Wedded bliss in the Maldives

Whether it’s a wedding ceremony at sunset or on a private sandbank, Sun Hotels & Resorts offer an unparalleled romantic island experience that will ensure the big day is both stress free and unforgettable.

From the traditional drummers escorting the bride down the sandy aisle and a tree planting ceremony to commemorate the wedding to a romantic dhoni sail afterwards and optional Maldivian traditional dress, Sun Hotels & Resorts can offer a number of personal touches which will make the occasion truly remarkable.



The wedding packages also include the full attention of a co-ordinator, the Gazee (master of ceremonies) and wedding certificate as well as a tropically decorated wedding parasol at chosen venue, cake, celebratory champagne, romantic candlelit dinner, photography and photo CD, in-villa breakfast the following morning and even a couples massage. The only decision to make is which resort to choose?

Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort (South Nilandhe Atoll) - The first glimpses of Vilu Reef taken from the seaplane shows off an island surrounded by lush vegetation, swaying coconut palms and pristine white sandy beaches. This authentic Maldivian resort offers a Sunset Wedding package which takes place under a traditional Maldivian wedding parasol. The bride-to-be will take part in a local Maldivian custom and get carried to and from the venue on a cradle escorted by a Boduberu troop

Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort (South Malé Atoll) - A beautiful island retreat with stunning beaches, abundant sandbanks and a spa, it’s a haven for those searching for privacy and passion. Olhuveli offers a Sunset Wedding under the resort’s decorated wedding parasol or for the ultimate tropical island ceremony, there’s a Private Sandbank Wedding option where the couple will be transported to a deserted island to take their vows

Sun Hotels & Resorts also offer the perfect setting to say ‘I do’ all over again with a Renewal of Vows package which allows couples to reaffirm commitment for each other on the sandy shore of the Maldives in a ceremony to preserve their love, romance and passion for a lifetime!

Tropical Sky (tropicalsky.co.uk) is offering seven nights at Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives inclusive of the wedding package from £3,698 per couple. Valid for selected dates in September 2010, the price includes accommodation on a half-board basis, return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and taxes.

Tropical Sky (tropicalsky.co.uk) is offering seven nights at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives inclusive of the wedding package from £3,874 per couple. Valid for selected dates in September 2010, the price includes accommodation on a half-board basis, return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and taxes.

* Resort weddings in the Maldives are purely ceremonial and not legally recognised.

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Sun Hotels & Resorts Luxury Resorts In The Maldives

‘No news and no shoes’ is the motto in the Maldives, especially when staying at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort or Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort, and those choosing to visit for their holiday will delight in the sheer ease of life. Whether for winter sun, Christmas, a honeymoon or a break away with the whole family, the Maldives has something special for everyone.

Catch It And Cook It Excursion At Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort
Recently launched and unique to Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, the ‘Catch It And Cook It’ excursion is just another reason to visit the Maldives in 2010.

Perfect for those seeking an authentic Maldivian experience, guests spend an afternoon on a boat fishing and learning how to scale, gut and cut the fish.

On arrival at Olhuveli’s very own sandbank island, they get a real flavour for Maldivian cuisine with a cooking demonstration followed by a traditional Maldivian barbeque so they can dine on their afternoon’s work. The ‘Catch It And Cook It’ excursion can be booked in resort from US$69 per adult and US$35 per child under 12 years.

New Kids Programme at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort
With a brand new kids programme and fantastic watersports centre, Olhuveli is a great choice for active families. Children are well catered for by the Kids Garden team and kept busy with lots of educational, fun and adventurous activities. Just launched, this free programme is available from 10am to 5pm daily for children aged three to 11 years. Other fun-filled activities include wake-boarding, knee-boarding, fun tubes, banana rides, live magic shows, discos and Olhuveli’s famous weekly crab races.

Winter Sun Savings & Christmas Bargains
Both resorts are currently offering all-inclusive stays for the price of half-board when staying in a water villa. This fantastic offer is valid until 26 December and includes Christmas. Bookings can be made direct with the hotel.

About Sun Hotels & Resorts

Sun Hotels & Resorts owns and manages two luxury hotels in the Maldives. Incorporated into the brand in 2007, these include Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort (www.olhuveli.com) and Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort (www.vilureef.com).

Located on the tip of South Malé Atoll, the 133-room Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort is nestled amidst tropical vegetation and surrounded by a vast sandy, award-winning beach and a crystal clear lagoon. Facilities include a selection of restaurants and bars, two large pools, luxurious Sun Spa, gym, tennis and an excellent watersports centre with one of the only registered kite-surfing schools in the Maldives.

Located in the South Nilandhe Atoll, the 122-room Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort is surrounded by lush green vegetation, tall coconut palms and white sandy beaches, with a beautiful lagoon one side and a reef the other - ideal for snorkelling and diving. In addition to excellent watersports, facilities include an infinity pool, gym, Sun Spa, table tennis, volleyball court, a selection of restaurants and bars and a children’s playground.

