Many luxury travellers would be familiar with the destination of Maldives, which is home to nearly 1,200 small coral islands of which only about 200 are inhabited. While all manner of resorts - from affordable to swanky - each take up over 100 islands, the tourism-focused country is well-known for high-end travel.
Guests are known to island-hop or try out various resorts across different stays to indulge in each individual hotel brand's kind of hospitality, but how many properties feel more like a home than a transient escape? This is where Cheval Blanc Randheli shines.
Having visited nine properties for work and leisure across the past decade prior to Randheli, I thought I knew how things were at the top-end resorts. Service would be attentive, transfers painless, spa of a high standard, and food excellent despite land-scarce Maldives' remoteness and need to import nearly everything.
Nevertheless, I jumped at the opportunity to experience Randheli. After all, aren't the LVMH hotel brand's super-exclusive properties totalling just five in the world the playground of not just the rich and famous, but European royalty? Also, there's the draw of the resort's secluded and pristine location: in the government-protected reserve of Noonu Atoll, far north from the island city of Malé surrounded by the main cluster of tourist resorts, and about 40min away on the resort's own seaplane. Perfect for a sea lover like me.
Perhaps I expected to be blown away by Randheli, but what I didn't anticipate was how this three-night trip would change my mind about the meaning of luxury. No matter what the glossy brochures say, you'd never believe it when hotels claim to be "a home away from home". Sure, the tropical marine paradise could feel like a haven, but how could it be home? The resort answers it readily.
SANCTUARY WITHIN A SANCTUARY
Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.
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Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Sailing Into A Dream
Scenes from the fantasy feature Game of Thrones come to life in the otherworldly landscapes of the Arctic Circle.
Here Come The Sun Seats
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ABSOLUMENT FAB
France's premier fair for fine-art and antiques returns for its third edition inside its new home in the Grand Palais.
Through the Director's Lens
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THE CUTTING EDGE
Having long played quiet supporting roles in the gem industry, gem cutters are finally having their day in the sun. Four acclaimed independent master gem cutters share more about their love of the craft and the creation of their best pieces.
Spheres of Power
Following up on the gold- and titanium-focused Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams launch collection, the superstar now turns to pearls for a softer, but no less striking, second act.
Horological Masterpieces Reimagined
Beyond the wrist, these timekeepers transcend all traditional boundaries.
WILD IMAGINATION
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READY FOR ACTION
The latest watch to come from the celebrated Richard Mille and McLaren partnership looks set to be another trailblazing timepiece.
THE RIGHT ANGLES
Twenty-five years after the launch of its last new collection, Twenty-4, Patek Philippe introduces the Cubitus range.
