Dive Into the Wonders of North and South Malé Atoll: A Marine Sanctuary Just a Speedboat Away

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Ballet and More

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Located in the northernmost atoll of the breath-taking archipelago, JA Manafaru is the most remote understated destination in the Maldives, and one that honeymooners wishing to mark the moment, renew vows or simply honor each other with an island Elder’s blessing – have enjoyed for years.

Perfect soft sand beaches and crystal-clear waters surround this idyllic private island that benefits from remoteness more than any other Maldives barefoot luxury resort. JA Manafaru offers an unrivalled level of privacy presenting a pristine natural island to quietly explore.

With an extensive list of ceremony and blessing set-ups, every small detail can be taken care of for your special occasion. From bouquets to button-hole flowers and from cakes to cameras, the island team are on hand to ensure your big moment goes as silky smooth as the Egyptian cotton bedsheets you’ll later drift away in.

Aside from the big day, JA Manafaru offers an endless choice of romantic experiences you and your partner will never forget, the hardest decision is what to do first. Imagine how it feels to be Robinson Crusoe and enjoy an intimate castaway picnic on an uninhabited island. For those with sea legs – sail away on your own catamaran or take in a sunset dolphin cruise.

On request, candlelit beach dinners under the stars are arranged and why not adventure out with a night-snorkel amidst the most diverse tropical Sealife you will ever encounter.

With a secret wine cellar buried below the sealine into the coral island, ‘The Cellar’ is the dining experience to complete this ultimate romantic escape.  As the oldest and deepest wine cellar in the Maldives, this tiny stone labyrinth is made from volcanic Indonesian rock to ensure the perfect atmosphere and temperature for preserving some of the world’s finest wines.  By prior reservation only, the Executive Chef will prepare a tailored menu over several courses to suit all tastes.  For wine connoisseurs with extravagant palettes, why not select from classics including Rothschild and Margaux, finishing with a glass of Louis XIII, the most celebrated of French cognacs.

The multi-award-winning resort which is honored with ‘Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Award’ in 2023 plus the triple accolade of ‘Maldives, Indian Ocean, & World’s Leading Honeymoon Resort’ in 2022 by World Travel Awards, appeals to those with discerning taste for interior design. Unintrusive traditional villa architecture is met with a modern brush of restrained neutrality, inviting the positive energy flowing from the spa and throughout the island into your home from home.

Whether you wish to listen to nature’s calling from the tropical forest canopy at dusk, or the lapping of the ocean as you sleep, the selection of spacious beach villas, breath-taking over-water villas and palatial two and three-bedroom residences, each with their secluded private pool (or pools), presents a choice for everyone – and for every occasion.

Visit the ‘The Real Maldives’ to find out more about arranging your special moment in paradise www.jaresortshotels.com

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Setting the mood for an evening of pure indulgence, the exclusive gastronomic adventure combines the enchantment of dining six metres below the sea, surrounded by the vibrant sights of the most famed house reef in the Maldives, with the intimacy of spending the evening in an award-winning underwater restaurant where each evening’s repast is limited to six couples, or twelve adults, per sitting to create an ambiance of heavenly romance.

Seven really is the magic number for this seventh heaven dining experience. The evening’s adventure begins with an aperitif glass of champagne at 7:00 pm before the journey into wining and dining indulgence gets underway in earnest. Featuring a set 7-course menu of gastronomic delights, with a vegetarian option also available, the dinner has been carefully curated by the resort’s Executive Chef to include an exciting new take on contemporary global cuisine with each course telling its own chapter of the evening’s enchanting story.

To further enhance the romance, guests can choose to have their dinner paired with a selection of wines, expertly hand-picked by the resort’s resident Wine Guru. Provided from the world’s first underwater wine cellar, the impressive wine list features 450 labels from both renowned and off-the-beaten-track wine regions to ensure every palate is appropriately pampered.

Available from USD 395++ per person for food only plus an additional fee of USD 195++ with wine pairing included, the one-of-a-kind journey to seventh heaven is guaranteed to serve up a priceless experience.

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No longer confined to land-based or stationary accommodation options, you can now live your Robinson Crusoe fantasy and explore the hidden treasures of the Maldives with a luxury twist at Jumeirah Vittaveli. It’s the first resort in the Maldives where you can start your holiday planning by choosing between a unique selection of villas and a brand new superyacht called “MY Vittaveli” with 85 feet of private space.

