Evaluation: SO/ Maldives Resort – the Luxurious Journey Skilled

August 8, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters at all times function a lodge or flight overview.

I just 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 opinions right here:

At the moment: Evaluation of SO/ Maldives

Positioned 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 straight by itself slice of white-sand seaside or on stilts above the lagoon. Revolutionary 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 seaside membership and serene spa all set in a non-public lagoon enclave, SO/ Maldives affords moments to flee, discover and play.

Have you ever ever stayed at SO/ Maldives? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this overview (extra information and pictures under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

SO/ Maldives is ready within the Emboodhoo Lagoon inside 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 advanced positioned within the Emboodhoo lagoon on the northern tip of the South Male Atoll. Going past the standard ‘one island, one resort’ idea that typifies the area, Crossroads Maldives affords 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 way more. The challenge homes a number of motels: SAii Lagoon Maldives (Curio Assortment by Hilton), Laborious Rock Resort Maldives, and SO/ Maldives.

In a break with the standard tropical structure which is omni-present within the Maldives, SO/ Maldives contains 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 lodge with clear strains, cool neutrals, and pure wooden, juxtaposed towards vibrant accents and a sculptural, red-latticed central staircase. The lodge’s distinctive walkways are framed by billowing materials or architectural timber canopies, making a placing 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 a few bedrooms and eight classes, the villas are designed for open plan dwelling, every with a non-public pool and deck from which company 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 Seaside 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 substances; plush robes and slippers; and individualized concierge service

An entire antithesis of the staid all-day eating buffet, SO/ Maldives affords 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 Seaside Membership is a complicated day-to-night seaside bar the place company 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.
- Positioned within the lodge’s fashionable arrival pavilion, Hadaba celebrates the ambiance and flavors of Arabian nights with Levantine slow-cooked dishes and smoked delicacies, resembling 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 leisure in an unparalleled setting. A restorative spa menu curated alongside Salon C. Stellar, that includes Maison CODAGE, Consolation Zone and Odacité merchandise to call just a few, affords a nutritive method to wellness with tailored care. This contains LED and quartz beds for cutting-edge leisure, historical knowledge, and most personalization to satisfy company’ each want. Each remedy employs rigorously chosen substances, superior know-how 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 gymnasium showcases the most recent Technogym and Alo tools, 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. Friends can learn to scuba dive, or for knowledgeable divers, there’s a broad number of curated dives that may be organized day by day together with turtle expeditions, outer reef explorations and conventional Maldivian fishing excursions. Different classes obtainable for buy are windsurfing, kitesurfing, catamaran programs, parasailing, browsing, hydro flight leases and extra. Non-public boats and yachts are additionally obtainable for company to constitution for personal exploration by the hour or the day.

Youthful company at SO/ Maldives can take pleasure in a big selection of actions and areas personalized to their ages and desires – whether or not it’s making new buddies at The Zone (Teen’s Membership for ages 12-16) or The Nest (Children 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 resembling seaside volleyball, bocce ball, soccer, watersports and extra. Babysitting for kids underneath 4 years of age is obtainable at an additional price.

Vivid, vivacious and stuffed with persona, SO/ Resorts & Resorts are solely present in socially vibrant locations resembling 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 preserve 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 embody the midscale Mercure model, premium Pullman and Mövenpick manufacturers, and the luxurious Raffles and Fairmont manufacturers.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Identical 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 1000’s of years. To make sure the development was as sustainable as doable, marine biologists have been introduced in to work alongside the architects. Harm-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 circulate patterns and stopping building in the course of the necessary coral-spawning season. Nonetheless, there’s an ongoing debate round any such building and the quantity of injury it’d inflict upon the surroundings. I’m not an environmental skilled after all, but when sustainability is one thing you care about (and it is best to), 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 instances of environmental safety, the “pure look” of the island can also be vastly completely different from that of the Maldives’ stunningly lovely pure islands. The vegetation on the island’s heart isn’t 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 great thing about the gentle 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 feel and appear of the substitute seashores and vegetation – would possibly disappoint you.

The outstanding design of the resort may not enchantment to everybody, particularly with regards to the colourful pool space, which contains a cacophony of pink, 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 way more in step with the Maldives’ vibe of tranquillity or serenity. I’m unsure 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 lavatory structure. So, if you’re not touring with your beloved, thoughts that there isn’t 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 implies that company can rapidly switch from their worldwide flight to the lodge 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. Nevertheless, the draw back to its location is that the fairly 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 unhealthy) which could have an effect on a real castaway feeling.

Whereas SO/ Maldives tick all of the packing containers for a 5-star resort, it’s not in the identical league because the archipelago’s uber-luxurious resorts, resembling 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 refined; and the small-scale spa is good however not distinctive. That mentioned, the resort additionally doesn’t fake 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

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BEST TIME TO VISIT

The most effective climate within the Maldives is between January and April, which additionally means excessive season (and skyrocketing lodge charges). The monsoon runs from Could to October, peaking in June. It’s price paying larger 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 well reached by a 15 min speedboat experience from Male Worldwide Airport (MLE). Verify the Wikipedia web page of Male Worldwide Airport for an up to date listing of airways that provide flights to Male Worldwide Airport.