Travel in Maldives

S Hotels and Resorts PCL, the international hospitality company from Singha Estate PCL, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maldives’ Ministry of Climate Change, Environment & Energy to preserve this idyllic island nation’s natural environment, share knowledge about the importance of conservation, and support CROSSROADS Maldives’ rich marine biodiversity in an area covering 3.15km² – about 31% of the total project size – as part of an Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) programme.

A host of VIPs from the skydiving world – including Red Bull aerial athlete Fred Fugen and multiple world record holder David Nimmo – have taken to the skies above Ifuru Island Maldives to launch the destination’s first permanent skydiving dropzone.

It's harder than ever to open a new luxury hotel. Interest rates and construction costs are high, so even the projects that do move ahead take longer than expected to finish.

In this series of articles, I talk to a wide range of travel experts, insiders and luxury brands to find out more about the future of travel for next year and beyond. In Part 1, I wrote about the search for authentic travel and how technology can elevate travel experiences. For Part 2, I spoke to Black Tomato about the rise in people wanting to capture special moments through travel experiences. In Part 3, I looked at the rise of sustainable architecture, the return of maximalist hotel design and the quest for the best of sleep science. In Part 4, Cazenove+Loyd x Globetrender revealed their seven key travel trends for 2024. For Part 5, I spoke to wellness experts about the growth in demand for immersive well-being experiences when travelling. Today, for Part 6, and the last article in this Trends series, I write about a return to age-old traditions in the burgeoning wellness industry.

With the new year just around the corner, these new hotels should be on the travel radar. For some, bucket list travel may be the best holiday present of all. Others enjoy the anticipation of planning the trip together, especially if you can redeem hard-earned loyalty points to make the trip more affordable. A handful will be lucky enough to win a free vacation trip, but for everyone else, these are some of the newest hotels worth exploring in 2024.

The Maldives or Barbados? Even muttering their names can unknot the most tense of shoulders.

Snow isn’t completely unheard of in Las Vegas as the desert valley gets occasional flurries. But a cutting-edge spa amenity—a “Snow Shower”—at the brand new Fontainebleau Las Vegas means that flurries will fall all year round, a welcome reprieve when temperatures on The Las Vegas Strip hit the triple digits during summer months.

What’s happening right now in Saudi is groundbreaking — literally and figuratively. Huge developments, so massive they’ve been dubbed “giga projects,” are transforming the country like nowhere else in the world, bringing in new attractions, opening next-level luxurious hotels, and even creating entirely new cities.

Since opening its doors to tourism in 2019, Saudi has emerged as a top destination for travelers seeking unique experiences. The World Tourism Organization estimates that 18 million tourists visited Saudi last year — and with good reason. The country is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and clear waters along its 1,100-mile coastline with the Red Sea (locals say it’s “better than the Maldives”). You’ll also find centuries-old archaeological wonders and the world’s largest palm oasis. Here are five spots to confound your expectations and thoroughly blow your mind on a trip to Saudi.

What brands come to mind when you think “luxury”? Rolls Royce, Rolex, Chanel? “Dubai” is going to be the next one, as the modern emirate’s premier luxury hoteliers gear up to expand their properties across the region and then the world.

The Tokyo skyline is known for its ulta-sleek 5-star hotels perched high above the city overlooking walled gardens, centuries-old royal palaces, and majestic Mount Fuji. But the soaring cityscape was taken to new heights this year with the addition of Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, which occupies the 40th-45th floors of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu ultra-skyscraper.

Seven travel startups have announced fundraises of more than $305 million over the past week.

Yes, it's true that some of the world's best all-inclusive resorts cost thousands of dollars per night. Still, there are also plenty of affordable vacation properties available for every type of traveler. Whether you are planning a Maldives trip on points and miles, a safari with the kids or a rejuvenating getaway to the Caribbean — and need to stick to a budget — you'll be happy to know that affordable all-inclusive resorts exist in all these dreamy destinations.

The $1,500-a-night Vakkaru Maldives resort in the Baa Atoll will launch a sister resort in the UAE’s relatively quiet emirate of Fujairah. The project is called Naama Beach Villas and Spa, vying to become the most luxurious property in the emirate.

Whether you’re traveling with just the phone in your pocket, a new mirrorless camera or 20 lbs. of lenses and accessories these are some great gifts to make your life easier and take better photos in 2024. From photographing Northern Lights in the Arctic or island hopping in the Maldives check out which of these you’ll want with you on your next adventure.

As the year-end holiday season approaches, more people are choosing to travel than stay at home, a MakeMyTripreport suggests. However, traditional Indian leisure spots continue to be a hot favorite. 

dnata Travel experts continuously monitor trends and work with long-standing international partners to offer exclusive rates and added extras for the local market, alongside the latest in travel inspiration.

The red-carpet reception marked the climax of WTA’s landmark 30th anniversary of celebrating travel excellence.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, on the weekend received two major awards for Jamaica from the prestigious World Travel Awards, which is in its 30th year, at the landmark Burj Al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  Minister Bartlett also as Founder and Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), a thinktank based in Jamaica, handed out five Global Tourism Resilience Awards to two major Middle East corporations and three countries.

Planning a wedding but want to go off-the-beaten path? Destination weddings are currently the rage with couples choosing such exotic locations as Talloires, France, the Greek island of Santorini, Fiji or Bora Bora.

The World Travel Awards (WTA) has named former Tourism Minister of Maldives Dr. Abdulla Mausoom the Travel Personality of the Year. The award was presented to Dr. Mausoom at the World Travel Awards ceremony held at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai on Friday.