Snorkel with whale sharks or enjoy a cruise to deserted islands, and retreat to one of the four cabins on board to let the waves rock you to sleep. Choose to enjoy the best of both worlds and return to the resort island to extend your stay in a freestanding villa, complete with private pool and your own stretch of beach.

MY Vittaveli is an Azimut superyacht that accommodates up to eight guests for overnight stays, or up to 20 guests for leisurely day-time cruises. Its sophisticated exterior design conveys the comfort and style experienced when staying on-board, with modern noise suppression technology guaranteeing a relaxing journey.

The three decks invite you to spend leisurely mornings gazing out at the infinite ocean, or to enjoy balmy evenings soaking in the four-person Jacuzzi on the top deck. Beautifully crafted wood joinery, cherry wood panels and Italian marble inlays decorate the superyacht’s two master cabins and two twin cabins, with each twin cabin offering the option to accommodate a third guests through a retractable extra bed. All en-suite bathrooms include hydrosonic massage bathtubs and full-sized Hermes amenities.

“It has long been my dream to add a superyacht to our prime resort villa accommodations,” said Amit Majumder, Regional Vice President, Boutique Resorts, at Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts. “Our guests love the resort and its surrounding house reef, as well as close-by snorkel and dive spots, but the explorer in me has always envisioned that the best way to fully experience the Maldives would be with a combination of an island stay and a journey across the atolls. It’s irresistible to set sail and explore the stunning variety of over- and under-water wonders the Maldives offers, and I am proud my team has made it possible to offer such a special experience for our guests.”

Let our experienced crew guide you to secluded powder white beaches and hidden spots around the atolls, going beyond the beaten path and discovering your own private Maldives. Whisk your family away on an exploration into the marine world and visit a local island on the way to admire the art of lacquerware or mat weaving. The superyacht’s swim platform allows for comfortable entry and exit for water sports, diving or snorkelling. For more adrenaline fuelled fun, jet tender out or take a jet ski, or choose a more relaxing activity like fishing the Maldivian way, and enjoy the spoils of your catch with a fresh seafood meal on the aft deck dining area.

Enjoy four hours of complimentary cruising every day when you stay on-board MY Vittaveli. Stop-off for a beach BBQ dinner, explore the sandbanks and uninhabited islands, try a fishing trip or discover the underwater world on a snorkelling excursion.

Jumeirah Vittaveli offers romantic escapes as well as exhilarating family holidays. Land and water-based activities include the destination’s first ice rink, a PADI Dive base, water sports centre, Talise Spa, six restaurants and bars, a wine library, an overwater lounge, an underground whisky and chocolate salon and a cigar lounge. With its focus on cultural connection and organic experiences in a luxurious setting, Jumeirah Vittaveli offers guests a true Maldivian island experience.

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With that being said, you still have time for tons of adventure across the globe.

Here in the United States, you can’t go wrong with fun things to do in Arlington, Texas followed by an amazing array of adventure in San Antonio.

We all have seen the increase in Wellness Travel and our section dedicated to that is also expanding. For instance, check out the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tons of incredible amenities and a blissful way to experience your vacation.

Don’t forget to visit the Elma Arts Complex Luxury Hotel in Israel. Packed with wellness offerings and more.

Ever thought of going to the Grand Caymen Islands? Well, one of our contributing writers did an inquisitive feature on how to venture to the Islands on a budget. Great tips. Great insight and definitely worth the read.

Travel is about experiences and we have some awesome contributions from a seasoned travel writer, Marie Hernandez and also Kerri Zynen.

These two ladies take us to Maafushivaru in the Maldives and an incredible piece on a two-week Eurpean Vacation accompanied by a masterful photo expose.

For great story ideas or to be a part of our “Experiences” section, send me a personal e-mail by clicking here. Looking for great hotel deals? Remember that you can book all of your travel from our website or by simply clicking here.

Happy Traveling!

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Kurumba Resort 

As a Westerner, you may have only heard about the Maldives as a holiday for the rich and famous, but Kurumba Resort has changed all of that!  Now you too, can experience the lap of luxury at a value point that makes this THE most exotic vacation you will take this year.  Oh, and by the way, it has been awarded the Traveler’s Choice Award by Trip Advisor as the #1 All Inclusive Resort in Asia and the #3 All Inclusive Resort in the World, so it is hard to beat!

At the Airport – Team members are readily available and awaiting your arrival with a sign at the airport.  One thing that makes this adventure special will be having Kurumba’s private speedboat waiting for you at the Male airport to take you to your island resort getaway, which will only take 20 minutes. Upon arrival to the island, they will greet you at the dock and bring your bags to the main outdoor lobby with a welcoming coconut sorbet, where soon enough, you will be whisked away by golf cart to your beachfront villa.

