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Celebrity family break at Kanifushi Maldives
Maldives.net.mv – Marvin and Rochelle first came to Maldives in 2011 and got engaged. They returned to Maldives for honeymoon and this year they came again with their seven month old daughter for a family break. Here she shares about holiday experience in Maldives.
The Maldives have been the beautiful backdrop to the most special times of my life – so it should be no surprise to learn that they’ve become the No 1 holiday destination for me and my husband, Marvin. We first came here at the end of 2011 – and got engaged.
We loved it, and after we were married, there was only one choice for the honeymoon. We returned at the end of 2012 as Mr and Mrs Humes. Then, at the end of last year, we were back again, and this time as a trio, with our seven-month-old daughter Alaia-Mai. So what is it we like so much about the Maldives that has attracted us three times in three years?
A big thing for us, both being in the public eye, is that you can be sure of privacy. It’s also somewhere you feel very safe. Another draw is that everybody who works there treats you so warmly. Returning this time with Alaia-Mai, we really noticed how great people in the Maldives are with children. They all really wanted to make our visit a great experience.
Having been there twice before, we didn’t have any anxieties about taking Alaia-Mai, even though she was very young – and she enjoyed every minute of our time there because she got so much fuss! We flew out on the day after Boxing Day as I can’t bear that lull between Christmas and New Year. The break was tricky to organise because Marvin had just finished an especially busy time with the JLS farewell tour, and was lined up to take over as co-presenter of the new series of BBC1’s The Voice as soon as we got back.
Thankfully, getting to the Maldives is surprisingly easy. We flew direct with British Airways to the islands’ capital, Male, and then boarded a seaplane to take us to the new Atmosphere resort at Kanifushi. I’m actually really scared of flying – I can get petrified, and was dreading the seaplane experience. But, funnily enough, I liked mal’ plane. One definite plus was that the landing on the sea was a much more gentle experience than touching down on a runway in a big jet. We didn’t really know what to expect from Atmosphere as it’s a brand new resort – but being in the Maldives, I knew that we were in for a treat.
And Kanifushi didn’t disappoint. What we most wanted to do once we’d arrived was to put up our feet up and switch off. The Maldives are definitely the place for this: there’s pure tranquillity everywhere. Every view looks like something from a picture postcard or an illustration from a travel magazine, and I’ve never seen water so blue. While we were looking to enjoy some relaxing time, it’s certainly not just a ‘fly-and-flop’ place.
You can have a very active holiday if you want to. A host of water sports are available – Marvin loves scuba-diving here – and you can take excursions to see dolphins out at sea or head out to look at some more of the islands that make up the Maldives. There was one activity we were most looking forward to: the resort’s New Year’s Eve party. We knew from previous experience that they know how to throw a good party in the Maldives. Sure enough, the celebration at Kanifushi was fantastic.
We had a fine dinner on the beach followed by fireworks, then live music and a great DJ set. Did we get up and sing? No – but maybe if we’d had a few more mojitos…
For children older than Alaia-Mai, the resort has a great kids’ club where they put on all sorts of fantastic things, such as fashion shows and treasure hunts, tennis, volleyball and football. And, of course, there’s PlayStation on tap. Meals at the resort are incredible.
Everything is always very fresh and healthy. Marvin and I love fresh fish and great fruit and there was always a lot of both available here. And there’s an amazing variety of eating places to choose from. Just Veg is the first vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives and serves cuisine from the Mediterranean, Arabic and Indian regions. Teppanyaki Grill claims to offer ‘an authentic Teppanyaki experience’, so diners share a table surrounding a large hotplate. The Spice is the main restaurant offering a varied menu of different cuisines, and all fabulous.
Our favourite food is Japanese, so we ate a lot of sushi. The main restaurant had a big barbecue every night with fresh fish and meats, which was also great. In the Maldives, informality is the watchword, and that was just what we needed as in our working lives we have to be so busy. When I’m going to be on stage, for example,
I spend so much time having to get all dressed up. So the laid-back style of the Maldives came as a welcome break. We’ve been back in Britain for only a few months and already we’re dreaming of our next trip – counting the days until we can get back to the Maldives for another blissful family holiday. We can’t wait.
For more information about Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives, please visit www.atmosphere-kanifushi.com
Avani Hotels & Resorts has launched Avani Book Club, a global initiative designed to help travellers connect with destinations through books, local stories and shared reading experiences.
The programme is being introduced at selected Avani hotels and resorts worldwide, including Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort in Baa Atoll. It combines curated reading lists with book corners, book swaps, author-led events, children’s storytelling and destination-inspired food and beverage experiences.
Avani said the initiative was developed for travellers seeking slower and more meaningful ways to spend their time while away. It also responds to the growth of online reading communities such as BookTok and Bookstagram, which have influenced how readers discover books and incorporate literature into their travel experiences.
At the centre of Avani Book Club is a global list of 30 titles selected for 15 properties across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean. Each title has been chosen to reflect the culture, character or atmosphere of its destination.
At Avani+ Fares Maldives, guests can read Folk Tales of the Maldives, a collection linked to the country’s storytelling traditions. A mobile book buggy will offer poolside reading material, while wellness-focused titles will be available at the resort’s spa.
Other destination-based selections include Pitchaya Sudbanthad’s Bangkok Wakes to Rain at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel and Jessie Burton’s The Miniaturist at Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam.
Avani Rio Novo Venice Hotel will feature Kacie Rose’s You Deserve Good Gelato, which explores food, travel and personal reinvention. Rose is also scheduled to participate in an Avani Book Club event and book signing in Venice during the European summer.
