14 September 2008
Male’, 10 September 2008; The Maldives has won the Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers Best Island Award for the year 2008. Maldives scored well in all 10 scoring criteria including the top mark for beaches. The Maldives won this milestone award from the readers’ poll by successfully competing against Greek Islands, Mauritius, Barbados and Hawaii etc. This is the third consecutive year that Maldives won this award. In addition, six Maldives resorts were among the best hotels in Overseas Leisure Hotels in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean category. They are One & Only Reethi Rah, One & Only Kanuhura, Soneva Gili, Fourseasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, Cocoa Island Resort and Huvafenfushi.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Taj Exotica adds pools and extended decks to each of the Deluxe Lagoon Villas
Taj Exotica adds pools and extended decks to each of the Deluxe Lagoon Villas
23 September 2008
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is delighted to report that Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives continues to go from strength to strength following some exciting developments during 2008. Located on Emboodhu Finolhu Island the resort is located in an exotic idyll surrounded by crystal clear waters and lush tropical flora. This year will see the introduction of The Wedding Pavilion which offers guests a paradisiacal marriage option afloat the tranquil turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Built in a traditional South Asian style, the pavilion resembles the temples and shrines that dot the Maldivian landscape. A long wooden pier leads guests from the Taj Exotica beach to the stunning island where the open-sided structure, supported by wonderful antique wooden columns, affords unparalleled panoramic views. To complete the experience, the surrounding sand bank is specifically designed to host both pre- ceremony cocktails and post- ceremony dinners and parties. As dusk falls and the celebrations run on into the night the area is lit up by miniature oil lamps that dance in the gentle evening breeze.The most recent news from Taj Exotica is the completion of the addition of pools and extended decks to each of the Deluxe Lagoon Villas. Guests can now experience the ultimate in luxury and privacy as they relax on their private sundeck and take a plunge in the pool whilst gazing out over the stunning Indian Ocean.Whether dining in one of the resorts fantastic restaurants, experiencing the 24 hour In- villa dining valet services or choosing your own, personal spot for the an unforgettable private dining experience, Taj Exotica Maldives promises to cater for every taste with several exciting additions to the F&B offerings.Guests can now experience the ultimate in romantic trysts, with a Champagne Sunset experience, located on the recently emerged sand bank in an unparalleled spot in the middle of the tranquil turquoise lagoon. Taj Exotica's dining options have also expanded to include the Ocean Pavilion which is located in a unique position suspended over the stunning Indian Ocean, allowing diners to experience sheer luxury and uninterrupted privacy.The resort has also updated a handpicked selection of over four hundred prestigious wines from around the world; including a vintage Californian chardonnay aged with gold leafs inside the bottle. Also for wine lovers, Taj Exotica has introduced Thematic Wine Tasting Evenings at the resort's Equator bar. With themes including Hidden Gems, Burst of Bubbles - giving the opportunity to try sparkling wines from all over the globe, and Romance with Rosé there is something for everyone. The Jiva Grande Spa continues to offer sheer indulgence and luxury with Indian inspired treatments carried out in the resort's private island sanctuary. The Spa includes a unique Ayurveda Sanctuary Pavilion, where this time tested ancient art is administered following an individual consultation with the resident Ayurveda physician. The Spa also offers various other holistic Indian therapies and treatments offering complete rejuvenation for mind, body and soul.
