Paradise for the jet set
01-Jun-08
The destination where stars such as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes escape to when they're looking for a romantic getaway - the islands of the Indian Ocean - offer everything a high-end traveller requires; namely privacy, luxury, discreet staff and an abundance of gorgeous settings.
At a time when newsstands carry a dizzying array of headlines warning of credit crunches and rising bills, consumers at the top end of the market are, more than ever, willing to open their wallets and flex their credit cards in order to soak up some sun, according to tourist board statistics.
The islands of the Indian Ocean also offer safety, and when so many other areas of the globe are affected by natural disasters and political instability, that's increasingly important to the jet set.
The Seychelles and Mauritius in particular are little pockets of undisturbed paradise, and while the Maldives and Sri Lanka (see Luxury Travel's February/March issue) have experienced political unrest, the Foreign Office advises that travel to both is safe.
Growth in nearly all islands in the Indian Ocean has been impressive during the past year, and a flurry of hotel openings from properties such as Four Seasons and Shangri-la, is sure to see tourist figures continue to soar.
Steve Garley, commercial director at Tropical Sky, says: "The Indian Ocean has done exceptionally well for us. The Maldives in particular is performing incredibly well, sales have increased dramatically year on year."
Indeed, the Maldives had a record year for tourist arrivals in 2007, clocking up 675,889, an 8.5 per cent rise from the previous year. British tourists topped the markets.
The archipelagos' success at attracting such a large slice of the UK holiday market is also echoed by tour operator Kuoni, which named the Maldives as its number one destination for 2007. Kuoni product manager Linda Pedlar, says: "This pole position is well justified. It has a fantastic range of product, spanning some of the most luxurious living on offer anywhere in the world, to good value barefoot island living.
"Looking forward in 2008, business is bright, with passenger numbers up by 15 per cent year on year. However, one area that is potentially hindering growth at the very top end is the limited business class air capacity," she adds.
Mauritius is also enjoying increased visitor numbers. Robin Mack, MTPA UK representative, says: "Mauritius had 24,053 visitor arrivals from the UK to the end of March 2008, a growth of 11.6 per cent on the same period last year.
"Among the reasons for this growth is an increased focus on the island from operators, hoteliers and media, boosted by hotel openings for 2008, including Four Seasons, The Grand Mauritian Resort and Spa and InterContinental Hotels & Resort's first ever property on Mauritius."
Virgin Atlantic is now providing a twice-weekly service to Mauritius, while Virgin Holidays is twinning the island with its lesser known sister island, Rodrigues, a favourite with Prince William.
The 33 inhabited islands of the Seychelles' 115 individual isles also saw a rise in visitor numbers of more than six per cent in 2007, with island-hopping especially seeing a large surge in popularity.
WHAT'S NEW TO DO
Baros Resort in the Maldives has just launched a dhoni (traditional Maldivian sailing boat, below) for its guests to enjoy. The 19-metre- long vessel has a crew of four, including a butler. Sailing packages from £88pp including canapes and champagne. (www.baros.com)
Clients aiming to look after body and soul should be steered in the direction of super luxe resort Cocoa Island in the Maldives. The white-sand ringed, private island resort has one of the best spas in the Indian Ocean, and is offering Holistic Health Paths in 2008. Perfect for burnt out city slickers is the Rejuvenation Path (£455 for two), a five-hour package that includes 60 minutes of yoga (middle) in an open-air pavilion next to the sea, a Cocoa Island bath with cleansing treatment, COMO Shambhala exfoliating salt scrub and relaxing hour-long deep tissue massage. (www.cocoaisland.com.bz)
For those who want a more authentic island experience than simply sundowners on the beach, the Seychelles is pushing Festival Kreol, which was set up to preserve and promote Creole culture. The week-long festival is held around the end of October and it offers the chance to sample Creole cuisine, fashion, art, music and dance (including fire walking). Creole artists from all over the world descend for this entertaining celebration. (www.seychelles.travel)
Clients suffering from insomnia or sleep deprivation can now head to the new Iru Fushi Beach & Spa Resort (www.irufushi.com) to indulge in Sleep Dreams, a new spa concept designed to aid slumber. The programme includes massage treatments to encourage a siesta or good night's sleep, yoga specialist to help with relaxation, teas to help induce shut-eye and even a sleep concierge who's on call 24/7 to provide anything from soothing music to a sleep-all-night-cap, a special cocktail for bedtime. (Prices were still to be confirmed, as Luxury Travel went to press.)
