Evaluation: SO/ Maldives Resort – the Luxurious Journey Knowledgeable

Wednesday newsletters at all times characteristic a resort or flight assessment.

I not too long ago loved an exceptional vacation within the Maldives, the place I stayed on the archipelago’s 4 most unique ultra-luxury resorts. You may learn my opinions right here:

At this time: Evaluation of SO/ Maldives

Positioned only a 15-minute speedboat trip from Malé’s Velana Worldwide Airport, SO/ Maldives harmoniously blends uncommon accessibility with beautiful privateness, with every of the 80 individually designed villas nestled straight by itself slice of white-sand seashore or on stilts above the lagoon. Modern restaurant and bar ideas are designed to supply a refreshing counterpart to the ever-present resort all-day eating buffet, whereas the cultural programming brings collectively the perfect of music, trend, design and artwork. With various eating, a playful seashore membership and serene spa all set in a non-public lagoon enclave, SO/ Maldives gives moments to flee, discover and play.

Have you ever ever stayed at SO/ Maldives? In that case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

On this assessment (extra information and photographs under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

SO/ Maldives is about within the Emboodhoo Lagoon throughout the multi-island vacation spot of Crossroads Maldives, only a 15-minute speedboat trip from Malé’s Velana Worldwide Airport (making transfers from/to the airport simple). Crossoards is a man-made island complicated positioned within the Emboodhoo lagoon on the northern tip of the South Male Atoll. Going past the normal ‘one island, one resort’ idea that typifies the area, Crossroads Maldives gives a brand new built-in expertise, providing its company entry to over 14 eating places, a night-club, a marine discovery centre, large-scale occasion venues and rather more. The mission homes a number of accommodations: SAii Lagoon Maldives (Curio Assortment by Hilton), Laborious Rock Resort Maldives, and SO/ Maldives.

In a break with the normal tropical structure which is omni-present within the Maldives, SO/ Maldives includes a daring design, drawing inspiration from the craftsmanship and theatricality of latest couture, and interesting to a youthful clientele. Upon arrival, company are met by a contemporary glass over-water pavilion, which units the aesthetic tone of the resort with clear strains, cool neutrals, and pure wooden, juxtaposed in opposition to vibrant accents and a sculptural, red-latticed central staircase. The resort’s distinctive walkways are framed by billowing materials or architectural timber canopies, making a hanging counterpart to the island’s lush pure flora, and referencing the dramatic styling of excessive trend displays.

Created in collaboration with main artists and trend designers, SO/ Maldives has curated a trendy assortment of 80 beachfront and overwater villas that epitomize fashionable luxurious and command consideration with their avant-garde design. Spanning one to 3 bedrooms and eight classes, the villas are designed for open plan dwelling, every with a non-public pool and deck from which company can get pleasure from ocean views. From the 120 sqm. Lagoon Water Pool Villa Assortment and the 410sqm. Three-Bed room Ocean Water Pool Atelier, to the 238 sqm Household Seashore Pool Villa with Capsule, which options adjoining “sleep pods” for youthful vacationers and multi-generational teams, every villa is a cocoon of contemporary luxurious that comes with Maison CODAGE toiletries, which make use of sustainably-sourced vegan elements; plush robes and slippers; and individualized concierge service

A whole antithesis of the staid all-day eating buffet, SO/ Maldives gives three distinct eating choices, every with its personal distinctive food-driven idea.
- The Citronelle Membership is an all-day eating vacation spot the place flavors are woven right into a menu of Pan-Asian delicacies.
- The French, Riviera-inspired Lazuli Seashore Membership is a classy day-to-night seashore bar the place company can get pleasure from sunbathing across the multicolored mosaic pool. The menu options artistic and wholesome Mediterranean fare, together with a Prosciutto di Parm pizza with olives, wild arugula, parmigiano Reggiano and stracciatella, whereas vibrant cocktails are ready to be sipped alongside tunes by visiting DJs within the evenings.
- Positioned within the resort’s fashionable arrival pavilion, Hadaba celebrates the ambiance and flavors of Arabian nights with Levantine slow-cooked dishes and smoked delicacies, comparable to Saltbush Lamb Cutlets with glazed eggplant, za’atar and toum and Maldivian Lobster with Aleppo pepper, garlic butter and finger lime.