At Avani+ Barbarons Seychelles, the collection includes Katherine May’s Wintering, while Avani Victoria Falls Resort will feature Namwali Serpell’s The Old Drift, a novel tracing Zambia’s history across several generations. Australian titles in the programme include The Rosie Project and Big Little Lies.
Participating properties will complement the global reading list with locally developed activities and partnerships.
Avani Alonso Martínez Madrid Hotel regularly hosts local book clubs, while Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam plans to hold a Book Swap and Reading Night during WorldPride in partnership with The Swap Club. The event will bring together guests and residents for readings, poetry and discussions centred on LGBTQ+ stories.
In Thailand, Avani Ratchada Bangkok Hotel will introduce “Sip the Story”, pairing books about the country with themed coffees, matchas and cocktails. Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort will offer a story-inspired afternoon tea by the pool, with menus developed around selected titles.
Avani+ Koh Lanta Krabi Resort will focus on younger guests through stories about Gok and Gek, a pair of hornbills living at the property. Children can follow their story through the Hornbill Heroes activity booklet and When Gok Met Gek, a bedtime story illustrated by a Thai artist.
Avani Book Club is now available at participating Avani properties, with hotel-led events and activities scheduled to be introduced throughout the year.
Minor Hotels’ properties in the Maldives have received seven accolades in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific, with Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas recognised in five categories and Niyama Private Islands Maldives securing two awards.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas was ranked third among the Maldives’ Best Resorts and second in the Best House Reefs category. The resort also placed fourth in the Most Outrageous Villas, Best Resort Pools and Best Resort Spas categories.
Located in Baa Atoll, Anantara Kihavah is known for its private pool villas, surrounding reef and underwater restaurant. Anantara Spa at the resort was ranked fourth among the country’s resort spas.
Niyama Private Islands Maldives was recognised for The Crescent, its private island compound, which placed third in the Most Outrageous Villas category. Drift Spa at Niyama was ranked sixth among the Best Resort Spas in the Maldives.
The Crescent consists of a collection of villas located on a private section of the resort and is designed for families and groups travelling together. Drift Spa is situated within Niyama’s tropical surroundings and offers treatment rooms, relaxation spaces and wellness experiences.
The Maldives accolades contributed to a record 31 awards received by Minor Hotels across the Asia-Pacific region, compared with 26 in the previous year.
The group’s flagship luxury brand, Anantara Hotels & Resorts, was also named the region’s number-one Favourite Hotel Brand of the Year.
“The T+L readers have spoken and, with a record 31 awards, Minor Hotels stands among the region’s most celebrated hospitality groups,” said Nicholas Smith, Vice President Operations – Asia at Minor Hotels.
“I am particularly proud of Anantara being named the region’s favourite brand, and of our teams in Laos and Thailand for securing their number-one positions. These results reaffirm that our focus on innovation and on creating standout guest experiences continues to resonate with travellers.”
Elsewhere in the region, Avani+ Luang Prabang in Laos was named the Best Hotel, while its general manager, Max Chin, was ranked first in the Best General Managers category.
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort was voted Thailand’s Best Upcountry Hotel, while other Minor Hotels properties in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia were recognised across resort, city hotel, spa and pool categories.
Minor Hotels’ travel experiences also featured in the awards, with Mekong Kingdoms and Loy Pela Voyages ranked second and fourth, respectively, among the region’s Best River Cruises.
GHA DISCOVERY, the loyalty programme of the Global Hotel Alliance, was named the number-one Hotel Loyalty Programme. Minor Hotels participates in the programme through Minor DISCOVERY.
The Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific are determined through a readers’ survey, with travellers voting across categories covering hotels, resorts, villas, spas, pools, cruises and loyalty programmes.
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa invites discerning travellers to experience the ultimate island duality with its newly launched Overwater & Beach Villa Escape. Designed for those who refuse to choose between the lush tranquility of the shore and the iconic allure of the ocean, this curated package requires a minimum stay of four nights to offer an immersive, seamlessly woven journey through the very best of Maldivian luxury.
Rising from a stunning, untouched natural island in the azure waters of the Shaviyani Atoll, the resort stands apart for its vibrant, mature indigenous greenery and expansive sweeps of pristine shoreline. The Overwater & Beach Villa Escape has been meticulously structured to echo the core JW Marriott brand pillar of Mindful Living, allowing guests to pause, breathe, and feel entirely whole.
The Best of Both Worlds
The four-night journey begins with a sense of grounded tranquility during a two-night stay in a Duplex Beach Pool Villa. Hidden away by a lush canopy of native tropical flora, these private sanctuaries offer direct access to the powdery white sands and feature a private pool, allowing guests to immerse themselves entirely in the raw, natural beauty of the island.
Transitioning from the shore to the sea, the remaining two nights elevate the senses within a Duplex Overwater Pool Villa. Suspended over the crystal-clear lagoon, these iconic villas boast private infinity pools and steps leading directly into the rich marine life below, offering uninterrupted horizons of the Laccadive Sea and a seamless connection to the ocean.
Nourishing the Mind, Body, and Spirit
Beyond the architectural luxury, the package is anchored by the resort’s commitment to holistic wellbeing. Guests are invited to Nourish the Moment with farm-to-table dining across five distinct culinary venues, including hyper-local ingredients harvested daily from the on-site JW Garden.
From sun-kissed mornings spent practicing mindfulness on the overwater yoga pavilion to restorative treatments at the signature Spa by JW, far more than a standard holiday, the Overwater & Beach Villa Escape serves as a balanced journey that leaves travelers feeling revitalized, inspired, and profoundly connected to the surrounding environment.
For more information, visit the resort’s website.
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