The Beach House at Manafaru, Maldives
Lying off the southern tip of India, the romantic chain of coral islands known as the Maldives, offer aquamarine waters, with gentle waves lapping at soft white sand, and the ultimate in relaxing get-away-from-it-all holidays.
So if you are in need of exactly such a retreat, this month saw the opening of The Beach House on the small holiday island of Manafaru, a beautiful five-star Maldivian resort, which offers privacy, luxury and service.
The lush, green island of Manafaru is at the most northerly tip of the Maldives, in the lagoon-ringed clear waters of the Haa Alifu Atoll.
The Beach House is composed of sixty-eight beautifully designed contemporary thatched villas, offering style, elegance and simplicity, as well as up-to-the-minute technology, such as iPod hookups, high speed internet, LCD TV’s, espresso bars, and luxury in the form of king-size beds, private pools and rather magnificent open air bathrooms. Each villa also has an outdoor dining area, and there are even water villas with glass-panelled floors, and beach villas where you get your own heavenly private beach.
And as well as swimming and relaxing, there is a club house where you can enjoy a 32 inch LCD TV, games consoles, a golf simulator, and even an amazing bungee trampoline where you can jump to incredible heights. Naturally, being on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean you will probably want to try out some of the watersports available, so take your pick of wind surfing, catamarans, canoes and pedal boats – all non-motorised to maintain the island as a peaceful retreat. But if something a bit more motorised is you thing, then fear not, you can be whisked across to another island for a spot of jet skiing, water skiing, wake boarding and banana boat riding. Really, you can’t fail to have fun here.
The Beach House also has its own spa where you can ease the stresses and strains away with caviar and pearl facials, and host of other healthful and invigorating treatments.
On top of all this, let’s not forget food - The Beach House has three gourmet restaurants, and its very own wine cellar.
Tempted? If you are in the UK, Abercrombie & Kent offer 7 nights at The Beach House at Manafaru from £1,779 per person, based on B&B in a Beach Villa with Plunge Pool, and that includes economy flights with Sri Lankan Airlines, return airport transfers and all taxes.