Surrounded by over 52 acres of powdery white beach and lush, tropical vegetation, the stunning and secluded Hilton Maldives/Iru Fushi Resort & Spa is set on the unspoiled Noonu Atoll and is accessed by a scenic 45 minute seaplane ride from Male.

An abundance of freshly landed local fish and seafood is available in our elegant yet relaxed restaurants, with the Iru Fushi Chefs ready to conjure up succulent and tempting specialties from around the world, be it for a romantic 6 course dinner under the stars or a leisurely alfresco lunch on the beach. Wherever your culinary fancies take you, we can assure that our exquisite menus and professional, attentive service will both impress and delight.

The luxury spa is a tranquil retreat with 21 individual spa pavilions nestled within the tropical flora for privacy. The spa at Iru Fushi takes an holistic approach to beauty, health and wellbeing with nature’s five key elements and traditional Ayurvedic practices at its heart. Gaze over the azure Indian Ocean from the stunning infinity pool, practise your serve in our floodlit tennis courts or if you’re feeling adventurous, choose from a wealth of exciting watersports at the Hilton Maldives/Iru Fushi Resort & Spa.

Worlds First Underwater Spa

The ground-breaking underwater spa treatment rooms at Huvafen Fushi, the Maldives’ most spectacular island-chic resort, have undergone an innovative transformation that takes cutting-edge cool to another level and makes an already sublime experience truly spellbinding.

Masterminded by the award-winning British designer and architect Richard Hywel Evans, the two underwater treatment areas have been completely reinvented, with the addition of a separate relaxation pod where post-treatment guests can chill out on an oversized day bed and be mesmerized by the soporific, sun-dappled aquamarine seascape. Says Hywel Evans: “We wanted to create an interior that was in keeping with the spa’s position – at the bottom of the sea! The underwater spa has always been a sensational concept and the new interior was designed to reflect and amplify this extraordinary environment and add flexibility too; one of our main challenges was dividing the space into three separate areas using room dividers that could disappear, unifying the space so that it could be used for a variety of functions including ‘underwater’ wedding ceremonies. The underwater spa is now truly the world’s most
unique spa experience.”

Huvafen Fushi Maldives

To enter the underwater spa, guests now pass along a passageway bathed in soft pinks, aqua blues, calming yellows and relaxing greens. These colours reflect off wooden walls that retract to reveal the treatment and relaxation spaces beyond. Interior walls have been uplifted to a silver white, providing an ideal canvas for the chromotherapy lighting; a Barrisoltm ceiling has been installed, creating an ethereal canopy of light, with variable colour and intensity to enhance or tone down the mood; while pebble marble tiles underfoot appear to bring the sea floor inside.

Jane Quinn, Managing Director Per Aquum Spa Collection, says: “Constant evolution has been, and will remain the key to our success at Per Aquum. Guests who truly want to experience one-on-one quality time with our superb therapists, in a super sexy underwater cave that connects them instantly with the Indian Ocean and its inhabitants, should experience this iconic journey. It is a visual feast and a truly authentic experience that leaves you truly nurtured by nature.”

To celebrate the evolution of the underwater treatment rooms, Per Aquum Spa Collection has created a sensational new signature spa experience. The Unite Me – Crystal Ritual offers guests the opportunity to embrace the essence of the Maldives with a truly indigenous combination of body brushing; a sand and lime mineral poultice, using Maldivian sand and lime from local lime trees; and a local Maldivian virgin coconut oil massage using coconut wood massage tools designed exclusively by the spa team at Huvafen Fushi, and hand-made by the local community. Following the massage, guests retire to the relaxation pod and enjoy mineral water, fresh fruits and herbal teas while savouring kaleidoscopic views of clownfish, stingrays and the other exotic marine life that populates the lagoon.

For more information visit www.huvafenfushi.com

Angsana Velavaru, Maldives

On the remote South Nilandhe Atoll lies Angsana Velavaru, Maldives. This is a perfectly placed holiday resort, which blends contemporary design and marine biodiversity, with private beach villas and the acclaimed Angsana Spa.

So that you have the opportunity to visit, The Times is joining with Angsana Velavaru to give readers the chance to win a trip to the resort. The prize includes a seven-night stay for two people in a beachfront villa, including breakfast, and economy flights to Malé International Airport, which is a 40-minute journey by seaplane from Velavaru.

Find more information about this promotion on Times Online

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The three-kilometre-long island offers guests the expected pristine sandy beaches and clear waters, but being surrounded by towering ancient Banyan trees and nature trails adds a different experience for seasoned travellers to the Maldives. The landscape of Villingili is dominated by 17,000 coconut trees and 45 plant species, including the noni plant, which is believed to be useful for the treatment of ailments such as arthritis and hypertension.

Guests looking for an energetic afternoon to commune with nature can catch the guided weekly walking tours to learn more about the flora on Villingili. Guests that are more adventurous can pack a picnic and explore the nature trails. The resort will provide trail maps and there will be plaques providing information about the plants along the route. Guests can stop for a picnic break by one of the three natural lagoons, naturally tinged in red, blue or green.

For guests who prefer to take in the views from the comfort of their villas, all land-based villas will offer views of the ocean and the verdant vegetation. Some, like the luxurious Tree House villas, are secluded and perched on three-metre stilts among the treetops. The Pool villas are surrounded by lush forest with views of the beach through tropical foliage.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives is the first luxury resort in Addu Atoll. The resort, which is currently under development, will feature 142 villas with views of the ocean or the island’s natural lush vegetation. The Maldives’ second international airport, Gan International Airport, is an eight-minute boat ride away from the resort and Male International Airport is 70 minutes by air.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and manages 55 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 28,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

The group has over 50 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Japan, Macau, Maldives, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States. For more information or reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com

The Regent Maldives

The arrival of The Regent Maldives is exciting news. Located on the pristine white sands of the Thaa atoll, The Regent Maldives will set new standards in luxury accommodation. As we prepare for the launch of this 8-hectare sanctuary complete with fifty individual villas over land and water, boasting private plunge pools and stunning views across the lagoon, we would like to take this opportunity to update you on the Regent Maldives opening date.

The Resort is scheduled to open in summer of 2009, based on our commitment to excellence in the design and construction of the luxury property. While reflecting traditional architecture of the Maldivian setting, The Regent Maldives will feature contemporary design elements such as furnishing and fabrics sourced from around the world by acclaimed interior designers Hirsch Bedner Associates, and exotic semi-open bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, to name a few. This is in keeping with attention to detail and uncompromising quality, which the signature Regent luxury brand is well known for. We will continue to keep you abreast of The Regent Maldives development and progress in the coming months. In the interim, please do not hesitate to contact us on any new opportunities, or should you have any further queries.

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For Further information please contact:
Kerstin Poetzsch
Director of Sales
The Regent Maldives Sales Office Singapore: 3 HarbourFront Place #08-01/02, HarbourFront Tower 2, Singapore 099254
Email kpoetzsch@regenthotels.com
Tel +65 6511 9296 Fax +65 6274 9424
www.regenthotels.com/maldives