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Newly-renovated rooms increase appeal of Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives

Published

11 years ago

February 2, 2015

Maldives.net.mv – Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives is set to a launch a new category of guest room, which will be called “Sunset Ocean Pool Villas.” They have also committed to an ongoing program of extensive refurbishments across the entire resort.

During the first phase of the renovation program, all of the Luxury Sunset Water Villas will be completely refurbished and redesigned and will reopen to the public in July 2015. Twenty of the existing inventory will be re-imagined as ‘Sunset Ocean Pool Villas’ while the balance of 14 villas will be renamed “Ocean Water Villas.”

During phase 2, the current “Beach Suites” on the south side of the island, together with the Deluxe Family Water Villas and the resort’s one-and-two Bedroom Pool Villas, will be closed for renovations from the 20th of June until the end of August 2015. Renovations on the resort’s Deluxe Water Villas and north-facing Beach Suites will be carried out later in 2016. All villas will receive a brand-new design, structural enhancements, all-new furniture and a new light and inviting color palette.

Available to the public on July 1, 2015, the new Sunset Ocean Pool Villas will have received a completely new, contemporary interior make-over, with brand-new furniture, doors and decking. The upper sun deck will be removed completely and the outdoor area will be extended to incorporate a 12-meter-square plunge pool, looking directly out over the Indian Ocean.

These 20 new villas will command spectacular sunset views and guests here will be eligible for full ‘Club’ access. Club guests enjoy the resort’s “Ultimate All Inclusive” cash-free plan, under which guests will find everything they desire already paid for – including champagne breakfasts, a choice of three lunch and dinner venues with themed international buffets and an open bar service which provides a scintillating array of cocktails, beers, wines and spirits.

Guests in the new Villas will also benefit from the following premium additions:

Exclusive access to “The Club” with indoor and outdoor private lounges, free-form swimming pool, and a premium dining venue for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Access to the Club Bar and lounge serving premium brand beverages
Club lounge check in/out
Private Club pool access including refreshing towels, pre-lunch snacks, afternoon fruits and pre-dinner canapés
Mid-morning snacks
Afternoon tea service
Upgraded in-room minibar, replenished daily including soft drinks, juice, 4 beers, chocolates and snacks and guests’ selection of 2 spirits from the following (700ml vodka, gin, whisky, rum, Bacardi and bourbon – replenished once per week) and guests selection of 1 bottle of wine (red, white, rose – replenished daily)
Wi-Fi and internet service in the Club Lounge
2 pieces of laundry per room per day
Book and DVD library
Priority spa and restaurant reservations at all outlets
Daily turn-down service
Upgraded in -room amenities

Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives is located in the South Ari Atoll, about 25 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport, or 15 minutes by speedboat from the domestic Maamigili Airport. Surrounded by a glorious white sandy beach, it is the only resort in the Maldives designed in a colonial style, with whitewashed timber buildings and meandering boardwalks.

The resort offers guests a unique “cashless” island experience with its “Ultimate All-Inclusive programme”. “We are extremely proud of the “Ultimate All Inclusive” package and are delighted that we have now been recognized as being the best in Maldives,” commented Mr. Voytek Klasicki, general manager of Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives after receiving the Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators (MATATO), award for Top All-Inclusive Resort. The resort also received the TripAdvisor’s award in the same category.

All guest suites have bedroom and living room, a generous private terrace, and all of the amenities travelers expect from a premier beach resort including satellite TV and high-speed internet access. Guests opting for the Club level of accommodation also have access to the exclusive Club Lounge with private pool area and complimentary breakfasts, snacks, cocktails and dinner. The resort also is unusual in that it features a variety of dining options, including the all-day venue Reef, authentic Suan Bua and Azzuri Mare Italian & Seafood restaurant, plus the Aqua and Coral Bars for nightly entertainment. For those seeking day-time activity, the Resort offers recreation options, sports and fitness facilities and a professionally-managed Kids’ Club, while those looking to relax are welcome at Spa Cenvaree.

