shallows of Maadhoo Island merged into the Indian Ocean.
The water was flat, clear, warm and shimmering – just like all the social media posts promised.
And it was only when swimming out in the lagoon that I realised I was finally safe from Moet Man – a smiling Villa with pool waiter who had been tailing me with a champagne bottle since I arrived at OZEN Maadhoo, the premier five-star luxury property in the region for Atmosphere Resorts.
The staff are like an army, I joked at one point. “Yes, we are ready to attack,” Patrick goes for a snorkel a team member laughed. There was another guy who kept sneaking into my room while I was at dinner, running a bubble bath in my outdoor jungle bathroom ready for my return.
But my favourite team were the guys who cleaned and raked the beaches non-stop throughout the day, ensuring the white sand stays that way, with no seaweed or leaves spoiling your Instagram shot.
One of the most noticeable things was the sheer lack of other guests – despite low-season occupancy sitting at 85 per cent, or about 200 people over 90 villas. It often felt like I had the