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Photo Cred: Huvafen Fushi and Compass + Twine
With the clearest water and whitest sands on Earth, the Maldives surpass anything you’ve ever experienced – even in your dreams. They are, perhaps, the most beautiful islands in the world.
Consisting of 1190 teeny tiny islands, the remote, tropical paradise lies in the middle of the Indian Ocean. A vast reef structure surrounds and protects the islands, creating nature’s ultimate lagoon of calm, crystal clear water teaming with an insanely abundant and diverse array of reef-life.
Luxury abounds, as some some of the nicest hotels in the world have been built to compliment the sheer natural beauty of the islands. With a continuous influx of new hotel brand names, Huvafen Fushi has long been considered one of the best around. The hotel is simply surreal. Each hotel in the Maldives occupies its own private island; Huvafen Fushi’s tiny white-sand island is unmatched.
Numerous international carries fly into Male, the capital. From the US, some of the best options include Turkish Airlines through Istanbul (codeshare partner with United Airlines in the Star Alliance) or the always-fancy Emirates through Dubai (part of the Skywards Miles partnership with JetBlue). Both are cool stop-through cities to spend a day or two, if you want to break up the journey.
Upon arrival to Male International Airport on the main island, hotel greeters whisk you onto a luxury speedboat for the 40 minute ride out to Huvafen Fushi. The unbelievable service really starts when you pull up to the island’s dock, where you are greeted with cocktails and chilled hand towels by your own personal butler, who will take care of you for duration of your stay. Escorted via golf cart, you’ll make your way down the long wooden ramp which extends out into the ocean to your private over-the water bungalow.
Lay out on the bungalow day bed or dip into your own private pool and stare out into the endless blue ocean, with literally nothing in sight to impede your view. Off the end of your private bungalow deck, climb down from the ladder into the crystal clear water or – more efficiently – jump off the side straight into the turquoise water below. The whole bungalow set-up at Huvafen, with top-notch amenities, modern interior and mammoth bathroom, exudes true barefoot luxury.
Small enough to walk around in a few short minutes, the island of Huvafen Fushi is home to 5 stellar restaurants. Perched above the water with reef sharks swimming below at night, Salt stands out for its brilliant tasting menu and killer ambiance. On the opposite side of the island, you’ll find the hotel’s renowned Lime spa – the first underwater spa in the world. Down the beach you’ll stumble upon Float, the activities center. Choose to snorkel Huvafen’s spectacular house reef, feed the sting rays, venture out in search of whale sharks, sail on a sunset Dhoni cruise, or go diving at any one of the Maldives’ renowned reefs. Choose to experience the resort’s Private Island Excursion, where they’ll drop you off alone, with a picnic basket and bottle of champagne, on an your own little white-sand island. As you take in the remote surroundings, you can’t help but imagine yourself as a tiny dot, alone on a tiny island, in the middle of great Indian Ocean.
As far as pure bucket-list, dream-like experiences go, Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives takes the cake.
