Featured
Escape to a festive wonderland: Le Méridien, The Westin, and Sheraton Maldives unveil Holiday splendor

This holiday season, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, and Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa are offering extraordinary festive experiences for travellers looking to ring in the new year with style. Whether you’re vacationing with family, friends, or a special someone, these resorts promise a magical celebration set against stunning white-sand beaches and sparkling lagoons.
From December 20, 2024, to January 10, 2025, each resort presents its unique festive charm. At Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa, embrace the season with the Retro 70s-themed ‘La Fête,’ featuring vibrant activities and a dazzling New Year’s Eve Beach Party. The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort invites guests to join ‘Rhythms by the Sea,’ a lively Brazilian carnival celebration culminating in a grand Gala Dinner. Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa offers heartwarming celebrations that honour family traditions and provide delightful dining experiences.
Book by September 30, 2024, to take advantage of exclusive Festive Early Bird offers, including special savings and bonus points for Marriott Bonvoy members.
Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa: Retro 70s Festive Escape
Celebrate the holiday season with a groovy flair at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa’s ‘La Fête,’ running from December 21, 2024, to January 7, 2025. This eco-friendly five-star resort will transform into a vibrant tribute to the disco era. Guests are encouraged to dress in their most colourful attire and enjoy daily festivities that include wellness activities and recreational fun for all ages.
The season kicks off with a sparkling Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 21, featuring festive cocktails, live entertainment, and a Christmas Choir. Guests can partake in masterclasses such as Barista, Chocolate, Sommelier, and Gin Experience. The Retro 70s New Year’s Eve Beach Party promises a spectacular celebration with gourmet food, flowing beverages, live entertainment, and a magnificent fireworks display.
Located on Thilamaafushi Island in the Lhaviyani Atoll, the resort combines European elegance with Maldivian beauty. It offers 141 chic villas, a marine conservation hub, a vibrant house reef, and the secluded Bodu Finolhu island for private gatherings. The ‘Festive in Paradise’ package includes daily meals, all-inclusive beverages, and complimentary activities like kayaking and snorkeling. Book by September 30 to receive a 10% discount on the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, with stays valid from December 23, 2024, to January 10, 2025. Access the resort via a 35-minute scenic seaplane flight from Malé.
Visit the website at lemeridien-maldives.com or book your stay here.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort: Rhythms by the Sea
This festive season, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort celebrates with ‘Rhythms by the Sea,’ a vibrant Brazilian carnival-themed event starting December 20, 2024. The resort will feature lively parades, a guest DJ Luca Schreiner, and a grand New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, complete with a spectacular fireworks display. Festivities continue daily through January 6, 2025, offering a colorful and joyous experience for all.
Located in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the resort is known for its stunning marine life, including rare pink hydrozoan corals and seasonal manta rays and whale sharks. The resort features 69 overwater and beach villas and emphasizes well-being with The Westin’s signature Heavenly® Bed and a Kids Sleep Manual for restful nights.
Enhance your holiday with the ‘Festive Bliss’ package, which includes daily breakfast for two, USD 100 in food and beverage credits, and 20% off spa treatments. Book this package with a minimum four-night stay between December 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, to receive an additional 20,000 bonus points. Book by September 30 to enjoy a 10% discount on room rates. The resort is accessible via a 25-minute seaplane flight or a 20-minute domestic flight followed by a short speedboat ride from Velana International Airport.
For more information, visit the website at westin-maldives.com or book your stay here.
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa: Festive Early Bird Offer
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, located in North Malé Atoll, welcomes guests to celebrate the holidays with its ‘Festive Early Bird’ package. This five-star resort, featuring traditional thatched architecture and surrounded by pristine beaches and lagoons, is perfect for families, couples, and friends.

From December 7, 2024, the resort’s festive calendar includes activities such as the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Christmas Carols, Gingerbread House Decorating, and Santa Water Aerobics with DJ. Festivities continue from December 20, 2024, to January 7, 2025, ensuring fun for all ages.
The ‘Festive Early Bird’ package includes a minimum four-night stay with daily buffet breakfasts, three-course à la carte lunches, and dinners at select venues. Guests receive a USD 60 dining credit, complimentary use of snorkeling gear, paddleboards, kayaks, and tennis equipment, plus 15% off spa treatments and 20% off Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners. Book by September 30 to benefit from these offers, with kids under 12 staying and dining free. A complimentary shared speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport, just 15 minutes from Malé, makes this resort an ideal choice for a luxurious yet accessible Maldivian getaway. The package is valid from December 20, 2024, to January 10, 2025.
For more information, visit the website at sheratonmaldives.com or book your stay here.
Excursions
Marine encounters: spinner dolphins at Canareef Resort Maldives

