While half of the world celebrates during winter, the Maldives beckons you with the sunny side of life. After a day of snorkeling around the house reef, exploring sea and swimming alongside juvenile sharks, mantas and schools of radiant fish, have a gourmet five-course dinner waiting for you at the end of the night. Enjoy a balmy evening at the beach, clad in sundress and shorts, toes curling into the powder white sand, listening to the waves lap against the shore in gentle strokes as you wine and dine under the stars in a private sandbank.

If you wish to get a taste of authentic Maldivian cuisine, that can be arranged too. Both small hotels and high-end resorts offer traditional barbecue dinners. Start your day in the ocean, and catch your dinner for the night with seasoned fishermen at the helm of traditional Maldivian fishing vessels, Dhonis. Afterwards, enjoy the fruits of your labour at a traditional Maldivian style barbecue feast. Marinated in rich Maldivian spices, the fresh catch is seasoned and seared. Octopus, squid and succulent reef fish tantalize your taste buds as you eat them hot off the grill. Dance away at the beach to a boduberu performance, with traditional drums and folk songs to beats that would get your blood pumping and even those having an aversion to dancing tapping their feet to the rhythm.

Step into the world of luxury resorts, and you will find gala dinners, large beach parties with top notch drinks, fine wine and international DJs flying in just for the occasion. Spend the day trying your hand at adrenaline gripping watersports from parasailing to wakeboarding, or cruise along slicing the turquoise waters in a catamaran. Even better, venture deeper into the blue and become a PADI certified diver. Large dinner spreads welcome you at night with cuisines from all across the globe, enough to delight even the pickiest of eaters. Drinks and dancing are in order, and as the clock strikes midnight, everyone toasts to the year ahead. The festivities are often accompanied by traditional dancers and even show stopping fire dancers who promise to keep you on edge.

No matter what part of the country you are in, step outside and enjoy music shows and festivities often accompanied by fireworks, or make your way to the beach and gather around the large bonfire – all new traditions, which have become a mandatory part of Maldivian new year celebrations – as it crackles under the stars, welcoming the year ahead.

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The New Seaplane Terminal under Velana International Airport Project is already in operation. The  terminal is set to become the largest seaplane terminal in the world.

The new seaplane terminal area is designed to accommodate more than 85 seaplanes on docks. The modern 4-story terminal includes new facilities such as a VVIP area and dedicated arrival lobbies. The terminal’s 28,000 sqm of floor space allows for spacious lounges, extra boarding gates and a host of office spaces. There will be shower facility and a separate children’s play area.  The new seaplane terminal has been  given high priority under the airport development project.

The  Seaplane travel in Maldives and take tourism in this island nation to greater heights and a beautiful gateway to paradise.

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1. Velaa Private Island

At Velaa Private Island, you can enjoy a separate villa along the shore where you get your own little piece of paradise, as you will be surrounded by the water and fun activities for you and your family. However, while slightly far-removed from society it is still only a 45-minute seaplane ride from the Male International Airport. Once you arrive at this resort, you can take off your shoes and head to the beach. Then, you can frolic with the turtles or go on a long swim. Or, if you feel like it, you can simply do nothing and relax in the sand. There are plenty of eating and drinking options, so you are never going to feel bored here. Furthermore, the Velaa Private Island resort offers a unique dining experience at their signature Aragu over water restaurant, inspired by Adeline Grattarg, a Michelin starred chef. Golfing enthusiasts will love the Velaa Golf Academy designed by professional golfer and two–‐time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, which offers you a sporting experience like no other!

Velaa Private Residence

2. Cheval Blanc Randheli Resort

Another top luxury resort in the Maldives you should definitely also consider, which is surrounded by unspoiled waters and lavish vegetation, is the Cheval Blanc Randheli Resort. Here, you are sure to have an easy time relaxing as you can enjoy your modern villa, all while enjoying the ocean and all it has to offer. Located only 40 minutes away from the airport, you can be sitting in the sand within an hour or two of landing. This unique resort was designed by renowned French architect Jean-Michel Gathy who gave the resort a contemporary and yet indigenous feel staying true to its surroundings and environment. The resort is managed by the famous LVMH group in France.

3. Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru

If you’re looking for something remote, you need to head to Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru where you will be able to enjoy one of the world’s top-notch resorts offering world-class facilities. Here, you can enjoy plenty of amazing cuisines, a lot of great activities and the peace and quiet you are looking for. With five-star facilities, you are going to have an easy time relaxing and enjoying your days and nights at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. If you are into diving, you are going to love this resort as you can head out on the boat every day and find some of the most incredible dive sites in the area. If however you’re looking for something extra special to do with you significant other, simply relax in the white sandy beaches which are secluded to offer you privacy, yet keeping every modern convenience at your fingertips.

4. One&Only Reethi Rah

If you want something that is both serene and private, you should head to One&Only Reethi Rah. Here, you can enjoy lush, tropical greenery and plenty of beautiful places to rest your head. Located just away from the airport by luxury yacht transfer, you are going to be far from the world, all while being close enough to take a quick taxi.

With these four resorts in Maldives, you can have a great time and experience all that this beautiful place has to offer. Since there are plenty of places, you should have no trouble finding what fits your wants and needs.

5. Huvafen Fushi

A finally luxury resort to check out before you make your booking is the Huvafen Fushi, situated in the North Male Atoll, and featuring the world’s first underwater spa room. Imagine getting pampered and receiving a rejuvenating massage surrounded by tropical fish and beautiful corals. Staying at this resort will be like waking up to a dream. So if you’re looking for something quite different, and an experience like no other, give this resort serious consideration! The Huvafen Fushi offers all the amenities, services and activities you can expect of a luxury resort, including Vinum which is a unique underground wine cellar, letting you discover exquisite fine fines in a spectacular setting.

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The economy of the Maldives is based on tourism so the focus of the area is on you, the tourist. There are many great sites to visit in the Maldives, however, most people will find that the Maldives is known as one of the best recreational diving spots in the world. Divers from all over come to the Maldives in order to take in the rich underwater beauty of the area. Although at one time, the overpopulation of sharks in the waters surrounding the area was a problem, hunting of sharks has greatly reduced the risk to tourists.

Many of the accommodations in the Maldives are made up of small tourist resorts. These resorts are built on small islands and stand approximately 6 – 7 feet above sea level and are made up of coral and sand. The features of these tourist resorts include a private beach surrounding the entire island and a house reef which serves as a coral garden and aquarium. Snorkelers and scuba divers can spend hours in these reefs discovering all of their natural beauty. These house reefs can also be used as a private pool for visitors. The strong tidal currents of the ocean can sometimes be a deterrent to tourists and these house reefs serve as a great option for swimming.

A typical resort will have a wide range of rooms and suites available in a variety of prices. You can find anything you may need at these resorts. There are fine dining restaurants as well as smaller coffee shops. Lounges, bars and discotheques are also available for your nightly entertainment. If you want to pick up a souvenir of your visit, you can stop into one of the shops located in the resort and you may just find that they have many artefacts available for purchase. You may even want to take some diving lessons from the shop in the resort.

Spending Valentine’s Day with your loved one on the Maldives is a great way to show how much you care for them. You will find your visit to be relaxing and enjoyable. With the amount of things to do and sights to see, you will find that you can’t fit it all into just one visit. You will be planning your next visit even before you leave. Many people have planned a trip to the Maldives as a yearly excursion and have many wonderful memories of the area.

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