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Christmas sparkle, star-studded NYE celebrations at Niyama Private Islands Maldives
Jet to the Maldives for a Christmas that sparkles in the brilliant hues of the Indian Ocean. Niyama Private Islands Maldives invite you to play or chill on twin islands throughout the festive season.
The season officially kicks off with the lighting of the Christmas tree and arrival of Santa by catamaran. Enjoy a Christmas market that is traditional – with carols, egg nog and mulled wine – yet fabulously Maldives in a beach setting. Multi-day feasting is then on the cards, starting with a Christmas Eve gala buffet, and Christmas Day barbecue roast with Ibiza-style pool party.
New Year’s celebrations see stars fly in from around the world. Magician Laura London of ITV’s “The Next Great Magician” fame works the crowd, whilst the Spark! theatre troupe takes the stage with dazzling sound, light and movement. Salsa Con Soul then fires up the dance floor with seductive rhythms, whilst the award-winning Swing Latino collective put on the show of their lives.
The days in between are a whirl for the taste buds, with Maldivian nights, wine and cheese tastings, and Champagne pairings at Edge.
Three legendary chefs fly in, hosting exclusive dinners throughout the festive season: Hervé Rodriguez, owner of MaSa Paris and known as the “Manipulator of Flavours”, serves up contemporary, audacious and complex flavours; David Rathgeber, owner of Parisian bistro L’Assiette, creates traditional French gastronomy; and Alexandre Polmard, famed for the world’s most expensive steak, presents the most extraordinary dry-aged beef dishes.
Families are offered adventure everyday in Nature’s Playground. The Explorer Kids’ Club is one of the largest in the Maldives, with a superhero costume party, Christmas arts and crafts, a New Year’s masquerade and more. Teens enjoy their own corner of the island, with an outdoor gym, cinema under the stars, DJ workshops and mocktails on the beach.
Adults, meanwhile, can hide away at Drift Spa, indulging in massages, IV drips and the Hollywood services of our visiting practitioners. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr David Alessi promises no-downtime face lifts with Botox and fillers. Gopal Govindasamy, Muayad Najemeddin and Banu Alagoz lead you through Eastern healing treatments and movement, from singing bowls, Reiki and Ayurveda to Watsu and Kundalini Yoga.
Also recommended for your time on the islands are experiences new and unique to Niyama. Set sail on a Dream dhoni for a castaway adventure of island hopping, snorkelling and dinner on a deserted sandbank. Play with your senses in a Food Play cooking class, mastering the arts of Thai, Maldivian, Mediterranean or African cuisine.
Niyama offers more than a luxury retreat in the Maldives. Going beyond conventional concepts of lavish accommodation, sumptuous cuisines, and lavish services, Niyama presents every visitor with myriad opportunities to create their own exceptional island experience.
With twin islands Play and Chill, Niyama offers you the true luxury of choice, with everything expected from an island resort and so much more.
Chill is true to its name. You can discover new depths of relaxation at the Drift Spa, or take in a movie under the stars at the outdoor cinema. Just off the coast, enjoy a fine dining experience at Edge accessible only by speedboat, while Subsix invites you the world’s finest underwater seafood restaurant and night club.
Play provides delightful diversions for those looking for more active pursuits. On the water, you can kayak around the islands or discover why Niyama is amongst the hottest surfing destinations. Bicyclists can explore the island at their own pace, perhaps lured by the aromas from the chef’s spice gardens.
Niyama Private Islands Maldives’ festive package starts at USD 3,218++ for a five night (minimum requirement) stay in a Water Pool Villa on double-sharing basis from December 23, 2019 to January 8, 2020. For more information and bookings, please visit www.niyama.com/en/offers or contact reservations@niyama.com.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has been nominated in the “Resort” category of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, one of the travel industry’s recognised measures of guest preference and brand standing.
Located in Raa Atoll, the resort is continuing to build its profile through its all-Club concept, service model and guest experiences shaped by both location and programme. As the Maldives’ first all-Club InterContinental resort, the property includes a set of signature benefits with each stay, including daily breakfast, afternoon tea and evening aperitif.
The resort features 81 beach, lagoon and overwater villas and residences, along with seven restaurants and bars. Its guest offering combines private accommodation with a range of tailored experiences, including manta ray encounters in the Maamunagau lagoon, customised Dining by Design experiences, visiting wellness practitioners and its Artist in Residence programme.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is also positioned to serve both couples and families, through its family offering and adults-only Retreat enclave.
The nomination reflects continued recognition for a resort that combines service, experience-led programming and a natural setting within one of the Maldives’ established tourism atolls.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has introduced its Family Fun Summer offer, aimed at families seeking longer island stays built around shared activities and rest. The offer is available for booking from 15 April to 15 June 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights for travel through to 20 December 2026.
Located within Baa Atoll, the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is positioning the offer around family wellness, marine experiences and time spent together in a natural island setting. Seasonal snorkelling with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay remains one of the area’s key attractions, while the resort’s collection of beach and overwater villas is designed to accommodate families looking for space and flexibility during their stay.
For larger families and groups, the resort also offers the two-bedroom Heavenly Beach Residence, which includes a living room, kitchen and dining area intended to support longer and more relaxed island stays.
The resort says the guest experience can be shaped around both activity and downtime, supported by Westin’s Sleep Well concept and Heavenly Bed. Children have access to the Westin Family Kids Club, which includes a children’s pool and pirate ship, while parents can make use of Heavenly Spa by Westin.
Away from the villa, the resort is also promoting shared family experiences through Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy activities focused on the culture and environment of Baa Atoll. These include traditional lacquer craft workshops, visits to local islands and guided marine activities in surrounding waters.
The Family Fun Summer package includes three meals per day, with children under 12 dining free of charge. It also includes a one-time dolphin cruise for two adults and two children, a 30-minute photography session with one printed photo, and a USD 150 resort credit.
Reethi Faru Resort has been recognised at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, receiving honours in four categories: Best Beach Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Pool Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Eco-Friendly Resort in Maldives, and Best Sustainable Hotel in Maldives.
The awards recognise performance across villa accommodation and environmentally focused hospitality, reflecting the resort’s emphasis on guest experience alongside sustainability and environmental stewardship.
According to the resort, the recognition supports its positioning within the Maldives market as a property that combines natural surroundings, accommodation standards and responsible hospitality practices.
Located on Filaidhoo in Raa Atoll, Reethi Faru Resort features 145 villas, including beachfront and overwater accommodation designed in a style that combines Maldivian elements with contemporary comfort.
The resort’s food and beverage offering includes six restaurants and six bars, while its leisure facilities cover watersports, diving, yoga, spa treatments and fitness activities. Surrounded by coral reefs, the resort also offers guests access to marine-based experiences in the Indian Ocean.
Sustainability remains a central part of the resort’s operations, with initiatives that include coral reef restoration and guest experiences linked to environmental awareness.
Through its recognition at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, Reethi Faru Resort has added to its profile as a Maldives resort with a focus on both accommodation standards and sustainability.
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