23 September 2008
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is delighted to report that Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives continues to go from strength to strength following some exciting developments during 2008. Located on Emboodhu Finolhu Island the resort is located in an exotic idyll surrounded by crystal clear waters and lush tropical flora. This year will see the introduction of The Wedding Pavilion which offers guests a paradisiacal marriage option afloat the tranquil turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Built in a traditional South Asian style, the pavilion resembles the temples and shrines that dot the Maldivian landscape. A long wooden pier leads guests from the Taj Exotica beach to the stunning island where the open-sided structure, supported by wonderful antique wooden columns, affords unparalleled panoramic views. To complete the experience, the surrounding sand bank is specifically designed to host both pre- ceremony cocktails and post- ceremony dinners and parties. As dusk falls and the celebrations run on into the night the area is lit up by miniature oil lamps that dance in the gentle evening breeze.The most recent news from Taj Exotica is the completion of the addition of pools and extended decks to each of the Deluxe Lagoon Villas. Guests can now experience the ultimate in luxury and privacy as they relax on their private sundeck and take a plunge in the pool whilst gazing out over the stunning Indian Ocean.Whether dining in one of the resorts fantastic restaurants, experiencing the 24 hour In- villa dining valet services or choosing your own, personal spot for the an unforgettable private dining experience, Taj Exotica Maldives promises to cater for every taste with several exciting additions to the F&B offerings.Guests can now experience the ultimate in romantic trysts, with a Champagne Sunset experience, located on the recently emerged sand bank in an unparalleled spot in the middle of the tranquil turquoise lagoon. Taj Exotica's dining options have also expanded to include the Ocean Pavilion which is located in a unique position suspended over the stunning Indian Ocean, allowing diners to experience sheer luxury and uninterrupted privacy.The resort has also updated a handpicked selection of over four hundred prestigious wines from around the world; including a vintage Californian chardonnay aged with gold leafs inside the bottle. Also for wine lovers, Taj Exotica has introduced Thematic Wine Tasting Evenings at the resort's Equator bar. With themes including Hidden Gems, Burst of Bubbles - giving the opportunity to try sparkling wines from all over the globe, and Romance with Rosé there is something for everyone. The Jiva Grande Spa continues to offer sheer indulgence and luxury with Indian inspired treatments carried out in the resort's private island sanctuary. The Spa includes a unique Ayurveda Sanctuary Pavilion, where this time tested ancient art is administered following an individual consultation with the resident Ayurveda physician. The Spa also offers various other holistic Indian therapies and treatments offering complete rejuvenation for mind, body and soul.
Monday, 7 April 2008
Maldives Leads the Way
Male’, 11 March 2008: The leading specialist tour operator Kuoni Travels long-haul report for the year 2008 revealed that the Maldives has emerged as the number one position as the favourite long-haul destination for 2007.Maldives topped as the first place in a list of 20 countries. They included Dubai, Thailand, Malaysia and Barbados. Managing Director, Kuoni Travel says ‘It’s great to see the Maldives continuing to hold its well-deserved position as the favourite long-haul destination. With the magical, eternal appeal of the true Robinson Crusoe experience the Maldivian resorts offer, from five star luxury and pampering to more simple, barefoot beach holidays, it would be some challenge to dent its lead.’Already popular for tourists from all over the World, the Maldives attracts visitors who are in search of peace and tranquillity in an island paradise setting. With luxury and award winning hotels, resorts and spas, and probably the best snorkelling, fishing and scuba diving in the world, the Maldives offers a unique, unforgettable experience to the visitors. The Maldives attracted a record number of 675,889 visitors during 2007. The United Kingdom ranked top in 2007 among the source markets with a total arrival of 125,158 visitors, which is a growth of 15.9% compared to 2006.
Monday, 1 October 2007
Latest News from the Maldives
Tourists hurt in Maldives blast
CCTV cameras captured the moment the bomb went offTwelve tourists have been wounded in a bomb blast in a park near the main mosque in the Maldives capital of Male, the UK Foreign Office has said.
Two Britons, two Japanese and eight Chinese tourists were hurt by the bomb - reported to have been homemade.
Local media said the blast was triggered using a mobile phone and washing machine motor attached to a gas cylinder.
This is the first time a bomb has exploded in the Maldives.
It is not yet clear who was behind the attack, or what the intended target was.
A British Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed the British pair, thought to be a couple in their 30s, lived in the Gulf state of Qatar.
'Burns and cuts'
It is thought they were staying on Baros - one of 87 designated tourist islands in the Maldives.
Maldives government spokesman Mohamed Shareef confirmed 12 people had received burn injuries and said the victims were in a stable condition. He said the British nationals had suffered the most serious injuries.