For more active guests, there are five excursion options available which include whale-shark snorkeling, local island visits, sunset cruises and night fishing as well as other snorkeling trips. The resort is also home to floodlit tennis courts, and guests can avail themselves of W-Fi, snorkeling equipment, selected motorized and non-motorized water sports, separate teen and children’s clubs as well as each and every adult guest can enjoy one daily spa treatment per day of their holiday.

Mr. Voytek Klasicki says that he is proud to have added a new selection of freshly-renovated rooms to the resorts’ many attractions, and that he anticipates that regular visitors will enjoy their stays at Centara Grand Maldives even more.

Related Topics:Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives Featured

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Emirates NBD cardholders receive exclusive savings at Centara Maldives Resorts

Published

8 minutes ago

July 15, 2026

m@ldives

Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced a new offer for cardholders of Emirates NBD, one of the leading banking groups in the MENAT region, giving customers across the GCC exclusive savings and lifestyle privileges across all four of its Maldives properties. Valid for bookings and stays until 30 September 2026, this is a bundled offer that goes beyond a standard rate discount, with complimentary return transfers, curated dining experiences, spa benefits and a range of signature island experiences included as standard across the portfolio.

The offer gives Emirates NBD cardholders access to four distinct island experiences, each designed to suit a different traveller profile.

Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives is tailored to discerning travellers and multi-generational guests, offering a sense of privacy and award-winning hospitality. The resort features a curated selection of overwater and beachfront villas alongside spacious two and three-bedroom residences. Guests can explore world-class dining across six restaurants and four bars, unwind across three distinctive wellness concepts at SPA Cenvaree Retreat, and keep younger guests entertained at multiple kids’ clubs and E-Zones, all set against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.

The neighbouring Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives is a family-centric, underwater world-themed resort offering endless activities for all ages, from a lazy river and water playground to a Kids’ Club, E-Zone and the candy-themed Candy Spa.

Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, is an authentic Maldivian retreat surrounded by an award-winning house reef, a 52-metre sunken cargo ship and some of the region’s most renowned dive sites, where guests can encounter whale sharks, manta rays and sea turtles year-round.

Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is a vibrant adults-only playground for indulgence, connection and rejuvenation in the North Male Atoll, with overwater villas, pristine white beaches, PADI-certified diving and the award-winning SPA Cenvaree.

Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives

Booking and Stay dates: Until 30 September 2026
Offer: 25% savings on stay
Inclusions: Accommodation, Half Board Plus, round-trip speedboat transfers, one-time spa massage at SPA Cenvaree Retreat, one-time floating breakfast for pool villas and residences, and one excursion (dolphin cruise or handline fishing) for Grand Two-Bedroom guests
For bookings and more information, please click here.

Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives

Booking and Stay dates: Until 30 September 2026
Offer: 30% savings on stay
Inclusions: Accommodation, Half Board Plus, round-trip speedboat transfers, one-time spa massage at SPA Cenvaree, one-time floating breakfast for pool villas
For bookings and more information, please click here.

Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection

Booking and Stay dates: Until 30 September 2026
Offer: 30% savings on stay
Inclusions: Accommodation, Half Board Plus, round seaplane transfers, USD 50 spa credit per person per stay, welcome amenities including sparkling wine, Club Lounge access for Club Pool Villa guests, one-time floating breakfast for Club Pool Villa guests, one-time whale shark snorkelling for Club guests, and kids stay and eat free
For bookings and more information, please click here.

Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives

Booking and Stay dates: Until 30 September 2026
Offer: 30% savings on stay
Inclusions: Accommodation, Half Board Plus, round-trip speedboat transfers, USD 50 spa credit per person per stay, welcome amenities including sparkling wine, one-time poolside romantic dinner for 2 adults
For bookings and more information, please click here.

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Maldives named one of the world’s happiest places to visit in new travel study

Published

3 hours ago

July 15, 2026

m@ldives

The Maldives has been ranked among the world’s happiest destinations for travellers in a new global study analysing more than one million online reviews from holidaymakers.

