Best of the Maldives: Closest Water Villa to House Reef – Club Rannalhi

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Club Rannalhi water villa near house reef

Livin’ on the edge.

If that’s for you, but instead of the edge of land above the water you want to be on the edge below the water (and if Dhevanafushi’s Ocean Pearls are a bit to pricey or you don’t want to be detached from the main island), then look at Club Rannalhi.

Most water villas situated on shallow table reef lagoons for obvious architectural reasons. While a handy little snorkel in the lagoon shallows can be fun, the big action tends to be in the deeper house reefs. And one of the big allures of the Maldives is having stunning reefs so conveniently nearby. Throw on your fins and mask and with a few splashes you are at the reef’s edge. If you want the best of both worlds – a water villa and reef proximity – then the closest is Club Rannalhi’s water bungalows which are 20 feet (7 metres) from villa #417 (see photo above).

We snorkelled the reef in that area, staying in a villa just a few doors down, and found it first class. Lots of colourful healthy coral and just about every (small) fish on the ‘Fish Identification’ card.

Close to the action!

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Best of the Maldives: On the Beach Rooms – Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

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Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru beach villa

  

  

‘Intimate’ is one of the words most frequently used to describe the Maldives. Both in a romantic sense, but also in a geographical sense. The the islands’ tiny size making for an intimacy in staying on them. Their low lying aspect giving visitors an intimate connection to the ocean. Their shallow lagoons and reefs lending a gentle intimacy to the ocean itself.

Water villas have come to characterise the intimate connection one has with the ocean during a Maldives stay, but if you want all of the proximity to the ocean of a water bungalow without actually being on a bungalow, then Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru has an option for you, reports Adrian Neville…

“No beach rooms in the Maldives are more on-the-beach than those of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru. Don't expect privacy too.”

You might ask, ‘Why would you want something so close to the water without having a water villa?’…

  1. Kids are not allowed in almost all water villas.
  2. Water villas cost significantly more.
  3. Don’t step on sand going from water to door (okay, I’m reaching here).

 

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru beach villa 2

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Best of the Maldives: Deep Water Villas – Jumeirah Dhevanafushi

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Jumeirah Dhevanafushi Ocean Pearls

Going from boat on the land, to a house on the water. But not just your classic lagoon villas in the archetypal Maldives shallows. But a villa on the ‘high seas’. Adrian Neville noted on his recent research tour, “The Jumeirah Dev. water villa village is the only one in Maldives not in resort lagoon but outside, in deep water, around a sandbank.”

They are called the ‘Ocean Pearls’ and are completely detached from the main resort island of Jumeirah Dhevanafushi so you transfer there by a chauffeured dhoni.

Getting even further away from it all.

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Best of the Maldives: Kids Club Pool – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

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Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru kids club pool

Kandooma may be the best pool for young kids, but Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru has the best young kids pool I have soon. Kandooma’s is the main pool for everyone which happens to be well suited for young pre-schoolers. But Landaa has a special kiddie pool, that is far from kiddie sized, in their excellent kids club. But what really clinched their distinction was their adorable little kiddie lounge chairs and matching junior-sized beach towels (see below).  I did feel a bit like Gulliver visiting the club.  Just right for kids to feel big on a small island.

Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru kids sun beds

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Best of the Maldives: Biggest Pool– Kandooma

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Kandooma - pool 2

There are all sorts of people distinctions. Dog people and cat people. Lake people and ocean people. Sail people and motorboat people. Beach people and pool people.

If you prefer a pool as expansive as Landaa’s beach, then Kandooma is the resort to head to. Now, like the many Maldives lagoons it sort of ressembles, much of the pool is quite shallow. As a result, it makes for an ideal play area for young children.

Kandooma’s pool comes in at 65 metres by 73 metres for a total area of 4,745 square metres. Kanuhura’s pool covers 120 metres by 67 metres, but in actually aquatic area, more than half of those distances are various sinuous twists and squirms rather than full water area.

Pool is so big that it has two of its own island with lounge chairs. With Kandooma’s signature giant beach towels, you could also say that Kandooma is the ‘Best for Paul Bunyan to Take a Dip.’

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Best of the Maldives: Beach – Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

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Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru beach

Whether it’s weddings, tanning, games or just relaxing, one of the best beaches in the Maldives is Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. Now, the entire Maldives nation is renowned for its seaside, so what makes FSLG so special…

  • Size – FSLG is certainly one of the largest beaches in the Maldives where scale is often a rarity. Some people prefer the tiny little island feel with a little plot of sand, but if you want the grand expanse of open seaside vista, then Landaa has that for you.
  • Facilities – Befitting the Four Seasons ethos and its luxury marque, Landaa offers a distinctive array of services and across the beach from one of the best stocked water sports centres in the Maldives to a convenient restaurant. Despite its massive size, the brilliant white soft sand is kept immaculately groomed. There are plenty of loungers with parasols and more than plenty of free sun crème in meg-sized dispensers. The beach-side pool is also a handy way to get a salt-free dip if you prefer.

Life’s a beach!

