Check In: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives
Date: 2014-09-28
In a nutshell: A slice of paradise is closer than you think.
Where: The exclusive island that is home to the Taj Exotica is just a 15-minute speedboat ride from Male Airport. The amazing thing is, you can be at the resort and in your room within an hour of touching down in Male. The airport is so small you’re out in no time, bags in hand, before being whisked straight onto a boat and off to the island. Add to that flydubai’s super service to Male (four hours, 20 minutes) and it’s a blissfully hassle-free journey with no waiting around for an onward seaplane.
Now booking: Opt for a Lagoon Villa and enjoy your own private pool, lush garden with hammock and steps straight down into the sea (Beach Villas have their own strip of sandy beach). The rooms are spacious, airy and packed with amenities and lovely touches. Or, go all out and get one of the heavenly Water Villas.
Atmosphere: It really is everything you could want from a tropical island paradise. At just a few steps from one side of the island to the other, you can hear the lapping of the waves wherever you are, and you’ll be taken aback, repeatedly, by the sheer vibrancy of the natural colours – from the dazzling blues of the sun and sky, to the lush greens of the coconut trees and the fiery hues of the setting sun.
Activities: There’s no end of things to do at Taj Exotica. Thrill seekers can take out a jet ski or go banana boating, while idlers can laze in a hammock, shoot some pool in the games room or don a snorkel and float around watching the tropical fish. Non-motorised watersports are free, so you can take out a kayak or a stand up paddleboard any time. And for some more serious exploring, you can head to tiny capital Male for a historical tour, or spend the day island hopping, diving, picnicking on isolated sand banks and dolphin-watching from the top deck of a traditional dhoni.
Be sure to check into Jiva spa, where treatments are as heavenly as the relaxation area – lounging over the gently lapping water, with the cool sea breeze and the last of the afternoon sun on your skin is enough to send you into the most restful slumber of your life.
Food & drink: It’s all about the fish on this island nation, and the seafood is incredibly fresh. Try the meaty Green Job and enjoy by candlelight on the beach at 24 Degrees, or head to fine dining seafood restaurant Deep End, which sits over the water. The Opera dessert here is something of an experience – the chef whips up a beautiful creation right on the table. Literally. A silicon mat is placed down before a fabulous edible art piece, that looks something like a solar system, comes to life before your eyes.
Who’s staying: While the Maldives may be reputed as a honeymoon destination, and rightly so, this Explorer took some time out here to relax with a friend. Even at full occupancy, the resort feels peaceful and unobtrusive as every nook and cranny of the island has a sense of privacy. It’s the perfect place to recharge your batteries, whatever type of break you want.
Top tip: Embrace the truly wondrous marine life. Every day at 5.30pm on the dot, a group of stingrays appear on the beach and wait to be fed by the resident marine biologist, who will give a talk on the fascinating creatures and even let you touch them. At 6pm, it’s time for shark feeding over at Deep End, and every Friday there’s an interesting talk about the weird and wonderful creatures and corals to be found around the island.
Getting there: Flydubai has five flights per week to Male, from less than Dhs.2,000 return. Flight time is less than 4 hours 30 minutes and, if you fly business class, you can enjoy the airline’s new business class lounge at Terminal 2.
Where: The exclusive island that is home to the Taj Exotica is just a 15-minute speedboat ride from Male Airport. The amazing thing is, you can be at the resort and in your room within an hour of touching down in Male. The airport is so small you’re out in no time, bags in hand, before being whisked straight onto a boat and off to the island. Add to that flydubai’s super service to Male (four hours, 20 minutes) and it’s a blissfully hassle-free journey with no waiting around for an onward seaplane.
Now booking: Opt for a Lagoon Villa and enjoy your own private pool, lush garden with hammock and steps straight down into the sea (Beach Villas have their own strip of sandy beach). The rooms are spacious, airy and packed with amenities and lovely touches. Or, go all out and get one of the heavenly Water Villas.
Atmosphere: It really is everything you could want from a tropical island paradise. At just a few steps from one side of the island to the other, you can hear the lapping of the waves wherever you are, and you’ll be taken aback, repeatedly, by the sheer vibrancy of the natural colours – from the dazzling blues of the sun and sky, to the lush greens of the coconut trees and the fiery hues of the setting sun.
Activities: There’s no end of things to do at Taj Exotica. Thrill seekers can take out a jet ski or go banana boating, while idlers can laze in a hammock, shoot some pool in the games room or don a snorkel and float around watching the tropical fish. Non-motorised watersports are free, so you can take out a kayak or a stand up paddleboard any time. And for some more serious exploring, you can head to tiny capital Male for a historical tour, or spend the day island hopping, diving, picnicking on isolated sand banks and dolphin-watching from the top deck of a traditional dhoni.
Be sure to check into Jiva spa, where treatments are as heavenly as the relaxation area – lounging over the gently lapping water, with the cool sea breeze and the last of the afternoon sun on your skin is enough to send you into the most restful slumber of your life.
Food & drink: It’s all about the fish on this island nation, and the seafood is incredibly fresh. Try the meaty Green Job and enjoy by candlelight on the beach at 24 Degrees, or head to fine dining seafood restaurant Deep End, which sits over the water. The Opera dessert here is something of an experience – the chef whips up a beautiful creation right on the table. Literally. A silicon mat is placed down before a fabulous edible art piece, that looks something like a solar system, comes to life before your eyes.
Who’s staying: While the Maldives may be reputed as a honeymoon destination, and rightly so, this Explorer took some time out here to relax with a friend. Even at full occupancy, the resort feels peaceful and unobtrusive as every nook and cranny of the island has a sense of privacy. It’s the perfect place to recharge your batteries, whatever type of break you want.
Top tip: Embrace the truly wondrous marine life. Every day at 5.30pm on the dot, a group of stingrays appear on the beach and wait to be fed by the resident marine biologist, who will give a talk on the fascinating creatures and even let you touch them. At 6pm, it’s time for shark feeding over at Deep End, and every Friday there’s an interesting talk about the weird and wonderful creatures and corals to be found around the island.
Getting there: Flydubai has five flights per week to Male, from less than Dhs.2,000 return. Flight time is less than 4 hours 30 minutes and, if you fly business class, you can enjoy the airline’s new business class lounge at Terminal 2.
