Chill out in style in the Maldives

Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Maldives.

The Maldives are a classic honeymoon destination, but they’re equally good if you just want a total chill-out.

There are many wonderful resorts on the various atolls, but one that shines out is the Park Hyatt Hadahaa.

Recently voted the best sustainable hotel in Asia-Pacific, it’s clear from the moment you arrive at the jetty that this is somewhere extra-special.

I started out with a night in Sri Lanka. Flying Emirates will often require a short stop-over on either your outbound or inbound journey.

To break the journey I stayed at the The Gateway Hotel, Airport Garden Colombo, with the hotel offering an express transfer to and from the airport.

The service is exceptional and the food in the main restaurant offers a true taste of Sri Lankan cuisine.

On arrival at the Park Hyatt Hadahaa you’re met by small greeting party made up of the hotel and management staff.

A short walk down the jetty and I was ushered into the Dhoni greeting area where I was allocated a host for the duration of my stay.

This was followed by a short tour of the island allowing you to get your bearings. They even have their own ‘time zone’ to maximise your daylight hours whilst you relax in this tropical paradise. How cool is that?!

This isn’t a large resort, it has just 50 individual villas, two restaurants and one bar. I stayed in a beautiful park-pool villa with my very own infinity pool and private stretch of beach.

Villas all boast a huge four-poster bed, outdoor bath and shower and an iPad for your personal use during your stay.

It takes around 25 minutes to walk around the island. With five days ahead of me I decided to keep busy and so headed to the Blue Journeys aquatic centre to plan some activities.

The island has an impressive house reef for both snorkelling and scuba diving, however, the real gems are the unspoilt reefs and coral gardens of the surrounding islands.

Guided snorkel tours are available to help you maximise the enjoyment on the house reef and the staff are ready to tailor-make your excursions depending on your abilities.

If you prefer to spend some time above the water then there’s the Lucky Dolphin Trip and traditional Maldivian fishing to experience.

I spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening plying my skills with traditional hand lines to try and catch dinner.

On return, the restaurant chef can prepare your fresh catch. Luck was on my side and I caught and enjoyed a massive grouper which was subsequently cooked in delicious traditional Maldivian spices.

The two restaurants on the island are both exceptionally good and offer a range of Maldivian and Western cuisine.

Breakfast takes place in the Dining Room, the main restaurant of the island. This is a real treat with fresh fruit, pastries and traditional Maldivian tuna roshi.

The Island Grill is the other restaurant available. Booking is advised and here you can watch your meal being cooked in the open kitchen with the sand between your toes.

Fresh fish is the order of the day here. Dining experiences are not just restricted to the restaurants.

Park Hyatt offers private dining in locations throughout the island, including the villas, and offers a BBQ on the beach one night a week. The island’s only bar is situated close to the Dining Room and main pool.

I spent many an afternoon reading and relaxing on the comfortable sofas and swing chairs. The drinks menu is comprehensive, and you can even enjoy a Cuban cigar (no, I didn’t!) or the more traditional shisha if you desire (yes, I did!).

For relaxation and recovery after the activities of the day, a trip to the Vidhun Spa is in order. This tranquil area is tucked away, nestled amongst the lush vegetation in the centre of the island.

Here, amongst the water features and palm trees you can relax and enjoy numerous massages, facial treatments and scrubs.

This is a great way to fully embrace the luxurious experience of being at a Park Hyatt and is definitely a treat not to miss. Overall, this resort provides the perfect setting for a really special holiday.

Emirates operates 16 daily services from the UK to Dubai and beyond. Their Glasgow Colombo Maldives fare starts at £839 return. See emirates.com or phone 0844 800 2777.

Rates at the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa start from approximately £514 per night for a Park Villa. See maldives.hadahaa.park.hyatt.com.

Rates at the Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo start from £104 inclusive of taxes and breakfast based on double occupancy.