Island Life

The Maldives is a must-visit destination for everyone’s 2014 travel bucket list. Just a 4 hour flight from Dubai, and you are transported from fast paced city life into a tropical island paradise of snow white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters brimming with exotic fish.  

Read my travel piece on this magical hideaway below....

Situated Southwest of Sri Lanka and India, over 1,000 coral islands scattered across 800km make up this island nation - of which only 200 are inhabited.  Treasured by sailors who travelled along the sea-trade routes over 2,500 years ago, the population has risen to 320,000 as a result of the influx of visiting tourists seeking to experience and observe this magical gem in the vast ocean.  Some of the islands consist merely of a reef, while others larger in size are fringed with tropical green palms and forestry which line the edges of the snowy white sand beaches.  Distinguished as a romantic honeymoon destination, these islands offer more than just seclusion and romance.  They offer adventure, relaxation and inspiration.  This is true Robinson Crusoe island living at its best, and home to one of the hottest new hotel openings of the year. Cheval Blanc.

After their phenomenal Alpine success in Courcheval, Louis Vuitton et Moet Hennessey have launched their second 'Maison', Cheval Blanc, on Randheli in the pristine Noona Atoll, which opened its doors in November.  Submerged in the Northwest of the Maldives archipelago, LVMH have created what can only be described as hedonistic bliss, and we would expect nothing less.

On arrival into Male International Airport, guests are greeted by stylish Maison Ambassadors and whisked off to the seaplane terminal for our Maldivian adventure to begin.  Cheval Blanc has their own chic private lounge for guests to relax and freshen up before boarding the resort’s unique custom made Cheval Blanc seaplane - think private jet with a very cool marine twist.  The 40-minute flight to Randheli is a breathtaking panoramic voyage flying over islands and spotting dolphins, turtles and manta ray swimming below. 

Wrapped around a powder white sand beach overlooking an aquamarine lagoon, Cheval Blanc is the epitome of understated elegance. Designed by Jean-Michele Gathy, the creative mind behind some of the world's most stunning resorts, including Aman Resorts and the Chedi Muscat, the architecture combines contemporary aesthetic with traditional Maldivian craftsmanship.  Jean-Michele has pushed the boundaries of design and style, working alongside the craftsmen in the LVMH stables to produce fashion furniture and accessories that showcase the artisan traditions behind the LVMH labels themselves.  The villas are vast, with cathedral high ceilings, private infinity-edge pools and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and walls to maximize the breathtaking views out across the Indian Ocean.  The Garden Villas are half perched on stilts, half on the island with a private tropical garden, while the Water Villas stand high on stilts over the crystal lagoon.  With spacious interiors and a spacious private deck, each angle of the villa offers a stunning view or a different place to relax and unwind.

What really catapults Cheval Blanc to the forefront of ultimate luxury and elegance is their incredible attention to detail.  From the moment your feet touch the wooden jetty as you embark off the seaplane, the intimacy and personalisation of your stay is overwhelming.  LVMH employ a team of Alchemists, who with their intimate knowledge of the Maison and its environment provide a bespoke experience for each individual guest.  From your preferred bedding and pillows, to your love of sweet or savoury, the Alchemists really do make you feel like you are at home.  They even find out your shoe size so their personalised Maison espadrills are a perfect fit!

Majordome's work in sync with the Alchemist to ensure every guest's desire is met with the utmost care.  Like a guardian angel, the Majordome's seem to majestically and thoughtfully include little surprises throughout your stay, thought out with precision and care.  They will have appeared and left you with a surprise gift and then magically disappeared out of sight, and they are always on call if in need.  

Unlike most island resorts in the Indian Ocean, Cheval Blanc has an extensive culinary range on offer, which allows guests to indulge in a diverse variety of both taste and ambience and prevents even the most avid foodie getting bored.  Le White is a contemporary brasserie, simple yet gourmet, and overlooks the vast expanse of Ocean in front, and if you’re lucky you may get a sighting over Dolphins in the shallows for your dessert.  1947 is their signature fine dining restaurant named after Chateau Cheval Blanc's most prestigious and sought after vintage.  The refined decor pays tribute to the French cuisine, which encapsulates both delicacy and creativity.  Diptyque is a dual personality restaurant, offering the finest Japanese Cuisine alongside Iberian gastronomy in their live interactive cooking theatre.  Deelani is on the jetty, lively and relaxed, fresh local seafood is served up along with various Italian specialities.  This al fresco restaurant transforms into an open air late night venue for some exotic cocktails and live lounge music.  

The crystal clear waters surrounding the island are idyllic to discover the unrivalled beauty of the ocean and its tropical marine life inhabitants.  From turtles, to manta rays to pinecone soldierfish, the surrounding reefs offer a real life "Finding Nemo" experience and are a playground for snorkelling, scuba diving and for the more adventurous, free diving.  In addition to the below-surface aquatic excursions, Cheval Blanc have a fleet of traditional wooden dhoni's and speedboats for guests to sail the azure waters of the atoll.  Family and group big game fishing are on offer as well as sunset cruises for the more romantic.  The marine house has windsurfers, kayaks and a catamaran for all ages to enjoy as well as water-skiing and donuts to keep the kids and adults entertained for hours.  

In between enjoying your private infinity pool, cycling along the sandy pathways around the island on your very own Cheval Blanc bike, taking a diving excursion out to the reefs or eating your way through their menus, a trip to Spa Island is both a luxury and a necessity.  A traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat takes you across to the shores of serenity where Guerlain have created a range of treatments and massages especially designed for the Maldives such as the Randheli Sun Ritual.  There are six treatment villas on the island overlooking the lagoon where you can enjoy and discover treatments alone or together, as well as a traditional hammam bath for the ultimate après massage relaxation.  The island also offers a yoga pavilion, a Leoor Greyl Hair Spa, a makeup studio as well as an authentic barber for the boys.  Whether you spend hours or days on the spa island, it truly is a haven for the body, mind and soul.  

The combination of the intense beauty of the surroundings and the isolation, the impeccable service and style, LVMH have created a Maison of utter adoration.  The chilled-come-chic ambience is unforgettable.  Paradise is no longer a powerful enough adjective to describe such a place; it is paradise and so much more.