O N T O U R: The Maldives ” Paradise Found
Thinking of something exotic for a Christmas holiday? Somewhere you can relax without a care in the world and take in five star luxury in the most relaxed of circumstances, with no dressing for dinner and not even a requirement to wear shoes. Even some of the dining rooms have a sand floor. This paradise, this tropical paradise, is the Hilton Resort and Spa Rangali Island, in the heart of the Indian Ocean, 30 minutes Twin Otter seaplane time from Mali International Airport. If you find that both hotel and airlines are full for the holiday period you can always consider it for another occasion. The sun shines throughout the year and the temperature always hovers around the 80F mark. It does rain from time to time, but nothing horrific and since the standard turnout is shirt and shorts the odd downpour has no effect. The resort is full of honeymooners, from both Europe and the Far East. Young children are welcome and elderly visitors find the flat terrain much to their liking. It is a resort for everyone and especially for romantics.
The Republic of The Maldives, a member of the Commonwealth, lies virtually on the equator and consists of 1,190 coral islands of which 202 are inhabited, forming an archipelago of 26 major atolls. The Maldives stretch 500 miles north to south and 80 miles east to west. Eighty-seven of the islands are exclusive, the Hilton Resort typical in that it is run as a private society with even its own time zone. In the last 12 months the Maldives have welcomed 500,000 tourists, leisure now the main form of revenue although fishing is still important to the economy. Remarkably this huge mass of azure ocean contains a total land area of only 115 square miles, with 80% of that less than 3 feet above sea level. The problem of global warming and resultant rising sea levels is a growing concern in the Maldives. Buddhist peoples from southern Asia originally settled the islands and Islam was introduced in the 12th century and is today the only recognised religion. However the Maldivian”s are a very easygoing laid back people, commercially astute, with the private islands functioning as normal even during Ramadan.
Getting to the Maldives is no problem with Mali served by a number of major airlines and by charter flights from Gatwick. Qatar Airways has captured a major part of the scheduled market with ideal timings for its European connections over Doha. Holiday makers may find it useful to stay two or three nights in this very modern Arabic state, taking in the Souk and the desert before embarking on the 4 hour 30 minute flight, the last part of it offering a unique view of atolls and coral islands set in a perfect blue sea. From London it is overnight on the way out and in daylight on the way back. All very pleasant flying and about the same travel time as the most popular Caribbean destinations.
Mali International Airport is on an island all by itself, with the capital town of 60,000 souls a short ferry ride away, taking up every piece of space on yet another islet. On the other side of the single runway to the main terminal building is what is probably the world”s largest seaplane base, home to over 20 DHC Twin Otters belonging to Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways. It is very busy with air traffic control having to deal with the art of manoeuvring unwieldy seaplanes around on the ocean. The seaplane terminal itself is very basic but Hilton at least has its own lounge with courtesy soft drinks and light refreshments. Passengers and luggage are weighed and the aircraft operate with two crew and a cabin attendant who jumps out onto the floats upon taxiing, his job to secure the aircraft.
Why do people come to the Maldives? Yes, the waters are crystal clear and the beaches idyllic. But there is something else, perhaps a return to nature with modern luxury not far away. Uniquely probably for a five star hotel the Hilton rooms do not have television or radio, although both are available in certain public areas, as is a courtesy Internet . The standard UK dual band mobile phone works very well. You are not completely cut off.
Until 1992 Rangali and Rangalifinolhu were just two uninhabited islands in a lagoon surrounded by a coral reef. That year their potential was noted and a small 41-room resort created. By the time what is now Hilton World Wide Resorts took over in May 1997 the operation had been expanded to 100 rooms. It now has 150 villas, all air conditioned with every modern luxury, including 48 built over the sea with steps down into the water from the veranda. However bring rubber shoes if your are not using flippers as the coral can be tough on the feet. The two Sunset Water Villas are something else with a unique glass floored open plan lounge which provides the most stunning views of the local marine life. An electronically controlled circular bed rotates a full 180 degrees to view the breathtaking sunset without lifting a finger. A quarter mile long bridge connects the two islands and there is a ferry that runs every few minutes if walking is not for you. The spotless beaches themselves stretch all around the islands and Hilton have even provided hammocks for those who just want to sit, read and doze.
There are five quality dining areas spread over the two isles with the offerings up to the finest West End standards in a variety of splendid settings. The main buffet dining room changes its theme every day in a weekly cycle including from Far Eastern, Maldivian and an American evening. Most guests book half board, the sumptuous breakfast doing away with the need for partaking of food lunchtime, although you can always add it to your bill if you like. Everything is priced in dollars. For alternative dining there is a weekly wine tasting in an underground cellar dining room presided over by the Maldives only Sommelier, supported by a selection of 10,000 wines. Or you might wish to eat in the Sunset Grill which sits 50 yards out into the sea. The waiters have been known to feed the fish, virtually out of their hands. The brightly lit arc lights at night attract both sea life and enthusiastic water bound guests. Great fun for the onlookers.
The resort has a fresh water pool for those who cannot swim in the sea, a floodlit astro tennis court, billiards, table tennis and a luxury sailing yacht. You can snorkel, dive, go big game fishing, canoe yourself or take a pedalo, windsurf, try water skiing or perhaps take an excursion to a typical Maldivian island where life is somewhat slow but where tourist shops lay in wait. In a week there is more than enough to do. The resort also offers an over water spa where you can relax and enjoy the therapies offered by professionals in massage and beauty treatment whilst watching the real live ocean below.
This style of luxury does not come cheap (although to paraphrase Topol ”it”s not that expensive either”) with Hayes & Jarvis offering rates of ”1,499 half board for a week”s holiday in the early new year. However you will need to rush as the main island is closing down after Easter for a major refurbishment leaving just the 48 over water bungalows and the two Water Villas available. Demand will exceed supply. ABTN is looking forward to viewing the re-vamp and reporting on it.
http://www.hiltonworldresorts.com/Resorts/Maldives.html
http://www.mataxi.com
http://www.tma.com.mv
http://www.visitmaldives.com