The islands of the Indian Ocean are also a burgeoning family market (despite the number of obvious honeymooners), which is why Island Hideaway in the Haa Alifu Atoll in the Maldives is launching a Junior Certification Programme. The aim is to make holidays educational as well as fun for children and encourage them to learn about the marine life (above) and nature around them. There are free courses they can enjoy, such as the Young Chef, Young Environmentalist and Junior Marine Biologist, which takes place every Sunday and includes 30 minutes under water being shown coral damage and how to restore it. At the end of a course, kids get a signed certificate. (www.island-hideaway.com)
HOTELS
- The Maldives will see the launch of Iru-Fushi Beach & Spa Resort (www.irufushi.com), which is already taking lots of advanced bookings ahead of its scheduled 21 July 2008 opening. It's a 180-room luxury resort aiming at couples and families, and is located in Noonu Atoll, an unspoilt area with virgin landscapes and as yet unchartered dive sites.
- The much-anticipated Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa (www.shangi-la.com), on the Addu Atoll, is also due to open mid-2008 as the first Maldives resort with nature trails and weekly guided nature tours for guests provided by a resident expert.It will further add to the year's already impressive launches, which include the region's first luxurious tented accommodation at Banyan Tree Madivaru (www.banyantree.com), plus the Herathera (www.herathera.com), a resort with 153 beach villas and 120 Jacuzzi villas set on a private island in the Gan region of the Addu Atoll.
- Mauritius is going to see the opening of several resorts. Anahita Resort (www.anahita.mu) will see its first phase open this month (June), and will consist of 70 residences. (Clients can also buy a five-star private residence complete with 24-hour villa master, concierge and daily maid service.) Facilities include gourmet restaurants and infinity pools.
- The Grand Mauritian Resort & Spa (www.luxurycollection.com/grandmauritian) is another July 2008 opening. This one is a 193-room getaway on the north-west coast in Balaclava in Turtle Bay and is Luxury Collection's latest resort. In the same area, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with Lateral Holdings to develop a $50m (£25m) resort. Scheduled to open in late 2008, the 210-room InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort (www.intercontinental.com) will offer guests a prime beachfront location in the Bay of Balaclava.
- In the Seychelles, the new Shangri-La Resort & Spa, Seychelles (www.shangri-la.com), set on a nine-acre island 10 minutes from capital Victoria is due to open early 2009.
- Villas De Maitre (www.villasdemaitre.com), the Mauritius luxury villa specialist, is launching its first portfolio of golf properties, including Lunea Villas, a collection of fully serviced three to five-bedroom villas at Anahita that boast a secluded location and 18-hole championship golf course designed by Ernie Els.
BEST ROOM IN THE HOUSE
OCEAN PAVILION
Huvafen Fushi, Maldives
Client fit: City boys and hip, honeymoon couples.
Why: Sunset facing, fibre-optic lit pool, Kohler bath that's filled from the ceiling, sun deck with steps into the ocean and butler service.
Price: $3,800 (£1,932) per night.
Contact: www.huvafenfushi.com
THE VILLA
One&Only Le St Geran, Mauritius
Client fit: Wealthy families, celebrities, royalty.
Why: Cascade shower, whirlpool bath, lounge and dining room, private pool, team of valets, butler and chef.
Price: EUR4,475 (£3,587) per night.
Contact: www.oneandonlyresorts.com
DHONI MIGHILI
Maldives
Client fit: Aqua lovers, design junkies, those wanting to sweep a loved one off their feet, and rock stars.
Why: Six beach villas on one tiny island, each with a butler and luxury boat (dhoni) furnished by Philippe Starck.
Price: $800 (£406) per night.
