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Vacay while the sun shines this summer in Maldives
Visiting the Maldives is always a good idea, particularly in the summer. One can soak in sunny blue skies and picture-perfect views with the many curated experiences by hotels across the islands. With alluring beaches, painted landscapes and tranquil shores it provides the space for a perfect summer vacation as one relaxes to the sound of the waves. Maldives is an ideal retreat in the summer with water sports activities that travelers of varied skill levels can enjoy such as snorkeling, parasailing, scuba diving, surfing and much more.
These resorts from Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio in Maldives are offering deals and experiences allowing travellers to choose from a variety of options between the curated multi-generational holiday packages at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, the luxury epic stay at W Maldives with one of the best house reefs in the Maldives, the family-friendly Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, and the wellness retreat at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort located at BAA Atoll – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve site, as they step onto this secluded haven, surrounded by the endless blue of the Indian Ocean. Whether one is looking for the thrill of jetting underwater with a Seabob, snorkelling with the gentle giants of the sea, dining in unique settings or simply soaking up the sun and sand with endless shades of blue, these resorts all have something in store.
Savour the Endless at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
Located on Vagaru Island, Shaviyani Atoll, the luxurious five-star resort makes for a mesmerizing destination that focuses on holistic well-being and enriching, thoughtfully curated experiences. The resort features 60 beach and overwater villas, all with private pools, spacious wooden decks and a wide array of amenities with personalized Thakuru (Butler) service. Eclectic dining experiences are offered throughout the resort’s five dining venues, three full service bars, a wine room, which boasts of an impressive collection of 1,200 labels and private beach dinners. Traveling with children is now even easier with the FAMILY BY JW™ – Little Griffins Kids Club where the children can enjoy 100 exciting activities. As one of the largest kids club in the Maldives, the FAMILY BY JW™ – Little Griffins Kids Club has much to offer.
For this summer, guests can combine their getaway with a gastronomy adventure by opting for the all-inclusive package “Savour the Endless” and enjoy all the benefits of a luxury island stay, without a worry in the world. The indulgent package includes three meals a day, with unlimited beverages from the resort’s all-inclusive beverage list, served in all restaurants and bars. Dinner can be upgraded to a private dinner experience, set on the hotel’s stunning private beach, once during the stay and the package also offers discounts on the food bill when dining at signature restaurants, Hashi, which serves fine Japanese cuisine, and Shio, an overwater grill. The resort also features a wide variety of non-motorised water sports on offer included complimentary with the package, from Glass Kayaks for the ones who like to stay above the water, to snorkelling for those looking to explore the world below.
DETOX. RETOX. REPEAT. at W Maldives
Located in North Ari Atoll, W Maldives is a luxury private island resort, setting the stage to fuel the guests’ lust for life. The five-star resort is available for complete island buyout, allowing a group access to 77 private Escapes (Villas) located both on the beach and overwater – each with its own plunge pool and sundeck; six creative gourmet dining venues and lounge bars, overwater treatment rooms at AWAY ®️ Spa, and the world beneath the waves at DOWN UNDER with reef sharks, in one of the best house reefs in the Maldives for a quintessential escape. For those who would like to get the best of both island and ocean life, the luxurious two-cabin ESCAPE yacht is ready to sail for day-long adventures, private dive trips, sunset proposals, overnight excursions, or even for exclusive airport transfers. Whether one is overworked, under-slept or partied out, AWAY® Spa promises the outcome needed, in the time available, with the perks to get that glow on. The resort invites guests to keep their healthy routine or indulge as they have the option to do both and DETOX. RETOX. REPEAT.
W Maldives invites guests to an unforgettable adventure at sea with an exciting menu of experiences on offer above and below the azure blue waters of the Indian Ocean this summer. From big game fishing and night fishing to a unique night diving or night snorkelling experience, guests can explore the mesmerizing marine life. Giving visitors an aerial view of the island, taking off from the state-of-the-art parasailing boat, DREAM, guests can take to the skies and enjoy all the views. Additionally, perfect for the summer months, W Maldives invites guests to GET WET and cool down at their pool parties, with frozen cocktails at WET with DJ tracks to keep the beat up. The experience also includes a live grill and bites, along with the free flow of frozen cocktails, the ideal way to beat the heat!
W Maldives has your back with their all-inclusive package, WE GOT YOU COVERED! – the resort’s all-inclusive package that will take care of meal and beverage needs, breakfast through dinner, along with complimentary in-room W MIXBAR for non-alcoholic beverages, non-motorised activities and snorkelling gear, valid until January 10, 2023.
