Featured
Vibrant festive cheer awaits guests at Seaside Finolhu
Seaside Finolhu has announced its festive schedule for this year’s holiday season.
Guests of the luxury Maldives resort are guaranteed an extravaganza of unforgettable gourmet, cultural and entertainment experiences designed to delight everyone from children to families and from couples to groups of friends.
While Finolhu’s Magic Experience Team always go to great lengths to ensure that every day is full of joy and wonder on Finolhu’s island playground, they have gone the extra mile to conjure up some fantastical treats as part of their vibrant festive celebrations.
In addition to all the usual entertainment and culinary delights on offer at Finolhu, the festivities get underway on December 22 and run through until January 3 with many special activities designed to entertain and delight friends, families and children.

Throughout the holiday period, the in-house DJ will be setting the mood to party time, while the amazing Silent Alarm band will be providing live music at a very special New Year’s Eve event.
For many people, the festive season is all about children, and the Finolhu team have ensured that the resort’s younger guests will enjoy a thrill-packed holiday season of joy and wonder. From the eager excitement of awaiting Santa’s arrival to the playful delight of fun-packed games and activities, there are plenty of opportunities for kids to get into the festive spirit at Finolhu.
The little ones get a chance to set their creative spirit free by making their own festive candles at the Oceaneer’s Club of December 22, while all of Finolhu’s younger guests are invited to join the elves and help Santa prepare for the big day by making some extra special gifts on December 23.
Part of the Christmas Eve festivities include a Kid’s Fashion Show when they get a chance to dress up in their favourite costumes, while the undoubted highlight of Christmas Day for the young ones will be Santa’s arrival ceremony.

There are, as you would expect, a number of activities designed to bring the whole family together as well. Featuring entertainment and games, the underlying theme here is that, “The family that plays together stays together.”
A sand sculpting competition on December 24 encourages team spirit and creativity, while the Christmas Day Glitter Art activities give the young and young-at-heart the creative freedom to sprinkle some festive cheer into their imaginative creations in Finolhu’s Art Studio.
All guests are invited to join in the fun and games at the Family & Friends Fun Challenge on December 26, when they will have plenty of opportunity to get into the island playground spirit by competing against other teams in a series of fun-filled games where the laughter never stops and everyone is a winner.
There is also a chance for all guests to make sure that 2020 ends with a big splash at the Last Aqua Fun event. Those with a sense of fun and adventure can take the plunge and dive into the fun games and performances in and around the pool during the day on New Year’s Eve.
For anyone feeling a bit more energetic, there is even a mini-soccer tournament planned for January 2.

Of course, it would not be the festive season without a few parties and shows. Finolhu’s not-to-be-missed Maldivian Culture Show provides a great insight into the sights, sounds and tastes of the local culture with a combination of the finest music, entertainment and food from the Maldives. Guests can catch the show on December 22 and again on December 29.
In the midst of all the action and games, Movie Night gives everyone a chance to chill out at the Beach Club on December 27 and January 2.
As anyone who has ever visited Finolhu knows, food is a major part of the resort’s identity and guests will have plenty of opportunities to indulge their taste buds during this year’s festive season. In addition to the local treats and delicacies on offer during the Maldivian Culture Shows, there will be a selection of canapés and cocktails served at the official Coconut Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the sandbank on December 23.
However, the real epicurean adventure begins on Christmas Eve with the season’s first big feast. The highlight of the White Party on the beach is a sumptuous Christmas Dinner served beneath the swaying palm trees and with a full evening’s entertainment that includes the Kid’s Fashion Show and many special performances.
The Christmas Day Lunch promises to be a real festive feast with a variety of international specialties served up in the relaxed atmosphere of the Beach Kitchen.

The New Year’s Eve festivities get underway with a cocktail party followed by a New Year’s Eve Dinner. The resident DJ sets the mood, while the Silent Alarm band are sure to get everyone up on the dance floor with their set of international classics. Throughout the evening, there is also live entertainment by a number of surprise performances with details yet to be announced.
As the sun sets on New Year’s Day, Finolhu’s guests are invited to celebrate the first night of the New Year in the vibrant neon glow of the Kaleidoscope Disco. The colourful black light party features a live DJ spinning the tunes in an evening of music and dancing.

