Maldives resort tour part 2
Quiet ‘Halaveli’… Private relaxation in your room
The underwater environment is also fantastic… Snorkeling spot in front of the resort
The Maldives, known as ‘paradise on earth’ for its excellent underwater and natural environment, has a ship called Dhoni. Dhoni is a traditional boat originally made by Maldivian fishermen for their livelihood. The elongated shape of the front nose is unique and has become a specialty of the Maldives.
Among the 1,192 islands in the Maldives, there is one that closely resembles Dhoni. Halaveli is about 30 minutes away by seaplane from Male, the capital of Maldives. Halaveli is a dhoni-shaped coral island, and Constance Halaveli Resort’s 86 villas dot the turquoise lagoon. In addition, in Halaveli, designs inspired by Dhoni were applied to the ceilings of most buildings.
Constance Hotels & Resorts’ 5-star deluxe resort, Halaveli, is different from the free-spirited yet friendly Moofushi Resort (see article dated October 18: Is the Maldives a boring paradise on earth?… This is the only resort where there is no time to rest for fun). ‘ and ‘rest’ were focused on.
Everything solved in the room… ‘Halaveli’, a true resting place
First of all, when you arrive at Halaveli, you can feel a strange sense of tranquility. Although there are 86 rooms, it is difficult to find tourists while wandering around Halaveli. You can only occasionally see people returning to their rooms in buggy cars, a means of transportation within the resort.
The secret is inside the room. The smallest room, the Water Villa, is about 30 pyeong (100 m2). In addition, all rooms are equipped with a private pool, sunbeds, and a bathtub, making them perfect for spending enjoyable time with couples or families. There are also a variety of room types. All rooms at Moofushi are basic double rooms. On the other hand, Halaveli varies from 2-person rooms to 4-person rooms to 6-person rooms. The Family Beach Villa (375㎡) and Beach Villa (350㎡), which can accommodate two adults and two children under 12 years old, are over 100 pyeong. Because it is a beach villa, not a water villa type that allows you to fall directly into the Maldives sea, there is a large garden.
The Presidential Beach Villa (700㎡), the only one in Halaveli, measures a whopping 211 pyeong and can accommodate up to 6 adults. It has a two-story structure and is equipped with everything from simple exercise equipment to spa beds. This means that you can enjoy sufficient rest even without leaving your room.
But the Maldives is also nice after a meal. Tourists staying in their rooms also flock to the restaurant when it is meal time. Halaveli has a total of 4 restaurants (356 seats in total) and 2 bars (130 seats). From ‘Jahaz’, an all-day dining restaurant offering a variety of international cuisine, to ‘Jing’, an Asian fusion restaurant, and ‘Kalka Sushi Bar’ where you can enjoy Japanese-style sushi rolls, sashimi, etc. A variety of meals to suit the tastes of Koreans are provided. In particular, Jahaz and Jing Restaurants are also ‘wine restaurants’. The two restaurants’ wine cellars store more than 22,500 bottles of wine and more than 1,600 types of wine from 325 different winemakers.
Should we plant a couple coconut tree… Lots of things to enjoy
Halaveli may be quiet, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things to enjoy. Halaveli boasts a fantastic underwater environment, boasting three world-class diving sites near the resort. This is fully understandable when you look at the schools of sharks and stingrays that can be seen even in the sea right in front of the resort. There are a lot of fish swimming around the water villa.
Sunset cruises and traditional Maldivian fishing are also recommended. In particular, traditional fishing using the fishing line by hand is a unique experience. If you put fish bait on a fishing hook and throw it into the Indian Ocean, you can catch new fish species that cannot be found in Korea. After waiting, you can enjoy the fish you caught with your own hands grilled for a small additional fee.
Couples who choose Halaveli for their honeymoon have the opportunity for an even more special experience. A coconut tree is planted at the beginning of the marriage. If you visit Halaveli again later, you can come across the coconut tree where the couple spent their time together. Of course, couples can also participate. For them, it will be a memory they can meet at Halaveli in the future.
There is also the Constance Kids Club (for ages 4 to 11) for families with children. Here, professionally trained coordinators run a variety of programs such as island exploration, local crafts, cooking activities, and treasure hunts, providing an exciting and exotic resort experience. Parents can enjoy activities with peace of mind by using the paid infant care service.
In addition, you can enjoy the fitness center, tennis court, beach volleyball, soccer, and windsurfing for free. You can also experience water motorsports (paid) such as jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, banana boat, and parasailing. Reservations and detailed inquiries about Constance Halaveli can be made through Dream Island, the representative inquiry center in Korea.
Maldives = Donga.com reporter Yoon Woo-yeol cloudancer@donga.com