The research, conducted by Irish travel insurance specialist JustCover, placed the Maldives 11th out of 155 destinations worldwide, awarding the island nation a ‘Happy Place’ score of 71.4 out of 100. The Maldives narrowly missed the global top 10, finishing level on score with Toronto, Canada, although rankings were determined using more precise underlying values.

The study examined reviews of tourist attractions, restaurants, resorts, scenic locations and other visitor experiences to identify how frequently travellers used language expressing happiness and joy. Each destination was then assigned a score based on the proportion of reviews reflecting positive emotional experiences.

Tulum in Mexico topped the global rankings with a perfect score of 100, followed by Soufrière in Saint Lucia with 95.2 and Oaxaca, Mexico, with 88. Las Vegas also scored 88, while Maui, New York City, Cappadocia, Rio de Janeiro, Chicago and Toronto completed the top 10. Bora Bora in French Polynesia and Positano in Italy followed the Maldives in 14th and 15th place respectively.

According to the study, North America dominated the rankings, with the United States claiming six of the top 15 destinations, including Las Vegas, Maui, New York City, Chicago, Austin and New Orleans. Researchers noted that the results reflected a mix of beach destinations and urban centres, suggesting that travellers find happiness in a variety of holiday experiences.

Peter Clark, Director at JustCover, said the findings demonstrated that happiness while travelling comes in many forms.

“Holidays are a time to get away from the busyness of everyday life. Most people have a place where everyday stress melts away and they feel a sense of peace. The findings show how wide the range of happy places really is and that happiness in travel comes in many different forms.”

He added that while some travellers are drawn to destinations offering beaches and nature, others find enjoyment in vibrant cities, emphasising the importance of being prepared with appropriate travel insurance before travelling.

JustCover said the research analysed more than one million reviews across 155 destinations worldwide. Reviews were assessed for expressions of happiness and joy, with destinations scored relative to the highest-ranking location. All data used in the study was current as of June 2026.

News

Harriet Emily brings sound journeys wellness programme to Angsana Velavaru

Published

4 hours ago

July 15, 2026

m@ldives

Angsana Velavaru, a private-island resort in the South Nilandhe Atoll, has announced Sound Journeys with Harriet Emily, a week-long wellness programme taking place from September 17 to 22, 2026. The retreat invites guests to explore the restorative power of sound healing through a series of immersive experiences led by internationally recognised Sound Healing Practitioner and Meditation Guide, Harriet Emily.

With over a decade of experience in the wellness industry, Harriet Emily is known for blending crystal singing bowls, flute, and her own voice to create sound journeys designed to inspire relaxation, mindfulness, and inner peace. Her sessions have drawn a devoted following among travellers seeking meaningful, transformative wellness experiences, and her residency at Angsana Velavaru marks a rare opportunity for guests to experience her practice in one of the Maldives’ most serene natural settings.

Throughout the week, guests will be invited to a curated wellness schedule set against the backdrop of the resort’s lagoon, beach, and pool deck. The programme opens with a complimentary Meet the Sound Healing Expert & Sound Bath Taster session, followed by a series of sunrise, sunset, stargazing and floating sound bath experiences, each designed to guide guests toward a deeper sense of calm and presence.

Highlights of the schedule include a Sunrise Sound Bath on the Kuredhi pool deck, a Sunset Sound Bath & Meditation on the beach, a Stargazing Sound Bath beneath the night sky, and a Floating Sound Bath Meditation combining gentle sound vibrations with the sensation of drifting on water. For those seeking a more intimate experience, private sessions are also available, including one-on-one, couples’, and a family sound baths, as well as bespoke Private Wellness Package pairing a floating sound bath with a floating breakfast.

“Sound has a unique ability to help people slow down and reconnect with themselves, especially in a setting as tranquil as Angsana Velavaru,” said Harriet Emily. “I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with guests and creating a space where they can truly let go.”

The programme reflects Angsana Velavaru’s broader commitment to holistic wellness, complementing its existing spa and dining offerings with experiences that nurture guests’ mental and emotional wellbeing alongside physical relaxation.

Programme Highlights: