LEFT, FROM TOP: COURTESY OF OBLU SELECT (2); RIGHT, FROM TOP: COURTESY OF JOALI MALDIVES (2)S
ituated on the north-
western tip of Malé, the
picturesque island of
Sangeli welcomed a new
island resort, Oblu Select
(oblu-sangeli.com),inJulythis
year. Positioned as a four-star
deluxe property, the resort
combines contemporary design
withlocalaccentsinitsliving
and dining spaces. Guests can
choose between beach villas
and family suites with pool,
or opt for the more opulent
overwater villas. While the
former two are equipped with
open-air bathrooms, private
pools, and offer direct beach
access, the overwater villas are
the most sought-after for their
romantic setting, with airy
sundecks to enjoy the
bestviewsoftheocean.
For g uests travelling with
partners, the honeymoon
water suites are the best
bet; they come with a luxe
bed overlooking the lagoon,
andmirroredwallsand
ceilings. The resort offersT
he white sandy shores
of Muravandhoo island
on Raa Atoll are gearing
up to welcome a stunning,
new retreat where art
and sustainability will
be at the heart of affairs.
Scheduled for a year-end
launch, Joali Maldives
(joali.com)is among the
few properties to house
an art gallery and studio,
with plans to regularly host
visiting artists. A 45-minute
seaplane ride away from
Malé, the sustainable retreat
was carefully designed to
save the trees on the island
(around 1,000 to be precise).
Guests can choose between
beach villa, two-pool luxury
beach villa, private duplex
beach residence, water
villa, and ocean residenceto enjoy uninterrupted
views of the surrounding
blue waters. The infinity
pool, private beach garden,
outdoor terrace, and sun-
deck at these villas can
be transformed into cosy
settings for a quiet dinner
or to spend the night under
the stars. The Tree House
is another interesting
spot to curate a romantic
dinner with 360° views of
the island. The speciality
restaurants at the resort
take the experience a notch
higher with their extensive
culinary offerings, ranging
from Levant to Japanese,
and Peruvian cuisines.
A private butler at disposal
means the guests will be
pampered to no end.
unlimited consumption of —SHIKHA PUSHPAN
liquor and cocktails at all
of its restaurants and bars,
you can look forward to
partying into the night. The
F&B outlets—The Courtyard,
Simply Veg, Just Grill, The
Sanges, One-Banyan Pool, The
Rock—serve everything from
gourmetvegetariandishesto
seafood and meat grills. The
resort regularly hosts theme
nights, events, and wellness
programmes to make sure
there is never a dull moment.GETAWAYSNovel Indulgence
Sun-kissed
in the Maldives
The new island resort, Oblu Select, is giving a fresh
definition to the classic overwater Maldivian vacay.One of the most exciting openings of the year,
Joali Maldives is expected to set a new
benchmark in the archipelago’s dynamic hotel
scene with its art-centric design.The overwater villas are the most
sought-after option. Below: The resort
has an enviable range of F&B outlets.
The chic villas at
Joali Maldives offer
utmost privacy to its
discerning guests.Private pools are a key
element of the villas here.travelandleisureindia.in