This is an advertorial for Priority Maldives.
Priority Maldives, a Maldivian travel agency, has announced enhancement of its ultra-luxury services offered in the country, allowing tourists to hire personal chefs to cook multi-cuisine gourmet meals in private villas; a decision which took effect on 1st September 2024.
"If you are staying in private residence in a luxury resort this would be a wonderful option to elevate your Maldives. When we have a request for personal chef we reach out to respective to resort to make necessary arrangements. Please note that not all resorts may allow third party chefs," the agency said.
In July this year, Priority Maldives also elevated their airport services by including a free visit to the rooftop restaurant when guests are required to wait at the airport for over three hours. This option is available for both arrival and departure guests on the agency's VIP package.
Under this package, arrival guests are welcomed as soon as they exit the aircraft and are not required to enter the arrival terminal, but instead, escorted directly to a lounge where they will be be given luxurious attendance where food and drinks are served as they wait for an agent to get their passports processed.
Similarly, the departure guests on the VIP package will also not be required to enter the departure terminal, and instead, would be able to check-in directly to a lounge and proceed directly to the aircraft upon boarding time.
"Last year we introduced rental of luxury yachts, with the first trip booked in December. Guests boarded the yacht in Baa atoll and cruised to Lhaviyani atoll where an underwater birthday dinner became the surprise of a lifetime," the agency said.
"Luxury yacht rental is still available to combine with stay in any of our partner resorts. We collaborate with resorts to gain flexibility for making bespoke arrangements to elevate guest experience."
Guests staying at any of Priority Maldives' partner resorts can enjoy trips to the underwater restaurant, with all transfer arrangements and formalities handled by the company. While only a few resorts in the Maldives currently feature undersea dining, this does not limit the experience for travellers with Priority Maldives, as they ensure all expectations are met.
Priority Maldives collaborates with nearly all luxury resorts, tracking guest movements and ensuring seamless airport reception. VIP services are meticulously overseen at multiple levels to guarantee every task is executed with precision, providing guests with an exceptional and flawlessly smooth experience at every step.
Velana International Airport (VIA) is the main airway hub to the Maldives, located in Hulhulé, Malé City. The airport was previously known as Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.
The first ever aircraft to land at VIA was a Royal New Zealand Air Force Transport Plane, which touched down on a simple slotted steel runway on October 19, 1960. Since then, the airport has come a long way, and recorded 62,866 flight movements in 2023.
The airport also has a new runway which is 3400 meters in length and 60 meters wide, easily accommodating A380 aircrafts.
A new passenger terminal is also being developed to have the capacity to cater up to 7.5 million passengers annually. Additional developments to be seen here include aero boarding bridges and modern baggage handling systems, adding to the efficiency of services provided. The terminal will also house a wide variety of cafe's and restaurants, shops, lounges and other services for passengers. It is expected to be in operation by mid 2025.
- Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi: The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi offers a luxurious escape just 45 minutes by yatch from Velana International Airport. The resort features 11 world-class dining venues, including creations by Michelin-starred chef Dave Pynt, Zuma Maldives, and the exclusive Terra, home to the Maldives’ only handcrafted bamboo dining pods. Guests can indulge in a world-class spa and the country’s first aqua wellness center, all set within an opulent environment. The resort boasts 119 lavish villas with private pools, while the crown jewel, Ithaafushi – The Private Island, spans 32,000 square meters and accommodates up to 24 guests.
- The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands: Also located just 45 minutes from Velana International Airport, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, offers an immersive island experience, blending ancient Maldivian traditions with luxury. Guests are welcomed with the Sangu conch shell, evoking the Maldives' historic past, and receive personalized service from an Aris Meeha, the island butler inspired by royal court traditions. Sunset celebrations feature the rhythmic Bodu Beru drums and a flaming ceremony marking the transition from day to night. The resort boasts seven top-tier restaurants and bars, including La Locanda with Southern Italian cuisine, Arabesque offering Middle Eastern dishes, the Mediterranean-inspired Beach Shack, and Cantonese fine-dining at Summer Pavilion.
- Velaa Private Island Maldives: This private island hideaway is located in Noonu Atoll, 116 miles north of the capital city of Malé. The resort features 47 self-sufficient villas and residences, each equipped with private pools, direct ocean access, day beds, and expansive outdoor living spaces, offering guests the ultimate in secluded luxury with no need to leave their private retreat.
- Soneva Jani: There are two options to reach this breathtaking resort; a 45-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport direct to Soneva Jani or a domestic flight from Velana International Airport to Maafaru International Airport in the Noonu Atoll, followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride to Soneva Jani. The resort offers both overwater and beach villa options, it is known as one of the world’s lowest density resorts. There are 58 overwater and island residences – the largest and most luxurious villas in the Maldives, each designed for the ultimate privacy, space and breathtaking ocean views.
- The Nautilus: This resort is a luxury bohemian hideaway in the Maldives, making for a highly personalised, immensely private luxury stay with 26 beach and ocean houses where every experience is tailored just for customers. Guests at this luxury Maldives beach resort can enjoy a variety of dining options, including Mediterranean and Arabic cuisine at Zetytoun, Japanese and Latin-American dishes at Ocaso, and a selection of global delicacies at Thyme, available throughout the day. With no set opening or closing times and no formal dress codes, the resort invites guests to relax and indulge in exceptional cuisine in a casual, welcoming atmosphere.
- Underwater restaurants: There are eight resort options to choose from in the Maldives, if guests would like to experience dining underwater. Huvafenfushi, which has the 'Immerse...Latitude 4°' restaurant, Huravalhi Island Resort which has the 'Undersea Restaurant' (also accessible from Komandoo Island Resort and Kuredu Island Resort) as well as Conrad Maldives Rangali Island which hosts the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant.
Additionally, Oblu Lobigili hosts the 'Only Blu' underwater restaurant, which is also accessible from Oblu Xperience Ailafushi. Another resort featuring a below the blues restaurant in Maldives is the You & Me Maldives resort which houses the 'H2O by chef Andrea Berton'. This restaurant is also accessible from other resorts.
Ozen Life Maadhoo also offers an underwater dining experience at its M6m – Minus Six Meters restaurant, while Anantara Kihavah Villas houses the 'Sea' restaurant underwater. Meanwhile, Niyama Maldives also offers guests a special underwater dining experience at its Subsix restaurant.
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