News
New boutique resort Milaidhoo Island brings ’50 Chapters of Laidback Island Living’ to the Maldives’ luxury hotel scene

Maldives.net.mv – The opening of the boutique five star Milaidhoo Island Maldives this November is one of most anticipated luxury resort openings of the year. Milaidhoo, due to open its doors in November 2016, promises its guests a new chapter of barefoot island living on its tiny 300m by 180m island set in the heart of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Baa Atoll region of the Maldives.
Shunning the current trend for high-gloss name-dropping look-at-me hotel glitz; at Milaidhoo barefoot informality is at the very heart of the island’s ethos where selfie-sticks and drones are not encouraged. Perfectly located to offer the absolute best of the Maldives to its discerning guests, Milaidhoo offers a return to a classic, relaxed Maldivian holiday style on a tiny island with deep soft white sand beaches and a vibrant coral reef where dolphins, whale sharks and manta rays are visitors – a benefit of being in a protected marine area.

This private, luxury island is reached by a scenic 30-minute seaplane flight from the international airport. Standing on stilts over the lagoon are 30 spacious over-water villas (245 square metres) and hidden amongst the tropical greenery are 20 serene villas on the beach (290 square metres). All villas have large private freshwater swimming pools and an island host to attend to the guests’ every whim. Designed by local architect Mohamed Shafeeq, the resort’s 50 villas have been made using materials and fittings custom-made for Milaidhoo in a way that epitomises the true contemporary Maldives style. Spacious outdoor living is the key phrase: the villas open up 180-degrees to allow the natural beauty of the Maldives to become part of the room.
Milaidhoo is the only resort in the atoll that has been created specifically with couples in mind, although children aged nine and above are welcomed. It further differentiates itself from the herd with its ‘Milaidhoo Moments’; a collection of exclusive activities for the luxury traveler seeking meaningful and memorable experiences. Milaidhoo will offer its guests access to Hanifaru Bay, a marine protected area, which attracts the largest seasonal groupings of manta rays in the world.

