Travel in Maldives

Known as the ultimate honeymoon destination, the Maldives might not automatically register as a family friendly vacation spot.

Whatever your preconceived notion of Saudi Arabia as a travel destination is, it’s about to be get a major renovation. Imagine Sindalah, for example, a 7-star private-island resort with three ultra-luxe resorts, 38 high-end restaurants and multiple superyacht marinas. Or Qiddiya, a futuristic city of 600,000 people rising from the desert floor, dedicated to e-sports and gaming. How about Trojena, a space-age ski resort built above the high desert? Or The Red Sea, a vast waterscape of 50 luxury resorts and 8,000 hotel rooms spread across 22 islands in a Maldives-style archipelago—powered entirely by wind and solar energy? Also in the works is The Rig, a $5-billion adventure theme park built on an off-shore oil platform. In addition, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a cruise destination, having recently bought a $300-million ship. Across the Kingdom, new roads, airports, golf courses and cruise terminals are rising from the sand. The map is literally being redrawn in real time.

Maltese independent hotel firm Cornithia has hired a new CEO, Simon Casson, the previous Europe, Middle East and Africa president of Four Seasons. Casson steps into the luxury hotel owner-operator while it is still feeling the sting of the pandemic four years ago.

With glamorous overwater bungalows, five-star resorts, and a decadeslong reputation for indulgence and luxury, the Maldives are known as a vacation destination for the rich and famous.

Experience the ultimate in barefoot luxury this year by seeking out 2024’s most highly anticipated new island resorts.

While credit cards and loyalty programs are a great way of increasing purchasing power on the travel items you buy, there is another way to enhance travel rewards—buying stock in a company. In some cases, very little investment is needed to recoup much greater rewards—sometimes just one share.

Gone are the days when the Maldives was almost exclusively a honeymooner’s paradise. Today, across the 200-odd resorts that pepper its many postcard-perfect islands you’ll find family retreats, adventure-focused resorts and ultra-chic hideaways. In the lagoon at the heart of a cluster of Maldivian Anantara properties, you’ll find all three.

The Maldives is a dream destination for many travelers, including honeymooners, wealthy families, and even budget explorers like me.

To continue with JA Manafaru’s 2024 visiting VIP practitioner program, the island team has announced that from the 31st January to the 13th February guests can experience the wisdom and positive energy of internationally-acclaimed healer Vandana Mendonca.

The best time to visit the Seychelles is in the transitional months, which include April, May, October, and November. The temperatures are milder, with the humid northwest trade winds changing to the cooler southwest winds, so the weather conditions are perfect. There are fewer crowds during these transitional periods, so you won't have to fight your way to the beachside chairs.

A row over tourism between India and the Maldives has been prompted by a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi relaxing on the beach.

Amid the diplomatic dispute between India and Maldives, Sonu Shivdasani, CEO of resort chain Soneva, wrote about the potential impact on the tourism industry, and hoped for a reconciliation.

Indian aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has changed flight crew regulations concerning flight duty time limitations, aligning them with international best practices. These regulations will be crucial to manage fatigue-related aviation safety risks.

Travelers who've dreamt of living on a cruise ship could soon try out the lifestyle with a two-month sailing aboard Oceania Cruises' upscale 1,250-guest Riviera.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, January 9. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Indian online travel agency EaseMyTrip announced on Monday that it has suspended all flight bookings to Maldives in what its Co-Founder and CEO, Prashant Pitti, deemed was in “solidarity with the nation.”

The horror story goes something like this: A family returns from a trip abroad, and the glow from the vacation has barely begun to fade when a cellphone bill with hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars in international charges arrives. The phenomenon even has a name: bill shock.

Five hotels under Dubai’s home-grown company Emaar Hospitality have been rebranded in one swoop this week. Properties in prestige locations such as The Dubai Mall (the world’s biggest mall) and Dubai Marina have been rebranded as Kempinski and Marriott respectively. Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) owns the properties and says the move to strip Emaar branding was a “strategic business decision.”

Qatar Qsuites are some of the most coveted airplane seats ever crafted. As repeat TPG award winners, Qsuites are widely considered to be the best business class experience — particularly for couples, as select seats can be combined and converted into a double bed.

Merging hospitality with the world’s top Asian destinations, Remote Lands is at the forefront of the luxury travel planning industry. The operator offers itineraries to 38 different countries on the Asian continent, highlighting the cuisine, heritage, and standout features of each. The company has teamed up with hospitality brand Aman to add a personalized element to its trips by jet.

Whether you plan on spending the last few days of the year relaxing in front of the screen for some well-deserved rest, or plotting out your next travel adventure for 2024, there’s nothing like some armchair traveling to get you inspired.