Do you stare at photos of these idyllic coastlines, dreaming of escaping there? Do the resorts ever look as good as the pictures? And they do.
Very little compares to the reality of soft white sand between your toes, the endless shades of water filled with schools of fish and the most stunning sunsets from your luxury villa. Yes, you will wanderlust all over this place.
Maldives is a place that features on the honeymoon bucket lists. I had the pleasure of finally ticking it off my list, only to put it back on as I would definitely love to go back again! I require family friendly properties, so I need a resort that accommodates and caters to children and extremely fussy food palates!
Malé is the densely populated capital of the Maldives, and it was a hectic journey getting there, but that could be in part to travelling with a lot of family and a toddler. We settled into the SeaPlane Lounge where you can witness the planes taking off (great viewing for a 3 year old), until we took our own. The flight to our island was roughly 25 minutes over mesmerizing views of coral islands amidst clear blue waters. It really is picture perfect.
The Resort
Having previously stayed at The Lux Belle Mare in Mauritius, I am already a fan of The Lux brand, so I had a certain expectation of the Maldivian Lux sister. Welcoming staff, easy check-in and a warm welcome to the island was waiting for us. The check in was conveniently located at their Café, I am a huge coffee fan, so it’s no surprise I started my holiday with a Frappe Lux; it was perfect, just the right amount of coffee and sweetness! Fruit popsicles were given to the children, so they were happy, and so were we!
The Rooms
The rooms are ideally spread around the island; with floating water villas suspended on stilts, as well as beach villas with easy access to all pools and restaurants. I would highly recommend the beach villa when travelling with young children; the rooms are spacious with an outdoor bathtub; his & her walk in closets you at the step of the ocean. It wasn’t long before my room became my home – it was so luxurious, fully equipped with all the amenities one can only dream of, and the cherry on top was a a bottle of champagne and freshly baked macrons.
The Grounds
The resort is simply stunning; every space has been carefully curated to ensure each guest has a memorable experience. From their wishing tree, to the extremely innovative kids club, to the quiet library overlooking the ocean. The attention to detail in aesthetic and appeal is extraordinary. Walk around the whole island barefoot, explore and find little corners of bliss!
The Food
Apart from falling into a Maldivian euphoria, the island-dining scene is excellent (especially since I was pregnant and constantly hungry). My Lux food journal is endless with the huge selection available, but here are my top picks:
· Lagoon Bar has a surfy casual vibe, with huge blow up sea floating swans, serving up a delicious grilled prawn pomelo salad, fresh tuna tartar and the best parma harm, pesto and rocket Panini you’ll have.
· Veli Bar is located near the family pool and is the perfect spot for long lazy lunches. Their crab salad is a top order, as well as the parma ham with melon, crispy calamari salad & peppered beef stir fry.
· Allegria Restaurant; I frequented this Italian twice I enjoyed it so much. Some favourite dishes include the salt-crusted catch of the day, crab fettuccine & stuffed baked artichoke.
From the exquisite food to the impeccable service, from the most gorgeous views to the rooms you never want to leave, the overall experience was far beyond my expectations. Maldives is, literally, heaven on earth.. and everyone deserves a little utopia in their life!
– Complimentary WiFi and Breakfast Buffet
– 30-minute seaplane ride from Malé International Airport
Any Questions or Tips to add?