Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives will celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time this November, as growing interest from the United States creates a new opportunity for the boutique island resort to welcome American travellers over the holiday.

Taking place on Thursday, 26 November 2026, the celebration will centre around a special Thanksgiving Dinner at FireDoor, Grand Park Kodhipparu’s signature overwater restaurant, bringing couples, families and groups of friends together for an evening of shared dining overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The family-style menu gives Thanksgiving a distinctly Kodhipparu interpretation, with dishes including roasted shrimps, home-cured salmon and artichoke mille-feuille, lobster with mushroom ravioli, sautéed Hokkaido scallop, beetroot risotto with feta cheese, roasted beet and beet leaves, and sous-vide lamb shank, followed by a chocolate dessert.

“Thanksgiving is fundamentally about gathering, sharing and taking time for the people who matter,” said Raffaele Solferino, General Manager of Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives. “As we welcome growing interest from the United States, it felt like the right time to bring this celebration to Kodhipparu for the first time and give our guests the opportunity to mark the occasion together in the Maldives.”

For American travellers making the long-haul journey, the resort’s location offers an important advantage. Grand Park Kodhipparu is just 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, with no onward domestic flight or seaplane journey required. Its boutique scale of 120 villas combines pool and overwater living with personalised service, an easily accessible house reef, wellness and island dining.

Guests can turn Thanksgiving into a longer Maldives escape with 30% savings on stays of four nights or more, while those planning more spontaneously can enjoy 15% savings when booking within 21 days of arrival.

The Thanksgiving Dinner at FireDoor takes place from 6.30pm to 10.00pm on 26 November 2026 and is offered as a supplementary dining experience, priced at USD 110++ per person. For reservations and further information, contact rsvn.gpkd@parkhotelgroup.com.

There is a way to close out the year that isn’t a race to the finish line, but a soft landing into the one ahead. That’s the one Eri Maldives is building this December.

This December, Eri welcomes guests for its debut festive season since opening, a programme built around La Dolce Vita, running from 22 December to 7 January — an ode to the sweet rhythm of island living. Bringing a touch of Mediterranean romance to the Maldives, the island dresses for the season in ceramic-tile patterns tracing bar fronts and linens, lemons resting beside woven baskets, and fairy lights strung low between the palms as dusk settles slow and golden over the water.

Where the Season Lives

The season opens with The Christmas Glow, as Eri’s tree is lit for the first time beneath an amber horizon at sunset, carols rising over the tide, paired with canapés and cocktails. Travellers can also turn icing and imagination into a miniature seaside cottage at a festive gingerbread-house decorating workshop, best enjoyed on the spot.

Christmas morning brings Santa’s surprise entrance, followed by an unhurried lunch of festive tropical favourites at the Christmas Banquet at Soul Kitchen. Those looking to make new friends can catch up over beach games and a Zumba breakout at the first ‘Erilympics’ on 29 December.

New Year celebrations carry that same spirit into its own send-off, unfolding in layers: starting with a treasure hunt that invites guests to discover scenic pockets of the island, with clues leading them from one corner to the next, before the evening settles into an epic gala dinner with live cooking stations turning the night into a feast that keeps giving. As midnight nears, the Seaside Soirée takes over with a playful costume competition. DJ beats signal the start of the year-end beach party, gathering everyone under the stars at Sip & Dip Beachfront as the countdown begins, with a firework show lighting up the water as the final seconds tick down and the year turns over.

The morning after is reserved for rest, with New Year Reset Brunch that asks nothing more than a slow start with comforting bites. good coffee. An invitation to test the waters awaits in the afternoon, where guests are encouraged to test the waters at group water sport taster sessions for a First Ride of the Year – the perfect spontaneous start to set the tone for a year with endless possibilities.

Travellers celebrating Orthodox Christmas can mark the occasion with an intimate shore-side dinner and lunch in early January, rounding off the season with a toast with loved ones close by.

Flavours without Rush

Foodies can look forward to a seasonal Coastal Feast, featuring Maldivian reef lobster pulled straight off the grill and charred fish dishes, or learn the secrets of Maldivian staple recipes in the hands-on The Island Kitchen cooking class.