Break Away at Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
Located in North Male Atoll on the private Furanafushi Island, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa pays tribute to the island’s opulent and lush vegetation. The island is a haven, a hideout, enriched by private nooks, enchanting views, and manicured gardens. Easily accessible by a 15-minute scenic speedboat journey from Velana International Airport in Male, the resort is a preferred choice for those who favor convenient travel. Featuring seven restaurants and bars, two freshwater pools, a tennis court, a 24-hour gym and plenty of on-island activities including Sheraton’s signature Side-by-Side Family Program, the resort is the picturesque destination for honeymooners, families with young children or teens, and solo travellers alike.
This summer, guests can avail the all-inclusive offer which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and select beverages, daily use of snorkelling gear, paddleboards, kayaks and use of the tennis courts, along with complimentary round-trip speed boat transfers to Velana Airport and free Wi-Fi across the resort. One of many unique and thrilling watersports experiences offered at the resort includes Flyboarding that lets you experience the thrill of flying using jet propulsion powered by a watercraft. The resort also offers unique destination dining including Lagoon Lunch experiences, an ideal combination of sun & sea where guests can enjoy a hearty three-course lunch, barefoot in the calm, turquoise blue waters of the lagoon, and feel the water beneath their feet as they feast on sumptuous treats, and soak in the scenic views of their natural surroundings. The lunch on a sandbank is a quintessentially Maldivian, iconic experience, and by far one of the most popular dining excursions. Often featured on the covers of glossy editorials, this highly personalized trip is known to be the epitome of a true Maldivian vacation. The resort also welcomes guests to spend their afternoon with a long and relaxing picnic in a secluded location on the island, in their villa or on one of the lagoon islets.
Discover diverse Nature and Wildlife at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort
Nestled on a beautiful coral island of the BAA Atoll, the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve site in the Maldives, the five-star wellness resort is designed by award-winning architects PEIA Association from Italy, featuring 70 spacious villas, four restaurants and bars, the Heavenly Spa by Westin, the 24-hour WestinWORKOUT fitness center and the Westin Family. BAA Atoll is home to a handful of extraordinary and thriving reefs; home to no less than 250 species of vibrant coral and over 1,200 fish species; a bucket-list dream for diving and snorkelling enthusiasts.
This summer, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, located in Baa Atoll, offers guests the chance to get up-close-and-personal with manta rays at the world’s largest natural manta feeding destination with their Rendezvous with Manta Rays package which includes a Manta Ray snorkel trip, a turtle snorkel trip, one time scuba dive in the house reef and one time scuba dive in open water. Guests will have the rare opportunity to snorkel with the gentle giants at the protected site of Hanifaru Bay just 18 kms from the resort, which can attract more than 100 rays around the time of the full moon. With the season underway, guests can witness the spectacle first hand before the end of November or to plan ahead for the next season. Whilst guests regularly spot energetic and acrobatic spinner dolphins, particularly during cruises, there are also around 1,200 species of reef and reef-associated multi-coloured fish in the Baa Atoll region alone. Up to seven species of turtles can also be found nesting along the island’s pristine sandy beaches at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort and may, at times, include threatened and critically endangered species such as the green turtle and hawksbill turtle and leatherback turtle.
To know more about the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of resorts in Maldives click here. For more information, please visit www.marriott.com
Niyama Private Islands Maldives now offers what is considered the most luxurious surf experience in the Maldives, enhanced by the introduction of its new Surf Shack — a stylish beachfront hangout serving gourmet bites, drinks, sunset views and lively parties.
Known as Nature’s Playground, the resort has long attracted surf professionals from around the globe. Located in the southern Maldives, where swells are at their strongest, it is a preferred base during peak surf season. Waves break directly on shore, with additional surf spots accessible within minutes by speedboat.
Niyama’s signature waves roll in at Vodi Point, situated on the westernmost tip of its twin islands. It is here that the resort has unveiled the new Surf Shack, designed to make time off the waves equally appealing. The thatched-roof venue encourages a barefoot, relaxed atmosphere, offering an upper deck for sunset viewing and picnic-style seating below. Reflecting Niyama’s sustainability ethos, Area Chief of Engineering Michael Patrick Slevin notes that 75 per cent of construction materials were repurposed, blending beach casual with environmentally conscious design.
Guests can enjoy gourmet dishes served from service windows, with a menu inspired by iconic surf destinations worldwide: Australian fish and chips, Indonesian satay, Mexican nachos and Japanese takoyaki. The drinks list pays tribute to rum, featuring an extensive collection and signature cocktails inspired by renowned surf breaks.
While the Surf Shack maintains a laidback feel during the day, the beachfront transforms at dusk as the tides shift and the DJ elevates the atmosphere. The resort’s rum and reggae Sundays have already become a celebrated weekly event.
Surfers at Niyama can design their days as they wish — chasing waves or relaxing ashore. The Surf Centre offers equipment and guidance, while Drift by Niyama provides recovery treatments to soothe muscles, repair sun-exposed skin and restore energy. Resident professional surfers remain available to advise on technique and wave conditions.
