New York-based JetBlue and Dubai-based Emirates have signed an interline agreement that will connect the Maldives to most major cities in the United States via John F. Kennedy International Airport. Soon, cities such as Boston, Chicago, Orlando and Washington will be connected with the Maldives, according to a joint statement by the two airlines.

JetBlue, which already has similar deals with American Airlines, South African Airways and the Irish carrier Aer Lingus, said that itineraries will soon be available for purchase through online travel agencies and by calling Emirates for reservations.

The JetBlue-Emirates venture is designed to let travelers to purchase joint tickets for “seamless international travel.”

“Customers will be able to connect to cities as diverse as Auckland, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Nairobi, Singapore and Sydney plus ten cities in India, points through the Middle East, and a host of exotic island getaways including the Maldives, Mauritius, and the Seychelles,” it said.

Under the agreement, travelers will be able to book a single combined ticket for JetBlue and Emirates-operated flights and enjoy one-stop check-in and baggage transfer between the airlines.

Currently, Emirates offers two daily nonstop flights from New York’s JFK International Airport to Dubai International Airport, with service aboard its flagship A380 and its ultra long range 777-300ER.

In turn, Emirates passengers flying out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Gulf region can enjoy JetBlue’s all-leather seating, unlimited free snacks and drinks, plus the most legroom in economy class (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch) and the most free live entertainment of any U.S. carrier.

JetBlue currently has one of the country’s youngest airline fleets, featuring 157 Airbus and EMBRAER aircraft. At JFK Airport, JetBlue flies out of its new 26-gate Terminal 5, while Emirates is conveniently located in Terminal 4.

via Maldives Traveller

The Aldebaran is a traditional motor sailing yacht/boat, excellent for diving, snorkeling or simply cruising holidays,  there is enough room for twelve guest in the two master cabins and four double-bed cabins. The ship was first launched in 1992, it was completely refurbished in 2009 and 2010.

Accommodation Cabins The master cabin located at the bow encompasses the entire breadth of the boat and has a luxurious bathroom. An additional four, tastefully decorated double-bed cabins are air conditioned and each contains a private bathroom. The master cabin with bathroom located at the aft end of the boat rounds off the spacious interior. The personnel cabins are strictly separated from the guest cabins.

The saloon: The mahogany wood saloon awaits you at the stern of the ship. It seats twelve people comfortably for eating, watching television or listening to music while enjoying a drink from the well-stocked bar. In the meantime, you will not miss any of the fantastic view due to the large windows.

Outdoor area: At the bow of the ship, there is a large, awning- protected sun deck complete with a u-shaped seating and lounging arrangement and table. At the stern, and accessible through the saloon, you will find a covered seating and lounging area perfect for relaxing, listening to music or drinking cocktails. Sun worshippers will enjoy the uncovered sun deck, which is accessible by ladder.

Onboard facilities Cayago Seabob, Waterskis, Jetski, Plasma-TV, Playstation 3, Wifi Internet, 2 iPads, stereo system indoor/outdoor, 2 sun decks with lounges for 12 people (click here to view more photos of Aldebaran)

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Maldives has been listed as the World’s Most Romantic Destination in the World Travel Awards.

The Maldives won the prestigious award for the second time this year by competing Indonesia’s Bali, Hawaii, Mauritius. Nominees in the category include New York, Paris, Seychelles, and Tuscany and Venice in Italy. The Maldives also received the award in 2007.

World Travel Awards also listed Maldives as the Leading Cruise Destination and Honeymoon Destination in the Indian Ocean region.

Maldives was nominated as World’s Leading Beach and Leading Island Destination and to the two awards in the Indian Ocean category. Maldives received the Leading Island Destination award in 2008 and Leading Beach award in 2003.

