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| AT
DHONAKULHI MALDIVES |
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| SPA
RESORT & MARINA |
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Society
May 2013 |
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6 Stars
& 6 Stripes
Overall - 'Hotel & Service' |
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The
Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars
Award™ |
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| There are islands all over the world, but private,
uninhabited, paradise-like islands with exclusive spas are nearly impossible to
find. The one we discovered is located in the northern Atolls of the Maldives;
it is privately owned, and named Dhonakulhi. Historically this island was
inhabited until the 19th century, when the people of Dhonakulhi left to escape
the raids of the Pirates of Malabar. The Island Hideaway, a luxury boutique
resort spa on Dhonakulhi, was our destination. We booked flatbed night flights
with SriLankan Airlines, from Frankfurt, Germany, and we landed the next
afternoon in the glorious Maldives. |
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| As soon as we left Customs we recognized a member of
The Island Hideaway team, holding up his Sea Star Resort wooden welcome sign.
The friendly man took our luggage and explained that he would personally guide
us to another close-by terminal and take care of all the formalities. We waited
comfortably in the business lounge until he returned with our passports;
shortly thereafter we boarded a small twin-engined airplane. The view of the
Maldives from above was breathtaking to say the least. Lined up like uneven
rows of beach glass, the islands were framed by white stripes of sand gleaming
in the sunlight. |
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| After about an hour we landed on Hanimadhoo, where
another member of The Island Hideaway team handled our luggage. But this time
the man explained he would guide us to a small covered speedboat that would
safely deliver us to our final destination. After a twenty-minute cruise we
docked at a state-of-the-art marina, said to be the first of its kind. Our
arrival at The Island Hideaway was all we expected it to be and more. The
Welcome Center was surrounded with white powdery sand that reflected the
whitewashed sculpted walls, and offset the dark wooden accents of the
custom-made furnishings, fixtures, fittings and art pieces throughout the
resort. Here we were offered cold towels, neck massages and fresh exotic flower
necklaces resembling the petals dangling in the ornamental water basin with
‘Welcome’ printed in the sand below. |
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| Island Hideaway
- Arrival: Thorsten Buehrmann & COO Michael Wieser |
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| As we were led along the wooden pathways to our villa,
we began to experience the complete privacy of this paradise, a haven of peace
and serenity. The Island Hideaway opened in 2005, and today is still one of the
very few luxury boutique resorts existing in the Haa-Alifu Atoll region. Eight
types of villas have been created on this private island with attention to
every possible detail. Our ‘Jasmine Garden Villa’ (#48) was a
spacious and elegant house surrounded by traditional West Indian stone walls.
Though only steps to our secluded, white sandy beach, the sparkling waters of
the generous, private pool looked enticing, and were maintained at a perfect
temperature. Here one could enjoy nude sunbathing in a completely private
setting, falling asleep to the gentle lapping of the waves from the shore. The
villas were designed and built with exceptional craftsmanship--from the
landscaped sandy outdoor shower facilities to the casual indoor and outdoor
dining and living areas. The heart of this remarkable compound, with its
vaulted ceilings and carefully appointed traditional furniture, sets the
architect and designer apart from the norm. |
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Our elegant master bedroom was
located on the lower level, seamlessly leading to a beautiful stone bathroom
with its Jacuzzi tub, covered by an oversized floating rain shower head. Bath
amenities were by Molten Brown, and included plush robes and slippers and
quantities of towels.
Breakfast in paradise was exactly what one would
expect from one of the finest, private beach resorts in the Maldives. Served in
one of the high-ceiling open hut dining rooms, this amazing presentation left
nothing for the international taste to desire and offered more to discover,
including the coffee menu. With several to choose from, my absolute favorite
java was the Guatemala Antigua-- mild, but full-bodied, and definitely
addictive. |
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| When we chose to order an "In-Room" breakfast, our
private butler, Abdullah, entered our villa half an hour later, with a big
smile and all the items we had ordered, including the eye-opener fruit cocktail
of the day, and more. His service always was exceptional and caring. Day time
activities at the child-friendly Island Hideaway Spa Resort are plentiful and
include all sorts of water sports like jet-skiing, speed-boating,
catamaran-sailing, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, canoeing, wakeboarding,
deep sea fishing and fly fishing, fish feeding and much more. We were
especially thrilled to witness a fish feeding frenzy at night where huge wild
stingrays swam up to the beach and were hand-fed by members of the staff.
