This Intimate Maldivian Resort Is The Perfect Last-Minute Getaway You Need
Eid might be next week, but there’s still time to book a trip to one of the Maldives’ finest, Milaidhoo…
It’s safe to say that the last year or so has been pretty rough. A jaunt to the Maldives would come as a welcome escape from reality at the best of times, but now? Now it seems like the balm that would cure weary minds and bodies in a way that has previously never been quite so needed. A magic pill to reset, and perhaps even to congratulate yourself for making it thus far. Because reality doesn’t exactly exist once you touch down in the capital of Male, and gets more and more abstract as you board a seaplane and find yourself cruising over the mind-boggling blue of the Indian Ocean towards Milaidhoo in the Baa Atoll; a UNESCO biosphere reserve that – frankly – has to be seen to be believed.
So tiny that even bicycles are deemed unnecessary to get around it, Milaidhoo Resort’s tag line is ‘Story of a Small Island’; shorthand for its commitment as a destination to storytelling in multiple forms. We interpreted this as twofold; one, that the Milaidhoo ‘family’ (purposely, and inclusively, not referred to as ‘staff’) welcome you to share the journey of the island once you’re there, and two, that you’ll have plenty of stories to tell at dinner parties with envious pals once you return. From the essential snorkelling trips to sunset dolphin-watching, diving for the more adventurous to daily morning yoga for those who want to reach even more heightened levels of zen, this doesn’t have to be a week-long sunbathing session alone. Unless, of course, that’s precisely what you’re after – in which case, it obviously won’t disappoint.
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In the grand tradition of luxury Maldivian resorts, privacy is offered in spades, so if you do in fact want to jet back home with nothing more than a refreshed mind and an award-winning tan, you can achieve both without having to leave your villa, all of which come with personal butlers, sundecks and infinity pools overlooking that famous azure. Our favourite touch? The pools are lit up come sunset with hundreds of tiny twinkling lights that look like stars.
Speaking of stars, there is no better place to look up and ponder life, love and the universe. We recommend doing so at a private dinner for two at The Shoreline Grill where they can set up a candlelit table on the beach itself under a tiny pavilion. Romance itself.
Good food is plentiful at Milaidhoo – thanks in part to its impressive number of restaurants for such a small island. The Shoreline Grill prepares meat and fresh fish (lobster being a local specialty) – at a Teppanyaki table should you so wish. A feast of world-class cuisine, but with a signature relaxed atmosphere.
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If you’re after something to dress up a little more for, however, the gem in the culinary crown is Ba’theli; two locally made, old-fashioned cargo boats carved together to create a spectacular setting in which to dine on-deck, moored in the lagoon. Traditional Maldivian fare – flavoured with coconut and cinnamon – speak to a 5,000-year history when the islands became a key port of call for traders sailing the spice routes from Indonesia to India and the Arab world. It’s fine-dining with a welcome twist.
Equally as rustic-chic, but a little more hands-on, is the chance to fish for your own supper. We caught snapper which the chef then lovingly crafted into a delicious curry which we ate the next day overlooking the hotel pool and ocean, at Compass Pool Bar – a supremely chilled, games and book-filled spot where sand covers the floors and you’re very much encouraged to kick off your shoes and sit back with a sundowner or two. The best part? If you want to stay there all night playing giant Jenga and making use of the well-stocked bar, they will keep it open for you. The best kind of family treatment. And as for the stories, we were told the sand floors were inspired by the houses of ancient Maldivian royalty; the idea being that if a sultan of old came by for a drink, he would feel very much at home.
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But it’s not just monarchy who would feel at home at Milaidhoo. Its spirit is a special one. Five-star luxury but with a feet-in-the-sand, laid-back approach that feels truly authentic. Warm, attentive service, beautifully appointed villas and an intimate, exclusive feel. The perfect blend, and one that will make you want to stay, hang out, and perhaps play just one more game of Jenga.
Visit milaidhoo.com for Eid offers. Images supplied.
