Featured
Naturally distanced: Hideaway Beach Resort reopens

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa is now reopen and welcoming guests.
The resort reopened with rigorous health and safety measures, along with new technological assistance like a very much needed update to its mobile app and web menus to provide the safest holiday experience the Maldives has to offer.
The 33 hectares ‘garden resort’ reopened its doors on November 15 with a renewed vigour and interesting features to pleasantly surprise even the discerning of guests.
At Hideaway, guests can enjoy the epitome of unrivalled luxury services and facilities. This includes the luxurious Hideaway Spa where guests can rejuvenate and unwind.
The resort also boasts a fabulous selection of restaurants and bars.
For some fun, it offers a vast selection of exciting and relaxing activities. From tennis and badminton to scuba diving and water skiing, there is something for everyone to keep guests entertained throughout their stay.
Hideaway wellness programme
The Hideaway Wellness Programme is committed to deliver Hideaway’s promise of a safe holiday experience with enhanced safety and hygiene measures, in collaboration with Diversey for guests’ wellbeing and comfort.
Hideaway’s refined hygiene standards and dedication will create a home away from home for them while enjoying their getaway at paradise at the fullest.
The comprehensive plan is one covering social distancing, health, hygiene and enhanced sanitisation across the entire guest journey, as well as extensive training, accreditation and monitoring done with the staff to ensure that the SOPs are followed to the letter.
The whole team of Hideaway butlers have been retrained and are eager to welcome back guests as well.

Hideaway’s beautiful foliage, flora
Hideaway features some of the largest guest villas in the Maldives. This is especially true for the beach villas; from the lowest to the highest category, the rooms are huge and are paired with a backyard and beach which is surrounded by thick foliage, providing the illusion that each villa’s guest is in their own private island.

This natural social distancing concept is only possible due to the expert landscaping, fully done by local gardeners at the resort. One would find it surprising that the resort’s incredible flora has been well maintained so that even after reopening after a few months, the resorts flora looks beautifully landscaped creating a jungle-garden experience.
The landscapers have done and are still doing a great job taming the jungle-like greenery at the resort which makes up 95 per cent of the island.

Revitalised dining options
Revamped menus are now available at all the restaurants at Hideaway. The resort’s chefs are eagerly waiting to entice your tastebuds with new flavours.
The ward-winning Asian fusion restaurant Samsara offers Thai, Indian and Japanese cuisine is ready to provide interesting culinary experiences such as Teppanyaki.
The Sunset Beach Café is a must try at the resort for various western cuisines like pizzas and burgers, and is one of the best spots to hang out and relax and have some exquisite drinks made by expert butlers and bartenders.
And if any guest needs specific dietary requirements such as a gluten-free diet, the expert butlers will learn everything about your needs and will communicate well with the chefs to make sure all your meals are perfect so that your meals will not get in the way of you enjoying a perfect vacation at Hideaway.

Activities, experiences
Living up to the high standards that the resort team keeps for themselves, guests can find a cacophony of enjoyable experiences at the island. Choose from relaxing in the bright swimming pool or enjoying a private beach lunch.
For the thrill-seekers, rise high above the shoreline on an exciting parasailing adventure.
For travellers who really want to retreat, opt to relax on your very own private beach in your own backyard and social distance in style by sinking into a sun lounger for an afternoon nap – the choice is yours!

The resort will soon launch a competition via their social media channels together with influencers David and Jaclyn Merch from the US. A lucky winner will get to enjoy a three-day, two-night stay at the resort.

To win the competition, you will need some creative thinking. Keep an eye on Hideaway’s Facebook and Instagram channels for competition related updates.
So, come hide away at Hideaway so that you can relax, rejuvenate and get out of a rut, or just take a break from the stressful lives that we lead in this time in our lives!
Hideaway has exciting reopening offers with savings from 30-40 per cent off their stay. For more details, please visit www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com.
Featured
Experience timeless Maldivian elegance at Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa

Machchafushi, meaning ‘Fish Island’ in Dhivehi, encapsulates the essence of this serene retreat in South Ari Atoll. As part of The Centara Collection, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa embodies the true spirit of the Maldives, offering guests an intimate connection with the ocean, marine life, and the island’s cultural heritage.
Situated within the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), a UNESCO-recognised site, Machchafushi provides year-round access to remarkable marine experiences, vibrant coral ecosystems, and unforgettable underwater explorations, including the famous Kudhimaa shipwreck. Once a secluded, uninhabited island, Machchafushi holds a special place in the cultural landscape of the Maldives. Today, as part of this protected marine reserve, it continues to remain authentic, sustainable, and deeply rooted in its natural surroundings.
Marine life is at the heart of the Machchafushi experience. The island offers some of the world’s highest whale shark resighting rates, with encounters available throughout the year. Guests may also encounter graceful manta rays and a colourful abundance of tropical fish drifting through crystalline waters. Encircled by a renowned house reef—stretching nearly five times the island’s size—the area is home to over 1,000 species of fish and 200 varieties of coral, creating an underwater paradise.
South Ari Atoll is celebrated as one of the Maldives’ finest diving regions, featuring over fifty dive sites teeming with marine life. Kudarah Thila presents a UNESCO-protected labyrinth of overhangs and swim-throughs populated by fusiliers and snappers, while Broken Rock captivates divers with its dramatic canyon of corals and macro life, ideal for underwater photography. Dhigurah Beyru and Maamigili Corner are noted for encounters with whale sharks, manta rays, and occasionally dolphins. The 52-metre Kudhimaa Wreck has evolved into a thriving coral habitat, now home to lionfish, batfish, groupers, and the well-camouflaged stonefish and frogfish. Nearby, Anemone Alley flourishes beneath the seasonal seaplane platform, forming a vibrant ecosystem that draws snorkellers and divers alike. The house reef remains the beating heart of Machchafushi—a world-class natural wonder beneath the waves.
Beyond the ocean, the island tells a story of its own. At its centre stands a centuries-old Banyan Tree, known locally as the Ummeedhu Tree, or ‘Wish Fulfilment’. This living symbol invites guests to pause and reflect, taking part in the Sacred Thread Ceremony, where wishes and intentions are tied to the tree’s branches—creating a bond that endures long after their stay.
Sustainability is woven into every aspect of Machchafushi’s philosophy, ensuring the preservation of both its natural beauty and cultural legacy. Every sunrise, dive, and golden thread tied to the Ummeedhu Tree becomes part of a continuing narrative—one that celebrates the Maldives’ heritage and invites guests to create lasting memories in harmony with nature.
Entertainment
Spooky celebrations await at Sun Siyam Olhuveli with ‘The Return of the Mummy’

Sun Siyam Olhuveli will transform into a realm of ancient legends and eerie excitement this Halloween with its themed celebration, The Return of the Mummy. Guests of all ages will have the opportunity to take part in two days of themed activities, family games, and live entertainment throughout the resort.
The highlight of the celebration will be a beachfront performance by Swedish DJ and rising international talent Caroline Roxy. A multifaceted artist—DJ, singer-songwriter, producer, fashion designer, and former model—Caroline is known for fusing energetic electronic beats with pop-inspired rhythms. Drawing on her musical upbringing and experience performing at festivals in cities such as Stockholm and Los Angeles, she is set to deliver an electrifying performance that promises to bring a captivating energy to the shores of Sun Siyam Olhuveli.

The festivities will begin on 31 October 2025 with a Halloween Beach Fest, featuring mummy-themed games, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treat adventures, and the popular Mummy Dance Freeze for younger guests. As night falls, the Lagoon Bar will become the centre of the celebration, with flickering lights, pulsing music, and a much-anticipated DJ set by Caroline Roxy. Her performance will combine haunting melodies with powerful electronic rhythms, setting the tone for an unforgettable Halloween evening.
Celebrations will continue on 1 November 2025 with treasure hunts, themed cupcake and marshmallow workshops for children, and a sunset pirate cruise. Adults can take part in a Halloween boot camp before the evening concludes with a fire show and live music by Hightides at the Lagoon Bar.
Blending ancient Egyptian mystery with island charm, The Return of the Mummy at Sun Siyam Olhuveli invites guests to experience a unique Halloween adventure where the legends of the past meet the magic of the Maldives.
Excursions
From first visit to thousand dives: Love story anchored at Bandos Maldives

Bandos Maldives recently marked a significant milestone with two of its most loyal guests, Kate and Andy, who have shared a long-standing connection with the island.
Andy achieved an impressive feat by completing his 900th dive, all undertaken with Dive Bandos. His wife, Kate, surpassed this accomplishment by reaching her 1000th dive, with over 900 of those dives also completed alongside the Bandos team.
The Dive Bandos team joined the couple in celebrating this memorable occasion, recognising not only their dedication to diving but also the enduring bond they have formed with the resort over the years.
Kate and Andy’s relationship with Bandos extends far beyond statistics. Having first visited the island in 2006, they have returned every year since, making Bandos an integral part of their lives. In 2014, the couple even chose to exchange their wedding vows underwater at the resort — a unique moment that forever linked their love story with Bandos.
“Celebrating guests like Kate and Andy reminds us of what Bandos truly represents,” said Ismail Rasheed, General Manager of Bandos Maldives.
For Bandos Maldives, moments such as these exemplify why guests continue to choose the island for both adventure and a sense of belonging. With stories like Kate and Andy’s, Bandos stands not merely as a dive destination, but as a home — both beneath and above the waves.
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