Welcome to Ayada Maldives couples retreat that will make busy city life seem like a distant memory.
THE LOW DOWN
Located some 268 miles south of the capital Male, Ayada combines typical Maldivian-style luxury with Turkish flair – sure to appeal to Middle Eastern visitors. From hotel staff helping you onto your plane to Kaadedhdhoo, to the face towels offered as you set off on the boat to the resort, a great deal of care and attention has been put into the guest experience, and the feeling only increases as you pull into the resort’s main dock where your personal butler awaits. After settling in, isolation, relaxation, and contemplation are the name of the game, with some watersports and excursions mixed in for good measure. There are few better places to get away from it all with your partner, surrounded by pure white sands and crystal blue seas. For more information, visit ayadamaldives.com
OCEAN OR BEACH BLISS?
Ayada offers the ocean and beach villas the Maldives has become famous for, all complete with large bathrooms featuring his and her dual sinks. With attention to detail at the forefront of the service, an extensive list of pillows allows you to tailor-make your bed time experience. While you may be surrounded by verdant nature the resort appeals to 21st century tastes with all the mod-cons including remote controls that work your lights, fan system and blinds. Those in the ocean villas can enjoy glass panels offering a glimpse of the tropical fish in the sea below. But of course, why come all this way to sit indoors? All villas feature expansive outdoor decking areas with personal pools, dual sun loungers, soft seating areas, hammocks and easy access to the beach.
WINE, DINE, THEN SHISHA
Spread across the island there are six dining venues to choose from, ensuring, whether you have a taste for the east, west or somewhere in between, there will be something to tantalise the taste buds. Magu is Ayada’s main restaurant offering extravagant buffets with a different theme each night, the Ocean Breeze Bar & Restaurant offers a more casual Mediterranean ambience on the sea, Kai fuses a Maldivian setting with flavours from the Far East, while the over water Ille De Joie aims to impress with its wine and cheese selection. For those looking to cap off the night, the resort also goes back to its routes with the Ottoman Lounge, featuring Turkish coffee, speciality teas and a wide array of shisha surrounded by Ottoman style furnishings.
RELAXATION AND ADVENTURE
After a morning of sunbathing, snorkelling or wandering the sandy jungle paths of the island its time to kick back and relax with some pampering at the AySpa, offering a variety of massages, rituals, facials and grooming options. Highlights include the Maldive’s first vichy room and private Turkish Hammam with an elaborate marble plinth. For those looking to keep active there are also a variety of activities to choose from, including: diving and fishing expeditions, water sports, sand bank picnics and a trip to the equator, where crossing hemispheres is as easy as a breast stroke.
Words: Robert Anderson
