56 tlm n the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk Winter 2011/12 Winter 2011/12 tlm n the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk 57

For the best of both worlds, especially-pamperedguests at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa on South MaleAtoll can loll in the Rehendi Presidential Suite’s glassbathroom that is said to offer “infinite views” or take adip in a freshwater pool suspended over the lagoon.The appeal of the Maldives, notwithstanding some

outrageous examples of tourism luxury, lies in the senseof peace to be found in the remote, scattered atollresorts. That, and some of the best snorkelling anddiving in the world. A holiday in the Maldives allows guests to unwind,

especially if you choose to ignore TV, DVDs and other 21stcentury distractions - after all, there's not a lot else to do ona remote desert island but enjoy the sun, sand and sea.

mauritiusMauritius is more old-school holiday, offering luxuryresorts around a big island but plenty to see and do forthose who want to get out and about.The service that guests receive in big resorts such as

the One&Only Le Saint Geran and Le Touessrok is old-school as well, with masses of staff on hand to makesure that everything is absolutely right in what amountsto private tropical estates with beaches. Rooms and public areas at the top resorts are always

big and airy, with the plantation-style architecture of TheResidence Mauritius typical of a colonial style.But there are smaller examples of luxury Mauritius as

well – the Angsana Balaclava offers 49 suites and onevilla, while Shanti Maurice has 61 villas and suites andThe Oberoi boasts 48 pavilions and 23 villas.

sri lankaIt can be old-world chic in Sri Lanka as well – an islandthat, like Mauritius, offers stylish beach resorts andplenty of interest elsewhere.While not a beach resort, Amangalla in the UNESCO

a touch of class n luxury indian ocean

When Prince William and his brideheaded off on a belated honeymoonafter the worldwide phenomenon thatwas their wedding, they managedwhat no-one thought they could – theygave the press the slip.

Speculation on the honeymoon destination choice ranwild in the days after it became clear that Wills and Katehad disappeared, and while the Seychelles eventuallyemerged as the winner there has never been officialconfirmation that the exclusive North Islandresort received the royal seal of approval.Still, it has been widely reported that

the 600-acre single resort island boastingjust 11 villas was where the happycouple spent their 10-day honeymoon.But the fact that it is still all a bit of amystery and that the voracious paparazzifailed to get a single snap highlights thereason why many of the rich and famouschoose the Indian Ocean to get away from it all.While a report by US Weekly that the royal estate

rented out all 11 villas at a cost of $720,000 to ensure thecouple’s privacy seems a bit far-fetched, the concept ofsole use in Indian Ocean resorts is not unheard of.

the maldivesFootballer Cristiano Ronaldo whisked his Russian girl-friend Irana Shayk off to the Maldives to see in the 2011New Year, taking over The Rania Experience, which has

a sole-use policy for a minimum of two people andup to 12 guests in a single group.

This private island holiday destina-tion boasts a three-bedroom suite andthree separate beach villas, each with

their own walled garden, tropical outdoorshowers and staff of around 25. And as a

little sweetener to the price, starting at $66,500 per week,guests get the use of the island’s private yacht.Another sole-use island hideaway is Banyan Tree Madi-

varu on North Ari Atoll, offering just six tented villasdotted around the island, costing from £6,550 per person inlow season, May-October, including flights from the UK.The opulence of Maldives resorts is hard to beat in the

Indian Ocean, as the government has taken a pragmaticview of tourism, opening new atolls for development

complete with the latest concepts of luxury. A proposedban on spas threw the whole future of its tourismindustry into doubt, but the threat has beenlifted for the moment.

Over-water bungalows and villas,made famous in French Polynesia, arenow widely available in thesuch as atCoco Palm Resort on Dhuni Kolhu,while new resort facilities go under waterand into the trees.Anantara Kihavha Villas is among prop-

erties to have harnessed the underwaterscenery, with the Wine Cellar allowing guests to

dine with sealife swimming around and above them.Another is at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, where theIthaa underwater restaurant is one of three diningchoices to be made. Others are the Atoll Market featur-ing eight show kitchens and The Sunset Grill set atop acoral reef.Aerial architecture can be found at Dusit Thani on

Mudhdhoo Island, in Baa Atoll, where the newly-openedDevarana Spa features six treatment pods built into thetrees. While not actually a Tarzan experience, theShangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa on Addu Atollboasts eight tree house villas that are perched on stilts tooffer stupendous panoramic views, and ViceroyMaldives on Shaviyani Atoll offers guests a Moroccan-style dining experience at its Treehouse Lodge.