World’s Leading Water Villas title was awarded to Adaaran Prestige Water Villas, World’s Leading CSR Program award to Banyan Tree and Leading Luxury Resort Brand award to Six Senses Resorts and Spa. Six Senses runs Soneva Gili, Soneva Fushi in the Maldives.

via: HNS

Simple yet comfortable, locally designed with a modern touch, best for scuba-diving or surfing adventure holidays in the Maldives. Indulge the best of Maldives on board the newly re- furbished Mystique Maldives. Come dive into the deep blue depths and discover. Swim with millions of multicolored fish as you snorkel, listen to the sound of the waves as the Mystique surfs on. And leave your footsteps on a desert island while you barbecue the fresh fish you caught in the night. Visit village islands and meet the fisher folk, full rich tropical culture and make a trip to an unnamed sand bank that ebbs away. In the bliss of calming hues of the blue world around, feast on and dip in to a turquoise lagoon to cool off. The adventures begin each morning with a wonderful breakfast in the warmth of the saloon. When the night falls let the romance of Maldives and its stars take you away, wine and dine.

Accommodation
4 standard cabins with double & bunk bed. 2 standard cabins with 2 bunk beds. 1 cabin with single bed for Surf guide or Dive master. All cabins are fully air conditioned & attached toilet with hot /cold water.

Onboard facilities
TV/DVD Player, Hi-Fi System (View photos of Maldives Mystique)

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A dream voyager and a true tribute to the Maldivian craftsmanship of boat building. This luxury yacht is superb for cruising, diving or surfing liveaboard holidays in the Maldives. With a class of it’s own that has inspired a liveaboard vessel designed with your comfort in mind and destined to revolutionize Maldivian traditional art of wood curving, Arevara is a unique all wooden yacht. Features four decks, sun deck in the upper level with sun loungers and a jacuzzi, open-air dinning, a host of new onboard amenities and services, and so much more. Arevara is an experience like no other.

Accommodation
All cabins with en-suits, with hot and cold water, Centralized Chilled Water Marine Air-condition system with private temperature control in cabins.

Upper Deck: 3 cabins (size: 9.27 square meter) & Bridge

Lower Deck: 4 cabins with triple Accommodation (size: 10.22 square meter) One Suite with King Size bed (cabin size: 16.72 square meter)

Onboard facilities
TV lounge with 42″ plasma TV, DVD player, Library and variety of board games.

Features a restaurant & a bar in the main deck, a gallery, jacuzzi in the sun-deck and sun loungers and bean bags. (view more photos)

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Maldives being a significant crossroad in the Indian Ocean, traders and visitors over time have left their influence on Maldivian cuisine in addition to the contribution towards the evolving culture of the Maldives.

As the Maldives comprises of more sea than the land, it is not surprising that fish and seafood have always been the most prominent basics of Maldivian diet. However, with travelers from across the globe, new seasonings and vegetables were introduced in to the country and added to the existing yet limited collection of seafood and tubers. Each new discovery was incorporated into the diet in quantities to suit the taste of the Maldivians resulting Maldivian cuisine now consist of Arabic, Indian, Sri Lanka and Oriental tastes blended into a unique cuisine that represents a culinary identity of its own.

Variety of international cuisine including Indian, Thai, oriental, Middle Eastern and continental are available in the resorts of the Maldives. Most resorts of the Maldives have more than one restaurant for you to choose from. If you are looking for a light snack then coffee shops in the resorts would be the ideal choice. If you are staying at one of the many liveaboard vessels operating in the Maldives, you still have the option to experience local cuisine. Many of these have restaurants onboard while some may offer set menus. However, even those that offer set menus there is always something to savor individual tastes. Resorts and liveaboard vessels also offer a wide range of alcoholic beverages and pork dishes which are both items prohibited by religion and law for the Maldivians and therefore not served in inhabited islands.

Eating out in the capital Male’ would be a total different experience. The hotels, restaurants and most guesthouses serve western and eastern specialties in addition to continental and a few local dishes. The cafés – locally known as hotaa is the best place if you may wish to savor the local tastes. A holiday to the Maldives is never complete without trying out at least a few of the Maldivian short eats locally known as hedhika. Many of these are unique to the Maldives and come in sweet, sour and spicy varieties. Most resort islands of the Maldives offer at least one Maldivian Theme Night Buffet during a week to savor the experience of the Maldivian Cuisine.

