The Maldives are a tiny and stupefyingly beautiful island nation smack in the middle of the Indian Ocean best known for A) really great honeymoon photos and B) the fact that they’re sinking thanks to rising sea levels. Tourism is by far the strongest industry, responsible for nearly 30% of the GDP and 60% of all foreign exchange receipts. And it’s no secret why: the setting is all reefs, white sand and blue-green waters, with beaches up and down the country’s 26 atolls touting rows of “overwater bungalows,” the stilted, thatch-roofed huts-for-rent that have become near synonymous with Maldivian getaways.
As with any millionaire’s playground, though, there is always something bigger, better and a measure more decadent available to those who can afford it. Like the new private island villa at Cheval Blanc Randelhi, which the 45-room resort added to its accommodations earlier this year.
The images conjuring in your head are probably accurate; the master suite alone gets its own floor, with multiple living rooms, a drawing room, and his/her dressing and bathrooms. Elsewhere: a separate villa for guests, 25-meter swimming pool, tropical gardens, indoor/outdoor dining areas, private spa and yoga terrace, and a freaking grand piano. And should you be looking to interface with the peons occupying the hotel’s 44 lesser rooms, you can buzz over to the main island — and its various five-star restaurants — via an on-demand dhoni boat at any time.
To enquire about reservations and pricing, drop Cheval Blanc a line here.
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Images via Cheval Blanc Randelhi
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