Oaga has taken its aquatic artistry below the surface adorning their extensive pool complex with colourful designs and images.
Best of the Maldives: Colourful Plunge Pool – Oaga
We are noting a increasing number of plunge pools in villas. Having your own private pool is becoming the norm for the 5-star luxury properties. The plunge pools are actually superb for the younger children (safe and perfectly adequate) and frankly for most adults (who often just want a literal “plunge” to cool off from the heat especially if they have been lying in the sun. Oaga’s plunge pools, like al the rest of the property, present an yet another canvas for artistic creativity.
Best of the Maldives: Rope Climbing Slide – Joali
Why climb steps when you could climb a rope obstacle course and be rewarded with a thrilling pool dunk at Joali’s Muramas kids club?
Best of the Maldives: Kids Club Pool Style – OZEN Reserve Bolifushi
For years, kids clubs were after thoughts relegated to a simple buildings in the island interior, but the rise of families visiting the destination has led to as much effort going into making the younger set experience as luxurious as the adults. This up-leveling is not just the bevy of indulgent activities and amusements, but also in the aesthetics as. The kids club pools are been particularly nondescript, but OZEN Reserve Bolifushi’s is as elegant as any you will find in the Maldives.
Best of the Maldives: Water Breakfasts – Sun Siyam Vilu Reef
The aquatic wonderland of the Maldives is all about the water. And Sun Siyam Vilu Reef have made the water a venue for a comprehensive range of distinctive dining experiences:
- Pool Breakfast
- Lagoon Breakfast
- Sand Spit Breakfast
We’ve always loved eating our breakfasts by the water, and we have eaten them in the water with the increasingly grammable pool breakfasts, but we have never experienced so many and such diverse water-centric morning feasts.
I’ve added a new Tag for “in water” offerings and activities for things you normally wouldn’t do in water, but Maldives resorts have found a way to add an aquatic twist.
Best of the Maldives: Pool Hoist – Amilla
IWOOT! (I want one of those) I coach rowing for disabled individuals and one of the challenges is transfers from wheelchairs to the boats the water. We often improvise with manual lifting, but as Lori points out (who used to run a therapy department for disability treatment centre), manual assists for transfers can be dangerous not only for the helper, but for the individual being helped. The proper way to transfer to someplace like the water is with a purpose-built hoist. Also, hoists allow the impaired individual to transfer more gracefully and not feel self-conscious about bothering people to assist them. Thankfully, Amilla Maldives has introduced one to the Maldives:
- “We have a beach wheelchair to assist with moving on loose sand. For access to the water, we have a floating wheelchair. We also have a portable pool hoist which can be used in the main pool and in the Reef Pool Water Villa. The Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villa’s pool is at a small height, so alternative access through a sling can be arranged.”
How Much is a Pool in the Maldives?
One of the very first motivations to start Maldives Complete was to get a comprehensive list of resorts with pools (which our kids loved to frolic in). Now the pervasive 5-star luxury properties nearly all have pools with every room. But, they come at a price. That is, a price uplift versus equivalent rooms without the pools. Similar to my previous, “How Much Does a Sunset Cost?”, I thought I would tap into Maldives Complete’s database of over 1200 room categories to analyse this pool premium.
I compared all room types where the resort had definitively matching room descriptors of a room type with and without a pool (eg. “Beach Villa” and “Beach Villa with Pool”):
- Average percentage increment: 27% more expensive for pool version
- Average cost increment: $275
- Lowest increment: Sun Siyam Olhuveli Grand Beach Villa with Pool – $40 (8% of cost without pool)
- Highest increment: Maamuta Family Beach Pool Villa – $597 (41% of cost without pool)
Disclaimer: Not all pools the same. Also, a number of “with Pool” room categories have larger room footprints so the room type is really more than just an added pool, but rather the pool is the signature addition that also signifies and includes other enhancements.
Best of the Maldives: Kids Pool Area – Soneva Jani
The very first resort attribute that I researched, long before Maldives Complete was a website, was which resorts had pools. We knew from visiting Lori’s sister’s beach house, that despite being surrounded by an expansive ocean for swimming, the kids got tired of the salt and sand after many hours, but still wanted to carry on with the water fun. So having a pool was a valued option for us (plus, us parents could lounge more easily especially with poolside drink service). Soneva Jani “The Den” the kids club includes a 1,668-square-foot swimming pool features a waterslide, catamaran nets, shallow areas for toddlers, and two waterfalls.
Best of the Maldives: Swimming “Pool” Channel – Ailafushi
Some people ask why people want pools in the Maldives when there is some much delightful water surrounding the entire property. One advantage is that a pool provides a swimming area more protected from currents. Well, Ailafushi’s island is sculpted with a channel dissecting it with a circular “pool” right in the centre. It not only offers a natural bathing spot for the aquatically minded, but also an alluring water feature for the landlubbers. More and more new islands have been built with terrforming, but this shows that you can craft the water-scape as well.
Best of the Maldives: Longest Continuous Pool – Kuda Villingili
In the arena of numerical bragging rights, sometime you have to be quite explicit about your category. Kuda Villingili boasts the “longest pool” in the Maldives.
- “Take a dive in the cool waters of the resort’s swimming pool, one of the longest in the Maldives that stretches 150-metres, surrounded by lush nature.”
But at 150 metres, it didn’t seem to meet Sirru Fen Fushi’s 200 metre (!) long one. BUT, SFF’s is divided into two equal pools adjacent to each other, so KV is correct that they have the longest continuous pool in the destination (compared to SFF’s two 100m long pools).
Ideal for triathletes and swimmers who don’t like tumble turns.