Police officers have been investigating the bomb site
"The Maldives has never had something like this before. We are taking this very seriously because tourism is our life blood," he said.
Ahmed Afaal, managing director of the ADK Hospital in Male where the two injured Britons are being treated, said the British victims were a woman aged 31 and a 36-year-old man.
He said: "The female has got first degree and second degree burns covering up to 40% of her body. And the male has got 27% burns."
A spokeswoman for Universal Resorts, which owns hotels complexes in the Maldives, said 10 of those injured, including the Britons, were staying with them.
Army headquarters
She said: "As far as we are aware Universal Resorts have a total of 10 guests who were injured, two of whom were UK citizens that actually live in Qatar.
"Those two guests are being taken care of in the hospital in Male and are with Universal Resorts staff.
"They have requested that they would like to go back to Qatar as soon as possible."
The two other injured tourists, who were not guests of Universal Resorts, are believed to be from Japan.
The Maldives has a reputation for tranquillity
A Foreign Office official is flying to the Maldives to provide consular assistance. The Foreign Office does not have staff permanently based in the Maldives.
A witness reported seeing scattered nails after the blast.
The park is in the shadow of the Maldives army headquarters and several surveillance cameras are trained on the area.
More than 600,000 tourists visited the Maldives last year, and the tourist industry is the linchpin of the country's economy.
The Muslim country has a reputation for tranquillity and the capital has not witnessed gunfire or explosions since an attempted coup in 1988.
CCTV cameras captured the moment the bomb went offTwelve tourists have been wounded in a bomb blast in a park near the main mosque in the Maldives capital of Male, the UK Foreign Office has said.
Two Britons, two Japanese and eight Chinese tourists were hurt by the bomb - reported to have been homemade.
Local media said the blast was triggered using a mobile phone and washing machine motor attached to a gas cylinder.
This is the first time a bomb has exploded in the Maldives.
It is not yet clear who was behind the attack, or what the intended target was.
A British Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed the British pair, thought to be a couple in their 30s, lived in the Gulf state of Qatar.
'Burns and cuts'
It is thought they were staying on Baros - one of 87 designated tourist islands in the Maldives.
Maldives government spokesman Mohamed Shareef confirmed 12 people had received burn injuries and said the victims were in a stable condition. He said the British nationals had suffered the most serious injuries.
Police officers have been investigating the bomb site
"The Maldives has never had something like this before. We are taking this very seriously because tourism is our life blood," he said.
Ahmed Afaal, managing director of the ADK Hospital in Male where the two injured Britons are being treated, said the British victims were a woman aged 31 and a 36-year-old man.
He said: "The female has got first degree and second degree burns covering up to 40% of her body. And the male has got 27% burns."
A spokeswoman for Universal Resorts, which owns hotels complexes in the Maldives, said 10 of those injured, including the Britons, were staying with them.
Army headquarters
She said: "As far as we are aware Universal Resorts have a total of 10 guests who were injured, two of whom were UK citizens that actually live in Qatar.
"Those two guests are being taken care of in the hospital in Male and are with Universal Resorts staff.
"They have requested that they would like to go back to Qatar as soon as possible."
The two other injured tourists, who were not guests of Universal Resorts, are believed to be from Japan.
The Maldives has a reputation for tranquillity
A Foreign Office official is flying to the Maldives to provide consular assistance. The Foreign Office does not have staff permanently based in the Maldives.
A witness reported seeing scattered nails after the blast.
The park is in the shadow of the Maldives army headquarters and several surveillance cameras are trained on the area.
More than 600,000 tourists visited the Maldives last year, and the tourist industry is the linchpin of the country's economy.
The Muslim country has a reputation for tranquillity and the capital has not witnessed gunfire or explosions since an attempted coup in 1988.
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
Holiday Reviews
This is your place to write your holiday reviews about trips to the Maldives. Be as open and honest as you like but please avoid using any choice language. All you have to do is register and place a reply to this post.
