The Maldives is essentially the most romantic place on earth. In any case, only recently, Princess Diana’s niece Woman Amelia Spencer and her new husband Greg Mallett had been the image of happiness on their Maldives honeymoon after their HELLO! unique marriage ceremony in South Africa. Woman Amelia and Greg’s honeymoon within the Maldives seemed breathtakingly stunning and I could not wait to see this dreamy a part of the world for myself after getting engaged.
In addition to historically a honeymoon hotspot, the Maldives has develop into a prime vacation spot for vow renewals within the superstar world. In latest weeks, TV chef Jamie Oliver and his spouse Jools renewed their vows alongside their 5 youngsters: Poppy, 21, Daisy, 19, Petal, 14, Buddy, 12, and River, six. The attractive photos from their renewal ceremony on the white sands amazed everybody, 23 years after the couple first tied the knot. And in a world unique earlier this 12 months, HELLO! revealed Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy renewed their marriage vows in December – with the dazzling Maldives seashore images showcasing the magic of their second large day.
Taking the plunge, I flew 11 hours to expertise the Maldives with my fiancé on the finish of the season in April whereas on the hunt for our excellent honeymoon vacation spot – and I used to be not disenchanted after we arrived within the sun-soaked paradise, Nova Maldives. The silky white sands, surrounding turquoise waters, tropical palm timber, seashore huts and the colorful marine life instantly captured my coronary heart endlessly…
The place to remain at Nova Maldives? The Water Villa
My first impressions of five-star resort Nova Maldives? It was like strolling via a waking daydream. I’ve by no means been wherever prefer it earlier than. Even taking our first dozen steps to Water Villa 206 – which we’d name our house for the subsequent 4 days – was an expertise. On arrival, we had been impressed to see child Blacktip Reef Sharks in addition to Squid and Needle fish within the azure blue waters beneath the villas within the couple of minutes it took to achieve our door.
At Nova, it’s a tiny slice of paradise with solely 76 seashore and ocean view villas capable of be booked by holidaymakers. It takes about 10-Quarter-hour to stroll round the entire of the resort. Being a small island, nevertheless, solely provides to the seclusion and its magnificence – making it the right place for loved-up honeymooners. The Water Villas had been attractive, floating over the nice and cozy waters on stilts with essentially the most idyllic backdrop of the lagoon. A number of of the Water Villas on the island have their very own personal swimming pools whereas the others boast of Jacuzzis. For me, searching to the infinite fantastic thing about the Indian Ocean from the sundeck – and even the mattress – made it among the finest spots on the resort. It was gorgeous, providing the right viewpoint for the orange and pinks of sundown to the flicker of the solar dancing on the water within the warmth of the day.
Cooling off within the baking 30 levels warmth was made straightforward on the Water Villa by taking the steps from the sundeck right down to the turquoise lagoon. The shaded spot on the terrace additionally allowed for a cooler viewing level and the aircon contained in the room was all the time inviting. The ground-to-ceiling home windows introduced the ocean into the villa with you, even whereas soaking within the bathtub. The generous-sized lavatory was set again from the terrace to supply privateness, and the bathroom was in a separate room, however the bathtub nonetheless had among the finest ocean views. Alternatively, holidaymakers can select to remain on the land in one of many Seaside Villas the place you may step out onto the gentle white sands of the island.
The place to eat at Nova Maldives? Vacation spot eating, overwater restaurant and extra
Vacation spot eating
The Vacation spot Eating had the wow issue for me. It was one of the vital romantic experiences within the Maldives and a must-do for honeymooners. With the celebs glittering above, it was a stunning arrange on the seashore for the final evening of our keep. It was theatrical, with an enormous coronary heart drawn into the sand and fairy lights lighting up the particular house. Setting the temper, there was additionally a large gentle up coronary heart that additionally made a cute body for images. Romance was within the air, there was gentle sand beneath our toes and calming calls of the ocean could possibly be heard throughout us. The warmth of the day had cooled by the night, making it the right temperature to be consuming al fresco. We felt like we had been the one two folks on the Maldives resort as we had been sitting alone consuming on the seashore, with solely the occasional crab scuttering previous our toes. The ready workers remained very attentive, though we had been located away from the primary eating places, and the prosecco was by no means distant (it was left chilling in an ice bucket only a stone’s throw away from the desk).
It was a feast for the senses. We selected a mix of seafood and meat to share, beginning with inexperienced salads, scallops and sushi. Later, we had been served an announcement platter made up of mouth-watering lobster, sticky BBQ ribs, tender beef and hen skewers. Dessert was equally memorable as we someway discovered the house to eat the fabulous blueberry cheesecake.
On the best way to our Vacation spot Eating, we had spied one other arrange for a pair eating on the seashore the identical evening as us. It was nice to see how they had been arrange at a special level on the island, ensuring each eating experiences fulfilled the romance and intimacy that was promised. The opposite eating expertise seemed equally particular and distinctive. A glittering teepee adorned with fairy lights was arrange round their desk that seemed out onto the lagoon and the Water Villas. It was an evening to recollect.
Mizu
One other show-stopping eating expertise on supply at Nova is the Overwater Teppanyaki Restaurant, Mizu, which is located simply over the water. Throughout a bridge from the sands of Nova, the brilliant lights give the wonderful phantasm that the restaurant levitates on the water whereas strolling in direction of it. This charming place had already made a fascinating impression on me earlier than I had even walked inside. When seated, the ceiling-to-floor home windows had been opened huge to deliver the sounds and sights of the ocean into the restaurant. The sounds of mild waves all the time pairs nicely with prosecco.
