maldives

Sheraton Rolls Out Shine For Sheraton Spa Concept

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts has announced their new spa concept. Shine for Sheraton will debut in new properties worldwide and as a new spa solution for existing properties; it will be in 17 hotels by 2011. Germaine de Capuccini, a leading global spa and skincare brand, has been designated as the preferred product partner for Shine spas. According to a press release Sheraton has spent $6 billion in a "brand revitalization effort."

The spa offers five signature treatments: a massage, facial, body treatment, manicure/pedicure and a treatment for two. The brand's signature new spa offering is currently available at select hotels in China, Vietnam, the Maldives (shown above) and the Slovak Republic. The global roll out of Shine for Sheraton will continue with 12 openings scheduled over the next 15 months including the Sheraton Shanghai Hong Kou, the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng and the Sheraton Yantai Golden Beach Resort followed by further expansion in North and Latin America. The spas will be decorated in warm creams, browns and burnished gold with accents of cobalt blue, tourmaline and coral using materials such as marble, onyx, mahogany, polished metal and glass.

Tags: maldives, sheraton, Sheraton Hotel, SheratonHotels, shine for sheraton, spas

Sleep Underwater in the Maldives

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

The world's first undersea restaurant opened 5 years ago this month at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, and to celebrate the anniversary the restaurant is offering guests the chance to not only eat under the sea but sleep under it as well. The 12-seat restaurant will be converted to a private bedroom suite for two, complete with private champagne dinner and breakfast in bed.

Ithaa sits five meters below the surface of the Indian Ocean, encased in plexiglass and reached by descending a spiral staircase. The restaurant offers breathtaking views and 'fusion Maldivian cuisine' (local cooking with a western twist), and rumor has it that over lunch the place is so bright that guests and staff have to wear sunglasses (they even keep spares on hand and offer a sunglasses cleaning service). Sounds wonderful, although I imagine seeing the sun rise while eating breakfast in bed is even better.

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Tags: hilton, hotels, ithaa, Ithaa restaurant, Maldives, restaurants, sleep underwater, underwater hotel suite, underwater restaurant

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Maldive Islands President To Put Presidential Yacht on eBay

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

The current president of the idyllic Maldive islands is sending a strong message that the days of presidential extravagance are over. Mohamed Nasheed is selling a multi-million dollar yacht used by the former President, Maumoon Gayoom. The island of Arah was the former president's weekend retreat and the yacht has been moored there. President Nasheed plans to turn the luxurious collection of beach villas into a into a marine research facility or even a writer's retreat.He is also thinking of turning the lavish presidential palace in Male into either a museum or the country's first university.

President Nasheed took Chris Morris of BBC News on a tour of the former president's offices which included a gold-plated toilet. Nasheed's more modest ways have shaved many millions off the presidential budget. The yacht may be auctioned off on eBay. According to the article some feel that the new president is almost a little too modest and not acting in a presidential manner.

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Tags: maldives, mohamed nahseed, MohamedNahseed, yacht

Banyan Tree Maldives Madivaru

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Banyan Tree Hotels is opening their fourth property in the idyllic Maldives, the Banyan Tree Maldives Madivaru. The property unveils the hotels first tented pool villa concept in the Maldives. Each villa is comprised of three tents that form living, sleeping and bath areas. The bath tent also includes spa beds for in-tent massages and facials. The tents have timber floors, rattan and teak furniture and big ceiling canopies. The villas are priced starting at $3900 but the resort is offering a special deal of 50% savings on accommodation, 25% savings on seaplane transfers, in-villa couple spa treatment, complimentary meals and selected beverages now through October 31st 2007 with minimum three nights' stay.

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Tags: banyan tree, BanyanTree, beach, maldives, resort, travel, vacation

Naladhu Opens In The Maldives

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Another amazing resort has opened in the idyllic setting of the Maldives. Naladju was designed by Maldivian architect Mohammed Shafeeq and Thai-based interior designer Julian Coombs and the design has echoes of the Colonial era updated for the modern traveler. The name Naladhu means "pretty little island" and the resort is home to only 19 ocean houses, each named for a Maldivian plant. Each little house has dining room and bedroom spaces with white gabled ceilings, a terrazzo bath tub with free-formed edges and an open-faced shower which allows for a view from within but remains hidden to anyone outside the house enclosure. There is also an outdoor pool and each house has an espresso machine and a stocked refrigerator and wine cellar as well as a flat screen TV and Bose audio. A five-day package sells for $11,000.

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Tags: maldives, naladhu, travel, vacation

TomKat Honeymoon Aboard the Arctic P

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

I've refrained myself from joining the hordes chronicling every move of newlyweds Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes thus far but news of a yacht always draws me back into the fray. The two are spending their honeymoon yachting around the Maldives aboard luxury yacht the Arctic P. The Arctic P was the yacht of the late Kerry Packer and now belongs to his son, James Packer, who was a guest at the couple's wedding in Italy on Saturday. The Artic P is a 288-foot former salvage tug which Packer customized into a luxury yacht.

