West Berkshire Lifestyle Nov - Dec 2021

HORIZON WATER VILLA
only an all-inclusive stay can offer. In
all there are 15 venues for drinking and
dining - offering a mixture of worldwide
cuisines. Where the food really shines is
in the bevy of freshly grilled reef fish and
Maldivian curries - there are fine dining
options available, but it was the Bamboo
restaurant with its tables in the sand and
menus of fresh salads and Pan-Asian
cuisine which really hit the right notes in
the afternoon heat.
Knowing as they do that tourism in these
areas have hugely adverse effects on the
local environment, Sun Siyam as a group
continually look for ways to reduce their
footprint. Being an archipelagic state,
the Maldives does rely on a significant
array of food imports, but the group has
its own farm island which grows a variety
of produce, limiting the carbon impact.
Guests to the resort can visit too, for a
unique farm to plate experience.
I suppose the other big question for
everyone tentatively dipping their toes
back into international travel, is, is it safe?
The major advantage of the Maldives is
the sheer space between the islands,
meaning that they can isolate cases as
and when they occur. How this landscape
will change as more vaccines are rolled
out across the globe is still unknown, but
its clear that each resort is doing their
part. As it currently stands, to change
resorts you are still required to take a
PCR test - whilst some might consider
this an unnecessary expense, I think it’s a
sensible and safe practice to make sure
you can enjoy your stay fully.
Now, if there is a spa to be found in
a resort, you will generally find me
ensconced inside it. Within a humblelooking
bungalow off one of the jungle
tracks, lies Iru Fushi’s - a world-leading
spa by French brand Thalgo - don’t be
fooled by initial appearances though
- knock on the heavy black-lacquered
doors and you’ll be whisked into an
exotic oasis, where pebble-lined paths
snake through bubbling koi ponds.
Massages here are on the expensive
side, but hey, you’re in the Maldives -
lean in to the luxury and enjoy your slice
of paradise, it really is worth it.
I suppose the thing that really sets the
tone for any trip, and indeed the make or
break, are the staff within the resort, and
Sun Siyam really do have a spectacularly
good team. Throughout the stay, nothing
was too much trouble. Want a pinch-me
romantic dinner on your own stretch
of beach, surrounded by the twinkle
of candles? You’ve got it. In our little
quintet of ladies holidaying together,
we mentioned we would like to have a
meditation session on the beach - what
we got was a heart shape hand-dug into
the sand, punctuated with tea lights and
frangipani flowers, with yoga mats rolled
out and a selection of oils from the spa to
aid relaxation. This beautiful scene was
all the work of our dedicated butlers and
could not have been more special. This
attention to detail extends everywhere
- even my own very British sensibilities
about having a butler were eased, as
the service they offered was completely
unobtrusive and very intuitive.
There’s not much I can say that you might
not already know, but that shouldn’t be
a reason to stop you getting into the
Maldivian groove and discovering it for
yourself - flawless hospitality, great food,
a wealth of activities and the unrelenting
joy of the location, I think Sun Siyam
could make even the most cynical resortsnob
fall under its spell.
www.sunsiyam.com
HOW TO BOOK
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives - 5
7 nights from £1779 pp - Includes return
economy flights on Qatar Airways from
London to Male, seven nights in a Deluxe
Beach Villa, on a B&B basis, including
domestic flight transfers.
Saving over £1140 per couple! Prices are
per person based on two adults sharing
valid for travel on selected departure
dates from October 21-December 21 -
rates not guaranteed so call for details |
www.southalltravel.co.uk
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives - 5
7 nights from £3879 pp - Includes return
business class on Qatar Airways flights
from London, to Male Deluxe Beach
Villa, B&B basis, including domestic flight
transfers. Includes a booking discount -
saving over £2540 per couple. Prices are
per person based on two adults sharing
valid for travel on selected departure
dates from October 21-December 21 -
rates not guaranteed so call for details To
book call on 0208 843 4444
www.southalltravel.co.uk
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 11