Overview: SO/ Maldives Resort – the Luxurious Journey Knowledgeable

August 7, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters at all times function a resort or flight evaluation.

I lately loved an exceptional vacation within the Maldives, the place I stayed on the archipelago’s 4 most unique ultra-luxury resorts. You possibly can learn my critiques right here:

At the moment: Overview of SO/ Maldives

Situated only a 15-minute speedboat experience from Malé’s Velana Worldwide Airport, SO/ Maldives harmoniously blends uncommon accessibility with beautiful privateness, with every of the 80 individually designed villas nestled immediately 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 most effective of music, vogue, 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? Go away a remark.

On this evaluation (extra information and pictures 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 experience from Malé’s Velana Worldwide Airport (making transfers from/to the airport straightforward). Crossoards is a synthetic 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 visitors entry to over 14 eating places, a night-club, a marine discovery centre, large-scale occasion venues and rather more. The venture homes a number of resorts: SAii Lagoon Maldives (Curio Assortment by Hilton), Onerous Rock Resort Maldives, and SO/ Maldives.

In a break with the normal tropical structure which is omni-present within the Maldives, SO/ Maldives contains a daring design, drawing inspiration from the craftsmanship and theatricality of up to date couture, and interesting to a youthful clientele. Upon arrival, visitors 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 towards 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 vogue shows.

Created in collaboration with main artists and vogue 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 residing, every with a non-public pool and deck from which visitors can take pleasure in 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 recent luxurious that comes with Maison CODAGE toiletries, which make use of sustainably-sourced vegan substances; plush robes and slippers; and individualized concierge service

An entire 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 visitors can take pleasure in 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.
- Situated within the resort’s fashionable arrival pavilion, Hadaba celebrates the ambiance and flavors of Arabian nights with Levantine slow-cooked dishes and smoked delicacies, reminiscent of 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 – known as Wellness Camp – is an East-meets-West idea that provides 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 couple of, gives a nutritive strategy to wellness with tailored care. This consists of LED and quartz beds for cutting-edge rest, historical knowledge, and most personalization to satisfy visitors’ each want. Each remedy employs fastidiously chosen substances, superior expertise and is exquisitely crafted to satisfy the visitors’ desired end result. The amenities additionally embrace steam and sauna rooms, a Vichy Rainforest Bathe, and a revitalizing vitality pool. The state-of-the-art gymnasium 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 learn to scuba dive, or for skilled divers, there’s a large collection of curated dives that may be organized every day together with turtle expeditions, outer reef explorations and conventional Maldivian fishing excursions. Different classes accessible for buy are windsurfing, kitesurfing, catamaran programs, parasailing, browsing, hydro flight leases and extra. Non-public boats and yachts are additionally accessible for visitors to constitution for personal exploration by the hour or the day.

Youthful visitors at SO/ Maldives can take pleasure in a wide array 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 (Youngsters Membership for ages 4-11), that are each absolutely geared up with toys, video games and actions, or having fun with the myriad of family-forward programming reminiscent of seashore volleyball, bocce ball, soccer, watersports and extra. Babysitting for youngsters underneath 4 years of age is offered at an additional value.

Vivid, vivacious and stuffed with persona, SO/ Lodges & Resorts are solely present in socially vibrant locations reminiscent of Berlin, Bangkok and Singapore. One of many fastest-growing manufacturers in Accor’s life-style portfolio, it’s designed for savvy travellers who’ve a ardour for vogue and prefer to hold their finger on the heartbeat. Each keep is underpinned by the model’s signature ‘Simply Say SO’ service, to craft actually unforgettable experiences. SO/ Maldives will be part of Accor’s assortment of 5 resorts within the Maldives which embrace the midscale Mercure model, premium Pullman and Mövenpick manufacturers, and the posh 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 residing coral reefs, mimicking a course of that normally takes 1000’s of years. To make sure the development was as sustainable as potential, marine biologists have been introduced in to work alongside the architects. Injury-reduction measures included overlaying 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 movement patterns and stopping development through the necessary coral-spawning season. Nonetheless, there may be an ongoing debate round this kind of development and the quantity of harm it would inflict upon the setting. I’m not an environmental professional after all, but when sustainability is one thing you care about (and it is best to), you won’t really feel at peace right here.

Whatever the truth whether or not the development of a man-made island resort on a residing coral reef is a accountable factor to do in instances of environmental safety, the “pure look” of the island can also be vastly totally different from that of the Maldives’ stunningly lovely pure islands. The vegetation on the island’s heart will not be 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 sort of sand) can’t compete with the magic and spectacular fantastic thing about the tender 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 if you’re 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 outstanding design of the resort won’t attraction to everybody, particularly in the case of the colourful pool space, which contains a cacophony of purple, black, inexperienced, pink, yellow and blue tiles. Some would possibly discover the design trendy, 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 choose a minimalist modernism or an eco-chic design, that are rather more in step with the Maldives’ vibe of tranquillity or serenity. I’m undecided what the considering behind the colourful design was. I additionally didn’t just like the cheap-looking outfits of the resort workers (pink T-shirts with black & white striped shorts) however that’s a matter of style after all.

The villas at SO/ Maldives function an open-plan rest room structure. So, if you’re not touring with your beloved, thoughts that there isn’t a separation between the lavatory 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 implies that visitors 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 somewhat 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 town). There’s additionally a bit extra boat & airplane 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, reminiscent of One&Solely Reethi Rah, Cheval Blanc Randheli, Veela Non-public Island, Soneva Jani of Soneva Fushi. The design is okay however lacks a wow-factor (and feels extra fashionable than stylish); the service is nice however not impeccable; the meals is nice however not subtle; and the small-scale spa is sweet however not distinctive. That mentioned, the resort additionally doesn’t faux to rank among the many finest within the Maldives and its room charges are half of what the archipelago’s high-end resorts cost (and thus extra reasonably priced).

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
Total expertise: good 7.4/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Lower your expenses: learn right here my suggestions for getting the most effective 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 very best 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 may be 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 in recent times.

HOW TO GET THERE

SO/ Maldives is well reached by a 15 min speedboat experience from Male Worldwide Airport (MLE). Test 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 collection of my pictures of SO/ Maldives. To view extra resort pictures (together with breakfast, lunch and dinner), click on right here.