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Best of the Maldives: Jet Ski Safari – Kurumba

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Kurumba jet ski safari 2

Your voyage to a deserted island doesn’t have to be on a seventeenth century tall ship. At Kurumba, you can zip over on the latest jet skis. With the revamp of their new Extreme Maldives watersports centre, they have introduced the Maldives first jet ski safari…

“Jetski Safari, which is the first in the Maldives, has been developed exclusively for Kurumba guests. This tour takes an environmentally friendly approach to jet skiing – using the latest craft with low emissions and noise levels, without disturbing the tranquillity of the ocean’s natural beauty. This experience will bring new level of fun while navigating some of the Maldives Islands and snorkelling on its magical reefs. This is an island hopping jet ski tour at a contained speed that is interpretive, respects the environment and allows for a new perspective in seeing the Maldives. It allows guests a sense of adventure with an experienced guide as well as allowing guest to snorkel on a remote reef and see other Islands in the Maldives.”

During the safari, guests can find special banks and remote reefs to visit or snorkel. The excursion includes a guide to both make sure everything goes smoothly, help in case of any difficulties and show you the best spots to visit.

Our family regularly jet skis when we visit my wife’s sister who lives by the ocean in North Carolina. They are loads of fun. A number of Maldives aficionados protest the sound they (and other motorised water sports) make disturbing the ildyllic tranquillity that draw so many to the destination in the first place. The safari is also a plus to them because it takes the guests on their buzzing boats (though Kurumba has brought the latest models that have the lowest noise) far away from the resort island itself to places where no people are.

A 90 minute excursion for 2 people costs $300.

Rev your engines for adventure.

Kurumba jet ski safari 1

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Best of the Maldives: Robinson Crusoe Experience – Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu

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Coco Palm Dhuni Kholu desrt island 2

“Thus we never see the true State of our Condition, till it is illustrated to us by its Contraries; nor know how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of it.” – Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

This week (25 April 1719) marks the publication of the classic by Daniel Defoe, ‘Robinson Crusoe’, whose story epitomises idyllic, simple living on remote island paradise. Though set in the South Pacific, the story’s imagery pervades the Maldives with many resorts offering ‘Robinson Crusoe’ experiences and adopting the namesake. Such as the ‘Robinson Villa’ at Soneva Fushi and even the ‘Robinson Club’ resort itself.

And if the resorts themselves don’t offer enough isolated wonders of seclusion for you, most offer a ‘Robinson Crusoe’ excursion which take you to a deserted island all to yourself several hours or even a whole day. One of Lori’s and my favourite experiences was one of these outings when we stayed at Filitheyo and took the trip to Hamza island for the day (see pix below).

Again, I turned to leading authority on all things Maldivian resorts, Adrian Neville, to determine a top recommendation in this area and he called out was the island offered by Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu…

“As to Medhufinolhu, what makes it so good is that it is very small but not too small, so it can feel like ‘yours’. It has decent vegetation and a lovely beach. It is out of sight and sound. Crucially, it has just one building – a hut made of wood and thatch, with a simple shower behind. In front is a table and chairs, made of found wood and coir rope. This is the best I have come across for that mythical Robinson Crusoe experience. And not just me it would seem. It is so popular that during much of the year it is used twice a day. One couple during the day and one couple at night. And I got this beautiful picture. The island was pristine enough to have these terns lay their eggs on the beach. And then they bombed me as I approached.”

I’ve already highlighted Medhufinolhu as a top Overnight Escape (Coco Palm is one of a few resorts to offer an overnight option), but it is just as spectacular for day visits too worthy of a second shout out.

Filitheyo Hamza island 2

Filitheyo Hamza island 1

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Best of the Maldives: Mirror Wall – W Retreat

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W Retreat mirrors

Despite the Maldives renown as a honeymoon destination, I’ve yet to see some of the trappings of American nuptial meccas like Vegas and Pocconos. Where are the rotating heart shaped beds under a mirrored ceiling?

Well, maybe the Maldives have kept it all a bit classier than that, but if you are into mirrors, the resort to check yourself out in is the W Retreat. The extensive use of mirrored glass is all part of the glossy design chic that prevails at the W.

While you won’t find a mirrored ceiling, you will find a gigantic mirror behind bed floor to ceiling. There’s another mirror on the side wall and the closets decorated with mirrors. Behind the bed of the Ocean Haven villa master bed even has a sort of mirror sculpture.

I went with the simple title for this post, but here are a few I rejected in the early drafts…

  • Best for Primpers
  • Best for Vain
  • Best for Reflecting
  • Best for Fun Houses
  • Worst for Vampires
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Best of the Maldives: Honeymoon Registry – Anantara

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Anantara Kihavah honeymoon registry

Tis indeed the season for taking the plunge. The nuptial plunge. Bridal magazines are cascading off the newsagent shelves, harried betrothed are scrambling for church bookings, and couples are getting vase.into their charming first rows over patterns for the bridal registry.

Why not avoid the latter most with gifts that everyone can agree on? That is, just about anything enjoyed in the Maldives.

Anantara (all of their Maldives properties – Kihavah, Veli, Dhigu) has introduced a ‘Honeymoon Registry’ with gifts like an ‘Upgrade to an Over-Water Pool Villa’ or a ‘Private Sand Bank Day Trip’.

When Lori and I tied the knot, we loved getting cash as gifts as we were so impoverished. Starting our lives and blowing so much on the event.  During our honeymoon, we tracked our special treats (eg. nice meals out, horse and buggy ride, trip to the amusement park) and what we spent on them.  Then, when we got back and dug into thank-you note writing, and we attributed the cash gifts to the treats we enjoyed. The generous gift givers seemed to really enjoy the fact that they contributed to something special rather than just topping up a bank account.

The registries are such a help to guests and loved ones who want to make a gift. You never know quite what to get especially in these days where many people do already have a lot of the basic household items. Not to mention that massage or beach dinner sounds much better to give than a toaster or vase.

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