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Winter sun destinations: A tropical tan - for £1,000 or less

The signs are unmistakable: it’s wet and windy, and dark at four, so it must be time to head south and bask in some winter sun. The only problem is, whenever you scour the newspapers for suggestions, it’s always £3,000-a-week luxury hideaways. That’s where our cost-conscious guide comes in: dozens of sunshine breaks, each one under £1,000pp. Cheap, then — but not nasty. The fact is, anyone can find mass-market packages to the sun for less than a grand, especially with prices tumbling this season. What’s not so easy is avoiding the grim concrete all-inclusives and homing in on holidays with charm and character — places that are worth your time as well as your money.



They’re out there, though, and to prove it, here are 44 of ’em, from traditional fincas in the Canaries to barefoot resorts in the Caribbean to fully fledged desert-island idylls in the Maldives. So, pack the T-shirt and sunnies, and get going. You can afford it.
Unless stated, all prices are for a week, per person, based on two sharing and including flights from London. Check with the operator for regional departure options

INDIAN OCEAN
The Indian Ocean ain’t cheap. It can, though, be great value if you time it right and choose carefully. Take Mauritius, home to some of the most highfalutin hotels in the world — Le Touessrok, Royal Palm — and somewhere with a shade more indigenous culture than the more scattered atolls. Six nights at the smallish, coupley Paul & Virginie Hotel, on the north coast, can be had for £799, half-board, if you book by Saturday, with Destinology (0800 634 2866, destinology.co.uk). It’s officially a three-star, but punches above its weight, with a beautiful palm-lined pool, a small but cute beach, a spa, watersports and friendly service.
All very well, but what about the white sand, blue-lagoon idyll that is the Maldives? All that desert-island loveliness sets the benchmark for high-priced winter sun, and it certainly doesn’t come in at less than a grand. Does it?
Certainly does. Kandooma, on South Malé atoll, delivers everything on the checklist — chalk-white beaches, gorgeous shallow lagoon, good snorkelling for adults, safe bathing for kids, spa, pool, classy villas, showers open to the sky, the lot. Rated four-star, it would normally be well over our limit, but a 36% price cut means that, for a November 24 departure, it comes in at £949, B&B, with Hayes & Jarvis (0871 664 0246, www.hayesandjarvis.com).
Another £30 gets you another star and the Sheraton Full Moon Resort and Spa. On its own island, it’s all thatched and low-rise, with not a business centre or conference room in sight — scrub out the corporate logo by the jetty and you’d think it had been created by Robinson Crusoe (after the discovery of air con and desalination plants, mind). A week, departing on December 6, costs £979, B&B, with Kuoni (01306 747008, kuoni.co.uk). One caveat: the food here is pricey, so big eaters might want to stick with Kandooma, above.

a) be counting the shades of grey in a late-November English day and shuddering at the cheerful news that there are just 26 shopping days to Christmas, or
b) lying on the sand at the Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, in the Maldives. Let me paint the picture: the sand is platinum blonde and squeaks when you walk on it. The sea is the colour of Bombay Sapphire and the sky the same shade as Curaçao. There are no shopping days until Christmas, because the Maldives are Muslim, but the price is pretty festive: the price is £955 with Thomson (0871 231 5595, thomson.co.uk).

Read the full article at timesonline.co.uk

Maldives resort invites you to ‘catch it and cook it’

For those seeking an authentic holiday experience rather than just sun, sand and sea, Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort (olhuveli.com) in the Maldives will not disappoint as they have launched the Catch It And Cook It programme.

Unique to Olhuveli, guests will be invited to spend the afternoon on a boat fishing with a local fisherman/chef and, whilst on board, learn how to scale, gut and cut the fish that they’ve caught.

On arrival at Olhuveli’s very own sandbank island, a cooking demonstration will take place where guests will get a real flavour for Maldivian cuisine and learn how to prepare and season the fish as the locals do with the undivided attention of the chef. This class will then be followed by a traditional Maldivian barbeque, cooking the fish over an open fire, with a variety of local accompaniments so guests can dine on the afternoon’s work! Day-long fishing trips can also be arranged.

Nestled amidst tropical vegetation and shaded by graceful palms, Olhuveli is surrounded by a vast sandy beach and a crystal clear lagoon. Facilities include a selection of restaurants and bars, two large pools and an excellent watersports centre with one of the only licensed kite-surfing schools in the Maldives.

The Catch It And Cook It programme can be booked on arrival at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort from only US$69 per adult and US$35 per child under 12 years (10% service charge will apply).

For further information or reservations visit olhuveli.com or e-mail info@olhuveli.com.mv.

Thomson (thomson.co.uk) is offering seven nights at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives from £1,060 per person, based on two sharing. Available for selected departures in September 2009, the price includes accommodation on a half-board basis, return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and taxes.

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