Here you find some recipes from the Maldives to try at home.(Maldivian Recipes)

The festival celebrates 2,000 years of Maldivian island culture. The Maldives has been a multi-party democracy for only two years and this new freedom has opened up a host of new opportunities both culturally and politically. The president has set his country a target of becoming carbon neutral within ten years and the festival provides a platform for focusing international attention on the challenges facing the Maldives through climate change.

“The Hay Festival is a place where the cultural, political and social issues of our age are discussed, examined and explored. An up and coming young democracy with the most beautiful beaches on Earth – the Maldives will be the perfect backdrop for Hay” said President Mohamed Nasheed, 2 June 2010

The festival will be launched on 14 October 2010 in the capital, Male, before moving to Aarah, giving rare public access to the Presidential Retreat Island.

Speakers include historian and biographer Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans and Mao, the novelist Ian McEwan, author of Atonement, and environmental writers and campaigners Montagu Don, Mark Lynas and Tim Smit. They will appear alongside Maldivian writers including Ogaru Ibrahim Waheed and Fathmath Nahula. Mauritian-born, electronic fusion artist Ravin provides musical enchantment, and local bands performing include Fasy Live.

As well as the live events, Hay Festival Maldives will commission a series of lectures to be delivered online by prominent artists, scientists and historians. These will debate environments that are facing transformation over the next one hundred years and what this means for the people living there. These online lectures will be launched as part of the Festival in October.

The Festival with the National Centre for the Arts is developing a rolling program of workshops during 2010/2011 which will teach children and young people how to interview their parents and grandparents, to gather and record legends and stories about their experiences of life in the Maldives over the last one hundred years. These stories will be collected in a huge online library, to be the launchpad for the Festival in its second edition in 2011.

The final day of the Festival is dedicated to the next generation of artists. Workshops for schools and colleges will be available for students to come and learn from experts about topics such as film-making, publishing, writing and journalism.

The Global partner of this Hay Festival is British Council in association with Qatar Airways and Kuoni, other sponsors include Maldives Traveller, Soneva Gili, Baros Maldives, Huvafen Fushi, Kurumba Maldives, Minivan News, Villa Hotels and many other local companies are participating this event.

Non- residents of the Maldives can buy tickets online from Monday 27 September. Residents of the Maldives can buy tickets at Olympus. Residents’ ticket for Friday 15 October are 50 Rf and for Saturday 16 October are 100RF. Ticket include all events on Aarah and return transport from Male. Tickets can be bought in person at the Olympus box office between 1pm and 10pm, or by phone on 9911429

vía hayfestival.com

The hotel front desk has a long and honorable, even cinematic, tradition of service.

For all of its utility and celluloid fame, however, the days of the traditional hotel front desk may be numbered through out the world. For many years, most of the deluxe resort hotels in the Maldives have whisked guests directly to their  villas and conducted the check-in formalities in the comfort of their villas. Now mid-market hotel chains have also revamped their lobbies and replaced, imposing front desks with little pedestals manned by customer-service agents generally known as Resort Hosts. Some hotels have dispensed with stationary and furniture altogether. They’ve turned the task of checking in guests over to roving “Resort Hosts” equipped with portable computers.

The front desk we knew and once loved have long gone here in the Maldives in the more deluxe hotels and medium range hotels. And thats a good thing , realizing that it’s a false barrier between the staff of the resort and the guest. It no longer works and are not in use with many deluxe hotels of the Maldives proving that it’s time to say good-bye to Hotel Front Desks.

The Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Angsana Velavaru, or the One&Only Reethi Rah are doing just that. The lobby there is for having some welcome refreshment and to welcome the guest together with the management or to give the guest sense of the place on arrival. We find pedestals in a small areas where lobby personnel can handle the check-out formalities, the pedestals are designed to allow the hotel employee to step forward and assist guests with other needs too. Hotels like W Retreat & Spa Maldives offers check out any where option, in this case the guest do not need to go to the lobby or the pedestal for the check-out.