They have the process down to perfection, which saves you time and puts you into ‘relax mode’ right away on your vacation.  And although this resort is one of the oldest in the islands, built here in 1972, they have maintained the property and its landscape to pristine levels and have used that time to perfect its exemplary customer service.

At the Villa – The beachfront deluxe villa that I staid in was luxurious and had its own covered patio with a front row seat to the Indian Ocean’s turquoise waters and crystal clear sands that will keep you mesmerized for hours.  When you finally move from the king sized bed to the covered patio to the oversized bathroom, you will be delighted that such a wonderful bathroom exists.  In all its glory, it has an outdoor rain shower in a garden of sorts, with a soaking, jet-powered tub that has an opening to the garden outside.  You can stay in there for hours, but you better not because there is so much more to do.

What is there to do on Kurumba Island?

Spa – The Veli Spa is a true Maldivian experience set in their lush gardens and you should have a spa experience while on the island.  I chose the Thai massage, since I was on this side of the world and Thai massages are a bit unusual to get in America.  However, they have a complete spa menu for you to choose from.

Restaurants – The resort has many dining plans available, so depending on what you need for the day, they have everything from half board to dine around all inclusive.  It is important to remember that they have to import everything on to the island and so the costs involved are increased due to that. There are a lot of choices for different restaurants and they have everything from Japanese to Italian to Thai and Middle Eastern as well as the main dining area with a buffet, so there are no worries about the type of food available. I tried four of the restaurants and Thila, by far, was my favorite, but I also enjoyed the simple pizza I ordered from one of the restaurants.

Activities  – There are all types of recreational and sports type packages available
• Sunset and Dolphin Discovery Cruise –A fun evening cruise where we saw quite a few spinner dolphins jumping out of the water for a great show at sunset.

• Daily Snorkeling – The snorkeling is easy with the local house reef just outside the breakers.  Snorkeling equipment was provided free of charge and with that amazing reef, you could go alone, with a private guide or a group.

• Diving – Many of the best dive sites are located only within a 5-30 minute boat dive trip from the resort, including the Mana Point wreck dive.

•Male City Tour – Go into the capital city of Male for a tour of this culturally rich, yet bustling city on the tiny, nearby island.

There are many more activities to choose from, however I chose to only mention a few.

I went on this trip as a single traveler, but I did not feel out of place at any time during my visit to this exotic resort.  I can highly recommend it for all kinds of travelers, especially if you do not have a lot of time and want to get into ‘relax mode’ right away.  There were also many couples and even families there as well.

I wanted to mention that this resort epitomizes the “value luxury” concept, where luxury is king and value is queen.   While there are over-the-top luxury experiences in the Maldives, this resort is at the perfect price point and balances luxury with value.

What:  Kurumba Resort

Where:  Kurumba, Maldives, Indian Ocean

Rooms: 180 rooms from superior rooms to deluxe residences with private pools and everything in between

Amenities:

• Very high quality Molten Brown bath soaps, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion

• Free In-room Wi Fi – it worked amazing well for such a remote island

• Good quality beach towels in the villa

• Free laundry service for 25 items every 4 days

Trip Advisor Rating: #10 out of #171 hotels in the Maldives

Costs: upwards of $300 USD per day for the beachfront villa plus the food program that runs $55 to $155 per person per day depending on the season.

By: Dr. Cacinda Maloney
www.pointsandtravel.com 

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This edition of The Hotel Guide has a myriad of options for you. Start in Florida at the PGA National Resort. Aligned with golf history galore, an updated Jack Nicklaus-course and a wealth of things to do, this “destination resort” is a must when traveling to the Sunshine State.

Can’t leave Florida? Head on over to Daytona Beach and see all the new things happening there. It will surely amaze you!

Head West and visit the world-class Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Another divine oasis mixed in with golf, spa treatments and delectable dining. A “can’t-miss” property. Further into California, partake in the Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Quaint, family-owned and ready to make your trip a memorable one.

If international is more your travel style, venture to Cobble Beach in Canada, but dress warmly. Also, consider jetting away to Maldives and experience a lifestyle that is unique and inspiring.

For great story ideas or to be a part of our “Experiences” section, send me a personal e-mail by clicking here. Looking for great hotel deals? Remember that you can book all of your travel from our website or by simply clicking here.

Happy Travels!

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