Contact: www.dhonimighili.com
ROSEWOOD VILLAS
Anjajavy L'Hotel, Madagascar
Client fit: Eco lovers who still want their luxuries.
Why: It's the best accommodation in Madagascar. There are no roads to this incredible place, which means clients have to fly in to reach the 25 two-storey, rosewood villas which lie in 450 hectares of unspoilt parkland.
Price: Four nights from £1,030 per person.
Contact: www.anjajavy.com
OCEAN FRONT VILLA
Maia, Seychelles
Client fit: Anyone into nature, health and wellbeing.
Why: An open-plan villa with, butler, private swimming pool, garden shower and outdoor bath.
Price: EUR1,590 (£1,274) per night.
Contact: www.maia.com
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
THE GECKO BAR
Cousine Island, Seychelles
Setting: Nestled away in the end of a pretty white, open-air pavilion. It offers stunning views of the sparkling sea and other nearby islands within a beautiful five-star eco-retreat location.
Best dish: There's no menu. The chef discusses each meal with guests so they get exactly what they desire. Dishes are prepared using locally sourced ingredients.
Best table: Ask for clients to be seated at the end of the bar so they can drink in the amazing, panoramic views.
Contact: www.cousineisland.com
BAAN HURAA
Anantara Resort Maldives
Setting An exquisite Thai restaurant that's set on stilts on the edge of a reef, and can only be reached by boat.
Best dish: Traditional Thai dishes, along with unusual offerings such as sticky coconut rice dessert with mango.
Best table A candle-lit table on the outer edge so clients can see the water illuminated at night.
Contact http://maldives.anantara.com
CINEMA PARADISO
Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Setting: An outdoor cinema and dining experience may sound like an odd concept, but it's fabulous. Clients get to sit beneath the stars and watch a classic Hollywood film while a personal chef prepares the food.
Best dish: Anything at its gourmet barbecue: think prime cuts of meat with all the trimmings.
Best table: A private table facing the the movie.
Contact: www.sixsenses.com/soneva-fushi
SPOON DES ILES
One&Only Le Saint Geran, Mauritius
Setting: Terribly chic and understated, with tasteful cream furniture and red walls, this has been the Indian Ocean's wow eatery for many years.
Best dish: Gourmets rave about this restaurant, which is the brainchild of three Michelin-star French chef Alain Ducasse, who oversees every aspect from the menu. The food's described as multi-ethnic: think dorado wrapped in banana leaf and ravioli with fresh water prawns.
Best table: Ask for one for your client by the open-plan kitchen so they can see the chefs at work.
Contact: www.oneandonlyresorts.com
PRIVATE DINING
Fregate Island Private, Seychelles
Setting: Right on the white sand beach of this exclusive island. Staff will set up a candle-lit dinner a deux for clients to dine under the stars. There's also the romantic Plantation House if there's a spot of rain in paradise.
Best dish: Traditional Creole dishes and island specialities using local spices and herbs.
Best table: You can't beat a candle-lit table set for two on a deserted beach at sunset.
Contact: www.fregate.com
BUYER'S COMMENT: Rena Guseynova, founder and managing director, Carte Blanche Travel
One of my favourite Indian Ocean hotel's is Conrad Spa Resort Rangali (which used to be Hilton Rangali Island) because it offers sophisticated, barefoot luxury surrounded by glorious natural beauty.
I also recommend One&Only Resort at Reethi Rah, which is an all-villa resort offering an unrivalled level of style and choice. Our clients rave about the resort's spa, which is set in tranquil gardens and has skilled E'SPA therapists offering revitalising holistic treatments and Bastien's Pedicure by Bastien Gonzales, which is allegedly one of the best in the world.
Like most people who visit, I adore dining at Spoon Des lles at One&Only St Geran in Mauritius and my other tip is Sea Lovers at Pereybere, which is also on the island and a lovely location for a restaurant offering excellent seafood.
