Holiday Reviews

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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".

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.

Kuredu Island Refurbishment

KUREDU ISLAND RESORT, MALDIVES - RENOVATION
TYPE OF WORK:
70 beach bungalows will be demolished and relocated nearer to the waters edge during which time a JCB and lorry will be used for approx one week. The new rooms will then mainly be prefabricated off island then brought back and assembled nearer the beach when hand and power tools will be in use. All work will be contained to an area within the eastern side of the island which is closed and screened from guest view.
A further 90 beach villas will also be upgraded to Jacuzzi Beach Villas. This will involve the existing bathrooms walls being extended and Jacuzzi installed.
Roof re-thatching will also take place to one restaurant and the shop which will remain open.
DATES / HOURS:
21 April - 12 October 2007 8am until 8pm
COMMENTS:
The working area is well away from all the main facilities and restaurants which remain open and all clients will be accommodated away from the area concerned. Kuredu is one of the largest Maldivian islands with dense vegetation as well as its own football pitch and golf course.