Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
North Malé Atoll, Republic of the Maldives
00 960 444 888, fax 00 960 441188
The Place
Tiny resort island set in a turquoise lagoon in the Indian Ocean. The island’s tropical vegetation harbours thatched beach bungalows, set a few paces back from the beach and mostly with private plunge pools and outdoor showers, as well as vast beds surrounded by billowing mosquito nets. Not that there are any mosquitos, mind, the powers that be at the Four Seasons spray the island twicve weekly to make sure the little pests can’t survive. There are also water villas built on stilts in the lagoon itself. Wandering around teh island, especially on a moonlit night is probably the epitome of romance, hence all the honeymoners. The island boasts three very different and all very good restau-rants as well as an infinity pool seeming to drift into the sea. The Fitness Centre, well-stocked shop and watersports centre will entertain the restless, while the well-equipped dive centre is PADI certified and caters to all diving tastes, from snorkelling trips to deep sea dives. And if you must keep in touch with the office, there is a library with internet access as well as faxing facilities.
Indulge Me
It’s hard to know where to start. From the moment you are met at Malé airport, you are pampered and cosseted and looked after. The staff are well-trained, young and very friendly while at the same time ensuring that your privacy is complete. The standard of cuisine is also very good, whether you order room service or eat at one of the three res-tuarants. Best of all is the fabulous Baraabaru restaurant serves delicious Indian and Maldivian fare. Swimming up to the poolside bar to drink a long fruit cocktail, gazing out at the lagoon must be one of life’s greater pleasures. And then there’s the spa… brand new and set on a separate island, the experience starts with the boat ride over in a tra-ditional dhoni. The treatment villas are set over the ocean and there are strategic windows in the floor where you can watch the water flow under the bungalow as you are massaged. The treatments have all been especially designed for Kuda Huraa, the products individually made, all the therapists seem very gifted and the setting is just unbeatable. This has to be one of the most relaxing experinces there is. You should go there for the spa alone.
The Neighbourhood
The Maldives is comprised of over a thousand islands, scattered, jewel-like in the clear Indian Ocean, each surrounded by their own lagoon and grouped in atolls. Thre are 26 coral atolls strecthing down almost to the Equator.The sea life is staggering, making the diving here some of the best in the world. Coral gardens are only bet-tered by the colours and patterns of the wide variety of fish that you see. Learning to dive here will make sure you are hooked.
The flightpath
Flights from the UK tend to go via the Middle East and Colombo, Sri Lanka. It’s quite a long haul and makes sense to break up the journey, if you can, with a few nights in Dubai. From Malé, the resort is a 30 minute speedboat ride away.