Maldives Holiday Packages with Emirates Holidays

A beautiful bright day in the Maldives

In the previous post, I explained to you about the room rates at Anantara Dhigu resort and how they vary depending on the season and hotel occupancy. For those of you who live in Dubai, I have great news for you!

No, I’m not offering my readers a trip to the Maldives if they follow me on social media. I’d rather grow my following organically – even if it takes ages. However, I can give you insider information and tips (which is what most journalists do) and which is what I think I do best and where my passion lies. Basically, if you live in Dubai and would like to fly to the Maldives from there, all you have to do is book your flight through Emirates Holidays. As they always have excellent rates to the dream-like island. What I like about booking with Emirates, is that I don’t have to worry about looking for a place to stay or booking the hotel on my own. Which believe me, I have done in the past and it’s not the most enjoyable experience for a diva like me 🙂  All you need to do is tell the staff at the Holiday shop your destination, and what type of holiday you’re looking to have. Also, what hotel range you’re thinking of staying in, and what activities are you looking to do while visiting. They will give you a couple of options to choose from. Then you can decide according to your preferences and pay for the whole trip in one go! doesn’t that sounds like a magical way to plan and book a holiday?

What’s even better news is that they can sometimes do it all in one single visit! which is exactly what I experienced in my last visit to the shop when booking my Maldives trip.

Bonus Tip: If you want to speak to someone knowledgeable about many destinations (including New Zealand and Australia), then you should request to meet with Cherry Ann from the Emirates Holidays store on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Honestly, I found Cherry very helpful, friendly, and very comfortable to deal with. She was recommended to me by my dear blogger friend Pinay Flying High. And I’m so thankful to her as I had a great experience booking my holiday package with Cherry.

I think I’ve covered the most important things from my recent Maldives trip. But feel free to connect with me and add a comment if you have any questions about anything.

Stay tuned for more exciting posts. Including spas, hotel stays and some insightful posts on the Arab and Gulf region culture.

Leaving you with snap shots from my last day in the Maldives. It was a very sad day, as I wasn’t ready to leave at all. As I mentioned earlier, the trip was very short and I barely got time to switch off and relax. Since I also spent a considerable time for the photo shoots and updating my Instagram feed.

I hope that you enjoyed my posts and that you will get the chance to visit the Maldives one day. In my opinion, it truly is paradise on earth.

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Farewell message from Anantara Dhigu Maldives

Very sad moment on my last day at the resort

Sad times on my last day in the Maldives

Very strong emotions when it was time to leave this paradise on earth

As you could see from the photos, I looked and felt very sad and vulnerable when it was time for me to leave. I hope I can make another visit to this surreal destination next year.

XXX

Maldives Anantara Veli Resort – Sunset Photo Shoot

Paradise on earth in the Maldives

This photo shoot took place at the other resort on the island – Anantara Veli Resort. It’s the resort recommended for honeymooners and couples on a romantic holiday. Veli is also known for its great dining options and beautiful photo shoot locations. The photos in this post were taken at sunset on a mostly cloudy day. But, the photographer tried to do his best to take good photos, even though the sunset wasn’t clearly visible from behind the clouds.

Captivating sunset at Anantara Veli Maldives resort

A cloudy day overshadows the sunset on the magical island

Contemplating life – in the Maldives

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Saudi Diva Style (Part Two)

Maldives state of mind – simply surreal

Since I’m in a goofy mood today, and since I am beginning to run out of things to say about my 6-day trip to the Maldives, I decided to make this post into a photo essay. You know, photos with captions. Hopefully, my photos will be interesting enough to tell a story on their own. Without the need for much words from my side.

Oh and another reason for writing a photo essay post is that I’m currently working from a cafe that doesn’t have unlimited wi-fi connection. So, I need to be quick in composing and publishing this post 🙂

Saudi Diva being lazy on a hammock 🙂

Heavenly moment in the Maldives!

Unmatched tranquility in the Maldives

Best spot for living the moment 🙂

Time stands still in the Maldives

Stay tuned for a new photo essay post from my Maldives holiday tomorrow.

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Resort Activities (Meditation and Yoga)

Meditation at the beach in Anantara Dhigu Maldives

Today’s post is a photo essay about another activity that you can do at Anantara Dhigu resort in the magical Maldives.

If you’re into yoga and meditation, you’ll be happy to learn that morning meditation and yoga sessions are available at the resort. To be honest, I didn’t try any of them. But I’m sure the experience would’ve been great.

Just imagine doing yoga on a pristine white sandy beach, against a backdrop of crystal blue waters.

I believe that just visiting the Maldives and taking in the breathtaking scenery is enough to be considered as meditation!

If you wish to just practice yoga or meditation on your own, rest assured that a yoga mat is provided in each beach villa. Which made the perfect setting for my yoga photo shoot on the beautiful Maldivian beach.

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Yoga at the beach at Anantara Dhigu resort

Meditation at the beach in the Maldives

XXX

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Resort Activities (Water Sports)

Saudi Diva in the Maldives!

A friend of mine was surprised when I told her that I didn’t go snorkeling on my recent trip to the Maldives. To be honest, I’m very content with my decision and I don’t regret not doing any activities one bit. That’s because for me, the main reason to go on holiday is to relax. And when you’re a blogger doing two photo shoot sessions, then sitting down with the photographer to view, select and finalize photos, believe me, it doesn’t leave much room for relaxation!

So, my short trip ended up being more of work. Which I don’t completely regret either. But, next time, as I mentioned earlier, I would like to take a longer holiday. I simply need more time to unwind and relax.

If you’re the adventure, adrenaline, sporty type, then you’ll be happy to know that Anantara Dhigu has a water sports center; namely Aquafanatics.

You can rent out snorkeling gear from the Aquafanatics center and head to the nearby island Gulhifushi for a day of snorkeling and barbecue at the beach 🙂

Other activities that you can do at the resort include:

• Diving – with or without sharks 🙂
• Kayaking
• Windsurfing
• Water-skiing
• Wake boarding
• Surfing

Gulhifushi is a picnic island located near the resort. You can get to it by taking the Pontoon or by kayaking to it (if you’re that skilled) and enjoy a day of relaxation, snorkeling or a simple barbecue dinner 🙂

Or, if you’re someone who leads a very busy lifestyle and just needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, then you can choose to simply chill in the pool or by the beach like me 🙂

In the next post, I’ll be telling you about other activities that you can do at the resort.

Till then,

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Maldivian tranquility at the pool

Contemplating life at Anantara Dhigu pool

Pure Bliss in the Maldives

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Best Time to Visit The Maldives

Maldives – the perfect beach holiday destination

I visited the Maldives in the last week of August. Some days were sunny and beach weather perfect, while others were cloudy and rainy. For someone who chose the Maldives as a destination for a beach holiday, the cloudy days were very disappointing. On those days, you spend the day at the outstanding Anantara Dhigu Spa or at any of the other great spas at the other Anantara resorts on the island.

During my six-day stay, I had two full spa days. I’ll be writing about the spa and the treatments that I had in another post.

For now, let me share with you some information about the Maldives weather around the year. This knowledge was shared to me by the locals who I met on the island.

The best time to visit the Maldives

The best months for visiting the Maldives are from September through April. This is considered to be the best season for sunny and clear skies. During December, a lot of activities take place at the resort for the New Year. So a lot of entertainment, live bands and fun events are held during this period.

The Rainy Season in the Maldives

The rainy season starts in May and continues until the end of August. Which is why I experienced the Monsoon rains while I was there. Honestly, coming from the desert, it was nice to get some light showers in the evening. But I wasn’t very happy when it rained during the day and I couldn’t lounge by the beach or swim in the ocean.