Our best-selling hotel in Mauritius at the moment is Oberoi Resort; while in the Maldives, I love the wood water villa suites at Soneva Gili resort, which are luxurious and environmentally friendly. The cantilevered sun deck sits just above the water level. Dining in one's villa is a panoramic dream and the quadraphonic hi-fi is tastefully concealed with the television and VCD in a hand-built wooden cabinet.
I thoroughly recommend night fishing in the Indian Ocean, particularly in the Maldives where it's a special form of entertainment in which clients can enjoy the peace and stillness of the evening under star-lit skies while they fish for snapper or grouper, and end the evening with a barbecue prepared with the catch.
We also offer clients the chance to savour the beauty of the Maldives from the air, arranging personalised aerial expeditions by plane.
www.carteblanchetravel.com
INDIAN OCEAN ISLES' FACTS
MALDIVES
There are 1,190 coral islands that make up the Maldives chain, which stretch into 26 major atolls. Eighty-seven are exclusive resorts and 202 are inhabited.
Red tape: A free 30-day visa is supplied on arrival.
Vaccinations: Yellow fever.
Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa, but the dollar is the most commonly used currency.
Voltage: 230-240 volts AC.
Main airport: Male International Airport.
Best time to visit: It's generally warm and humid throughout the year, rarely dropping below 29 degsC. The driest season is December to April.
SEYCHELLES
There are 115 granite and coral islands in the archipelagos, which lie 1,600km off the east coast of Africa. Home to two UNESCO world heritage sites.
Red tape: There's a $20 (£10) departure tax.
Vaccinations: Yellow fever.
Currency: Seychelles Rupee.
Voltage: 240 volts, 50Hz.
Main airport: Mahe.
Best time to visit: April-May and October-November are excellent for swimming, snorkelling and diving because the weather is calm and visibility can be as much as 30 metres, and water temperature can hit 29 degsC.
MAURITIUS
This island lies 2,000km to the south-east of Africa and east of Madagascar. It has 330km of coastline.
Red tape: Visitors must be in possession of a return or onward ticket. A visitor's visa is usually granted for a two-week to one-month period on arrival.
Vaccinations: Yellow fever.
Currency: Mauritian rupee.
Voltage: 220 volts.
Main airport: Mahe.
Best time to visit: The cooler winter months run from June to September, when temperatures dip to an average of 22 degsC.
MADAGASCAR
The largest Indian Ocean island is separated from southern Africa by the narrow Mozambique channel and is still relatively untouched by mass tourism.
Red tape: A visitor's visa is given on arrival, which is valid for up to three months.
Vaccinations: Yellow fever; malaria risk year-round.
Currency: Malagasy Ariary.
Voltage: 127/220 volts.
Main airport: Ivato Airport.
Best time to visit: The west and south-west get scorchingly hot in summer (November-March) while the winter months are much more pleasant. Expect showers at any time on the island's east and north-east sides.
BUYER'S COMMENT: David Atkin. Head of Product & Marketing, Elegant Resorts
My favourite hotel in the Indian Ocean is North Island in the Seychelles. Why? Because of its conservation-orientated approach, the fact that there are just 11 private villas, the relaxed yet attentive service, and I love the on-demand cuisine with no menus - the chef speaks to each guest to determine their preferences.
I'd advise anyone travelling to the Maldives to try to dine at my favourite restaurant: Ithaa at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, a unique underwater aquarium experience with just 12 covers a night, it's pretty special.
There are so many amazing beaches in the Indian Ocean, it's hard to pick a top spot, but for me it has to be Royal Palm, Mauritius, due to its sheltered location. It's also very private (beaches are technically public in Mauritius) and offers picture-postcard white sands and a wide variety of water sports.
My favourite Indian Islands activity is doing absolutely nothing (left) in the Maldives. I think time is one of the greatest luxuries these days, so to be able to relax on the beach, indulge in the spa, eat beautifully fresh fish and home-grown ingredients from kitchen gardens, snorkel or dive and totally immerse in island life is fantastic. Urge clients to take plenty of books to read and to leave the BlackBerry at home.
I've been told that Emirates is commencing a first class service from Dubai to the Maldives from July 2008, meaning a round-trip first class service is now available from London.
www.ElegantResorts.co.uk.
