Join Yvonne & Allan on a Post-Lockdown International Island-Hopping Adventure
What is it like to travel internationally in 2022?
A behind-the-scenes preview into Y Travel’s first international soiree by Yvonne Verstandig.
Being a passionate traveller since a young age, my gypsy spirit had been idle for way too long and I was itching for a holiday – so I spontaneously booked a trip for my husband and me. Naturally there were a few steps to work through first, but it’s not as hard as everyone thinks (especially with a valid passport!)
These were the questions I asked myself during the planning phase:
Which country was I allowed to travel to?
Without too many restrictions?
Where is the perfect weather in January?
Which destination would nourish my bruised industry soul? I am sure many people (especially fellow travel industry buddies) will relate to this after the hardest 22 months of our working lives.
Where could I get flights to?
Where would I have a selection of high-end resorts to choose?
And the answer was obvious to me: The Maldives!
Within a week, I had booked our flights, sourced availability at a few magnificent resorts, prepared our checklist of requirements and booked our PCR test within 72 hours of departure. As soon as we received our negative test result, we got straight into packing our bags – what an absolute joy!! Next on our checklist: completing the Maldives entry form and downloading all necessary documents onto our phones and printing hard copies. Done and ready!
I can’t explain the emotions that I felt when our driver dropped us off at the international terminal. We were actually flying overseas!
My pre-flight routine, lounge time and in-flight routine - all came back to me as though I had never stopped flying. Other than a few extra rules, mask on, hand sanitizer nearby and wipes for cleaning down the hard surfaces when in flight, I was well and truly ready to find my happy place amongst the clouds and to immerse myself once again in another culture.
Taking the long route to the Maldives via Dubai has it's advantages - the longer overnight flight allows for a decent sleep. One that was definitely needed!
After a short break at the Dubai airport, which was probably only running at 35% capacity, we took off on a relaxing 4.5-hour flight to Male. We were so excited to see the Maldivian water. There really is nothing like the various shades of blue and the hundreds of islands and atolls that make up the Maldives.
On landing in Male we were met by the wonderful team from Anantara Resorts who whisked us to the seaplane terminal to wait for our 30 minute flight to Anantara Kihavah. The seaplane journey is so special. Where else in the world do pilots wear shorts and fly barefoot? The excitement kept building as the blue waters shimmered below. We eventually descended and taxied to a pontoon. As the door opened, we were met by a welcoming warm breeze and a speed boat waiting to take us to land.
Welcome to Anantara Kihavah
We had arrived at Anantara Kihavah! Waiting for us was the management team with our villa butler, there to assist with any of our needs. Our first impression was astonishment of how green the island was, how white the sand was and how blue the sea appeared! This was the first of the three natural Maldivian Islands we were about to discover.
After a cleansing towel and baby coconut water, we jumped onto a buggy to begin our quick island tour. The island sits in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. This protected island is pristine (best discovered by bike), and all structures have been built around the existing flora. There are 80 beach and over water villas and we were lucky enough to be in the latter, waking to the sound of the waves each morning.
On entering our villa we were overwhelmed and captivated by the beauty. Enhanced further by the setting sun. I was drawn to the massive balcony with daybed, an over-water hammock and steps down into the turquoise lagoon. A tough choice to decide whether to dip into the lagoon or our private pool. My favourite feature of the villa was the pristine white bathroom complete with a sunken glass based bath. Spectacular to watch marine life as you bathe. There was something about the villa that made us feel totally at ease and immediately relaxed.
For a small island there were many dining choices. On the first night we ate at Spice which combines Maldivian & Thai flavours. We sat outdoors at the water’s edge and even had a “show” put on by some Nurse Sharks just for us. Other restaurants we tried were Fire, a Japanese restaurant with some super teppanyaki and Sake choices; and Manzaru, for a Mediterranean taste right on the beach. A huge highlight was lunch at Sea, an underwater restaurant with the world's first underwater cellar. As we enjoyed our degustation lunch, fully immersed in the sea, we were surrounded by a myriad of sea life and colours. A visual marine feast not to be missed!
The resort also has a cool rooftop bar called Sky; the perfect spot to watch the sun go down while sipping on a G & T. The rooftop also boasts the most powerful telescope in the Indian Ocean. Guided by the in-house astronomer, we got up close and personal with the moon and some far off solar systems.
But the piece de resistance at this resort is what lies beneath the water. There is a fabulous reef just a short swim from the beach. We were scuba diving with turtles and schools of colourful fish, and swam alongside coral walls and caves. I absolutely love the solitude of being underwater and at one with nature! Another water highlight was a private jet ski safari out to a pod of dolphins; what a buzz to be amongst such a playful group!
Nothing was too much for the team at Kihavah. The GM, Ross, and the resort manager were always around to lend a hand. We are endlessly thankful for their hospitality and for such an amazing experience.
Next stop: JOALI Maldives
Our next stop was JOALI Maldives, a speedy 40-minute boat ride from Kihavah. JOALI sits on Muravandhoo Island in the Raa Atoll. JOALI is an art immersive island resort with pieces scattered across the island. From the moment you arrive at the jetty the manta ray inspired structure takes your breath away.
After our quick tour of the island, exploring the restaurants, the gym, water sports area, some of the hidden art, the kids club and the beach villas, we were then whisked away to our overwater villa. This villa was in a league of it’s own.
