July 2011 - Posts

Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 12: Club Med Kani
Published 31 July 11 6:45 AM | Maldives Complete
Welcome by Abdul Samad Ibrahim to Club Med Kani   Activity Central, Maldives. Many resorts seem to tick the box by offering a night time DJ, local band, traditional dancing or the like. It always seems a bit depressing when so many times these events...
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 11: Velassaru
Published 29 July 11 4:48 AM | Maldives Complete
You never forget your first time. Lori and I returned to the first ever island that we visited in the Maldives back in 1996. Back then it was the 3 and half star ‘Laguna Beach.’ Simple, but enchanting for us first-timers. It wasn’t the...
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 10: Meeru
Published 28 July 11 7:28 AM | Maldives Complete
  Meeru is a simple, tasteful formula that works. It’s smart casual. Not ‘chinos and polo shirt’ smart casual, but ‘boho chic’ smart casual. Rattan furniture and natural blonde wood interiors give the chalet-like villas a tasteful simplicity. A relaxed...
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 9: Kurumba
Published 27 July 11 10:7 AM | Maldives Complete
    My first ever repeat. After visiting 29 resorts with a credo of always trying new resorts, I have returned to a resort for the first time ever. Kurumba . My motivation pretty much describes Kurumba’s key differentiators – great value 5-star...
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 8: Kandooma
Published 24 July 11 9:27 PM | Maldives Complete
  Kandooma has architected, in its landscape and buildings, vast inner spaces from a tropical canopy to a striking set of main buildings. Walking around the island, one feels a dramatic cathedral-like sense of interior space both in the built up...
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 7: W Retreat
Published 23 July 11 3:35 AM | Maldives Complete
Now that’s what I’m talking about. Distinction . I knew all about the W chain’s exacting attention to detail, their preoccupation with style, and their boundary-pushing service ethic. These qualities are the very spirit of the ‘...
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 6: Kuredu
Published 22 July 11 2:34 AM | Maldives Complete
Welcome to Eden. Eden resort of the film ‘ Couples Retreat’ that is. I wrote yesterday about the uncanny parallels between sister resorts Komandoo and Kuredu as depicted in the rom-com ‘Couples Retreat’. One of the plot lines of...
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 5: Komandoo
Published 20 July 11 6:2 PM | Maldives Complete
  Intimate. Intimate is the one word that describes Komandoo . Intimate island. Intimate cottages. Restaurants with just a few tables and a simple buffet (not mounds of food like some resort smorgasbords). Filled with honeymooners and second honeymooners...
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 4: Palm Beach
Published 19 July 11 8:59 AM | Maldives Complete
If Kanuhura is Bollinger , then Palm Beach is a fine Prosecco. A fine Prosecco. That’s not a slight, but a reference to Palm Beach’s strong Italian heritage and links. Like Prosecco, Palm Beach is fine, bubbly refreshment for great value....
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 3: Kanuhura
Published 18 July 11 2:50 PM | Maldives Complete
Kanuhura is the Bollinger of the Maldives. My wife and I have enjoyed many a good bottle of champers in our time as we have savoured many varieties of Maldives resorts in our 9 visits. We have had budget Cava, vintage Crystal, even a surprisingly delectable...
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Maldives Tour 2011 – Day 2: Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli, Naladhu
Published 17 July 11 11:58 AM | Maldives Complete
  The Maldive Trio . We live on a farm in a converted barn quite close to our other neighbours who also live in charming conversions. We are quite remote, being out on a farm, but we don’t feel isolated because we have our neighbours with whom we...
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Maldives Tour 2011 - Day 1: BA Flight2043
Published 16 July 11 4:55 AM | Maldives Complete
What goes on tour doesn’t stay on tour this time. I’m off for my longest tour of the Maldives ever – 15 resorts in as many days – and I will be posting daily on them. Like last November, I will then follow up the tour with a series...
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Best of the Maldives: Sports Island – Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo
Published 13 July 11 11:50 AM | Maldives Complete
Photo courtesy of Francisco Negrin Some people like having activities of a water sports centre, but others don’t like the noise and activity. A solution...put them all on another island as Chaaya Reef Elaidhoo has done.  The sports centre is located...
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Best of the Maldives: Personal Transport – Soneva Fushi
Published 11 July 11 12:6 PM | Maldives Complete
  Soneva Fushi has its own solution to saving the planet and dead head personal transport – personal bikes given to every guest (including 3-wheeled bikes).  
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#deadheadcab
Published 7 July 11 4:40 PM | Maldives Complete
  Save money and save the planet. Travelling from the airport. The first thing you learn in logistics is to minimise ‘ Dead Heads’ . That is an empty journey. A truck, carriage or other vehicle travelling someplace with nothing in it. If you have...
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