From Male airport it’s a 25-minute flight – in a plane kids will love – that takes us over 26 atolls that rise out of a turquoise ocean. It seems like a long distance to travel, but the minute our seaplane lands on the water in front of the resort – we forget every single transit minute. To our right is wide, open water and to our left North Ari Atoll, an island surrounded by the clearest blue water we have ever seen.
The sand is as white and pure as fresh snow, and the palm trees that lean outwards, calling us in, complete the visions of island life we’ve only ever seen in a dream. The island’s staff greet us with a warm wave and welcome, handing us water and fresh towels. They quickly usher us to reception where we settle into one of the luxurious plush couches to begin our check in.
We’ve chosen an all-inclusive package that allows us to eat and drink to our hearts’ content at the eight restaurants on the island. We’re asked if we would like to book a spa appointment or arrange activities or bikes, then we’re taken to our oceanfront Beach Pool Villa, where we’ll stay for a couple of nights before moving to a Romantic Pool Water Villa.
We make our way along a perfectly even sand driveway, dodging palm trees, and staff greet us. Our Pavilion is like a small house; sunlit, with lofty ceilings and modern furnishings. We’re straight into our LUX* thongs before wandering into our backyard to find a large, warm, private pool, surrounded by outdoor showers.
To the front of the Pavilion is a private pathway to the secluded beach. The resort is at 60 per cent capacity, but it feels like we’re the only ones here. This feeling continues the entire stay, much to our delight. We take our bikes and head south to where the track reveals an idyllic beach and a swing standing out just metres in the light blue water, an Instagram-worthy shot that’s begging to be snapped. As we progress further up the island, a volleyball court appears, and the most wonderful two-storey library, wrapped in glass so as to not interrupt our views of the sea.
Dotted along the island are the various bars and restaurants, each with a different cuisine and vibe – meaning you’ll never feel like you’re out of options or grow tired of the same meal. One day we spend most of our time floating on a flamingo by Lagoon Bar, swimming into shore only to eat a burger and sip on spritz. Other days, we read books on the sand next to Senses Bar and Lounge –where we order high tea and a cocktail – or swim in the infinity pool by Allegria, the resort’s Middle Eastern restaurant offering.
One morning, after a buffet breakfast at East Market, we head out in search of whale sharks, known to swim near the resort’s edge. While we weren’t lucky enough to spot them on this occasion, we had a great time out at sea on a boat and jumped in for an impromptu snorkel near an island. The sharks were not the only thing to spark our interest: we also took some jet-skis out for a spin, and had a go at flyboarding. Other activities that are on offer here include morning yoga, paddleboarding, snorkelling, catamaran excursions, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing and fishing.
Moving into the Romantic Pool Water Villa after a couple of days, we feel like we are kickstarting another holiday. It has all the same luxurious finishes, only it’s standing over the water and comes with a plunge infinity pool you have to see to believe. From here, we spend more days by the pool, tucked away in the swinging canopy reading and watching the free movies on a drop-down screen from the bed.
There are plenty of other reasons to love the island, including complimentary wi-fi, a phone box to dial home for free, a lush spa, a tennis court, 24-hour in-room dining and more. But what makes LUX* a step above other Maldives properties is its catering for children. Not only are there shallow, protected waters surrounding the island, there’s also an unbelievable kids’ club to keep little ones entertained while you unwind, floating devices, lots of activities, an ice-cream parlour with island-made flavours and plenty of children’s food options. And while the kids are free to run wild, we rarely noticed any others on our holiday – there’s enough room here for everyone to have a good time.
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www.luxresorts.com/en/hotel-maldives/luxsouthariatoll