Featured
Velaa Private Island Maldives unveils December festivities
Velaa Private Island Maldives, nestled within the constellation of islands that form the Noonu Atoll in Maldives, is set to become a magical place in the Indian Ocean from December 20, with a range of festive activities and exciting events.
The season will kick off with Velaa’s 9th Birthday Gala Cocktail Party and Gala Dinner, as guests toast to the beautiful island’s birthday and celebrate the night away with an outstanding performance by renowned French group, Charly’s Angels.
Celebrate Christmas island style
To mark Santa’s arrival, the resort will be hosting a Gingerbread House Opening Ceremony, where guests can snack on gingerbread cookies and mulled wine. The festivities continue with a Christmas Eve Cocktail Party at Avi Bar with masterfully mixed cocktails and delicious canapes. Athiri Restaurant will host the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner offering culinary favourites from around the world and traditional dishes, while Maksym Shorenkov plays festive tunes on the piano.
Santa will make an appearance and stop off at the island – coming bearing gifts for younger guests, as celebratory drinks are served for the adults. Family photos are of course a must before Santa continues his journey through The Maldives and beyond.
Start 2023 with a bang
On December 31, the island embraces the end of year festivities island style with a New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party, Gala Dinner and After-Party. With drinks starting at 8pm at Avi Bar, a spectacular gala dinner will be held on the tennis court, filled with gourmet temptations and amazing performances. From a star-studded line-up of artists, theatrical performances and an amazing ‘Katya’ experience, guests will dance into the first hours of 2023.
To welcome the New Year, guests can enjoy a relaxed beachfront brunch and contemplate new beginnings with an extensive array of lavish dishes from around the world. A special dinner on the beach will mark the first night of 2023, featuring international pop-up stations and live music from French singer, Emji.
Variety is the spice of life and our talented chefs will be taking you around the world from the comfort and beauty of The Maldives. From Sri Lanka, Italy, and South America, to Thailand, Singapore and Japan, Athiri and Aragu Signature Restaurants will take turns in delighting guests with tantalising feasts from other continents.
To keep both little and big kids busy, activities will be held every day to explore the island and keep hearts racing. With snorkelling adventures, padel tennis lessons, reformer Pilates, boxing, yoga and jet ski expeditions, there’s plenty to do between festive occasions.
Little ones will be entertained at the LHA Velaa Kids Club with Christmas-themed activities such as tree decorating, winter wonderland themed Banangrams and more. Between sport and creativity, the Club has an exciting activity planned every day for young guests – a moment where parents can enjoy some kid-free time.
With world-class entertainment and warm island spirit, Velaa Private Island is the perfect place to enjoy the festive period, indulge in the luxurious Velaa Spa, romantic dining experiences, water sports and so much more.
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.
-
News1 week agoSt. Regis Maldives expands and upgrades Two-Bedroom Ocean Villa
-
News1 week agoCentara Hotels & Resorts Maldives marks Thai New Year across island portfolio
-
Featured1 week agoCoco Collection brings conservation and low-waste living into resort experience
-
News1 week agoShangri-La Circle offers dining benefits at JEN Maldives Malé
-
Awards6 days agoAtmosphere Core secures British Airways Holidays awards across five Maldives resorts
-
Drink6 days agoLily Beach announces guest bartender residency featuring Vyacheslav Kasitsyn
-
Featured6 days agoThe Standard, Maldives unveils new Premium All-Inclusive package
-
News5 days agoAlila Kothaifaru Maldives expands wellness programme with curated experiences


