With the air bubble between India and the Maldives now open and operational, there’s nothing to stop you from shrugging off the lockdown blues and taking that idyllic island vacation. A thirty-minute seaplane ride from Male gets you to Seaside Finolhu, a welcoming island paradise that Olympian Swimmer and Arjuna Awardee Rehan Poncha recommends for its luxurious and irreverent vibe, its long stretches of coral sandbanks by the infinitely captivating azure ocean, and its wonderfully welcoming hospitality. Recently refurbished to offer a superlative luxury experience, he shares five reasons to visit this paradise Maldives:
1. Luxury Villas
Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
The resort has 125 luxuriously appointed villas, strategically located on the beach or over the ocean. I chose the Ocean Pool Villa, which was more than welcoming with its colourful interiors and king-sized bed. Holidaying in the Maldives makes you want to spend every moment soaking in the stunning ocean and so the villa is indulgently designed with wall to wall glass and an extensive sun deck, calling out for you to lounge away urban stress. Even the bath area is glass-fronted with a tub that overlooks the beautiful ocean. My favourite room moments were in my private infinity pool, watching glorious sunsets in the sky and spotting rays, reef sharks and myriad fish in the clear waters below.
2. Life In A Bubble
Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
If you’re longing to be alone with the elements, but still in the lap of luxury, try the amazing Beach Bubble for an unforgettably romantic adventure. You can gaze at the stars through your very own room telescope while listening to the room’s selection of retro Beatles pieces of vinyl, have a private dinner served on the beach by a discreet butler, and fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. Wake up to watch the sunrise and spectacularly spear the darkness with crimson and magenta. Definitely book in advance!
3. Spa
An hour at Seaside Finolhu ‘s award-winning Fehi Spa is the perfect recipe for rejuvenation. The lush green surroundings and the varied menu of treatments followed by healing herbal tea will leave you blissful, and you will certainly smile at rooms named after rock stars of the 60s such as Bette (Midler) and Janis (Joplin) and the Gulls and Buoys titled changing rooms!
4. Food
Rehan Poncha
Food In Maldives, Rehan Poncha
The food at Seaside Finolhu is outstanding, with 4 restaurants and 2 bars, all distinguished by a fine blend of chef’s craft, fresh ingredients, and a fine understanding of the varied international palette. Baa Baa Diner is located by the resort’s meandering pool, which hosts you for scrumptious breakfast, lunch and dinner with a wide variety of cuisines. A quick ten-minute boat ride transports you to the award-winning, rustic beach restaurant the Crab Shack, ideal for a long and lazy afternoon in beach shorts with my feet in the sand, delighting in the best calamari and crab I’ve had.
My evening followed with a sundowner in hand, at the Baa Haa Grill, with cuisine inspired by North Africa for delicious mezze, hummus, seafood, and meat. My favourite meal at Seaside Finolhu was at their Asian fine dining restaurant, Kanusan—an atmospheric outlet set against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean, with the resident chef pampering our taste buds through a magnificent Asian dinner.
5. The Ocean
Rehan Poncha
Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
Rehan Poncha
Maldives, Rehan Poncha
Seaside Finolhu offers a range of activities from snorkelling around your private villa to sailing, paddle boarding, and surfing to explore the magnificent Maldivian Ocean. Look out for turtles, rays, and a multitude of colourful marine life that joins you on these soujourns!
Have you visited Maldives before? Let us know in the comments below about your experience and what you’d recommend.
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