Elsewhere, the Maldivian Village becomes a place to wander rather than simply pass through. Guests are invited to join a Maldivian High Tea experience on the afternoon of 30 December, while a pop-up market takes over for one evening only on 5 January, with local crafts and street foods spilling into the square.

Throughout the period, a run of daily sundowners warms the festive spirit into the evenings, with themed drinks and DJ sets rotating from Island Afterglow to Sunset Soirée. Vino lovers can also swing by Sip & Dip for a special wine-tasting experience on 2 January, with sharing plates to match each vestige.

Beneath the Surface

Throughout the season, guests can sit-in on educational talks to learn about ocean ecology and geology, and take part in scenic sunset fishing adventures to head out into the open water, with the Battle of the Big Catch to dial up friendly competition before the light runs out.

For those who wants the islander take, Secrets of the Sea storytelling nights are where the resort’s marine expert share tales gathered from surrounding waters, and Eri’s growing turtle community, with a Great Reef Trivia to put all that listening to the test.

Space for Stillness

As part of the period’s seasonal specials, Eskape Spa will be unveiling a seasonal ritual, Eskape Journey, with a cocoa coffee sugar scrub that softens the skin, followed by a full-body massage that loosens up muscle tension and knots.

Couples can also lean further into romance with a private escape to their own Castaway Table, a barefoot lunch set up on a secluded sandbank, with open sky and sea for company.

For the best value, book Studios from £179/night and Beach Villas from £241/night on Full Board with the resort and explore current offers at https://erimaldives.com/offers.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort invites guests to reconnect with their well-being during World Wellness Weekend, taking place from September 18 to 20, 2026. Guided by Westin’s signature wellness pillars—Move Well, Eat Well and Sleep Well—the three-day program brings together energising fitness activities, mindful movement, nourishing workshops and restorative experiences amid the naturally inspiring surroundings of the Maldives.

The weekend begins on Friday morning with a guided Sunrise Walk along a scenic island route, encouraging guests to start the day with purposeful movement while discovering the benefits of walking for physical and mental well-being. Guests can continue moving with Water Volleyball at the Main Pool before turning their attention to mindful nourishment during the Wellness Food & Drink Workshop at Green Delight. The interactive session will introduce practical ways to prepare nourishing food and refreshing beverages, along with simple nutritional insights that guests can incorporate into their daily routines.

Friday afternoon brings a playful change of pace with Fun Games, giving guests an opportunity to connect, compete, and create memorable moments together. The day concludes with Sunset Yoga at Sunset Beach, where a calming guided flow will be complemented by refreshing wellness drinks and wholesome energy bites.

On Saturday, the program begins with Sunrise Yoga at the Yoga Pavilion, followed by an uplifting Aqua Fit session at the Main Pool, an approachable and refreshing way to improve mobility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness. The day ends with a restorative Yoga Nidra session at the Yoga Pavilion. Often referred to as “yogic sleep,” this deeply relaxing guided practice is designed to calm the nervous system, release mental tension, and prepare guests for a more restful night.

Sunday opens with Beach Fitness before heading to the shoreline for an energising full-body workout. Guests can then return to the water for another friendly Water Volleyball session. As evening approaches, a guided Run & Stretch experience invites participants to explore the benefits of regular movement while learning more about calorie expenditure and physical well-being.

The weekend concludes at Heavenly Spa by Westin with a DIY Body Scrub Workshop, where guests can create a personalised scrub infused with lavender essential oil. Inspired by Westin’s Sleep Well pillar, the soothing workshop provides a fitting final ritual of relaxation, restoration and renewal.

Participation in World Wellness Weekend activities is open to all resort guests, with advance registration recommended. Throughout the week, guests can also enjoy a special offer at Heavenly Spa by Westin: a 50-minute Relaxing Balinese Massage for USD 100 per person.

Set within the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort offers a naturally restorative setting where guests can experience well-being at their own pace. With 69 spacious beach and overwater villas, rejuvenating treatments at Heavenly Spa by Westin, thoughtful dining experiences, and comprehensive fitness facilities, the resort brings Westin’s holistic approach to well-being in one of the Maldives’ most remarkable island destinations.

For more information, visit westin-maldives.com.