The property’s small spa facility – referred to as Wellness Camp – is an East-meets-West idea that gives limitless entry to health and rest in an unparalleled setting. A restorative spa menu curated alongside Salon C. Stellar, that includes Maison CODAGE, Consolation Zone and Odacité merchandise to call a number of, gives a nutritive method to wellness with tailored care. This consists of LED and quartz beds for cutting-edge rest, historic knowledge, and most personalization to satisfy company’ each want. Each remedy employs fastidiously chosen elements, superior expertise and is exquisitely crafted to satisfy the company’ desired end result. The amenities additionally embody steam and sauna rooms, a Vichy Rainforest Bathe, and a revitalizing vitality pool. The state-of-the-art health club showcases the newest Technogym and Alo gear, providing sweeping views of the cyanic waters.

An array of paid and complimentary water-based adventures together with kayaking, parasailing, snorkeling, jet ski, stand-up paddleboarding, and offsite excursions can be found to additional improve vacationers’ expertise of the island. Company can discover ways to scuba dive, or for knowledgeable divers, there’s a huge choice of curated dives that may be organized each day together with turtle expeditions, outer reef explorations and conventional Maldivian fishing excursions. Different classes out there for buy are windsurfing, kitesurfing, catamaran programs, parasailing, browsing, hydro flight leases and extra. Personal boats and yachts are additionally out there for company to constitution for personal exploration by the hour or the day.

Youthful company at SO/ Maldives can get pleasure from a big selection of actions and areas personalized to their ages and wishes – whether or not it’s making new pals at The Zone (Teen’s Membership for ages 12-16) or The Nest (Children Membership for ages 4-11), that are each absolutely outfitted with toys, video games and actions, or having fun with the myriad of family-forward programming comparable to seashore volleyball, bocce ball, soccer, watersports and extra. Babysitting for kids underneath 4 years of age is on the market at an additional value.

Vivid, vivacious and filled with character, SO/ Accommodations & Resorts are solely present in socially vibrant locations comparable to Berlin, Bangkok and Singapore. One of many fastest-growing manufacturers in Accor’s way of life portfolio, it’s designed for savvy travellers who’ve a ardour for trend and prefer to maintain their finger on the heartbeat. Each keep is underpinned by the model’s signature ‘Simply Say SO’ service, to craft really unforgettable experiences. SO/ Maldives will be part of Accor’s assortment of 5 resorts within the Maldives which embody the midscale Mercure model, premium Pullman and Mövenpick manufacturers, and the luxurious Raffles and Fairmont manufacturers.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Similar to its neighboring resorts in Crossroad Maldives, SO/ Maldives is positioned on a man-made island, which was constructed utilizing sand scooped from the ocean flooring and layered atop dwelling coral reefs, mimicking a course of that normally takes hundreds of years. To make sure the development was as sustainable as potential, marine biologists had been introduced in to work alongside the architects. Injury-reduction measures included masking the prevailing reef with silt nets to guard the corals from suffocating sand and mud, analyzing the currents to keep away from interfering with pure circulate patterns and stopping development in the course of the vital coral-spawning season. Nonetheless, there’s an ongoing debate round one of these development and the quantity of harm it’d inflict upon the setting. I’m not an environmental knowledgeable in fact, but when sustainability is one thing you care about (and you must), you may not really feel at peace right here.

