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 Dhigu Resort – Room Rates

Take me back to the Maldives

Since most of you are interested to know about the rates for staying at Anantara Dhigu resort, I’ve contacted the hotel’s reservations team and inquired about the rates. I was informed that the rates vary depending on the time of year, length of stay, inclusions/offers, and occupancy levels at the time of booking.

In addition, the rates depend on the type of room that you choose to stay in. There are beach room types, over water room types, and ocean side room types (at the different Anantara Maldives resorts).

The rates that I have are not fixed or confirmed rates, as they vary depending on the season and other factors mentioned above.

I have those rates in a file. The document includes room rates for the other Anantara Maldives resorts as well. Namely; Veli, Naladhu, and Kihavah. With the approximate rates for the specific room types listed for each resort.

I would be more than happy to send anyone the document that I have with the estimated rates for the different resorts.

All you have to do is follow my blog’s Facebook Page, and send me a private message requesting the Anantara Maldives room rates document.

Here’s the link again for the blog’s Facebook Page, where you can contact me to request the document with the room rates:

Saudi Diva Facebook Page

Looking forward to connecting with you on Facebook!

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Anantara Maldives – paradise on earth

Sunset in the Maldives

Saudi Diva in the Maldives

‘Maldives’ State of Mind

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 – Facts about the Maldives

Beautiful sunset in the Maldives

In today’s post, I would like to share with you some basic and interesting facts about the Maldives. I learned most of this knowledge from the largely friendly locals on the island where Anantara Dhigu is located.

Without further due, here are the fun facts about the Maldives:

• The country’s population consists of 100% Muslims.
• There are 19 Atolls in the Maldives. An atoll is a space of land that includes a number of islands. Read here for more information.
• Male – the capital city – is in the center of the Maldives.
• Most Atolls have at least one resort.
• The currency used in the resort is the US Dollar.
• Free visa upon arrival at the airport is provided for all nationalities.
• In the Maldivian ocean, a dark blue patch of water indicates that the sea level is deep in that area. The light blue waters are naturally shallow.
• Cloudy days in the island don’t mean that you can’t get a nice tan. In fact, the tan will be even stronger than on sunny days! As long as it’s not raining, then you should hit those sun loungers whether it’s sunny or cloudy 🙂
• You can predict a good sunset from the ocean tide. Generally, when the tide is low, the sky becomes cloudy and it becomes difficult to see the sunset. Make sure you don’t miss the beautiful sunset on this island. It’s one of the highlights.
• As I mentioned in a previous post, the best time to visit the Maldives is between September to April. May, June, July and August are the rainy season.

Now leaving you with some photos from a sunset photo shoot that we did at Anantara Veli resort.

The Maldives – a country rich in culture

A traditional Maldivian boat

Serenity at Anantara Veli Maldives

Culture meets natural beauty in the Maldives

Saudi Diva Signing off XXX

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Anantara Dhigu Spa

Anantara Dhigu Spa in the Maldives – a magical setting

As promised in the previous post, I’ll be telling you all about my experience at the magical Anantara Dhigu Spa.

I’ve visited the spa on two occasions. The first time I was there, I had booked a ‘day and night’ promotion package treatment, which I found out about when I was at the bare foot cocktail beach party on my first day at the resort.

The treatment was for a 30-minute body scrub, followed by a one-hour full body massage. My therapist, Piwi was from Bali, Indonesia. She was very nice and did the treatment to very high standards and just as I asked.

First, a wonderful coconut and mint body scrub was used to exfoliate the skin. Piwi used gentle strokes as I had informed her of my sensitive skin. The scrub smelled so good – good enough to eat – and it was moisturizing with fine granules.

The result of the scrub is smooth, replenished and moisturized skin.

For the massage, coconut oil was used. I loved how Piwi did the massage with a deep pressure (just as I had requested), while at the same time, maintaining a very relaxing and gentle method. This made me doze off every now and then. Honestly, the treatment and massage were nothing but perfect.

What makes the Anantara Dhigu Spa worth a visit?

• The therapists are at a very high level of professionalism. They are highly skilled and talented. And very friendly too.
• The spa is located on a separate hut on the ocean. You cross a water bridge from the hotel island to get to the spa.
• The setting of this spa is simply enchanting. You are surrounded by the endless blue Maldivian waters.
• There’s an outdoor treatment room, surrounded by glass. If you get a treatment done at this room, you will feel as if you’re getting a massage right in the middle of the ocean. The experience is so surreal and unmatched by any other spa experience.
• The spa has the standard facilities, like sauna, steam room, showers, hot and chilled outdoor pools. What’s unique about the pools, is that they are located outside with a view of the Maldivian ocean. I don’t think any words used would give the outdoor pools their share fare. As you sit in the hot water pool, and look out at the ocean, all your troubles seem to vanish as you take in the stunning ocean view.