Almost all the properties of the Maldives have the lobby and their welcome pedestals too, some features smaller, walk-around pedestals and some hotels pedestals don’t even exist. Hotels such as  Huvafen Fushi, a luxury resort of the Maldives offer personalized butler service for checking the guest to present with a great arrival experience and the butler service agents are named after the legendary name “Thakuru”.

Resort Overview

Lounge on idyllic sands just moments from your villa and the surrounding azure waters, Angsana Ihuru is a tiny island gem, a perfect tonic to nurture your body and mind amidst an unspoilt tropical paradise with an award winning house reef.

Rooms

45 villas.

Airport transfer time

20 minutes by speedboat from Male’ International Airport.

Location

North Male’ Atoll.

Facilities

Savor Asian, Mediterranean and Maldivian flavors in ‘Riveli’, spot turtles from the chilled-out bar and perhaps even savor spectacular dining on a private sandbank. Be sure to revive at the indulgent Angsana Spa and with its fine house reef just meters off the beach the diving and snorkeling is supreme. Guest can also enjoy marine biology excursions as well as beach games and water sports.

Accommodation

There are 45 comfortable villas all open on to the beach leaving guests just meters from the inviting lagoon waters.

The Beachfront villas have a minimalist-influence, yet colorful interior and feature air-conditioning, minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, telephone, outside shower, traditional thatched roofs and private gardens with loungers and a Maldivian swing. Deluxe beachfront villas are larger and also have open-air jet pools.

Restaurants & Bars

Rivelli Restaurant: Asian, Mediterranean & Maldivian cuisine. Velaavani Bar: Snacks, drinks and cocktails Sandbank dining: Maldivian Private Dining: Selected menu In villa dining: Set menu/Barbecue.

Beach description

Beautiful white sandy beach with a breathtaking house reef. (see more photos)

The Beach of Angsana Velavaru Maldives

Resort Overview

With the innovative new InOcean villas, lush Angsana Velavaru has created a truly blissful experience, the villa seemingly afloat amongst the glittering seas of the Indian Ocean. Pure escapism in an unspoiled atoll. Velavaru is famed location for Turtle – nesting and has its own Marine Lab, particularly committed in protecting marine creatures such as the Harwksbill and Green Sea Turtles, and the coral reefs.

Rooms

79

Airport transfer time

Scenic 35 minutes by seaplane from Malé International Airport.

Location

On the south eastern edge of the unspoilt South Nilandhe Atoll.

Facilities

Stylish yet relaxed facilities blend in with the local vegetation. The open-air main dining area overlooks the lagoon, an over-water à la carte grill and open-air bar. Diving school, boutique, kids club, marine laboratory, windsurfing, sailing and snorkeling. Non-motorized water sports are complimentary and snorkeling equipment can be burrowed from the Marine Lab for the stay.

Indulge in a myriad of Asian- inspired spa treatments at world renown Angsana Spa. Soak in the tranquil surrounds as our therapists deftly vanquish your world-weary strain and tension, leaving you rejuvenated, energized and radiant.

Accommodation

The 79 beach villas and 33 InOcean Villas are air-conditioned and have ceiling fan, telephone, minibar, tea/coffee facilities, part open-air bathroom, private courtyard and terrace with ocean views.

Beachfront villas stylish yet relaxed, with wooden deck, sun loungers, daybeds and the villas are right in front of the beach. Beachfront jet pool villas also have a large jacuzzi. Deluxe beachfront pool villa also have a private open-air pool, large courtyard area and daybed. Newly opened InOcean villas are brand new spacious and are built on stilts perched on the edge of the ocean with private pool, absolutely stunning. Premier InOcean villas, with decks extending into the lagoon, are on request. Guests staying in the InOcean Villas dine in an exclusive Italian restaurant and bar called Azzuro.

Restaurants & Bars

Funa  – An over water a-la-carte restaurant with stunning ocean views. Kaani – all day dinning serving international cuisines offering set and buffet style dinning experience. Kuredi Bar – For a quick snack during the day and offering fruit juices fine spirits and cocktails. A cultural show is being displayed once a week.

Beach description

White sand (see more photos)