This intimate eating setting felt extremely private with the chef cooking dinner, simply the way you prefer it, in entrance of you, which I felt takes plenty of confidence and talent. We loved the farm and the ocean menu, Oishi Shokuji, with nice indulgence. The starters went down a deal with; we grazed via a collection of sushi, Nigiri and Sashimi, adopted by Sautéed Edamame with garlic and carrot-ginger dressing and (if that wasn’t sufficient) Miso soup fabricated from Wakame, Tofu and spring onion.
Then the present actually started! The chef cooked up a storm with the Teppanyaki egg and garlic fried rice, cracking the eggs on the spatula and placing on a knife present. It was all carried out with a razor sharp sense of humour. The egg fried rice spelt out ‘I coronary heart you’ with the spring onion, rice and eggs that seemed spectacular. Principal course was a superb present of meals: salmon steak, tiger prawns, corn fed hen, beef steak, shiitake mushrooms and extra greens.
I am a dessert individual however by no means earlier than has a pudding impressed me a lot. The fireplace present was a imaginative and prescient and a superb technique to end the meal. Our fearless chef cooked our dessert whereas the flames roared in entrance of us all, flickering and dancing excessive up in a blinding present of fireplace. Our Banana Flambé was then served to us with Pandan Coconut Ice Cream. The decision? It was completely scrumptious and a night of nice enjoyable.
Extra
Though it’s a small island, Nova visitors have been spoiled for selection with locations to eat. Their Flames restaurant, the place we tucked into the moreish BBQ and honey ribs earlier than devouring their salted caramel ice cream, had a scorching vibe with their bamboo torch lights, situated on the sting of the seashore. Soul Kitchen supplied a diversified, tasty buffet that we loved at breakfast and lunch. The lunchtime ice cream definitely cooled us down and saved us coming again.
Paddleboarding at Nova Maldives
The easiest way to see the island was climbing on a paddle board and paddling out within the lagoon. It was paradise. Seeing the sandy shores, the palm timber and the Water Villas from the paddleboard was an incredible and immersive expertise. Having by no means performed paddle boarding earlier than, we had hilarious enjoyable falling into the water however I need to admit I started to really feel braver after falling in for the primary time. At first, it appeared practically not possible to face up however after an hour or so of attempting, I used to be happy I managed to get the dangle of it (nicely, virtually!).
Manta Rays expertise at Nova Maldives
Snorkelling alongside the Manta Rays was an expertise of a lifetime that I’ll all the time keep in mind. The mild giants had been spectacular creatures. Their diamond-shape our bodies appeared like magnificent capes rippling within the ocean. They moved in time with the rhythm of the waters with such class, particularly for his or her measurement. It’s a should for anybody honeymooning within the Maldives.
The Dolphin Sundown Cruise at Nova Maldives
Dozens of playful dolphins swam up near our boat in an astonishing spectacle to behold. Instantly, all of sudden, we had been surrounded from each facet by dolphins. Swimming in teams, the dolphins made an look an hour into our boat journey when the solar kissed the floor of the water.
Chill out on the Eskape Spa at Nova Maldives
Taking an hour out of the warmth of the day to calm down with my fiancé on the spa throughout our keep was a deal with. Greeted with a refreshing drink, I felt prepared for the Balinese therapeutic massage. I loved with the ability to look via the glass on the ground on the child Blacktip Reef Sharks and vibrant fish swimming beneath me whereas having the therapy. Sadly I used to be a bit of sunburnt on my shoulders from the blazing sunshine however the Aloe Vera – which is grown on the island – used on the spa was very soothing. The expertise left me feeling so relaxed, I virtually drifted off to sleep.
Have been there any downsides to Nova Maldives?
The southern tip of Ari Atoll is famend for Whale Shark sightings however sadly, we had been disenchanted after we didn’t get to see any on our first snorkelling tour at Nova. We had been after all fortunate after we noticed dolphins and a turtle swimming near our boat on the identical journey. Nonetheless, a pair at breakfast on a special day had been extremely fortunate to see a child Whale Shark on their journey out. So we had a little bit of unhealthy luck there however as anticipated there will be no assure of seeing marine life swimming of their pure habitats.
Nova’s finest saved secret?
Apart from the view from the Water Villa sundeck, I actually cherished spending time watching the ocean life from the harbours on both facet of the island. There was all the time one thing completely different to be seen. At evening, we hung out watching from the platform as the large StingRays swam up shut. It was an incredible expertise. Nova’s home reef is a mesmerising place to discover, whether or not you’re snorkelling or just watching from the land.
How you can get to Nova Maldives?
Located within the South Ari Atoll, Nova is barely a 25 minute Seaplane journey from Male Worldwide Airport. Seaplanes had been a beautiful technique to see the islands of the Maldives from a hen’s eye view, plus they proved to be tremendous speedy. With as much as 15 folks in a airplane, remember to get a window seat for the easiest way to see the resorts. From the UK, Male’s Worldwide Airport is an 11-hour flight away or alternatively holidaymakers can choose to interrupt the journey with a stopover out of the country.
How lengthy must you guide within the Maldives?
Ideally, I might advocate staying within the Maldives for 10 days. My transient dalliance at Nova of three nights and 4 full days was attractive however it additionally left me wanting extra. The 11-hour flight is an extended technique to journey, so profit from it. Though it’s a small island, Nova has loads to do but in addition make time on vacation for watching marine life, wandering alongside the sand and cooling off within the lagoon.
Would I am going again to Nova Maldives?
In a heartbeat. Nova is the right place to guide a honeymoon, supplying you with all of the romance and seclusion you need. I can hear the decision of the ocean taking me again to that tiny paradise, Nova Maldives, that may all the time have a particular place in my coronary heart…
In Could, rooms at Nova Maldives begin at £417 per evening on Reserving.com.
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