So, if I were to visit the Maldives again, then I would consider going there sometime in November. And I would try to stay for at least ten days. Yes, 10 days! because that way, even if I experience cloudy days, I would still end up with many sunny days by the beach. Another reason is that one week in my opinion isn’t enough to relax and de-stress. Especially coming from a busy city like Dubai. Where the lifestyle is so fast-paced leaving us with little room to breathe 🙂

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Maldivian bliss

The epitome of tranquility at the Maldives

Paradise on earth at the Maldives

See ya XXX

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Breakfast at Fushi Cafe

Custard pastries made with the freshest ingredients

In the previous post, I explained to you what makes Anantara resort a great destination for foodie travelers, or anyone who wants a diverse number of dining options.

Today, I’ll be showing you some images from the extensive breakfast buffet at Fushi Cafe located at Anantara Dhigu resort.

The cafe is situated by the ocean. So, on beautiful sunny days, you can have breakfast at the tables on the beach. Which is where I went to take photos on my last day at the resort. I must add, this was a very sad and difficult moment for me. Since I wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. The days flew by so fast and I longed for more relaxation and timeout by the ocean.

I’ll be telling you about the number of days that I spent at the resort and how I felt about it in my last post. For now, here are some shots from the lovely breakfast at Fushi Cafe – pure indulgence and freshness.

Tasty treats for kids at the Fushi Cafe breakfast

Sweets for kids at the Fushi Cafe breakfast

Kids have their own section at Fushi Cafe’s breakfast spread

Dry coconut and fresh fruits at Fushi Cafe breakfast buffet

Passion fruit freshness at Fushi Cafe breakfast buffet

Another level of freshness at the Fushi Cafe fruit stand

Pastries galore at Fushi Cafe breakfast

Muffins with a twist at Fushi Cafe breakfast

Tomato-filled Croissants!

Custard pastries made with the freshest ingredients

Ultimate freshness at the Fushi Cafe pastry section!

Note: The buffet has an Arabic section that has shakshooka, falafel and fava beans! I was very impressed and didn’t expect Arabic food at breakfast at all.

There’s an Asian section with everything you can think of as well. In addition to that, you can order egg and waffle dishes from an a la carte menu. I tried a couple of the egg dishes, and I must say they were all very good! My favorite was the Spanish omelet style eggs. They were to die for! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed having breakfast every morning at Fushi Cafe. They even served a great selection of detox fresh juices. My favorite was the beetroot juice – superb!

Photos from the outdoor area of Fushi Cafe will be shared in another post. That post is very dear to my heart, as the photos were taken on the last day of my stay – right before leaving the resort.

I’ll be sharing them in the last post from this series of posts about my recent Maldives trip.

See you later XXX

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – An Unmatched Culinary Journey

Monsoon rains on a Maldivian summer night

One of the key elements of Anantara Resort in the Maldives, and why you should consider staying there if you decide to visit the Maldives is that the resort hosts a good number and variety of high-end restaurants and bars.

Since the Maldives consists of multiple islands, when staying at a resort, you will most likely have a limited number of dining options to choose from at your chosen property. When staying at Anantara, these dining options are greater than at other resorts. This is because you get to choose between the dining options at both Dhigu and Veli Resorts.

To be honest, the standard of the food and beverages at this resort is at a level that exceeded my expectations. Everything was perfect. Whether you had Japanese, Thai or Maldivian cuisine, it was always prepared to the highest standards and with the freshest ingredients.

I couldn’t stop eating during my trip. It was heaven for a foodie like me! From breakfast till dinner, everything was just right.

When booking my package with Emirates Holidays, I went for the half board option. This includes the daily breakfast buffet and a three course dinner. You can choose to have dinner at any one of the Anantara restaurants located at either Dhigu or Veli.

This resort truly has an island life feel to it. As if you’re in a fiction novel or romantic movie setting. On the first day when I arrived to the resort, a ‘Barefoot Cocktail’ party was taking place at the beach area at Dhigu resort. The signature Maldivian coconut water, drinks and canapes were served. You got to sample a shoulder massage from a spa therapist, and meet other hotel guests and staff. During the event, I managed to take lovely photos of the sunset at the beach. You can see those photos on my Instagram profile: nadaalghowainim

You can also find other random photos from the Maldives trip on my IG profile. Let me share with you some photos from the restaurants at the resort.

