Heading to the Maldives soon? The island chain just welcomed its first Holiday Inn Resort on Kandooma Island on the South Malé atoll. For those of you who aren’t crazy about transferring from Male International Airport to your resort via seaplane (I’m raising my hand right now), you won’t have to when visiting this Holiday Inn. It’s just a 40-minute/22 mile speedboat ride from MLE.

There are 160 villas here in eight categories offering everything from garden views to those enticing over-the-water bungalows. Each villa offers picture windows, outdoor showers, iPod docking stations, flat-screen TVs, and wireless Internet.

The resort is hoping to lure business travels as well as vacationers interested in surfing and diving; the Holiday Inn is nearby the Kandooma Channel, Kandooma Caves, and Kandooma ‘Thila” (undersea mountain).

You’ll be able to relax as much as you want or take part in a range of activities. There’s a Dive Centre and the Kandooma Spa as well as catamaran, windsurfing, kayaking, and snorkeling outings. Oh, and don’t forget surfing lessons!

If you’ve got kids in tow, you’ll want to check out the resort’s Kids’ Club that offers babysitting services and age-specific activities.

Brendan Corcoran is the general manager of the Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, which opened on December 15, 2009.

Special introductory rates starting at $290 per night are available through March 31, 2010. Airport transfers are an additional $140 one-way for adults and $85 for children.

For more information, speak with your travel agent or visit the website of the Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Holiday Inn

Four Seasons Explorer

This past September, the 128-foot Four Seasons Explorer 11-cabin, three-deck catamaran was refurbished for three-, four-, and seven-night excursions around the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. While the vessel usually draws those interested in diving and snorkeling, even those who aren’t natural water babies enjoy seeing the Maldives from this intimate ship that caters to just 22 passengers.

Accommodations are what you’d expect at any land-based Four Season resort and feature 10 staterooms and one Explorer Suite. The suite includes a king bed, a daybed, an indoor dining area, couch, writing desk, bar, DVD/CD player, telephone, and in-cabin safe. The bathroom features a full bath tub, and separate shower. Regular staterooms can be outfitted with either a king bed or two twins. Staterooms also feature a sofa, desk, DVD/CD player, bar, phone, and safe. These bathrooms have a tub/shower combo.

The catamaran promotes a casual atmosphere and shorts and sundresses are acceptable attire, even during dinner. The casual vibe doesn’t skimp on service though…the entire boat is air-conditioned and you’ll find an onboard masseuse and a PADI dive center with Nitrox. Laundry service is also available.

As of the first of October 2009, Four Seasons Explorer began weekly itineraries. The first part explores the northern atolls of Baa and Raa and includes a stopover at the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. The second part of the cruise expolores the southern regions, which may include Rasdhoo, North Ari, South and North Male atolls.

During the cruise, you’ll enjoy water activities like diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, waterskiing, and fishing. Other activities include visits to local villages and other island excursions.

Four Seasons Explorer video footage:

Four Seasons Explorer sails until December 20, 2009 and then she goes into dry-dock. She’ll be back on the water as of June 8, 2010.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa or Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons

On July 26, 2009, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa on the Maldives greeted its first guest. This is not only Shangri-La Hotels first resort in the Maldives, it’s also the first international luxury resort on the southern-most tip of Addu Atoll in the Southern Maldives Archipelago.

The 142 standalone villas range from oceanfront to tree top, with tree house villas perched 10 feet off the ground—a first for accommodations in this region. Enjoy the dramatic elevated infinity pool offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean or lounge on the white sand beach.

Spa enthusiasts will spend plenty of time at CHI, The Spa. Chinese, Himalayan, and Asian treatments are offered along with Kandu Boli experiences and unusual indigenous treatments incorporating the tiger cowrie shell and other native elements.

Divers come here to explore the British Loyalty shipwreck and to dive with giant manta rays with wingspans of more than 13 feet. Surfing, scuba, and snorkeling are also popular in the area.

The three-dining-room Khazaanaage Restaurant serves eclectic menus based on the regional cuisines of the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and Arabian Gulf.

From now until October 31, 2009, the hotel is offering a “stay seven nights and pay for five” package. Benefits include transfer flights from Male to Gan, daily half-board, and a CHI spa experience for two.

For more information, visit Shangri-La’s website or call the resort at (960) 689‑7888.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com