Featured Islands
Explorer Travel Consultant, Steve Heaton has been busy over the last 12 months visiting many of the 120+ inhabited Maldivian Islands. He has become an expert on the history, culture and most importantly the standards offered across a diverse variety of resorts. This knowledge allows Explorer Travel to advise and recommend to the UK traveller which is very important to first time visitors.
From these visits we have been able to sift out the best Resort islands and fully showcase them via our main portal website at www.maldives.explorertravel.co.uk
Some of our recent web additions are:-
Soneva Gili - www.soneva.explorertravel.co.uk
Huvafenfushi - www.huvafenfushi.explorertravel.co.uk
Taj Exotica - www.tajexotica.explorertravel.co.uk
My personal favourite Baros - www.baros.explorertravel.co.uk
Kurumba - www.kurumba.explorertravel.co.uk
If you have recently visited the Maldives we would welcome any feedback you may have on our post entitled "Holiday Reviews".
From these visits we have been able to sift out the best Resort islands and fully showcase them via our main portal website at www.maldives.explorertravel.co.uk
Some of our recent web additions are:-
Soneva Gili - www.soneva.explorertravel.co.uk
Huvafenfushi - www.huvafenfushi.explorertravel.co.uk
Taj Exotica - www.tajexotica.explorertravel.co.uk
My personal favourite Baros - www.baros.explorertravel.co.uk
Kurumba - www.kurumba.explorertravel.co.uk
If you have recently visited the Maldives we would welcome any feedback you may have on our post entitled "Holiday Reviews".
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Hilton Maldives Wins More Awards
The Maldives, 26 February 2007 – Hot on the heels of winning the "Best Hotel in the World" award by www.tripadvisor.com this January, the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa has just been voted the "Best Honeymoon Hideaway in the World" by Brides Magazine in the UK in their March 2007 issue. Similarly, the UK¡¯s most influential travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, has also included the six-star resort in their annual Gold List: "Best Hotels in the World – Best for location" (January 2007 issue) and in the "Best Spa in Africa, Middle East and Indian Ocean" (March 2007) summary of best spas in the world."Since our re-opening after refurbishment in June 2005, we have won 17 different awards – including winning 'Best Hotel in the World' twice. That's an average of one award every six weeks," says the resort's General Manager, Carsten Schieck. "These awards reflect guest confidence in our product and are an essential part in establishing the Maldives as a destination of choice."It seems as though the whole world is talking about the Hilton Maldives. In just the last two months alone the resort has received positive press coverage in Condé Nast Traveller, Harper's Bazaar, Tatler, the Luxury Travel Magazine, The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Die Welt newspaper, Paris Match and the New York Times amongst othersCarsten Schieck explains his resort's popularity, saying, "The Hilton Maldives' main concept is of three resorts within one, which gives guests the opportunity to experience three distinctly different luxury experiences without ever checking out of the hotel. Guests can enjoy beach life in a 300 square metre villa set right on the beach, with a private plunge pool in their own garden and a wonderful open-air garden-bathroom. Alternatively they can opt for a romantic, exclusive villa set on stilts over the lagoon with sun deck that has steps leading straight into the ocean. And finally, they can stay at the Spa Retreat, an over-water 'resort-within-a-resort', which includes daily spa treatments and a full programme that includes spa cuisine, massages and exercise classes.""Innovation also plays a key role in our success," continues Schieck, "the resort is home to the only all-glass undersea restaurant in the world and is the only resort that has two entirely separate spas, each with its own philosophy and treatment menu."The six-star Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa is a stunning, romantic resort offering sophisticated barefoot luxury on two tropical islands. Awards include "Best Hotel in the World 2005" by the Sunday Times, "Leading Resort in the Indian Ocean 2006" by the World Travel Awards and "Most Exclusive Hotel in the World 2006" by VIP Traveller Magazine. Sited in a picturesque corner of the Maldives, it offers a sybaritic combination of three distinct resort experiences, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and lagoon. The resort is home to the world¡¯s only all-glass undersea restaurant and the Maldives¡¯ only destination spa.
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