Luxury Travel Advisor - July 2008 - (Page 35)

THE REGENT MALDIVES will be located on a peaceful atoll (opposite and below). ACCOMMODATIONS (left) at the Regent Maldives’ Beach Villas will be high tech and will provide inviting views of the alluring outdoors. It’s easy to relax and recuperate in this exotic island nation in the Indian Ocean, which is comprised of 26 tranquil atolls. RUTHANNE TERRERO When the Regent Maldives (www.theregentexperience) opens early next year, it will have 50 villas; 23 with beach views, the other 27 will be over-water accommodations, meaning the marine life directly beneath your clients’ rooms will be wildly visible. Put your most affluent VIPs in one of the two over-water Presidential Villas, which also have their own spacious dining pavilions, roomy bedroom suites with walk-in wardrobes, private sun decks and views of the resort’s coral lagoon. The bathrooms of each villa open to either a lush private garden area or ocean vistas, and feature both indoor and outdoor showers. Management for the resort is still being selected, including the spa director and general manager, but we hear that the spa will have eight private treatment pavilions that open to the ocean; there will also be a 125-foot beachfront infinity pool, a tennis court, a volleyball court and a yoga pavilion. We hear that the resort’s concierge will be able to arrange a luxury motor launch to explore the remote and seldom-visited atolls of the Maldives. Reservations for the Regent Maldives are now being taken at 800-545-4000. The Anantara Maldives (www.anantara.com) is spread over not one, but two islands in the South Male Atoll. Upon arriving at Male International Airport, guests are whisked away via private speedboat for a 35-minute ride to the resort, where they’ll want to check into a Sunset Over-water Villa, which comes complete with its own deck. Is your client feeling super indulgent? If so, reserve an-evenmore-spacious Over-water Pool Villa with a sunset view. Note: There’s no need to go through a technology withdrawal here, since accommodations at the Anantara Malives have high-speed Internet, surround-sound stereos, flatscreen TVs and even their own espresso machines. Contact General Manager Dominik Ruhl (druhl@anantara. com), who oversees VIP bookings and special services at the resort; he can even assist with setting up a fantasy sojourn at the Anantara Spa, which employs the use of Elemis products. Here, those age 12 and up can enjoy a menu of massages, health, beauty and holistic treatments. (Note: We hear that the most oft-requested therapist is Miss Nat). The spa’s signature treatment is the Aromatherapy Massage, but the twohour Romantic Escape Couple Package is great for those seeking to rekindle their romance; it includes a Honey Milk Bath, a White Sesame Body Scrub and the aforementioned Aromatherapy Massage. Guests in recovery should opt for a detoxifying treatment that lasts nearly three hours. Note: Even though the spa has nine treatment suites, the resort recommends that luxury travel advisors reserve treatments ahead of time for clients, particularly for appointments between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. A wellness-themed vacation at the Anantara Maldives can be extended by taking yoga lessons on the beach and by doing a few laps in one of the two inﬁnityedge beachfront swimming pools on either of the resort’s islands. And while there’s no dedicated spa menu for guests, healthy offerings within the resort’s culinary selections are available. Hint: Luxury travel advisors who want to wow their clients www.luxuryta.com July 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 35 http://www.theregentexperience http://www.anantara.com http://www.luxuryta.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Travel Advisor - July 2008

Luxury Travel Advisor - July 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter California Coast Tuscan Villas Ranch Vacations Gansevoort South Rancho Las Cruces Reserva Conchal Spas of the Maldives St. Lucia A Gentleman's Touch The Pulse Just Back Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - July 2008

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