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t’s difficult to write about the Maldives<br />
without descending into cliches - it is<br />
Ievery bit as beautiful as you imagined, the<br />
ocean suites with their glass floor hatches<br />
are equal parts luxurious and mesmerising,<br />
and of course the combination of sand, sea<br />
and all-inclusivity really are a winner - so, I’ll<br />
try and limit myself to only using the word<br />
crystalline a handful of times, but what can I<br />
tell you that you don’t already know?<br />
I think I could start with the journey - though<br />
travelling is my bread and butter, long haul<br />
can test even the most excited of voyagers.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are a few different routes to the<br />
mainland of Male, with BA offering direct<br />
flights. For those looking to fly in the lap of<br />
luxury (and if you’re heading to the Maldives,<br />
who isn’t) then Qatar is the best choice -<br />
with a short layover in the ultra-plush Doha<br />
airport, it’s enough to make the journey an<br />
event, rather than a task.<br />
Whilst I was prepared for the drama of the<br />
seaplane arrival, there is something otherworldly<br />
about seeing this string of atolls<br />
from the air for the first time. <strong>The</strong> inky-blue<br />
sea stretches out like a vast blanket,<br />
punctuated by bursts of green, framed by<br />
the turquoise necklace of each island’s reef.<br />
Even whilst feeling weary from the long<br />
flight, I pressed myself to the window like a<br />
child, completely mesmerised by the views<br />
below along the 40 minute hop. If you’re<br />
looking for that international-traveller ‘I’ve<br />
made it’ feeling, then arriving by seaplane<br />
has to tick all the boxes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> welcome on arrival at the spectacular<br />
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Resort was the first<br />
taste of the group’s trademark hospitality<br />
ARRIVAL BY SEAPLANE<br />
- a gleaming small army in white uniforms<br />
and glowing smiles awaited, festooning us<br />
with flower garlands and introducing each<br />
guest to their own dedicated villa butler -<br />
they are your go-to whilst on the resort, for<br />
everything from booking restaurant tables<br />
to helping you hitch a ride on one of the golf<br />
buggies that transport guests around the 52<br />
acre resort.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are a handful of different<br />
accommodation options for guests - either<br />
stays on those quintessential oceanic villas,<br />
decked with their steps straight into the<br />
water, or a series of beach villas, either with<br />
direct access to the beach or with oceanic<br />
views and their own private infinity pools.<br />
Whilst some of the fixtures and fittings are<br />
looking a little tired in places, the sheer<br />
delight of the location more than makes up<br />
for any shortcomings inside, as does the<br />
wealth of activities, both in the water and<br />
out, available from your doorstep.<br />
This brings me on to my other assumption<br />
- one I think many travellers make - that<br />
the Maldives is a destination for loved-up<br />
couples to fly and flop in luxury. And whilst<br />
there’s definitely scope for that, I wasn’t<br />
overcome by a raft of couples acting<br />
amorously by the pool, but instead greeted<br />
by a huge breadth of guest profiles - there<br />
were, of course, couples, but also groups<br />
of friends on a girly getaway and families -<br />
taking advantage of the total safety of the<br />
island to let little ones run around freely.<br />
Though, unlike other family-friendly resorts,<br />
the children are seen but not heard - there’s<br />
space for everyone, so adults can still find<br />
their escape. Kids and adults alike can<br />
partake in aquatic adventures, with guided<br />
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