Thursday, October 30, 2008

Romantic Gateway


What could be a more exciting and romantic destination than these islands of Maldives lying at the end of the world between the infinite horizon of the deep blue sky and the warm crystal-clear waters of the tropical ocean - these islands so far from the hectic pace of smoggy cities, caressed by the trade winds that rustle the palm trees and rocked by the incessant rhythm of the waves? These are the islands of love, the Gardens of Delights tasted by the first couple on earth. Wouldn't this be the ideal place to let your love grow?


Every detail contributes to make these moments unforgettable, and will etch images of great happiness in your memory forever. All these experiences are waiting for you in Maldives, along with countless others we'll leave to your imagination. Small wonder that Maldives is the number one dream destination for lovers the whole world over.


Only a honeymoon in the Maldives will give you that opportunity to make the best of every second of this valuable and romantic time with each other in total privacy. Private bungalows with your very own piece of white, sandy beach and clear, azure lagoons on secluded island resorts renowned for their tranquillity and excellent but discreet service – is that not the perfect recipe for the most romantic Maldives honeymoon?

The Maldives Resorts

Resorts - miles of sandy beaches, fine dining and stylish accommodations

Every resort in Maldives is an island by itself with its own individual image, each with the basics of a sandy beach and a lagoon safe for bathing and snorkeling. Some have house reefs ideal for diving just a few meters off the shore. For others, the best diving is a few minutes away by speed boat. All resorts have an adequate supply of fresh water from desalination plants, backed up by rainwater catchments. All have their own electricity generators and waste disposers.

Accommodation – modern conveniences, carefully merged with nature

Offering all comforts and services of modern amenities, yet conserving every bit of nature, our accommodations range from thatched ceilings and rustic fittings to that of luxurious modern air-conditioned city-style apartments, or from log cabins built over the lagoon to duplexes in the wilderness. A separate bathroom (with bath and /shower with hot water and toilet) en suites with every room. Some resorts offer an imitation of the Maldivian gifili (bathroom) with its own walled garden open to the sky.

Exquisite surroundings, modern services, every room boasts superb service to satisfy the most sophisticated traveler.

Food

Here, in the Maldivian resorts, guests are tempted with a variety of culinary delights. From healthy to hearty, Italian to Chinese, and casual to elegant, our full-service restaurants and dining options cater to every taste – and every time-frame.

All resorts have at least one restaurant, with mealsBold included in the room rate; many resorts also have another area where different types of meals are available. Luxury resorts offer a choice of as many as six restaurants. All resorts are willing to handle special requests such as candlelight dinner on the beach.

The bar is open until the last guest leaves; some resorts also have mini bars in their rooms. While the atmosphere is gloriously informal in some resorts with sand on the floor of the restaurant as well on the beach, others have staffs in bow ties and air-conditioned restaurants where guests are served in five-star style. The only diversion in the evening in some resorts is watching the sunset and the speared of heavenly colours across the sky, others offer a pop music band from Male’ and karaoke.

From delightful breakfast buffets to a vast assortment of lunch items or dinner in a relaxing and casual setting while enjoying a wide array of culinary delights, our hotels serve delectable buffets and individual meals which utilizes the richness of the sea and satisfy your craving for fine international cuisine.

Other facilities

In most resorts, business centers are available to its guests. Some islands have convention centers and hosts international conferences; others offer guests an entire island for the day for a private party. There are resorts ideal for honeymooners and others more suited to the diving enthusiast.

All resorts have a diving school with a trained instructor and water sports like windsurfing and beach or ball games arranged between staffs and guests, only some islands have animators as guests prefer to enjoy themselves in their own fashion.

Activities

The activities offered by different resorts also vary. However, generally Maldivian resorts cater to the needs of tourists with different tastes. For the relaxation and comfort of the sandy white beaches, one would not have to go far. Most islands have beaches close to the rooms. They are unpolluted and provide a panoramic view of the crystal clear lagoons that beckon you. These untouched beaches are the perfect place for you to practice the art of doing nothing. If the desire to take a dip is too over whelming, do not hesitate. The turquoise lagoons and the blue sea will definitely have a soothing effect on you.

Diving & Snorkeling

But the surprises are hidden under the surface. Don a mask and a pair of fins and you will get a glimpse of the treasures. But a mere snorkeling experience may not be what you really need. The deep is even better. The Maldives provides breathtaking underwater scenes. Divers can play along with rainbow coloured fish and caress the corals that make the Maldives a diver's fulfilled fantasy. Most resorts have dive schools and from where you can obtain the necessary equipment. They also offer diving trips with the assistance of qualified instructors.

Sports

For the sports enthusiasts a range of activities are offered including windsurfing, catamaran sailing, and water-skiing. Or if you prefer to have an exciting time on the island, table tennis, volleyball and tennis are for you. Once again, the facilities differ from one resort to the other.

Excursions

The resorts can also arrange excursions like visiting uninhabited islands, fishing trips, night fishing, visiting inhabited islands to see the lifestyle of the local people and even

Select from the menu below to choose a holiday type, then select a resort you're looking for.

An Introduction of Maldives

It's almost impossible to speak about the islands of Maldives, without sounding pompous or been driven into a glorious description of the Maldivian exotic nature. Thus, simply Maldives which is located in the Indian Ocean, about 500 km from the southern tips of Srilanka and India, the Maldives is an exotic tropical island paradise for the sun lover, the surfer,, the diver, the honeymooners and those who desire peace in its deepest meaning.

Scatters across the equator in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the gem like islands of the Maldives depict the rare vision of a tropical paradise. Palm fringed islands with sparkling white beaches, turquoise lagoons, clear warm waters and coral reefs teeming with abundant varieties of marine flora and fauna, continue to fascinate visitors, as it has fascinated others in the past, for thousands of years. Marco Polo referred to the Maldives as the ".......flowers of the Indies", and Ibn Batuta called her in his chronicles "One of the wonders of the world:

Truly a natural wonder, the height of the islands rarely reach above 2 meters. It is said that nobody could exactly say the number of islands in Maldives. When one counts the smaller islets and sandbanks; the commonly agreed figure is 1,190 coral islands, consisting of 26 Atoll formations which are spread over an area of 90,000 square kilometers. The Maldivian Atolls are a classic discovery in its own right: the word "Atoll" has been derived from "Dhivehi" (our own language) the word "Atholhu".

Each of the islands itself started the life as a little sandbank on a coral reef. And by the action of wind, waves, currents, rain and tides they gradually expand and evolved into islands. At this same manner, as a result of storms, changing tides; it disappear once more beneath the sea. Together these islands which have evolved from circular coral reefs are known by the Maldivians as "Atholhu". So, could this be the largest reef formation in the world!

Thus, a low lying island is naturally formed. Coconuts are washed ashore, palm trees and hardy bushes grow and their roots stabilizes the sand on the coral. Sea birds and hermit crabs are the first known inhabitants. These islands are surrounded by shallow crystal clear lagoons enclosed by coral reefs. Further, these islands provide visitors with one of the most breathtaking views of underwater life in the world. Formed above peaks emerging from the depths of the ocean, upon layers of both living and dead coral, and remnants of other marine life, the islands are generally covered with dense tropical vegetation. Coconut palms towering above dense shrubs and hardy plants protecting the shores from erosion are natural features in most islands. The smaller islands and sand banks under formation are also wonders in themselves. These islands together embody living entities in various stages of formation, as interdependent elements in an ecology. In a food chain where birds, fish, and other marine life co-exist, with humans at its apex as caretakers for centuries.