“The new Surf Shack forms part of the renewed Niyama experience, which includes significant refurbishments across the resort, inventive culinary additions and a greater emphasis on active living and wellness,” said Hafidh Al Busaidy, General Manager of Niyama Private Islands Maldives. “With more developments on the way, we look forward to sharing what comes next.”
Featured
Intimate island experiences shape Valentine’s Day at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
This Valentine’s Day, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort invites couples to celebrate love through a collection of carefully curated experiences designed to unfold in intimate moments across the island.
Framed by the natural beauty of Maamunagau Island, the resort’s Valentine’s programme centres on a series of limited-edition dining and wellness experiences created exclusively for the occasion. From private beachfront dining and moonlit dinners along Café Umi Beach to an elevated Valentine’s evening at the signature Lighthouse venue, romance is conveyed through setting, atmosphere and thoughtful detail rather than elaborate gestures.
Culinary experiences sit at the heart of the celebration, with bespoke Valentine’s menus intended to be savoured slowly, paired with curated wines and accompanied by uninterrupted ocean views. Each dining experience is crafted to feel personal, whether enjoyed beneath the night sky or in one of the island’s more private spaces.
Beyond dining, couples are encouraged to reconnect through shared wellness experiences at AVI Spa. Signature rituals and indulgent treatments offer a quieter expression of romance, giving guests the opportunity to unwind together in a calm, oceanfront environment. Those seeking complete privacy may opt for bespoke in-villa treatments, allowing the occasion to be marked within the comfort of their own surroundings.
Throughout Valentine’s Day, subtle touches across the resort—from crafted cocktails to curated wine moments—enhance the celebration without overwhelming it, reflecting InterContinental Maldives’ belief that genuine luxury is rooted in balance, intention and authenticity.
At InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, Valentine’s Day is shaped not by excess, but by considered, enduring moments that create shared memories long after the day has passed.
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has announced that it has successfully achieved Green Globe Certification, following an independent audit conducted after a focused six-month programme. Officially awarded on 23 December 2025, the resort attained an 86 per cent compliance score, marking an important step in its ongoing sustainability efforts.
Green Globe Certification is recognised as one of the world’s leading sustainability standards for the tourism sector. To be certified, organisations must demonstrate verified compliance with more than 40 criteria covering environmental stewardship, social responsibility, cultural heritage and sustainable management. The process prioritises transparency, measurable progress and continuous improvement, making the certification a notable accomplishment within the global hospitality industry.
General Manager Mark Eletr noted that the result reflects both strategic intent and collective commitment across the resort.
He stated: “We are very pleased with this achievement and with the steps taken to prioritise sustainability at Kandooma. That focus was evident from the outset through the expansion of two key roles within the team, ensuring sustainability leadership and accountability were firmly in place.”
As part of this approach, the resort introduced a combined Sustainability Officer and General Manager’s Executive Assistant role to lead operational implementation, supported by enhanced strategic guidance from the Director of Marketing, who recently completed tertiary studies with a strong sustainability focus.
Mark Eletr added: “An Executive Assistant role is traditionally heavily administrative. By streamlining my own processes and integrating AI tools to improve efficiency, we were able to redesign the role to place sustainability at its centre. Broadening our Director of Marketing’s remit has further strengthened strategic direction by adding genuine expertise and commitment. With both positions reporting directly to me, sustainability is clearly elevated across the resort, and the structure has proven highly effective.”
He also highlighted that the certification journey itself has been one of the most valuable outcomes.
“This was a whole-resort effort. It required commitment, collaboration and a shared vision for Kandooma’s long-term direction. We have now established strong policies, processes and measurement frameworks that will endure beyond the current leadership team, forming a key part of our annual planning cycle.”
The certification aligns closely with IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Journey to Tomorrow framework, the group’s global sustainability strategy centred on people, communities and the planet. It sets targets related to carbon reduction, water stewardship, waste management, responsible sourcing and community impact across IHG’s worldwide portfolio.
With an 86 per cent score against Green Globe’s criteria, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives demonstrated strong performance in areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, marine ecosystem protection, responsible procurement, colleague wellbeing and community engagement. Initiatives including coral conservation, marine education, colleague sustainability training and newly introduced guest sustainability pledges highlight the resort’s integrated approach to responsible tourism.
Reflecting on the process, Mark Eletr said: “The past few months have been challenging, but the outcome has been worthwhile. This certification gives us a clear improvement plan and a roadmap for the future. We did not want a symbolic certification—we chose Green Globe because it is rigorous and evidence-based. Some said it would be too difficult, which is exactly why we pursued it. We wanted a standard that pushes us to improve, now and in the years ahead.”
Green Globe Certification provides an ongoing framework to support continuous improvement, ensuring the resort evolves its sustainability practices year after year. Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives remains committed to advancing responsible tourism, encouraging guests to make sustainable choices, and contributing positively to the protection of the Maldives’ natural and cultural heritage.
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