Islands of

If you want to get away from everything and bepampered in the lap of luxury, nowhere does it withquite as much panache – or seclusion – as the IndianOcean. Mike Swindell reports

a touch of class n luxury indian ocean

“Theopulence ofMaldivesresorts ishard to beat”

n Relaxing inthe Seychelles

n The OverWater Spa at ConradMaldives Rangali Island

n Shangri-La’sVillingili resort,Maldives

n Le Touessrok,Mauritius

n A romantic dinner on the beachat Raffles Praslin, Seychelles

Raffles

Hotel a

nd R

esor

ts

Shan

gri-L

a Hotels an

d Re

sorts

Sun

Reso

rts

luxuryHilton WorldwideBeachcomber Tours

Coco Palm Resorts

Beachcomber Tours

n CocoPalmResort intheMaldives

World Heritage-listed Galle Fort offers grown-up luxuryin a 17th century building that boasts period furnishings,teak floors, free-standing bathtubs and four-poster beds.The Fortress at Koggala, Galle, is another that echoes

history, with fortified walls and colonial-style lobby butmodern rooms with glorious sea views.Serene Pavilions at Wadduwa, on the other hand, is

decidedly modern, with an all-suites design offering fourgarden and eight ocean-walled pavilions spread aroundthe landscaped grounds.

the seychellesFor the best of both worlds – resorts accompanied bybig island interest and small island retreats – then youhave to head for the Seychelles.The main island of Mahe boasts the dramatic Four

Seasons Resort with 62 villas set on forested slopes thatswoop down to the isolated Petite Anse Beach, BanyanTree Seychelles, featuring 60 Victorian-style villas, andthe recently-opened Constance Ephelia Resort, incorpo-rating 267 suites and villas within almost 300 acres ofbush-clad grounds.Praslin Island has its own luxury options in the form

of the recently-opened and very stylish Raffles PraslinSeychelles, offering 86 villas, and the ConstanceLemuria Resort that sets 96 suites and nine villas amidstpalm trees and along two pristine beaches.For island getaways, Sainte Anne Resort & Spa is a

short boat ride from the main island and is sprinkledwith 87 villas, while others such as Desroches Island,Denis Private Island and Fregate take fewer guests andare served by light plane from Mahe.Then there’s North Island, which likes to bring in its

guests by helicopter. On arrival, they’ll spread out in oneof 10 450-square-metre villas or go really upmarket withthe 750-square-metre Villa North Island, all with butlerservice and a chef who cooks just what you want to eat.And you don't have to be a prince to enjoy it.

58 tlm n the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk Winter 2011/12

a touch of class n luxury indian ocean

luxury indian ocean facts

Freelance travel writer Mike Swindell has travelled theworld charting the development of tourism, with a particularinterest in the Indian Ocean and Africa.

n Serene Pavilions, Sri Lanka

packagesDestinology offers seven nights at DusitThani Maldives from £2,049 per person,B&B, including Emirates economy flightsand seaplane transfers.www.destinology.co.uk

Scott Dunn offers seven nights atOne&Only Le Saint Geran, Mauritius, B&B,from £3,430 per person, including BritishAirways economy flights and transfers.www.scottdunn.com

ITC Classics offers seven nights at North Island, Seychelles, from£15,120 per person in a Presidential Villa including economy flights fromthe UK and helicopter transfers. www.itcclassics.co.uk

Carrier offers seven nights at The Fortress Koggala, Sri Lanka, from£1,280 B&B, including economy flights from the UK and transfers.www.carrier.co.uk

butler service can be found at:Niyama, Maldives: niyama.peraquum.com Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives: www.tajhotels.com/maldivesBanyan Tree Madivaru, Maldives:www.banyantree.com/en/maldives_madivaru The Residence, Mauritius: www.theresidence.com/mauritiusHeritage Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort, Mauritius:www.heritageletelfair.mu

Constance Belle Mare Plage Resort & Villas,Mauritius:www.bellemareplagehotel.comTrou Aux Biches, Mauritius:www.trouauxbiches-hotel.com,www.beachcombertours.co.ukMaia Luxury Resort & Spa, Seychelles:www.maia.com.sc North Island, Seychelles:

www.north-island.com

n A villa at BanyanTree, Maldives

Bany

an Tr

ee H

otels an

d Re

sorts

n Trou Aux Biches,Mauritius

Trop

ical S

ky

Small L

uxur

y Hotels of the

Wor

ld