Whilst we were still experiencing the awful cold weather this March; I was very fortunate to go to the Maldives to experience the new OZEN by Atmosphere for five nights.
This seemed to be the Winter sun destination of choice this year because I was not on my own having booked two clients to Atmosphere Kanifushi (sister hotel to Ozen) and then another two clients to Komandoo Island Resort. All in agreement that we LOVED the Maldives!
Atmosphere Kanifushi is located north of Male and takes approximately 30 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport. Kanifushi offers some of the best diving and snorkelling sites in the Maldives and each of the spacious villas offer direct access to the pristine white beach. Board basis here is Platinum Plus All Inclusive.
Likewise Komandoo Island Resort is located in the North Atoll; approximately 40 minutes by seaplane from Male International. This Island is very much an intimate oasis with an air of rustic charm and boasts one of the most contemporary restaurants in the Maldives, Aqua. Various dining options are available at this hotel (B&B, Half Board, Full Board and All Inclusive).
Ozen is a brand new lifestyle luxury resort and opened it’s shores to the world on July 15 2016. Situated in the South Atoll with a transfer time of approximately 45 minutes by speedboat this resort is very much for the discerning traveler with a uniquely exclusive holiday plan. As soon as you arrive at the jetty you are made to feel extremely welcome and soon relax into the ‘easy’ island life. The staff shout greetings to you as they zip past on golf buggies. The resort is very family-friendly with a great kids’ club offering regular daily activities and move screenings! Walking over the bridges that link the islands you can see baby black finned sharks, sting rays and multi-coloured fish. Bikes are available for you to take and cycle to island number two, or make your way back to your villa!
We stayed in the lead room category (Earth Villa), which sees the sunrise, but the villas on the opposite side of the island (for the amazing sunsets) have their own private pools. To be honest we were more than happy with this as each villa has a spacious deck from which you step onto your private strip of beach and the water is literally a stone’s throw away! All villas have outdoor bathrooms and I was uncertain whether I would like this, but I LOVED it! Not even sure if we needed a butler either, but I have to say our young man (Marey) was fantastic. We were happy for him to take care of our dinner reservations, but he was on hand 24 hours if required!
The Indulgence dining Plan is fantastic with a great selection of restaurants including the exclusive underwater restaurant M6m, which is without a doubt the jewel in the crown. Open for lunch and dinner, this seafood restaurant showcases beautiful underwater views whilst you enjoy exceptionally exotic modern seafood cuisine!
The Management and staff work very hard to make this a special place to visit and will leave you with wonderful memories. This is just a tiny section of what Ozen has to offer and if Maldives is on your list then please call in to see me for a chat.
As a total contrast we included two nights stop in Dubai on our return flight home, and chose the new JW Marriott Hotel, which is located in the developing ‘canal’ district. This was a great hotel, close enough to the Airport and the area is expected to become one of the largest waterfronts and man-made developments in the world! Currently works are ongoing for the Dubai EXPO 2020!