Natural coral reefs are located right along the island and provide the grandest
scuba-diving and snorkeling adventures of a lifetime. Professional instructors
are available for private and group lessons. I dived with a professional
instructor from Meridis, a scuba diving center of the highest standards that is
affiliated with Island Hideaway and that we highly recommend. |
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| ‘The Tender Hearts Kids Club’ offers plenty
to do for the children, allowing parents to take advantage of all kinds of
recreational activities including the unique open-sea spa facilities. The theme
of this Indian Ocean water-world spa carries throughout these intimate spa
facilities, and combines the sea, sand and sun theme with decorations, internal
waterways, waterfalls and sandy floors. The spa is finished in a combination of
coconut and teak, pink slate, sandstone and silk fabric-- all meant to relax
and inspire one's romantic senses. Here in the Lagoon Spa Pavilions one may
gaze directly at the exotic water-world through a glass floor during massages
and body treatments, accompanied by the sounds of the gentle waves. Every
massage here begins with an ‘Aroma Reflex Foot Ritual’, a
‘Specialty Bath’ or an ‘Herbal Steam.’ I selected the
'Balinese Massage’ for jet lag recovery. |
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| The most relaxing, this particular type of massage
uses the therapeutic properties of pure essential oils. Long, skilled strokes
with a ‘Tranquility Massage' oil blend, and exceptional palm and thumb
pressure techniques relieve tension and improve blood flow instantly. Another
exceptionally presented tension reliever was the Shiro Dhara, a 3rd eye
oil-flow treatment aiming to clear the mind and encourage deep relaxation.
Starting with the healing ‘Mother Massage,’ Abhyanga, and followed by
a gentle but steady flow of aromatic oil poured onto ones forehead, it is
definitely a meditative rejuvenating and inspiring experience. The Elemis Skin
IQ+ Facial for Men is a one-and-a-quarter hour ultimate overhaul for the male
skin. The Hideaway Spa by Mandara is a small, exclusive spa, and is manned by
the best professionals in the industry. |
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| Island Hideaway
- Matheefaru Restaurant - Award |
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| Talk about inspiring spa treatments; a romantic dinner
at The Island Hideaway is an unforgettable experience as well, with the
memories created here sublime to both palate and soul. The Maldivian house
cuisine draws heavily, but not entirely, on fish and shellfish and local
produce, and is delicious and very healthy. But private chefs are also at one's
disposal, and will personalize any menu to please the most discriminating
international guests. A particularly memorable dinner started with an
assortment of crisp house-baked breads and a nice presentation of chilled
butter with fresh herbs (salted with chives and parsley), orange and garlic.
Shortly thereafter followed a fantastic foie gras trio accompanied by a 2007
Schloss Gobelsburg Gruner Veltliner Eiswein from Kamptal, Austria. The aroma
driven sweet icewine was the perfect match for the trio of ‘Sauteed Foie
Gras’, ‘Foie Gras au Torchen’ and ‘Foie Gras Mousse.’
Consider that we were dining on a lonely island somewhere in the Indian
Ocean. |
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| Island Hideaway
- Matheefaru Restaurant - Cusine |
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| Accompanied by their own foams, all foies were
perfectly prepared and exceptionally well presented with brioche and chips.
Next, a cup of ‘Wild Mushroom Cappuccino with Perigord Truffle Foam’,
both celebrated for their aromas. The soup was a wake-up call for all senses
and the upcoming main course ‘Chef’s Surf and Turf.’--a (local)
langoustine steamed and shelled in combination with a Wagyu beef tenderloin
with just a brush of Brunello (on sweet pepper risotto) and Caviar Beurre
blanc. Superb presentation, china and all! Last, but not least starred the
‘Island Hideaway Chocolate Adventure’, an addictive sinful creation
by the House Chef de Pâtissier. Applause to Executive Chef Tobias Fetz,
Executive Sous Chef Philipp Olbertz, and their team! |
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| Award-Hand-Out:
Island Hideaway - Seven Stars And Stripes - Award |
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The Island Hideaway Spa Resort & Marina,
professionally managed by hospitality-veteran Michael Wieser, is a luxury
boutique resort situated on the privately owned, uninhabited virgin island of
Dhonakulhi; it features an exceptional spa, a unique (for the area)
full-service marina, excellent cuisine, personal butler service and a dedicated
staff. Michael Wieser, Chief Operating Officer at Turquoise Experience Pvt.
Ltd., and his team are recognized with the prestigious Seven Stars Award™.
The Seven Stars Global Hospitality Award™ has recognized and highlighted
the ultimate hotels, resorts, spas, cuisine, products and hospitality
professionals across the globe for more than a decade, and is regarded as the
"ultimate recognition" throughout the global luxury hospitality industry.
The Island Hideaway Spa Resort & Marina is currently closed for what
will prove to be an amazing refurbishment. |
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by
Edmund & Thorsten Buehrmann
Editor: Ingrid Lemme
Editor at
Large: Tim Nielsen
Editor-in-Chief: John Lomitola |
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| © 2013 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes, Inc. |
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