WHY WE’RE ADDICTED TO MALDIVES
Southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland, lies the breathtakingly beautiful islands of the Republic of Maldives. Recently, Bonnie and Lou were lucky enough to be invited on an inspo tour by the fabulous Di Lechner of Addicted to Maldives, the personal luxury travel concierge, exclusively to the Maldives.
We love a fabulous female founder story, and Di’s is quite inspirational... at a crossroads in her HR career, and with a love of the Maldives, Di started researching Australian tourism trends to explore the stats on visits to the island country and found that it was indeed a hot destination for Aussie tourists. With her entrepreneurial spirit in full flight, she found a gap in the market for a high-end luxury travel concierge exclusive to the Maldives and set up her business, Addicted to Maldives. Seven years on, her hubby Paul now works full-time in the business too and as well as providing a personalised travel service, they’re also Australia’s largest travel wholesaler to the Maldives.
“We first went to the Maldives on our honeymoon 15 years ago and fell in love with it. I always think of it as a love affair, and we now return several times each year.”
Addicted to the Maldives takes special care to match the right resort to the right client. Whether it’s a honeymooning couple, a group of friends, or a multi-generational family group, Di and her team will personalise a holiday to suit. Aside from its breathtaking beauty, one thing that Di says makes the destination stand out from the rest is the level of service. The country’s economy relies solely on tourism, so the local staff live and breathe customer service. It’s a different mentality from what you’ll experience anywhere else in the world. The Maldives also pioneered many luxury concepts you now see worldwide, like the world’s first underwater spa, underwater villa and underwater dining experience.
We spoke to Bon about their exceptional escape…
WHY WAS THE MALDIVES ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST?
Travel is always a great source of design inspiration for me. Why the Maldives? At Three Birds, we love creating homes with a ‘water view’, whether the actual ocean or a swimming pool. There’s something calming and cleansing about interacting with water and the pictures of the Maldives speak for themselves... The minute you arrive, you are blown away by the Maldivian craftsmanship. The overall design exceeds any expectations in how the architecture complements the natural surroundings with the use of beautiful raw and natural materials.
Was the Maldives all it’s cracked up to be? Would you recommend it to other design lovers?
It honestly exceeded every expectation I ever had. Quite seriously, arriving in the Maldives blew my mind; I’ve never been more surprised by a place than I was.
We were lucky enough to experience two equally beautiful hotels but quite different from a design perspective.
PATINA
Patina is modern and edgy - I loved the fresh young vibe. It’s very cool. The roofs of the buildings are flat, giving it a very contemporary feel and there are raw, natural timbers and materials throughout the resort. It’s very luxe but in a relaxed and approachable way, not at all stuffy.
SONEVA JANI
Soneva Jani is a quintessential Maldivian resort with thatched roof over-water bungalows. It was the most fairytale-like hotel I’ve ever seen. The island reminded me of the set of Robinson Crusoe - there are beach villas surrounded by lush tropical jungle and overwater residences with waterslides that plunge into the crystal clear lagoon. I’m talking next level! It’s a bit like Disneyland for adults. There are retractable roofs over the master suites, so you can lie in bed and watch the sky; absolutely every detail has been considered.
It’s inspired by traditional design but with elevated luxury to cater to the high end of the market. The island's architecture is incredible; it’s all thoughtfully laid out, thoughtfully designed, and aesthetically beautiful. It’s a great example of how curves work so beautifully in design.
Sustainability is a large part of this resort’s ethos, and it’s evident in its design from the use of recycled timbers, bamboo and lots of natural woven textures. It’s very luxe but not in an opulent way and makes you feel relaxed from the minute you arrive. Even the ceramic mugs are all made on-site, everything is compostable or recyclable, the amazing food is all organic and much of it is grown on the island. And there were no vehicles, we biked everywhere.
At Three Birds, we love a daybed, but these were next level, especially the ones sunken into the decking on the water’s edge.
My love of an open bathroom was absolutely reinforced. There’s nothing better than a bath with a view, and from this one, we could see reef sharks, stingrays and all the island’s marine life. It was honestly so tranquil. I would love to be able to bring this concept alive in an upcoming Three Birds’ project. Imagine positioning your bathroom to face the swimming pool or the vanity to face towards a courtyard to draw in the light.
Tell us about the inspo you gained from this trip…
I think what Lou and I took out of the trip was not just design inspiration but a whole new way of thinking. It was a good reminder that crazy ideas can work and to keep challenging ourselves to think outside the box.
What was your highlight?
No question about it, the colour of the water and the marine life. It’s one destination where reality is better than the postcard!
In terms of design, it was experiencing the architecture of the villas and how they cleverly complement the natural environment.
It looks like the perfect romantic holiday destination. Would you take your kids next time?
I would absolutely love to take my children! Actually, it’s on my bucket list to take all my family members; it’s that unbelievable and if we’re ever lucky enough to go again I’ll use a specialist like Addicted to Maldives as their knowledge is invaluable. The key is choosing the right hotel to suit your family, and many resorts cater for kids and teens. ‘The Den’ at Soneva Jani is a dedicated zone for kids and teens with a zip line and a cinema. The island is exclusive to resort guests and free of traffic which gives kids a sense of freedom to roam, and they can ride around the whole island on bikes.
tell us your top tips for packing FOR THE MALDIVES?
Leave your heels at home! Literally, you only need sarongs, swimsuits and a few oversized shirts. Despite the luxury accommodation, there are no stuffy dress codes and no shoes required, and it is extremely relaxed, which is my dream - I love going bare feet!
The unofficial motto at Soneva Jani is “No news, no shoes”. It’s the epitome of barefoot luxury.
Want to book your very own Maldivian escape?
Contact ADDICTED TO MALDIVES and let them know Three Birds sent you.