Finolhu was opened in June 2016 and consists of four islands with long beaches. It has 125 beachfront and overwater villas (more than half with private pool) and four restaurants.
While popular with honeymooners, the extensive resort is also very family-friendly, with a kids’ club, a wide choice of activities and world-famous entertainment.
Owned and managed by Seaside Collection, a Europe-based hotel group with an exclusive portfolio of high-end resorts and city hotels, Seaside Finolhu Maldives is a luxury island resort. “Finolhu”, which is a direct translation of “sandbank” in Dhivehi is located in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives.
For more information or to make a booking, please visit www.finolhu.com.
Featured
Four Seasons Resorts Maldives blend family travel with marine discovery
As family travel patterns continue to evolve, with multigenerational holidays and “schoolcations” becoming a growing part of the market, Four Seasons is positioning its Maldives resorts as destinations where families can combine leisure with learning, exploration and shared experiences. Through programmes at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru and Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the brand is offering a Maldives-based approach to family travel that extends beyond the traditional resort stay.
In the Maldives, the focus is placed on experiences that allow families to spend time together while engaging with the natural environment in direct and practical ways. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, marine education forms a central part of the family offering. Children and teenagers can take part in hands-on initiatives alongside experts from The Manta Trust, learning about coral restoration, manta ray research and ocean conservation. The programme gives younger guests an opportunity to understand the marine ecosystems that define the Maldives while participating in activities linked to ongoing conservation work.
At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the family experience is also shaped by the surrounding lagoon and reef environment. Younger guests can take part in introductory diving, surfing and marine conservation activities designed to build early awareness of the ocean and its ecosystems. These experiences place the Maldives’ natural setting at the centre of the stay, allowing families to engage with the destination through activity as well as observation.
This emphasis on learning through travel reflects wider changes in family tourism, where parents are increasingly looking for holidays that combine recreation with educational value. In the Maldives, that approach has particular relevance, given the country’s dependence on marine ecosystems and its reputation as one of the world’s leading island destinations. By integrating conservation-focused experiences into resort programming, Four Seasons is presenting family travel not only as a period of rest, but also as an opportunity for younger travellers to develop a closer understanding of the environment around them.
The Maldives setting also supports multigenerational travel in practical terms. Resorts such as Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa are well suited to families travelling across age groups, where grandparents, parents and children may all be sharing the same holiday but looking for different forms of engagement. Accommodation, marine activities and wellness offerings can be structured in ways that allow families to spend time together while also catering to different interests and energy levels.
The family proposition is strengthened by the Maldives’ ability to combine relaxation with activities that are tied closely to place. Lagoon-based discovery, reef experiences and conservation work provide a clear alternative to more conventional beach holiday programming. Rather than limiting the stay to accommodation and dining, these activities allow the destination itself to shape the guest experience.
In this context, Four Seasons’ Maldives resorts reflect a broader shift in how luxury family travel is being positioned. The emphasis is no longer only on privacy and comfort, but also on engagement, shared discovery and experiences that carry value beyond the holiday itself. In the Maldives, where marine life and island environments remain central to the visitor experience, that model gives families a way to connect both with each other and with the destination.
Through Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa, Four Seasons is therefore presenting a Maldives offering that responds to changing family travel expectations. By combining marine education, outdoor activity and resort-based comfort, the brand is aligning its family travel strategy with the qualities that continue to set the Maldives apart. The result is a version of family travel that is shaped not only by where guests stay, but by what they are able to learn and experience together while they are there.
Drink
Sirru Fen Fushi hosts Flor de Caña mixology event with Dinesh Mondkar
The Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series recently hosted a mixology event at Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort, featuring Dinesh Mondkar, Flor de Caña’s brand ambassador for India.
The event gave guests an opportunity to explore a selection of rum cocktails while learning more about the craftsmanship and heritage behind the Flor de Caña brand. Set against a sunset backdrop over the ocean, the session combined cocktail-making techniques, brand storytelling and a relaxed island setting.
Guests were introduced to a range of cocktails that highlighted bold flavours and the versatility of rum in contemporary mixology. The evening also offered insight into the methods and presentation behind premium cocktail service, adding an interactive element to the experience.
The event formed part of the resort’s ongoing Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series, which continues to bring recognised figures from the international spirits industry to the Maldives. Through the series, the resort aims to expand its food and beverage offering with curated events that connect guests with global brands and industry expertise.
Such experiences are designed to complement the wider guest programme by combining destination dining and beverage concepts with the setting of the Maldives, while offering visitors a more immersive way to engage with the resort’s hospitality offerings.
Featured
Angsana Velavaru marks reopening of upgraded futsal ground
Angsana Velavaru has reopened its futsal facility as part of efforts to enhance guest experiences and staff engagement through sport and community activities.
The reopening ceremony was officiated by Dhaalu Atoll Council president Ahmed Shafiu and the resort’s general manager, Ahmed Zahir, who jointly cut the ribbon to mark the occasion.
Located within the island grounds, the futsal court measures 57 metres by 38 metres and is intended to serve as a space for both recreational use and organised activities for guests and resort associates.
The resort said the facility would form part of its wider recreational offering and would host workshops and expert-led collaborations aimed at providing guests with sports-based experiences while also supporting skill development and interaction. It added that the initiative also reflects its focus on staff wellbeing, teamwork and active living.
The opening event included friendly matches between the Angsana Velavaru men’s and women’s teams, as well as an inter-resort match between the Angsana Velavaru Orange Army and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.
Adjacent to the futsal court is the resort’s upgraded watersports centre, which now includes updated guest facilities such as shower and changing areas.
Ahmed Zahir said the reopening of the futsal ground represented more than a recreational upgrade and reflected the resort’s commitment to creating meaningful experiences for both guests and associates. He said the facility would support active living, connection and wellbeing, while also serving as a space for learning and collaboration.
Angsana Velavaru, located in South Nilandhe Atoll, said the reopening of the futsal facility forms part of its wider efforts to expand its lifestyle and community-focused offerings.
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