Soneva Secret 2024 is the Maldives’ newest island escape, one that only caters to 14 lucky souls at a time.
So you fancy a trip to the Maldives, perhaps accompanied by someone that looks a hell of a lot better in a bikini than you do? We don’t blame you; there’s little that tiny Indian Ocean archipelago can’t fix when you have the urban blues. However, there’s the Maldives, with its big resorts, crowded buffets, screaming kids and queues, and then there’s the Maldives as it was, intimate, luxurious and as romantic as silk sheets on a stormy night. The newest resort to open in Paradise, Soneva Secret 2024, is the latter in all its turquoise glory.
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Hotel brand Soneva is no stranger to the Maldives or to luxury hideaways and has been percolating on the concept of an ultra-exclusive retreat since your ladylove was in nappies. The company has chosen Haa Dhaalu, the most remote of the Maldives’ many atolls, to open its uber-intimate, nature-wreathed resort, Soneva Secret, which pairs contemporary luxury with more than its fair share of sustainable attributes.
The property’s 14 beach of overwater lagoons include lagoon Crusoe Villas, accessible only by boat, and the Castaway, the Maldives’ first floating villa, where even the Gods don’t know what you’re getting up to. Each is designed in perfect harmony with the untouched natural setting, with direct access to the white sand beach or sparkling lagoon. In addition to adjoining rooms for cohorts, consigliere or concubines, each villa also includes a sprawling master suite with a roof that slides back to reveal the Milky Way and a water slide for a novel way to reach the tropical lagoon below.
You’ll be joined in paradise by a dedicated Barefoot Guardian, a responded Maldivian Tattoo of sorts, for restaurant bookings, spa treatment recommendations and of course, plane spotting, while each villa boasts its own private chef to keep you maintain your agave spirit-induced ketosis. These two island companions will help bring the magic to your stay, from destination dining and private sandbar picnics to opportunities to delve below the waves of this remote atolls, a popular feeding ground for dolphins, whale sharks and coral fish.
Talking of dining, at Soneva Secret 2024 you’ll be spoiled for choice, from the Out of This World castaway dining tower, observatory and wine cellar, which you’ll need to reach via biplane, to the toes-in-the-sand fire pit dining experience of So Primitive; and the laid back vibe of The Living Room, the island hub and casual dining and lounge venue (it’s also home to Soneva’s renowned ice cream, chocolate and cheese, and charcuterie rooms).
Sonvea has built a resort that’s not only good to its guests but easy on the environment, with villas crafted in FSC certified wood sourced from fast growing species; and buildings positioned to make the most of the natural air movement, to help cut down air conditioning; and by the end of the year Soneva Secret 2024 will welcome its own floating solar farm, boasting a 1.6MWp capacity that will meet 90% of the resort’s power needs.
In addition, Soneva Secret 2024 offsets all of its power needs, as well as the emissions of its guests as they travel to and from the property; drinking water is produced on the island and served in glass bottles; bathroom amenities include refillable ceramic containers and eco-friendly bamboo packaging; and the resort’s Waste-to-Wealth centre promotes recycling and up cycling at every step of a guest’s stay.
Because there’s nothing better than holidaying guilt free.
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