Milaidhoo is serious about its food. Gourmets will feel at home in the three restaurants and two bars; the resort’s signature restaurant is overwater and shaped like three traditional Maldivian sailing boats. It – uniquely in the Maldives – will offer a modern interpretation of ‘island influenced’ cuisine. Cocktails will be fresh, creative and on point while the wine list has been designed to pique the interest of wine lovers with a choice of much loved classics alongside a selection of wines from lesser-known boutique wine makers. All villas have their own wine fridge where guests can keep their personal favourites.
The island’s spa consists of four treatment suites set on stilts over the lagoon where guests will also enjoy daily complimentary yoga and meditation classes on the custom-built pavilion. And of course perfect beaches, snorkelling on coral reefs, diving, water sports, fishing and cultural excursions to nearby islands and sandbanks will create stories that guests will want to tell forever.
Family
Easter at Villa Park comes with up to 25% off, discounted transfers
This Easter, Villa Park welcomes travellers to slow down and reconnect on one of the Maldives’ most spacious, naturally lush island escapes, available as part of Villa Resorts’ Easter Offer. Guests can enjoy up to 25% savings when booking direct, with an Easter Escape that also includes exclusive direct booking benefits and 50% off domestic flight transfers for Villa Park, adding extra value for a longer island holiday.
Set in the South Ari Atoll, Villa Park is designed for families and experience-led travellers who want the Maldives with room to roam. Tropical greenery, wide beaches, and a relaxed sense of adventure that makes it easy to spend time together without feeling rushed, whether that means snorkelling in clear lagoon water, cycling around the island, or simply stretching out poolside shape days here.
A key highlight for ocean lovers is Villa Park’s location in the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), a region known for year-round whale shark sightings. It brings an added sense of discovery to an Easter break, with the chance to experience one of the Maldives’ most iconic marine encounters as part of a holiday that still feels effortless.
For families, Park Players Kids Club elevates the season, where younger guests can enjoy their own island adventures while parents take time to properly unwind. Accommodation is equally tailored to multigenerational travel, with Villa Park offering a standout variety of Beach Pool Villas, giving families and groups the flexibility to choose the space and privacy that suits them best.
The Easter Offer at Villa Park includes up to 25% off accommodation when booking direct, plus exclusive direct booking benefits and 50% off domestic flight transfers, making it easier to turn school-holiday time into a sunlit, meaningful escape in the Maldives.
News
Kandooma Maldives introduces thoughtful Ramadan offerings for guests
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives invites travellers to embrace the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan, or Ramazan as it is known in the Maldives, with a peaceful private island escape offering thoughtful options for both fasting and non-fasting guests.
With villa accommodation surrounded by tropical gardens, white sandy beaches and a turquoise lagoon, the resort provides an ideal setting for reflection, relaxation and reconnection. Guests observing Ramadan have access to the island’s private mosque for prayers, while the resort’s dining teams ensure fasting guests can enjoy both Iftar and Suhoor options throughout their stay.
New this year is Kandooma’s Ramadan Shisha Corner inviting guests to relax socially after dinner with a snack menu available throughout the evening and flavoured Shisha.
The Holy Month is expected to commence on 18 February and continue until 20 March 2026, subject to the sighting of the moon.
As a private island resort, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives continues to offer its full range of guest services during Ramadan, including dining, entertainment, and recreational activities. Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of watersports, nearby reef snorkelling and scuba diving, as well as a full programme of family activities, including the popular Kandoo Kids’ Club, which includes supervised fun and a mini waterpark zone for younger guests.
During the Holy Month, the resort maintains its normal food and beverage service for non- fasting guests, including poolside refreshments and cocktails.
“Many guests ask us if they can still enjoy a drink by the pool during the Holy Month, and the answer is yes,” said Mark Eletr, General Manager, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives. “As a private island resort, we are able to continue our food and beverage offering for guests, while respectfully recognising the importance of the season.”
“In a warm tropical climate like the Maldives, it is a remarkable commitment to fast during daylight hours, and I am always in awe of our team who continue their duties with professionalism and pride. Almost half of our team are local Maldivians who observe Ramadan,” he added.
For fasting guests, Iftar (breaking of the fast) is served at Kandooma Café, the resort’s international buffet restaurant. Suhoor options are available through pre-order and can be delivered via in-villa dining for early morning convenience.
For families and groups, a special group dinner package is also available from US$59++ per person, with a minimum of 10 paying guests. Children under 13 years can enjoy the benefits of the resort’s IHG Kids Eat and Stay Free programme when dining with a paying adult.
Following the Maldives’ renowned “one island, one resort” concept, Kandooma is small enough to explore easily on foot while offering plenty of space for guests to find quiet moments of sanctuary, whether on the beach, along the lagoon edge, or in the calm of the island gardens.
Mark says, many of the Resort’s international guests are familiar with Ramadan and what it represents, but they also welcome visitors who are learning about it for the first time.
“We believe it is important that we, together with travel partners, help ensure guests understand that Ramadan is not only about refraining from food and drink during daylight hours, but also about community, kindness, self-discipline and reflection,” added Mark.
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is located in the South Malé Atoll, just a 45-minute speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport. All transfers are arranged directly by the resort, ensuring a seamless arrival experience.
The resort offers a wide selection of seasonal packages and accommodation deals, with exclusive savings available when booking direct.
To view current offers, visit www.maldives.holidayinnresorts.com/offers/ or email reservations.hikandooma@ihg.com.
Family
A slower Easter awaits at Villa Nautica
This Easter, Villa Nautica invites travellers to slow down and celebrate the season in the Maldives with an island escape shaped by sunshine, sea air, and meaningful time together. Available as part of Easter Offer, guests can enjoy up to 25% savings when booking direct, making it easier to turn the holiday into a true reset by the water.
Just a short journey from Velana International Airport, Villa Nautica is designed for effortless island living. Guests can settle into beachfront and overwater villas, spend their days moving between lagoon swims and golden-hour strolls, and let the pace naturally soften. Easter here is less about rushing from one plan to the next and more about being present, sharing long breakfasts, finding quiet moments in the shade, and enjoying evenings that glow over the ocean.
For those wanting to make the season feel extra special, Villa Nautica’s Easter experience lends itself beautifully to private dining. From intimate dinners by the shoreline to ocean-facing settings that feel made for celebration, the resort offers the kind of moments that turn a holiday into a memory, thoughtful, personal, and unhurried.
Wellness is also part of the Easter rhythm. Guests can embrace spa time as a simple ritual of slowing down, with restorative treatments that help reset the pace of everyday life. Whether it is a quiet afternoon dedicated to recovery or a calm pause between beach and sunset, the island’s focus on wellbeing complements the spirit of the season.
Families are equally at home at Villa Nautica, with younger guests welcomed into Easter holiday fun through Wavy Navy Kids Club. Seasonal activities bring a playful energy to the week, giving children their own island adventures while parents take time to unwind and enjoy the ease of being together.
The Easter Offer includes up to 25% off accommodation when booking direct at Villa Nautica. The offer is supported by direct booking advantages designed to keep planning simple, so guests can focus on the holiday itself.
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