Anantara Veli Restaurants:

1. Baan Huraa: An authentic Thai restaurant with a magical setting. Baan Huraa is located over the ocean, with views of the Maldivian waters. While dining outdoors, you will be serenaded by the sounds of the waves from the surrounding waters. Dining here is more like a meditation session. Just sit back, relax and forget about the world.
2. Origami: While staying at Dhigu, I dined here twice. I must say that Origami is my favorite restaurant at the resort. Chef Kimo from Egypt is highly talented and very friendly with the restaurant guests. The first time I dined at Origami, I tried the Japanese Teppanyaki experience. The dishes were very tasty and the experience was fun. Then, on my second visit to Origami, the Chef prepared a special menu for me. I must say that the salmon sushi rolls were something extraordinary that I’ve never tasted anything like. The rolls were so soft, the salmon very fresh and the flavors well-balanced together.
3. Dhoni Bar: this is a cool spot for chilling before or after dinner. I was told that this bar serves great lunch dishes. And that the ambiance during lunch time is great. As guests can chill in the outdoor pool while having snacks at this bar.
4. 73 Degrees: I went here on my last night at the resort. There was an authentic Maldivian cuisine buffet. As well as Maldivian style entertainment. Sadly, I arrived late to the restaurant and I missed the band. But, I must say that the buffet options were so good! everything from the salads, to the mains, to the live cooking stations, to the desserts was very well prepared and simply delicious. I also enjoyed listening to the Maldivian waiters explain to me about the different dishes. Photos from that evening and of me wearing a traditional Maldivian costume can be found on my Instagram: nadaalghowainim

Here are some photos from those restaurants before I move on to Dhigu resort dining options.

Traditional Thai appetizers at Baan Huraa

Origami restaurant salmon sushi rolls

Japanese cuisine at its best at Origami restaurant

Heavenly dessert selection at Origami

Monsoon rains at Origami Japanese restaurant

Dessert bites at Origami – my favorite restaurant at Anantara Maldives

Anantara Dhigu Restaurants:

1. Fushi Cafe: This is where the breakfast buffet is served every morning from 6:30 am to 10:30 am. I’ll be writing a separate post about the breakfast at Fushi Cafe. Because it was so good that it deserves a post on its own!
2. Terrazzo: This is a cozy Italian restaurant located at the top floor of the same area as another restaurant. Not to be missed when dining at Terrazzo is the Tiramisu dessert. It’s nothing like your typical Italian Tiramisu cake. This one is served warm, in a pot and with a special twist to it. Must try! I had it twice. Once when dining at Terrazzo and the other time was then I dined at Sea, Fire, Salt.
3. Sea, Fire, Salt. This is a seafood restaurant that prepares dishes a la Maldivian style. The fish was unbelievably fresh, soft and tasty! I never had seafood so fresh like at this Maldivian eatery. There’s a Maldivian Chef in-house. So ask him to prepare your seafood dish and you will be in for a wonderful surprise! Truly, heaven on earth!
4. Aqua Bar: An airy, spacious, two-floor bar. This place serves food too.I tried a tuna quesadilla on my first day here. It wasn’t bad. The staff here are very bubbly, upbeat and cheerful. The venue is located by the spacious pool. So it’s a perfect spot for having a refreshing cocktail or mocktail while chilling at the pool. The top floor has huge comfy sofas. It’s a very cool place to hangout, play games, or watch sports. I wish I could’ve spent more time at Aqua bar, I was simply tight on time, and preferred to relax at the beach area instead. Hopefully, next time 🙂
5. Dining by Design: I think this is a concept for a romantic dinner experience. Since I was traveling solo, I didn’t get to try it. But I’m sure it is worth checking out for couples who are visiting the resort.

