Sunday Times

FOR YOUR INSTA BUCKET LIST

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The world’s most Instagramm­able hotel has been officially named — and there are no prizes for guessing that it’s in the Maldives. Anantara Kihavah is situated on the western Baa Atoll in a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, about a 30-minute seaplane flight from Malé. Surrounded by uninhabite­d islands and colourful coral reefs, the hotel says it offers “the luxury of solitude against the world’s most stunning backdrop”. It has 80 private villas, some on stilts over the water and some on the beach, six dining and entertainm­ent venues, an underwater restaurant and wine cellar, and an over-water observator­y.

In Luxury Travel Advisor’s inaugural Most Instagramm­able Hotel in the World contest, the resort took 45 385 of the

121 000 votes cast online.

Or course, all those inevitable “likes” won’t come cheap: nightly rates start from £787 (about R13 500) for two adults and up to two children on a B&B basis.

The runner-up was the Mandapa, a RitzCarlto­n Reserve, in Ubud, Bali, which got 30 143 votes.

With architectu­re and design inspired by an indigenous Balinese village, the hotel sits on the Ayung River and is surrounded by lush jungle views. Rooms are priced from £484 (R8 200) per night.

● https://kihavahmal­dives.anantara.com

● grandluxur­yhotels.com

 ?? Picture: ?? SAY CHEESE The photogenic resort. kihavah-maldives.anantara.com/gallery
Picture: SAY CHEESE The photogenic resort. kihavah-maldives.anantara.com/gallery

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