More pics of the Arctic P are available at Yacht Images and also here. Due to her tug past, she's not exactly the most gorgeous megayacht I have ever seen but I am sure the accomodations are luxurious.

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Tags: arctic p, ArcticP, honeymoon, katie holmes, maldives, packer, tom cruise, tomkat

W Hotel Opens In The Maldives

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

The latest hotel chain to colonize the Maldive Islands is the W. It's a perfect fit, chic hotels for islands that have become a default luxury spot. The W Maldives Retreat and Spa is located on the island of Fesdu, in the North Ari Atoll and features 78 private villas–each with its own plunge pool and sundeck as well as six restaurants and cocktail bars. There is even a grotto bar, 15 Below which is located 15 feet below the island surface as well as Fire, a barbecue restaurant, Sip, a cocktail bar, and Wet, a pool bar. The villas include 46 over-water retreats, 28 bi-level beach retreats, three two-bedroom retreats with oversized infinity plunge pools; and one two-bedroom that includes an oversized infinity-edge plunge pool, wraparound sundeck, and panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.

It's not all just relaxing and eating you can also dive, take a variety of classes, enjoy a gym with views of the Indian ocean or take a seaside yoga class. Bliss isn't cheap, the over-water rooms will run you over $1,000 per night.

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Tags: hotel, journey, maldives, spa, travel, w hotel

Treetop Dining In The Maldives

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

If you are in a remote location why not have a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience? A few days ago I mentioned dining by the four elements, now at the Six Senses Soneva Fushi resort in the Maldives you can enjoy the ultimate Robinson Crusoe dining experience. This new dining experience is more than thirteen feet above the organic garden with views across the jungle. You arrive through the jungle and then climb up a stairway to a suspended rope and plank bridge that leads to the restaurant platform. In the center of the main platform, which holds eight tables with daybeds, there is a sunken kitchen. A walkway off the main platform leads to a tower with a bathroom which has a glass wall for treetop views. There is also a tower-topped observatory with a telescope. The menu at the organic garden restaurant changes daily.

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Tags: dining, maldives, organic, six senses, SixSenses, soneva

Anantara Maldives

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Another resort in the idyllic Maldives will be opening this summer on August 1. Anantara Maldives is a five-star boutique hotel located on the South Male Atoll and it is the newest in the small chain of luxury Anantara resorts. The resort has 68 beachfront villas, two beachfront pool villas and 38 deluxe over-water suites and two deluxe over-water pool suites around a private lagoon. The suites all have king-sized beds with canopies. The resort has restaurants featuring Italian and Asian cuisines and there is also a cooking school at the resort. Other amenities include island picnics, a gymnasium, tennis courts, an infinity-edge freshwater swimming pool and the Anantara Spa which offers Ayurvedic and Indian mud therapies. Seven-night packages start at $2,300.

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Tags: antara, luxury resort, maldives, spa, travel

The Rania Experience

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Rania Experience is one of the most exclusive, luxury vacations you can take, set around a private resort that only accommodates nine guests at a time. Rania is the name of and 86-foot yacht that carries guests smoothly through the waters of the Maldives to the 7-acre Water Garden Island. It is also used to provide cruises to nearby islands, taking guests through some of the most pristine waters and beautiful beaches in the world. Vacationers can divide their time between land and sea and there is plenty to occupy the time, and though complete relaxation is an option, there are myriad activities offered.

Tags: exclusive, island, islands, luxury, maldives, private, rania, rania experience, RaniaExperience, resort

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Soneva Gili, Maldives Resort

by Matthew Collins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

With all the buzz around ABC's "Lost," the deserted tropical island is looking more appealing everyday. Daniel Defoe started it all with the classic Robinson Crusoe and now you can get away from it all like him in the Maldives. Soneva Gili is a resort that doesn't just give you an ocean view, it puts you in the ocean, moreover, above the ocean. All of the 45 rooms stand above the Indian Ocean's crystal waters on stilts, some are connected to the main land by a pier, others, known as the Crusoe Residences are detached and require a boat to access. My personal favorite is the Private Reserve, a capacious 15,000 sq feet made up of 5 buildings. Featuring 2 master suites and a guest room, this floating palace even includes Mr. and Mrs. Friday to serve you as you relax on the many open decks or indulge in the spa room. For me, I'll be partaking in the 2 story slide into the ocean. Cowabunga!

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Tags: getaway, maldives, soneva gili, SonevaGili

Taj Exotica Maldives Opens A New Spa

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Another resort in the idyllic Maldives is theTaj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives. The ocean resort has opened the Jiva Grande Spa, an authentic Indian spa that includes a Yoga and Meditation Pavilion, a VIP Spa Suite and two over-water luxurious couple spa suites. Signature treatments include spa ceremonies, Ayurveda programs and treatments which use products made from Indian herbs and aromatherapy oils. Other spa features include a hammam, couples showers, sun deck loungers and a plunge pool with a large relaxation deck. The resort itself has earned rave reviews from Trip Advisor and is only 15 minutes by a private luxury speedboat, available 24 hours, from Malé International Airport.

[via Express Travel and Tourism]

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Tags: getaway, maldives, resort, spa