Niyama Private Islands has announced the highly anticipated reveal of its final chapter in its year-long evolution, its reimagined beach and overwater pavilions – playgrounds beyond compare for multigenerational getaways and celebrations of the surreal.

Nature’s Playground emerges from its metamorphosis reborn and more tantalising than ever. Its refurbished pavilions – sprawling from 350 to 770 sqm, and with one, two or three bedrooms – are light, bright and breezy, the epitome of Maldives living, with every luxury imaginable.

Each pavilion boasts a living room, dining room, pantry, full-sized pool and jacuzzi. Life flows from indoors to out seamlessly in the overwater pavilions, beckoning guests to dive right into ocean adventures. Beach pavilions, meanwhile, are hideaways in a secluded cove of soft white sands, with Niyama’s best snorkelling just offshore.

Reigning above them all is The Crescent, a quintet of pavilions far out to sea reached by private boardwalk. Here, parties of up to 22 enjoy three living rooms, five pools, all with jacuzzi, and a team of thakurus and housekeepers to see to every wish. The days are surreal, spent floating on the horizon, while nights are simply magical. Exclusive experiences include an unforgettable underwater Champagne breakfast, and a private barbecue on a deserted stretch of beach followed by a movie under the stars, waves lapping nearby.

As well as a complete refurbishment of Niyama’s accommodations, dining takes on new life. Guests can ascend to the treetops at Nest, where avant-garde Asian cuisine lights up the night sky, or six metres below the ocean’s surface at Subsix, where the world’s first underwater Nikkei tasting menu intrigues and delights.

Surfers from around the world, meanwhile, gather at the new thatched-roof Surf Shack for rum, reggae and spectacular sunsets. Adjacent to the surf and new marine centre, and overlooking the resort’s famed break, Niyama officially offers the Maldives’ most stylish way to conquer the waves.

Yet despite the evolution, Niyama’s raw beauty remains untouched, with jungle still alive with birdsong, makana still silhouetted at water’s edge, and sea turtles still sunbathing in the turquoise lagoon. Guests can criss-cross the two islands in exploration, with always something new to discover – free to roam, free to simply be, at one with nature and the unrivalled beauty of the Maldives.

“Niyama is a magical place, and it always has been – this remains unchanged”, says General Manager of Niyama Private Islands Maldives, Hafidh Al Busaidy. “Our evolution is merely a celebration of everything our guests have always loved, elevated to new heights”.

With its evolution now complete, Niyama Private Islands Maldives invites free spirits to come and reconnect – with the islands, with themselves, with nature in all its beauty.

For more information or reservations, visit www.niyama.com, call +960 676 22 22 or email reservations@niyama.com. 

Nobody needs a reason to fall in love with their partner all over again, but it’s romantic to keep finding one, season after season. UK wedding platform Bridebook found that a fifth of couples now wait until their first anniversary to take their honeymoon – giving finances time to settle after the wedding itself. Anniversary trips and vow renewals form a huge part of romantic travel as a result, with couples opting for longer stays than their wedding day ever allowed, now that joint finances can stretch further.

At Eri Maldives, it’s a moment that finally gets the spotlight it deserves – with a second telling to fit however couples want to approach it: planned in secret as an add-on, or built into a special occasion celebration.

Here’s our take to the occasions worth considering, and which of Eri’s three ceremonies suits each.

The Five-Year Reckoning

For couples who married between 2020 and 2022, this is an easy one. Many of those ceremonies were scaled back, livestreamed, or held with a guest list of two witnesses and a registrar on a screen. Five years on, that cohort is now reaching a natural milestone, Eri’s Waves of Love (from £1,235++) comes in as an overdue wedding they didn’t quite get: a proper beachfront ceremony led by the resort’s own Ceremony Master, Bodu Beru drummers announcing the moment, a ring exchange sealed with a symbolic certificate, and a champagne toast, closing with a romantic dinner set up right on the sand.

The New Chapter & the Quiet Comeback

Not every renewal is tied to a date on the calendar. Some follow a health scare, a stretch of distance, a difficult financial year. Others follow a quieter kind of shift altogether, whether it be an empty nest, a retirement, or relocation. For couples a little further along, Eternal Love (from £1,457++) builds on the same considered ceremony as Waves of Love, layer in touches this stage calls for: a candlelight dinner on the beach in place of the standard set-up, a rose petal shower, a bottle of Prosecco already waiting in the room, and a 45-minute healing aromatherapy treatment for the couple, with traditional Maldivian sarongs presented as a keepsake for having come through it together.

The Anniversary That Deserves an Upgrade

The 10th, the 25th, the one that ends in a zero – and milestones that carry real weight, for couples who’ve spent decades putting everyone else first. Ocean Kiss (from £1,755++) is Eri’s most extensive package, turning planned activities into day-to-night itineraries, with a five-course destination dining beachfront feast with lobster and wine, a floating or lagoon breakfast the morning after, and a full hour of Balinese massage for two.

Beyond the Ceremony

However the occasion is marked, each package can be tailored with additional romantic excursions and entertainments, including private sunset cruise with champagne and canapés, a duo band or DJ for the evening, a drone-filmed highlight reel of the day, and – for those chasing a truly out-of-this-world backdrop – a three-minute fireworks display.

Whether it’s booked quietly or planned together from the very start, the island simply asks one thing of its guests: turn up, and let the rest take care of itself. Visit erimaldives.com/renew-your-vows-in-paradise to start planning.

As tennis and padel continue to shape the luxury travel landscape, Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort, has welcomed French-Mexican sports professional Stefano as its new Tennis Pro, further elevating the resort’s growing focus on world-class racquet experiences in the Maldives.

Originally from Mexico, Stefano arrives at Finolhu with an extensive background in both tennis and padel. A former competitive athlete who reached No. 4 nationally in Mexico, he has built an international career spanning Mexico, the French overseas region of Guadeloupe and the Maldives, where he has become a familiar figure across several of the country’s leading luxury resorts.

Prior to joining Finolhu, Stefano served as a Tennis and Padel Professional at Patina Maldives. He previously held similar roles at Anantara Kihavah and The St. Regis Maldives, coaching players of all ages and abilities, from first-time enthusiasts to seasoned competitors seeking to refine their game.

At Finolhu, Stefano will lead the resort’s tennis and padel programme, offering private coaching sessions, social matches and bespoke experiences for families, couples and sports enthusiasts. His arrival comes at a time when padel, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, is increasingly finding a place alongside traditional wellness and recreation offerings at luxury destinations.

Known for its playful spirit and vibrant energy, Finolhu complements its two-kilometre sandbank, eclectic dining experiences and extensive activities with dedicated tennis and padel facilities, giving guests the opportunity to stay active while immersed in the natural beauty of Baa Atoll. Whether introducing newcomers to the fast-paced world of padel or helping experienced players perfect their serve, the resort’s racquet sports offering has become an increasingly popular part of the Finolhu experience.

The programme is delivered in partnership with LUX Tennis, the international tennis management company recognised for bringing premium coaching and curated sporting experiences to luxury resorts around the world. Through this collaboration, Finolhu offers guests access to professional instruction and tailored programmes that combine performance, wellness and leisure in an exceptional island setting.

For Stefano, whose journey has taken him from the courts of Mexico and the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, Finolhu represents the latest chapter in a career dedicated to sharing a passion for racquet sports. Whether hosting friendly tournaments beneath the Maldivian sun or introducing guests to a new sport, his focus remains on creating memorable experiences that extend far beyond the court.

To learn more about Finolhu, a Seaside Collection resort, visit finolhu.com.