Finally, the reception desk at Anantara Dhigu has a list of all the events and activities taking place at the resort. So, if you’re unsure of which restaurant to visit on which day, just pass by and check the event listing.

And make sure that you keep the Maldivian dinner night free for just that. As it takes place once a week only.

Next post will be all about the breakfast at Fushi Cafe, so stay tuned for that!

In the meantime, Saudi Diva wishes you a great day XXX

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – My Sunset Beach Villa Part Two!

Maldivian holiday bliss

In the previous post, I explained to you about the layout of the Anantara Dhigu Resort. And how important it is to choose a villa at a good location based on your holiday preferences.

I also promised to show you more pictures of the beach villa where I stayed – lucky number 60!

Since it’s Eid today, I decided to make this a photo essay post. Because we all deserve a break from reading 🙂

So, I present to you images from my sunset beach villa…

Fan installed in the ceiling of the beach villa – above the bed

Room boys get creative with the towels at Anantara Dhigu Resort

Anantara Dhigu Maldives sunset beach villa

Outdoor patio at Anantara Dhigu beach villa

Chilling at my beach villa on a Maldivian summer night

Next post will be about the multiple and diverse selection of restaurants at Anantara Maldives resorts.

So, hopefully you will be seeing less photos of me, and more of other things 🙂  Only for one post I’m afraid!

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – My Sunset Beach Villa!

At my sunset beach villa at Anantara Dhigu Maldives

There are two Anantara resorts on the island. One is Dhigu resort – a family-oriented resort. While Veli is for couples wishing to stay at an over the water bungalow for a  more romantic experience.

Since I was traveling alone, I opted to stay at Dhigu and I absolutely loved it! However, there are a few things that you must note if you wish to do the same.

• Anantara Dhigu offers two types of villas; sunrise and sunset. They are both private beach villas with their own private beach space and sun loungers. But, depending on their location at the island, they are either facing the sunrise or the sunset view.
• There’s a Kids’ Club located between the villas in the island. So, if you’re looking for a quiet and peaceful experience, make sure that you book a villa located away from the Kids’ Club.
• There are villas close to the spa. This means that you might be disturbed by the noise coming from the Pontoon (water jetty) that transfers guests between the two resorts. As the Pontoon station is located very close to the spa.
• There are villas close to the hotel lobby. The hotel has a traditional greeting that it does using drums whenever new guests arrive. So, if you want to stay in a quiet villa, then I recommend that you choose one that’s located away from the lobby (hotel reception) area.

To make things easier for you, if you’re a family planning on visiting Dhigu, then you can stay close to the Kids’ Club. If you’re single like me, then choose a room away from the Kids’ Club, the spa and the main lobby. I will give you details about the beach villa where I stayed in a bit.

If you’re a couple, then Veli is the place for you 🙂

Washing the sand off of my toes in front of my beach villa 🙂

Each beach villa has its own private beach area, a pair of sun loungers, and a lovely outdoor patio area. I’ll be sharing more photos from the villa in another post. The setup is perfect for beach yoga or meditation. It’s the epitome of island life bliss.

You know, when you want to get away from everything and everyone and just be with the ocean and nature. When you greatly need that escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Especially when living in a city like Dubai, where it’s so fast-paced and there’s barely anytime to breathe. That’s when you can truly appreciate a place like Anantara resort.

As I mentioned earlier, it’s best to choose a villa located between the reception area/Aqua bar and the spa. In order to avoid the noise from the Pontoon or the guest greeting drums.

Tip: Villa number 60 (sunset beach villa) is located in the middle point between the reception area and the spa.

That’s the beach villa that I requested to move to, after finding out that I was booked a villa close to the Kids’ Club and that my neighbors were noisy!

So for complete peace and serenity, choose your beach villa location very wisely. Ask about the Kids’ Club location and the other facilities’ location.

Each villa at Anantara Dhigu has two outdoor showers

Outdoor washrooms for a true island life experience

Outdoor bathtub and shower at Anantara Dhigu beach villa