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Ocean Office, fitness overhaul, ‘Vacay PA’: Vakkaru Maldives takes care of mind, body, soul, business

Just because the office is out of bounds doesn’t mean you have to work from home!
Offering the service of a dedicated Vacay PA, a bespoke fitness and nutritional programme; tailored recreational activities, and an Ocean Office set-up that provides what might be the world’s most envy-inducing Zoom call backdrop, Vakkaru Maldives resort’s Work Well package is custom-made for remote workers who during this strange time want to better their business, mind, body and soul in a setting that is nothing short of remarkable.

Available to guests who book a stay at Vakkaru Maldives for 21 days or longer, each Work Well residency includes a complimentary upgrade to a bigger villa that will include a specially decorated study equipped with a printer and office supplies, but every new arrival can also expect special benefits that are adapted entirely to their needs.
Committed to setting new standards of considerate service and care in the Maldives through its industry-leading hospitality concept Vakkare, Vakkaru Maldives is dedicated to promoting wellbeing in all its forms, and so a complimentary, bespoke fitness programme will be developed for every Work Well guest.

Devised in collaboration with the resort’s wellness team, the unique fitness programme will offer up to an hour of complimentary personal training, meditation or yoga per day, alongside frequent (and free) tennis-coaching sessions by world-class coaches from Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis on the resort’s palm-fringed, cobalt-blue tennis courts.
Whether to shift excess Covid kilos, gain mental clarity, limber up or simply achieve the perfect serve, every Work Well arrival will be supported in achieving their own personal wellbeing and exercise goal when not getting down to business.

To make maintaining such virtuous habits as easy as can be during working hours, a Brain and Body Fuel pick-me-up will be provided to each Work Well guest every afternoon: again complimentary, this special delivery will be a constantly changing rotation of delicious, natural and healthy snacks and drinks. They might include mini fruit kebabs; oatmeal and peanut butter cookies; homemade granola; or vegan smoothies made with berries, banana, coconut milk and honey.
For those days dominated by looming deadlines, Vakkaru’s chefs can promptly prepare more substantial, reviving and off-menu room-service dishes perfect for fuss-free deskside dining.

For more practical considerations, guests can call on their personal Vacay PA to help with day-to-day tasks. Also trained to provide traditional butler services, they will be happy to print work documents, confirm flight arrangements, manage schedules, and assist with the organisation of meetings.
Should Work Well guests decide a change of scene might be in order, their Vacay PAs can also move their workplace from their private study to a tranquil Ocean Office, a WiFi-accessible outdoor outpost where the brilliant blues of the Indian Ocean provide the most uplifting backdrop and gently lapping waves serve as background music. For those who don’t mind irritating their colleagues back home, the setting provides a Zoom backdrop that is sure to draw awe-struck responses.
For meetings, workshops and brainstorming sessions held on the private island itself, colleagues and groups who book the Work Well offering in unison can convene at their own Beach Boardroom, a barefoot meeting quarter pitched in Vakkaru’s white-sand beaches. It gives new meaning to the concept of blue-sky thinking.

After another productive day of work and with their fitness and nutritional needs sated, Work Well guests will also find all manner of ways to roam and relax — and will even be able to add a few new hobbies, accolades and achievements to their lockdown LinkedIn profile.
Vakkaru Maldives stands in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that is home to mesmerising sea life, and the resort’s dive centre Splash offers diving courses with PADI-certified instructors for all levels.

An array of cooking classes, including a farm-to-table immersion held in the resort’s peaceful organic garden, will also be on offer.
To keep families entertained, Vacay PAs can arrange dolphin- and manta ray-watching cruises, family film nights complete with popcorn and homemade ice cream, and fun family sports days.
All those activities and amenities combined should ensure every Work Well guest’s job-satisfaction results reach stellar levels.
All of the benefits of the Work Well package are available on a complimentary basis for bookings lasting 21 days or longer, and the service can currently be combined with Vakkaru Maldives’ Escape Awaits reopening offer, which for a limited time provides a 40 per cent discount on accommodation alongside complimentary return transfers, daily breakfast and dinner, a complimentary spa treatment at the overwater Merana Spa, and a range of other extras.

