Featured
All you need is love: Vakkaru Maldives unveils five romantic experiences for truly memorable Valentine’s Day
To celebrate the resort’s fifth anniversary and the Day of Love, Vakkaru Maldives has curated a dawn-to-dusk programme of its Top Five extraordinary experiences for those in love.
Start the day in your luxury villa, watching the sunrise as you enjoy a sumptuous floating breakfast in your private pool. Then head to the award-winning Merana Spa for a pampering His & Hers spa treatment. Your journey begins with an ultra-nourishing body scrub, followed by a blissful couple’s massage enhanced with essential aroma oils of your choice. At the end of the treatment, immerse yourselves in a silky milk bath as you enjoy a glass of Champagne and an exotic fruit platter. This is followed by a relaxing sound healing session, which helps create new neural pathways to build a stronger relationship and leave you and your partner with feelings of joy and gratitude for each other.
You and your loved one can spread your love and also do your bit for the environment by joining the resort’s coral propagation programme and adopting a coral frame. The frames are used to create artificial reefs for the myriad reef fish and invertebrate species that live around the island. Each couple will also receive an “adoption” certificate.
Before dinner, take in the magnificent Maldivian sunset aboard the Princess 54 luxury yacht as you cruise around the Baa Atoll while sipping Champagne and nibbling on delectable canapes.
Food is the definitely the way to the heart and to end your day of romance, Vakkaru has created five exceptional dining options to help you sweep your loved one of their feet.
Lovers can expect an impressive selection of international dishes at the live stations and buffet spread at Amaany’s Timeless Romance Buffet Dinner while enjoying live music by the beach. This special dinner is priced at US$145++ and guests on a Half Board or Full Board meal plan can enjoy it with a US$35++ food supplement.
Treat them to a movie and dinner date with a difference at the new Jungle Cinema. Sit back and savour the four-course Lobsterlicious menu paired with a bottle of premium Rose Champagne while enjoying your favourite stars on screen. Our Tryst in the Jungle experience is priced at US$1,200++ and also includes a unique floral setup at the cinema, one movie of your choice, a bouquet of roses and a romantic bed decoration in your villa on Valentine’s Day.
An exquisite feast awaits you on a secluded sandbank surrounded by the Indian Ocean. The Valentine’s Castaway Dinner, priced at US$2,500++ per couple, includes floral decoration on the private sandbank, a Mediterranean menu, a 12-rose bouquet, a bottle of premium Rose
Champagne, live music during the dinner, bed decoration in your villa and a 60-minute His & Hers spa treatment.
Enjoy an evening of love with the Romantic Seaside Rendezvous experience at Vakku beach for US$550++ per couple. The magical evening includes an oceanfront table setup with floral decoration, a lavish four-course set menu, a bottle of Rose Champagne, a red rose bouquet, and a romantic bed decoration in the villa on Valentine’s Day.
Or, sweep your loved one off their feet with the indulgent Suite Escape. Wow them with the award-winning four-bedroom Vakkaru Over Water Residence as the setting for your night of romance. Enjoy an hour of spa bliss, followed by an intimate candlelit dinner on the open-air deck overlooking the endless ocean views. The US$2,000++ per couple experience includes a four-course Mediterranean menu, a bottle of premium Rosé Champagne, a bouquet of 12 roses, a 60-minute His & Hers Spa treatment, and a romantic bed decoration in the villa.
Couples can also book the Idyllic Romance Package for an extended romantic Maldivian escape. Valid for a minimum stay of five nights, rates start from US$1,938++ per night in the Overwater Villa and include these top five benefits:
- One Floating Breakfast experience in the private pool for a couple / one time in-villa breakfast experience in Overwater Villa (without pool)
- Complimentary return seaplane/domestic transfers for the couple
- One Private Destination Dining Experience on the beach
- One 60-minute Signature Couple Massage at Merana Spa
- One 30-minute jet ski session by Splash Dive and Watersports Centre for a couple
For reservations and general information, visit vakkarumaldives.com or contact reservations@vakkarumaldives.com.
Awards
Kuda Villingili listed in Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives has been nominated in the Resorts category for the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (UK) and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (US), marking a further development in the resort’s international recognition.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on traveller feedback and are considered a key benchmark within the global travel industry. The dual nomination reflects the resort’s presence across international markets and its engagement with guests from different regions.
The nomination follows a series of recognitions for the resort. In 2025, Kuda Villingili was ranked among the Top 5 Overseas Leisure Resorts Worldwide in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards, placing fifth globally. It was also listed among the Top Resorts in the Indian Ocean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 (US). The resort was similarly recognised in the 2024 edition of the awards.
Located in North Malé Atoll, approximately 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers 75 villas and residences, each with private pools and views of the surrounding ocean.
The resort features eight restaurants and three bars, including Japanese-Peruvian dining at Mar-Umi and Teppanyaki by Mar-Umi. Other dining options include Asian cuisine at East and grill offerings at Fire. Additional facilities include a cigar lounge, a large swimming pool, a spa with overwater treatment villas, and a range of wellness and recreational activities such as yoga, sound therapy and surfing.
Amjad Thaufeeg, Commercial Director at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, stated that the nominations reflect feedback from guests across international markets and noted the importance of maintaining consistent service standards.
Voting for the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 is open until 30 June 2026, with results scheduled to be announced in November 2026.
Cooking
Baros Maldives to showcase sustainable dining for Earth Day
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
Awards
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives earns TUI Global Hotel Award recognition
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives has been recognised as a Quality Winner at the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2026, an accolade based on guest feedback from travellers worldwide. The recognition reflects the resort’s delivery of guest experiences shaped by service standards, facilities and alignment with evolving traveller preferences.
Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers a range of accommodation options, with more than 140 units including overwater suites, beach bungalows and duplex garden bungalows. The resort is designed to accommodate couples, families and groups.
The resort features seven dining venues offering a mix of international and local cuisine. Tex Mex serves Mexican and Spanish-inspired dishes, while Dalchini offers an Indian à la carte menu available for lunch and dinner. Raalhu Bar provides a setting for evening refreshments, with views of the sunset.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is also known for Pasta Point, a surf break recognised for its left-hand waves. The resort attracts surfers from international markets who travel to access the location. Surf operations at Pasta Point are managed by Atoll Adventures, with bookings handled through Atoll Travel to ensure a structured approach to surf access.
The TUI Global Hotel Awards are determined by guest reviews, making the recognition an indicator of guest satisfaction. The resort’s inclusion as a Quality Winner reflects its performance in meeting guest expectations within the Maldives tourism sector.
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