Money can buy you happiness at this island resort
Few things sound as glamorous as holidaying on a private tropical island. Sadly, that’s a pipe dream for most of us – especially at this dazzling new resort, where a single night’s stay costs an eye-watering $100,000.
The Waldorf Astoria group has just opened “Ithaafushi – The Private Island” in the Maldives, the spectacular archipelago in the Indian Ocean that’s long been a playground for the rich and famous.
The Maldives’ resorts are already quite exclusive as there is only one resort allowed on each of its many islands.
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Ithaafushi – The Private Island has just opened in the Maldives. Picture: Waldorf AstoriaSource:Supplied
It cops a whopping $100,000 to stay for one night. Picture: Waldorf AstoriaSource:Supplied
But the just-opened Ithaafushi – The Private Island is billed as the largest private island in the country, and is available to whoever can afford its enormous price tag.
On the 32,000sq m island are three buildings, nestled among the lush tropical gardens, that are large enough to accommodate 24 guests.
They include a sprawling four-bedroom estate, a three-bedroom villa and a two-bedroom overwater villa with indoor and outdoor rain showers. All residences have direct access to the pristine beach.
There are no fewer than five swimming pools on the private island. Picture: Waldorf AstoriaSource:Supplied
That’s not all. There’s also a meditation and yoga pavilion, private entertainment clubhouse, fully equipped gym, children’s gaming area and five swimming pools.
There is also a culinary team on hand to create a bespoke menu and a dedicated “wellness concierge” to cater to guests’ every whim at the overwater spa.
The overwater villa. Picture: Waldorf AstoriaSource:Supplied
Surrounded by a ring of white sand and the Maldives’ famous bright blue water, the resort’s design is described as “refined yet modern” with “a nod to Maldivian charm”.
“Designed for the most discerning of travellers, the Ithaafushi – The Private Island is the epitome of exclusivity, perfectly placed within one of the most inspirational destinations in the world where a dedicated team anticipates every need and delivers the brand’s elegant and effortless service at every turn,” Nils-Arne Schroeder, vice president of luxury and lifestyle for Waldorf Astoria parent company’s Hilton Asia Pacific, told CNN Travel.
Inside the stunning new hotel, which will set you back a pretty penny per night.Source:Supplied
It’s bound to be popular with famous holiday-makers. Picture: Waldorf AstoriaSource:Supplied
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The new island is sister to the five-star Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi that opened in 2019 and has attracted a huge line-up of celebrity guests, including Emily Ratajkowski, Serena Williams and Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio, who stayed there with her family in August.
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Ithaafushi – The Private Island is just a 40-minute yacht ride from the country’s capital and main island Male, where the international airport is located. Guests can also choose to arrive by sea plane.
Like many countries reliant on tourism, the Maldives was severely impacted by a downturn in international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which its then-Tourism Minister Ali Waheed described as “more devastating than the 2004 tsunami and the 2008 global financial crisis”.
The Maldives reopened to tourists in July. While international visitors do not need to go into quarantine when they arrive in the country, they need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test at least 96 hours before departure.
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