Henrie Stride travels to the Baa Atoll, a designated UNESCO Biosphere World Reserve, in search of white coral beaches, 5-star service and seriously fabulous food.
- The intoxicating atmosphere
Until you’ve collected your baggage at an airport and walked straight to a jetty to get on a seaplane, you haven’t lived. That’s exactly what happens when you fly to Malé, the tiny but bustling capital of the Maldives, as a guest of the newly opened Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort. As the balmy air of this tiny nation envelops you, super-friendly Westin staff guide you onto red-and-white Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane. Prepare to be dazzled as you glide over sparkling aqua blue waters dotted by over 1000 islands glistening like jewels among the Maldives’ 22 atolls. When you reach your destination 30 minutes later, the resort staff are lined up to wave you in and hand you an icy hand towel and a cool drink made of lime, lemongrass, aloe vera and mint. The magic has begun.
- The outstanding food choices
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort prides itself on its six pillars of wellbeing: eat, sleep, move, work, play and feel well. And here at Miriandhoo, they deliver on all fronts – with ‘eat well’ topping the list. There are three dining destinations, each offering a unique cuisine experience. The Island Kitchen, open all day, where you can kick off your morning with a superfood smoothie and a dizzying selection at the breakfast buffet (there’s a bakery onsite, so go ahead and indulge on the pastries) – or order a la carte. Although the generous menu ranges from tandoories to burgers to siu yuk, you must try the local Maldivian specialties, such as locally caught yellowfin tuna curry, Baa Atoll fish soup, and Bis Keemiya – crispy deep-fried tuna parcels spiced up with a delectable local ingredient known as Maldivian Masmuris. For a taste of authentic Asian street food, hit the beach shack-style Hawker cafe (they do a killer pad thai); and for an elegant evening feast, The Pearl is an upmarket Japanese restaurant with a simple and beautifully executed menu featuring such delectable dishes as local lobster teppanyaki and melt-on-your-tongue sushi, made from local and imported fish.
- Jeeves is at your service
Prepare to be blown away – on this tiny atoll in middle of the Indian Ocean, you’ll be handed a wine list that traverses the terroirs from Piemonte to Catalunya to Pfalz to the Rhone. The charming house sommelier, Jeeves Perera, is passionate about Australian wines, too: you can find a carefully curated selection from South Australia that includes a $55 Penfolds Rawson Retreat Chardonnay to a $300 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz.
- You’ll think you’re in heaven
There’s a reason that the Maldives is on everyone’s bucket list – the sands really are sugary white and the waters are pure and crystalline, at temperatures hovering at around 29C all year round. And yes, you actually can wake up, grab your snorkelling gear and dive straight in from your deck and be surrounded by tropical fish of every shape, size and colour. You can also arrange to adventure off the island by boat to swim with sea turtles (your snorkelling guide will guarantee a sighting of at least 15), dive with the manta rays at Hanifaru Bay, or cruise at sunset alongside massive pods of dolphins – which are also routinely spotted from the comfort of The Sunset Bar, a loungey outdoor space serving tapas and artisanal cocktails.
- It feels like your very own private island
There are 70 suites at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, but you’d swear that you have the entire resort to yourself. Designed by award-winning Italian architects PEIA Associati, the theme throughout is inspired by the ocean and the local marine life — think turtle shells, giant clams, whale sharks, even a gaping grouper. The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort’s dedication to environmental sustainability includes the use of repurposed materials and timber sources from controlled forestation areas, creating an aesthetic that is both organic and refined. When you’re in your suite, gazing at the horizon from the deck, floating in your personal pool or rinsing off under the outdoor rainfall shower, you have an utter sense of privacy and peace.
- You’ll be spoilt rotten
Each guest at the resort is assigned their very own thakaru (personal concierge), ready to cater to your every need and chauffeur you by golf buggy wherever you want to go. Say the word and you’ll be booked into the Heavenly Spa for a top-to-toe luxury treatment . If you fancy some sunrise yoga or a bit of circuit training in the resort gym, you’ll be sorted in a second – and if it didn’t occur to you to pack your gear, don’t worry, they have brand-new athletic wear that will be yours for the duration of your stay. When you’re lying by the infinity pool after lunch and feeling a little overheated, a smiling staff member will be at your side with a chilled hand towel and an icy-cold fruit-infused green tea before you even ask. The service at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is genuine, friendly and first-class — no matter who you are, you’ll be treated like a VIP.
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