Work Well rates start from $18,000 for 21 nights or from $25,000 for a month-long stay for two adults.
For reservations and general information, please visit vakkarumaldives.com or contact reservations@vakkarumaldives.com.
Awards
Ifuru Island Maldives wins Best Premium All-Inclusive Resort at Golden Travel Awards 2025

Ifuru Island Maldives has been officially named Best Premium All-Inclusive Resort Maldives 2025 by the prestigious Golden Travel Award, recognising the resort’s exceptional guest experience and innovative all-inclusive offering. The resort distinguished itself through its commitment to redefining the premium all-inclusive concept with a bold combination of curated adventures, gourmet dining, and a true sense of luxury.
Marcel Sawyer, General Manager of Ifuru Island Maldives, expressed pride in the recognition, noting that it celebrates the dedication and passion the team invests in creating unforgettable moments for every guest. He emphasised that the resort’s experience is designed to offer guests the freedom to relax, explore, and feel truly at home, all within the comforts of a premium all-inclusive package.
Ifuru Island Maldives has quickly established a strong reputation with its thoughtfully crafted ‘Exclusively Yours’ Premium All-Inclusive package. With a fresh approach to luxury and authenticity, the resort continues to resonate with modern travellers who seek both comfort and meaningful connections.
This acknowledgment from the Golden Travel Award further solidifies Ifuru Island’s growing reputation as one of the Maldives’ most distinctive and experience-driven destinations.
Featured
Float & Flow Yoga debuts at Holiday Inn Kandooma Maldives

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives now offers guests a unique wellness activity: Float & Flow Yoga. Set amidst the picturesque surroundings of crystal-clear waters, this innovative session blends balance, movement, and mindfulness on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), fostering a joyful connection with nature.
Designed to accommodate both experienced yogis and beginners, Float & Flow Yoga provides a 60-minute session on the resort’s SUP Yoga Dock. This specially designed floating platform, shaped like a flower, features eight “petals,” each securing a SUP board around a central space designated for the instructor. Participants are guided through gentle yoga sequences that emphasise balance, breath, and flow.
Courtney Chambers, the resident Yoga Instructor at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, describes the activity as a joyful and liberating experience. She notes that SUP yoga encourages participants to embrace the playful side of the practice while reconnecting with nature.
Classes take place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10:00 am, with a maximum of eight participants per session to maintain an intimate and supportive atmosphere. A minimum of three guests is required for each session. The class fee is priced at US$45 per person, inclusive of taxes and service charges.
Additionally, a professional drone photo and video package is available for US$25 per person, providing guests with a memorable keepsake of their experience.
Participants are advised to wear comfortable swimwear or yoga attire and to arrive 10 minutes early at the Perfect Wave Surf Shop for a pre-session briefing.
Whether the goal is mindfulness, gentle movement, or simply a splash of fun, Float & Flow Yoga at Kandooma offers an unforgettable opportunity to reconnect with both self and sea.
Featured
Five-course Indian fine dining by Atrangi to feature at Jumeirah Olhahali Island’s June pop-up

Jumeirah Olhahali Island has announced an exclusive culinary pop-up in collaboration with Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia, the renowned Indian restaurant located at Jumeirah Al Qasr in Dubai. Scheduled from 7 to 12 June 2025, this special event will feature Atrangi’s Head Chef, Aniket Chatterjee, who will partner with the resort’s culinary team to present a refined five-course dining experience. This unique collaboration aims to reinterpret regional Indian dishes through a contemporary perspective.
Atrangi, inspired by the vision of acclaimed chef and restaurateur Ritu Dalmia, is celebrated for its bold and eclectic approach to Indian cuisine. Ritu Dalmia, a self-taught chef, began her culinary journey by launching Delhi’s first standalone Italian restaurant at just twenty-two. Over the years, she has established a portfolio of acclaimed restaurants across India and Europe, earning her widespread recognition in the culinary world. Representing her creative vision in the Maldives, Chef Aniket Chatterjee brings a modern sensibility and a profound respect for Indian culinary traditions, promising a dining experience that is both sophisticated and soulful.
For this special occasion, Chef Aniket has curated a bespoke menu that masterfully blends traditional Indian techniques with global influences. Guests will be treated to intimate oceanfront dinners and relaxed beach grills under the stars, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian tasting menus available.
The dining journey will commence with a playful twist on the nostalgic chilli cheese toast, followed by pickled doodhi and smoked dahi. Main course offerings include Malvani chicken tikka with confit garlic, or for vegetarians, paneer peeli mirch tikka accompanied by spring onion curry. A whipped butter board will serve as a palate cleanser before guests savour dishes such as kappa meen curry or satu pulao with dalma, parwal, and burnt tomato chutney, celebrating the rich diversity of Indian flavours. The meal will conclude with an indulgent Indian sweet, followed by mignardise featuring pistachio soan papdi and a mini jalebi with rabri.
Chef Ritu Dalmia expressed her excitement about the event, stating, “The Maldives has always been a special country for me, having visited several times. It is a thrill to bring Atrangi to Jumeirah Olhahali Island, where we can showcase community-inspired dishes while celebrating the best produce the Maldives has to offer.”
The beach grill dinner at Shimmers Beach on 10 June will be priced at USD 225 plus taxes per person. On other evenings, the five-course set menu will be served at a designated ocean-view location for USD 195 plus taxes per person.
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