Here are some photos of me in front of the Anantara Dhigu Spa:

Anantara Dhigu Spa – a piece of paradise in the middle of the ocean

The Pontoon station is on the way to Anantara Dhigu Spa

Thankfully, the day that I had booked my first spa treatment for, turned out to be a windy, cloudy and rainy day. Perfect for a spa day.

Then, on another day when the weather was also cloudy and rainy, I decided to head to the spa again because I was very happy with my experience there. On that day, I booked a hot compression massage, where hot towels are placed on your body for a more effective and tension-releasing massage experience.

On that day, I had the pleasure of sitting in the outdoor hot pool as light showers went down the Maldivian skies! Now that was a moment that I will forever cherish 🙂 The crystal clear ocean waters, an outdoor hot Jacuzzi, beautiful skies, and light showers in the Maldives. Ahh, pure bliss 🙂

To see photos of me in the hot pool at Anantara Dhigu Spa, check out my Instagram profile: nadaalghowainim

Over-the water-bridge that takes you to Anantara Dhigu Spa Maldives

Notes:

Naladhu Maldives – another Anantara resort on the island – has great spa retreats and packages to choose from. There’s a half-day ocean retreat, which includes a gourmet cuisine menu created by the Chef at Anantara Naladhu resort. You can choose the spa package that best suits your pampering and relaxation needs. Couple treatment packages are also available.

The Anantara Dhigu Spa uses Elemis products, in addition to other well-known brands for their treatments.

I would highly recommend that you try a treatment at Anantara Dhigu Spa should you decide to stay at the resort. It’s the perfect escape from everything and truly a piece of heaven in the middle of the Maldivian ocean.

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Resort Activities (Random Stuff)

Swing your sorrows away in the clear Maldivian waters

In the previous post, I told you about how much I don’t care about snorkeling or diving, and how all I wanted to do during my holiday was chill at the beach or swim in the beautiful Maldivian ocean. And stare at the breathtaking landscape around me.

Well, to be honest, I was feeling so sleepy today for some reason after having a light vegetarian lunch that I made myself at home. The meal consisted of a tomato and avocado salad. And some oven-roasted vegetables and potatoes. Strangely, after I was done eating, I was lying in bed checking my Instagram notifications and I strongly felt like dozing off. But because I made a commitment that I would write blog posts daily except for the weekend, I dragged my sleepy self out of bed and headed to the coffee chain on the other side of SZR with my bulky laptop 🙂

Enough about my lazy day, let me tell you about the other activities that you can do at Anantara Dhigu resort at the stunning Maldives.

But first, another snapshot of me being lazy – this time in the Maldives 😛

Swing in the middle of the ocean in the Maldives

As I mentioned earlier, all you have to do to plan your evening at Anantara Dhigu resort is to head to the reception and check the listings of resort activities. I’m telling you, the whole time I stayed at the resort, I felt like I was in one of those romantic movies set in an island resort. You know, those Hollywood blockbuster movies. Probably from the nineties. Because that was the era when I had the time and peace of mind to sit down at home and watch movies. Yes, before I decided to escape home without a definite plan. Oh well, I’m sure that one day soon, I will be sitting at home with my partner watching movies. Why? because I’ve been working hard towards my goals since I left home in 2009!!! (Check my about page for details).

So if you’re not the snorkeling or diving type of person, don’t panic. There’s a plethora of cool stuff to do at the resort. Here’s a list of some of these activities:

Anantara Spa

I can’t speak enough about this spa. It’s simply on another level of professionalism and pure bliss. I will dedicate the next blog post to write about my experience at the spa. I visited twice in my six-day stay!

Anantara Cooking Class

Attend an interactive cooking class where you can learn the art of creating traditional Maldivian or Thai dishes!

Wine Guru

A wine tasting experience paired with dinner with the resort’s very own ‘wine master’ 🙂

Dhoni Club

A children’s play area for kids 3 years and above. The club is filled with fun arts and crafts, games and themed activity days.

Fitness Center

Despite not stepping into the health club during my stay, the center seemed highly equipped with glass windows. The gym is also open for 24 hours a day.

Note: I met with the lady who works at the Kids’ Club while I was at the resort. She was a very friendly Mauritian lady, who was all smiles. So I trust that any kid of any age will be OK staying at the club, as long as she’s there. Truly, a very genuine, warm and polite character.

In the next post, I will reveal to you the wonders of the Anantara Dhigu spa. Which I had the pleasure to try their treatments during my stay at the resort.

Until then, Have a great week ahead X

Saudi Diva XXX

Daydreaming in the Maldives

Take me back to paradise!

Surreal landscapes 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