Our Luxury Water Villa with private pool was next level, one of the most beautifully adorned we have ever seen. There was no end to its wow factor. The villa was in four sections - living, sleeping, bathing and dressing. Each with floor-to-ceiling windows opening up to the magnificent Indian Ocean. On the outside deck running most of the length of the villa, was a crystal-clear infinity pool, sun lounges, steps directly down into the water and a shaded lounge area. Really why would anyone ever want to leave?
We had to wait for the doctor to pay us a visit to do a RAT test before we could leave our villa but we were more than happy to wait in this stunning space. In no time at all we were tested and with a negative result free to move around the island. Two bikes were parked outside our villa - yet again the best way to get around.
Each villa has a Jadugar, a “magician” (butler) who makes the impossible possible including booking restaurants, the Hammam & massages at exactly the times we wanted, even when no spaces were available.
Our first evening started with drinks at Mura Bar, with the wonderful Leila, the resort Sales Manager, watching the spectacular sunset whilst sipping champagne. Then off to Tuh'u for a Syrian/Lebanese feast. What a great way to start our JOALI taste experience!
We had dinner another night at Vandhoo, which served Asian & Mediterranean cuisines, and for Allan’s birthday we ate at Soake, the Japanese restaurant with incredible ocean views. To make the night even more memorable the team surprised him with a cake and a gift (which was great because I didn’t get a chance to get him one!) and a bed full of rose petals. Talk about paying attention to your guests and surprising them with “The Unexpected”.
On our last night there was an international smorgasbord - so many choices - don’t worry, we managed. Breakfast at Vandhoo each morning was the best way to start the day with everything you could think of and more. Hard to know whether to go with the health elixir or chilled champagne.
During the days we spent time in the water, under the water and walking through the water (we walked out to a sand island at low tide). We ‘gymed’, we snorkeled, we explored the artwork and we hung out in our villa! One of the highlights for us was our private snorkel experience with the Marine Biologist who showcased the work JOALI were doing with coral conservation. So inspiring.
Introducing JOALI BEING
From JOALI Maldives we went across to JOALI BEING, the new kid in town! A quick 15-minute boat ride had us transported there. JOALI BEING is the first and only nature immersive wellbeing island retreat in the Maldives. Through its nature inspired biophilic design, even the architecture on the island has a way of cocooning you into immediate self-care mode.
JOALI BEING curates its offerings around four pillars of wellbeing: Mind, Skin, Microbiome & Energy. Every aspect on the island can be linked back to these pillars. There is total commitment to sustainability founded on the idea of responsible luxury and boy is there luxury to experience at BEING.
There is a smorgasbord of activities to cater to all your senses: it allows you to be in tune with yourself by listening to what your body and soul need. If you need to release energy, a huge gym decked out with all the latest equipment is available with many specialist rooms. The “activity junkie” in me had plenty of choices: aerial yoga sessions (my absolute favourite), yoga, pilates, snorkelling, diving, kayaks, stand up paddle board & bike riding just to name a few. And for those foodies, there was a great selection of cooking classes too.
The Wellbeing Centre, Areka, is truly like no other. With more than 60 wellbeing treatments from around the world and 39 different transformation spaces, you will need time to decide what to try first. It was obvious to me that the Ayurvedic Doctor and other therapists took a lot of pride in their care of the guests and made sure all experiences were tailored accordingly.
JOALI BEING certainly ticked “The Unexpected” Y Factor. Allan even tried the Russian Banya - who would think getting smacked around by branches and leaves in a seriously hot and humid room would feel so good? I tried various therapies, with the sound healing being a highlight and oh so therapeutic.
We spent time at the Aktar, the “home of herbology” and love all that it represents. From 68 different teas, to mixing potions and body creams to enrich and heal. I was taken back to my pharmacy days. Tamara, the Aktar guru was so full of knowledge we couldn’t help returning to hear her stories.
We had dinner with Sandro Mota, a specialist Human Enhancement coach, and learnt about his fascinating story and how he found his way to this magnificent spot.
As for the accommodation, we tried and tested both an overwater and a beach villa. They both are wonderful in their own unique way. Both are beautifully fitted out with everything you could imagine and more. Overwater villas have steps down to the water with views out to sea. My morning routine included donning my kimono, grabbing a coffee, and plonking myself down on the stunning swinging daybed - it was heaven. Beach villas don’t have the same view but are surrounded by greenery with larger pools, a fabulous outdoor bathroom and are just a few steps to the waters edge.
Sustainability is a key focus at JOALI BEING. Refillable amenity bottles, reduced plastic use, reef restoration projects, turtle rescue initiatives, and a research and education centre - it is clear that the resort’s ethos is to care for the island and surrounds’' flora and fauna.
And finally the food - otherwise known as ‘culinary art’ at JOALI BEING, where the recipes are curated to nourish their four pillars of wellbeing. Dinner consisted of three menus: Pescatarian Cuisine, Vegetarian and International, with the option of mixing between each. Who would have thought healthy food could taste so good? In keeping with the health aspect, alcohol is not openly offered, but is available. Non-alcoholic cocktails and purpose made juices are a great alternative, not to mention a great cleanser for our bodies.
There is a pre-conceived idea that The Maldives is mostly for honeymooners - this is definitely not the case. There are a myriad of islands to choose from with activities that cater for all age groups and abilities. The active traveller will also be fulfilled and spoiled for choice. Whatever style of holiday you are after, The Maldives can fulfill your dreams. Just ensure you allow time to relax, breathe and immerse yourself in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.
I can’t wait to return with my kids and give them the opportunity to experience what we just have!