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Simply fabulous

Whether it’s Soneva Fushi, opened 25 years ago, or Soneva Jani with its recent extension Chapter Two, Kim Thomson swears by the brand's no shoes, no news philosophy

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I remember meeting Sonu Shivadasani, Founder, CEO and Joint Creative Director of Soneva at one of the first ILTM Cannes where he presented the Soneva brand at a press conference and I thought to myself, I hope I can visit one of the resorts one day. Some 19 years later, I was fortunate to be invited to host the Ladies of Luxury roundtable at Soneva Fushi together with a visit to Soneva Jani, and I can say, their philosophy of a slow life, and a lifetime of rare experience held to be true – I particularly love “no shoes, no news!”

Before you start your journey to any Soneva property, you receive an email where you can indicate all our preferences from the kind of milk (dairy or non-dairy) you prefer, snacks and favourite beverage (and even down to the brand). You can also indicate any activity you would like to try/book, which are plenty along with spa treatments – basically anything you may wish to do.

On arrival in Malé, after luggage collection, you are escorted by a Soneva Host (all the staff are referred to as hosts) either to your seaplane or domestic transfer, or in our case, to a Tesla (as sustainability is a core value of the brand) for the short ride to the Soneva Lounge to wait for the next seaplane transfer. In terms of seaplane transfers, you can book these at the time of reservation either on the website or direct with the reservations team. Seaplane transfers can be on Soneva’s own seaplane, or through Trans Maldivian Airlines (TMA). With TMA you are relying on their flight schedules. It is worth bearing in mind, that seaplane transfers can only be done during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).

After the short 30- to 40-minute journey, we arrived at Soneva Fushi where you hand over your shoes and the barefoot luxury begins. One thing agents need to bear in mind and should tell your clients, that even though it’s a seaplane transfer, there is a very short boat journey from a pontoon to the resorts.

As guest health and safety is of the utmost importance both to the Maldives government and Soneva, even if you are fully vaccinated, had a PCR test before arriving in the Maldives, completed all the relevant arrival requirements, all guests and hosts undergo a PCR test on arriving at the resort. Guests are escorted to your villa by your barefoot butler (assigned to you for your entire stay) where you complete a PCR test using a throat and nasal swab. You are requested to remain in your villa until the test results are received and are negative, (usually takes less than 12 hours) but I can assure you, you don’t mind when your villa is spacious, has its own pool (some with a slide) and you can order in room dinning delivered (of course with full health and safety protocols.)

Once you know you are negative, you are free to roam the resort with no more masks and as everyone has been tested, you can mingle with other guests, shake hands and really enjoy your stay. An additional PCR test is conducted on the 6th day and can be used for your departure from the Maldives depending on the airlines and country of travels requirements (more information on Soneva’s Covid-19 protocols can be found on their website).

 

SONEVA FUSHI

Located on Baa Atoll Unesco Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi is the first resort opened by Soneva over 25 years ago and now with the addition of new water villas has a total of 71 Villas (63 beach front villas and eight water villas) ranging from one bed to nine bedrooms, all very unique, some with slides into the pool, and in the case of some of the water villas, direct into the Ocean. You can book either the sunrise or sunset side of the Island, depending on your/your clients tastes. All villas are fully equipped with all the amenities and facilities anyone could want or need. There are so many different options of villas that it is hard to list them all, but I can assure you that there is one ideal for every family size or group.

I stayed together with three of our Ladies of Luxury in a five bedroom beach villa with pool. This villa had a large kitchen and living room, with a view straight out to large private pool with its own slide. At the pool, there are several sun loungers, two large seating areas, and a lovely smaller sitting area in the garden and a gazebo. There was also direct access to the beach and ocean. This villa has two large bedrooms on the ground floor, each with direct access to the pool and one of them also has an office. These two bedrooms had a large outdoor bathroom with a double sink, a huge bathtub and shower with an enclosed airconditioned changing room. Upstairs were another three bedrooms, a small gym and up another flight, was another seating area where you can watch the sunset or those early risers – sunrise.