At Canareef Resort Maldives, one of the most popular experiences for guests is the dolphin tour. The abundant presence of dolphins in the surrounding waters ensures that each cruise offers a remarkable encounter with these marine creatures, creating lasting memories for visitors.
Every dolphin tour at Canareef provides an opportunity to observe pods of dolphins gliding and leaping across the waves. Guests often describe the sight of spinner dolphins darting through the clear ocean as a defining image of the Maldives’ natural marine beauty.
Morning cruises and sunset tours alike are guided by experienced staff, who share insights as dolphins appear in their natural environment. Many guests recount moments when dolphins swim alongside the boat, a spectacle that creates a unique sense of connection.
The activity is regarded as more than just an excursion; it is considered a celebration of nature and a highlight of a stay at Canareef. It allows guests to experience the Maldives in a way that underlines why dolphins are seen as ambassadors of the islands.
For travellers seeking encounters with dolphins amid turquoise waters, Canareef presents an ideal opportunity. The resort also offers seasonal promotions, including early booking discounts for the remainder of this summer, next winter, and summer 2026.
Featured
Maldives beaches rated among world’s best for rest and rejuvenation

Following a rise in searches for ‘calmcations’, long-haul travel specialists Travelbag have revealed the best destinations for a tranquil escape in 2025, with the Maldives named among the world’s most serene beachside getaways.
According to Travelbag, 72 per cent of British travellers go on holiday to relax and recharge, while 47 per cent seek experiences that help them feel more grounded and mindful. Searches for the term ‘calmcation’ – holidays focused on peace, quiet, and switching off – have doubled in the past three months, reflecting a growing shift away from busy itineraries towards more restorative travel.
To identify the most relaxing destinations, Travelbag analysed 36 global locations and ranked them against key serenity indicators, including noise and light pollution, cleanliness, the quality of green spaces, and local travel congestion.
Queenstown, New Zealand, secured first place as the world’s ultimate destination for tranquillity. Framed by the Southern Alps and Lake Wakatipu, the town recorded exceptionally high scores for cleanliness (91.7) and quality of green spaces (94.4), alongside low levels of travel congestion and minimal noise and light pollution.
The Seychelles followed in second position, celebrated for its unspoiled natural beauty and exceptionally low noise and light pollution score of 16.7. Its islands, including La Digue, Praslin and Silhouette, remain havens of peace and natural charm.
Cairns, Australia, rounded out the top three, combining tropical serenity with well-maintained green spaces and an impressive cleanliness score of 69.6.
Also ranking among the top global destinations is the Maldives, long regarded as one of the world’s premier escapes for those seeking peace and seclusion. With its iconic turquoise waters, pristine beaches, and private island resorts, the country continues to attract travellers in search of restorative experiences.
According to Travelbag’s analysis, the Maldives achieved an impressive average beach rating of 4.63, placing it alongside the world’s leading beachside destinations. Beaches such as Bikini Beach, Baros Beach, and Reethi Beach were highlighted as examples of the country’s serene appeal.
Danny Hugill, Destination Executive for the Maldives at Travelbag, commented: “The Maldives is one of our most cherished destinations – an idyllic collection of tiny islands that offer unmatched opportunities to unwind. Long celebrated as a top honeymoon destination, it remains the ultimate place to escape, slow down, and enjoy the tranquillity of nature.”
The findings underline the Maldives’ continued appeal in a market increasingly shaped by wellness, mindfulness, and relaxation. While destinations such as New Zealand and the Seychelles excel in specific indicators of serenity, the Maldives’ unique combination of luxurious seclusion, natural beauty, and consistently high-rated beaches ensures its position as a global ‘calmcation’ favourite for 2025.
Featured
October at Soneva: culinary journeys, wellness retreats and world-class guests

As the golden light softens the edges of the day and autumn arrives in the Maldives, Soneva’s resorts are inviting families to embrace a slower pace. Surrounded by settings where jungle meets shoreline and barefoot living is part of everyday life, October brings immersive experiences, diverse dining and guest appearances designed to create memorable moments.
Soneva is renowned for its sense of space – and this October, that space is offered as a place to connect, explore and dream. Guests are accommodated in expansive villas, whether set above the water or nestled within the forest, with each generation free to follow their own rhythm. Younger visitors are welcomed at The Den, where activities include chocolate-making, coral reef discovery and storytelling beneath the stars. Adults are offered opportunities such as sailing excursions, wine tastings by the beach and relaxed days defined by a tropical tempo.
The Soneva Stars programme in October features a notable guest line-up. Tennis player Andy Murray will lead sessions on the courts, Olympic swimmer Therese Alshammar will conduct family swimming classes, and British astronaut Tim Peake will introduce guests to stargazing alongside stories from his career in space. The atmosphere is intended to remain relaxed, with experiences that are both engaging and uncommon.
Culinary experiences remain central to the Soneva offering. October’s highlights include Michelin-starred chefs joining the Soneva Stars programme: Tim Siadatan of Trullo and Padella will appear at Soneva Fushi for the first time, while Chet Sharma of Bibi will prepare a Diwali dinner at both Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani. Dining venues range from Flying Sauces, a treetop experience reached by zipline, to So Hands On by Chef Akira, an intimate six-seat sushi counter crafted in sake-finished pine. At Soneva Secret, each villa includes a private chef, offering a personalised dining experience.
For guests seeking tranquillity, October also marks the return of the SOUL Festival at Soneva Fushi, taking place from 9 to 13 October. This retreat gathers global figures in wellness, movement and transformation, offering barefoot rituals, sunrise breathwork and reflective discussions.
October at Soneva is framed by golden hours and starlit nights, with experiences designed to be shared across generations.
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