Whatever the reality whether or not the development of a man-made island resort on a dwelling coral reef is a accountable factor to do in occasions of environmental safety, the “pure look” of the island can be vastly completely different from that of the Maldives’ stunningly stunning pure islands. The vegetation on the island’s middle is just not as lush in comparison with the hovering jungle of coconut palms you’ll discover on the pure islands (though I assume the vegetation will mature over time). The resort’s man-made seashores (with a tough kind of sand) can’t compete with the magic and spectacular fantastic thing about the comfortable white sand seashores on pure islands. If it’s your first go to to the Maldives, you’ll nonetheless be blown away by the tropical surroundings, however in case you are a repeat customer the Maldives (like me), the setting – and particularly the appear and feel of the unreal seashores and vegetation – would possibly disappoint you.

The exceptional design of the resort may not attraction to everybody, particularly in terms of the colourful pool space, which includes a cacophony of purple, black, inexperienced, pink, yellow and blue tiles. Some would possibly discover the design modern, fashionable and daring, whereas others would possibly discover the design hideous, kitsch and ugly. In all honesty, I wasn’t a fan of the design since I want a minimalist modernism or an eco-chic design, that are rather more consistent with the Maldives’ vibe of tranquillity or serenity. I’m unsure what the pondering behind the colourful design was. I additionally didn’t just like the cheap-looking outfits of the resort employees (pink T-shirts with black & white striped shorts) however that’s a matter of style in fact.

The villas at SO/ Maldives characteristic an open-plan toilet structure. So, in case you are not touring with the one you love, thoughts that there is no such thing as a separation between the toilet and the room. The bathtub tube is positioned contained in the room and the bathroom & bathe cabins options glass doorways (so there’s zero privateness).

SO/ Maldives is positioned on the northern tip of the South Male Atoll, near the worldwide airport. This proximity signifies that company can shortly switch from their worldwide flight to the resort inside an hour, in contrast to many different resorts on this small Indian Ocean island nation, which can require prolonged air or boat transfers to the extra distant resorts. Nonetheless, the draw back to its location is that the slightly unattractive skyline of the capital metropolis is seen on the horizon, albeit solely from the northern a part of the resort (most amenities and villas face the south, away from the town). There’s additionally a bit extra boat & aircraft site visitors close to the resort (though nothing too dangerous) which could have an effect on a real castaway feeling.

Whereas SO/ Maldives tick all of the bins for a 5-star resort, it’s not in the identical league because the archipelago’s uber-luxurious resorts, comparable to One&Solely Reethi Rah, Cheval Blanc Randheli, Veela Personal Island, Soneva Jani of Soneva Fushi. The design is okay however lacks a wow-factor (and feels extra fashionable than stylish); the service is sweet however not impeccable; the meals is nice however not refined; and the small-scale spa is sweet however not distinctive. That stated, the resort additionally doesn’t faux to rank among the many greatest within the Maldives and its room charges are half of what the archipelago’s high-end resorts cost (and thus extra inexpensive).

MY VERDICT

Location: 7/10
Design: 7/10
Pool: 7/10
Rooms: 8/10
Meals: 7/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Wow issue: 7/10
Worth for cash: 7/10
General expertise: good 7.4/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Get monetary savings: learn right here my suggestions for getting the perfect deal at a luxurious resort like SO/ Maldives (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my suggestions for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The perfect climate within the Maldives is between January and April, which additionally means excessive season (and skyrocketing resort charges). The monsoon runs from Might to October, peaking in June. It’s price paying increased costs and sticking to the dry season as there’s nothing to do on a wet day besides drink, eat, work out, or scuba dive. Particularly November and December, which are sometimes labelled as dry season months, have been very unsettled lately.

HOW TO GET THERE

SO/ Maldives is definitely reached by a 15 min speedboat trip from Male Worldwide Airport (MLE). Examine the Wikipedia web page of Male Worldwide Airport for an up to date record of airways that supply flights to Male Worldwide Airport.

PHOTOS

Right here’s a choice of my photographs of SO/ Maldives. To view extra resort photographs (together with breakfast, lunch and dinner), click on right here.