The dining and beverage offerings are plenty with 10 dining options and with all Soneva properties, have names fitting to their environment. Just to give you a taste, here are a few: So Hands On by Akira for sushi and other seafood, Fresh in the Garden, a Mediterranean restaurant with vegetarian- and plant-based dishes where you dine above Soneva’s own garden. Dine over the water at Out of the Blue by Sobah with Asian and international cuisine. Chef Sobah is one of the most acclaimed chefs in the Maldives winning the best chef in the Maldives in 2015 at an international culinary event. At Mihiree Mithaa I don’t think I have seen such a choice of options for breakfast spread across a number of stations (not just stations, rooms!). There are bespoke dining options to like Once Upon a table and So Bespoke. Let’s not forget the endless low sugar homemade chocolates and ice cream at So Guilty & So Cool (this is at all Soneva Resorts).

Children are also spoilt for choice with The Den where children from the young to teenagers have so much available to keep them entertained that parents can enjoy their holidays without worry.

And, of course, what is a Soneva without their famous Six Senses Spa. The spa menu offers an array of treatments, however, Soneva offers more than the ordinary spa, they take a more personal approach and tailor treatments to the individual needs that includes your health and wellbeing.  



SONEVA JANI

Soneva Jani is very different to Soneva Fushi as it consists of mostly overwater villas, but the philosophy remains the same.

Just a 30-minute seaplane flight direct from Malé International airport or if like me, you combine this with a visit to Soneva Fushi, a 60-minute speedboat ride, Soneva Jani is located on the island of Medhufaru, the resort is surrounded by five private islands in the Maldives’ Noonu Atoll. Together Soneva Jani has 54 villas. Chapter One has 24 one- to five-bedroom overwater villas and one two-bedroom island villa. The new Chapter Two added another 27 one- to four-bedroom overwater villas and two Island Reserves.

Once again, guests are spoilt for choice. The villas at Chapter Two are slightly larger than in Chapter One and all offer a private pool – most of the water villas also have a slide direct into the lagoon as well as a retractable roof over the master bedroom for star gazing. Also when booking Chapter Two, guests receive Soneva Unlimited. This includes the seaplane transfers and provides guest with unlimited dining, excursions/activities, spa treatments and more.

My lovely one-bedroom water villa within Chapter Two was absolutely stunning with a kitchenette (stocked with my list of preferred items) a private pool, which felt as if it sat on top of the Indian Ocean, a dining area facing the private pool and deck, with a swing, loungers and a sucken outdoor seating area. There was also a seating area up on the roof with spectacular views. You could swim straight out to the ocean or just enjoy with private pool. I needed more time to enjoy everything the villa had to offer, let alone the full resort!

As in Soneva Fushi, the culinary experiences are plentiful at Soneva Jani headed by a young and creative Chef Chris, trained with Gordan Ramsey when he first started out. The Gathering is the name for the overwater complex, which is the heart of the resort. The Gathering has three restaurants – one of them is Down to Earth where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner with a large array of choices from fresh fruit and other breakfast options, to organic salads, wood-fired pizzas, tandoors and grills and so much more. A great place to also enjoy sunset aperitifs.

The Crab Shack famous for the Sri Lankan Mud Crab, So Wild, another dine in gardens on healthy plant-based menu, Directors Cut serving sashimi, black cod and other seafood favourites. Here you can enjoy your meal while also watching a film from the overwater theatre (don’t worry, you get headphones, so that you aren’t disturbed by other diners!). As at Soneva Fushi, there are more bespoke dining options at So Imaginative for private dinning up to 20 guests, and North Island for private island dining. Both Resorts have the state of the art Observatories and at Soneva Jani this is located at So Star Struck, an over water dining option with a resident astronomer.

Excursions and other unique experiences: the options are endless, but here are a few: snorkel with manta rays. A sunset cruise to see dolphins and Sonu Picnic, a picnic on a private island off of Soneva Fushi.

 

WHAT’S NEW AT SONEVA

Soneva Fushi has unveiled the world’s first fine dining zipline experience with Flying Sauces. A bucket list experience, Flying Sauces combines world-class gastronomy with the thrill and excitement of ziplining – all set against Soneva Fushi’s magnificent vistas over the lush jungle and sparkling ocean beyond.

The Flying Sauces zipline begins from The Den, with guests gliding along the scenic route elevated up to 10 metres in the air and finishes at the elevated treetop table on the edge of the forest near Dolphin Beach. Operating during daylight hours, guests can choose from a selection of unforgettable Flying Sauces experiences, including breakfast, high tea, and dinner with optional wine pairing, or enjoy the zipline only.

There is so much that Soneva has to offer, but I hope that the above gives you enough of a taste of the luxury Soneva offers. Please visit soneva.com to see all they have to offer or contact their GCC Director of Sales Annique Labuschagne on annique@otiumconsultancy.com

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