Conrad Maldives: Reshaping the Concept of Luxury

30 Water Villas Will Undergo a Complete Transformation in 2011

Setting the standard for luxury travel in the Maldives for over 15 years, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island raises the bar once again with the complete renovation of 28 Water Villas and two Premier Water Villas starting May 15. Expected to last for six months, the renovation work will transform the villas into ultra-luxurious contemporary over-water retreats with additional decking, private pools, entirely new furniture and sublime bathrooms with picture windows overlooking the ocean.

“Rangali Island is the smaller of the resort’s two islands,” says Regional General Manager Carsten Schieck, “and it offers the natural setting for the pure beauty and luxury that guests expect to find in the Maldives. The complete renovation of our Water Villas will ensure that these rooms retain their position as some of the most outstanding villas in the country.”

During the renovation, 28 Water Villas will be taken apart and completely renovated from the inside out, while two Premier Water Villas will see subtle updates on the interior. The layout of the Water Villas will become an open plan, giving a sense of space. The highlight of the architecture is the desk which is set over glass panels, giving the impression that it is floating over the water below.

The décor of the new Water Villas features elegant natural tones of wood and soft whites with gentle shades of lavender and green. Understated, recessed lighting adds to the contemporary feel.

As part of the renovation, half of Rangali Island; one restaurant, Vilu; and one of the resort’s two spas will be closed. The rest of the resort will continue to operate as usual with guests having the option of dining at eight restaurants and bars. The Spa Retreat on the main island will offer the full treatment list from the Over-Water Spa during its six-month closure.

Rangali Restaurant and Bar

In all Water Villas, guests will enjoy the latest in modern amenities including flat screen satellite TVs, CD stereos with iPod connectors, DVD players, “Nespresso” tea/coffee machines, mini bars and International Direct Dialing (IDD) telephones. The renovated villas are expected to open on November 1, 2011 with room rates starting from $1,000 per night for two.

With the Spa Retreat and Beach Villas on Rangalifinolhu Island and Water Villas on Rangali Island, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island offers the widest choice of accommodation in the Maldives, allowing guests to enjoy a variety of different experiences without ever leaving the resort.

Can you imagine sleeping in this room surrounded by the sea? This is definitely a dream come true experience!

A special thank you to Conrad Maldives for giving us information about the renovations to their beautiful resort and allowing us to use their photos.

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Muriel MacRae plans exciting getaways and customized vacations  for honeymooners and families. As the owner of  Del Sol Travel, she offers romantic vacations with personalized service and unique itineraries. Getting to know and understand her clients is critical in helping turn their ideas and vision into a unique and memorable masterpiece when creating their customized vacation. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans weddings, destination weddings, and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca   or phone 403-477-0643

Honeymoons: Travel to the Sun

Call me impatient, but with the snow that we have been experiencing in Calgary in late April, I’m craving for the beach, beautiful blue water, sunny skies and warm days. A beach vacation sounds just right. There is nothing like looking forward to some vacation time to lift up my spirits. Even planning the next trip, or better yet, a honeymoon, can be fun.

If you are looking for a fantastic, sunny, beach resort in an absolute magnificent, relaxing setting , look no farther? Here are my three top picks in no particular order:

#1 JW Marriott Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Photo Credit: Muriel MacRae

The JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort and Spa, located on Costa Rica’s Northwest coast is a luxurious private haven in a lovely location with outstanding personalized service. The service is definitely outstanding and guests are certainly pampered. Situated within the famous Hacienda Pinilla, a unique residential beach and golf community, the resort offers guests a sense of privacy and tranquility with all of the comforts of the modern. Go in the winter time when it is not the rainy season in Costa Rica.


#2 Grand Hyatt Kauai, Kauai, Hawaii


Photo Credit: Muriel MacRae


The Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa is a grand luxury hotel with airy lobbies and fantastic sunny weather, lovely waterfalls, stunning ocean views, and beautifully landscaped grounds which contain walking paths which lead through acres of pools. This is one of my favourite resorts in Hawaii which is located in the sunny Poipu area in the southern part of Kauai on Shipwreck Beach.

#3 Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa, Cook Islands

Photo Credit: Nishint

Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa is an all-bungalow resort facing the ocean located in Aitutaki, one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world. Located in the Cook Islands, it’s a fitting location in a breath-taking setting for your honeymoon, wedding or just a once-in-a-lifetime experience to the South Pacific where you can stay on your own secluded, private island.

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Muriel MacRae, owner of Del Sol Travel and Del Sol Destination Weddings, is a travel consultant who specializes in destination weddings and romantic getaways to tropical areas. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans destination weddings for couples in and around the Calgary area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your destination wedding or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca

Sandals Negril in Jamaica – the Perfect Spot for Lovers

If you are looking for the perfect romantic get-away in a beautiful tropical setting, look no farther! Sandals Negril Beach and Spa is a serene and secluded resort located on the north-western side of Jamaica on Negril’s famous Seven-Mile Beach. This resort is set among lush palm groves, powdery white sand beach, and the calm aquamarine Caribbean Sea. With an average year-round temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, or 82 degrees Fahrenheit, it is always a beautiful day on Jamaica. This popular destination is for couples only and is a very popular honeymoon spot that attracts a basically young and unsophisticated audience. Sandals Negril has won numerous awards including Best Honeymoon in Negril and Jamaica.

Located approximately 1½ hours from Sangster’s International Airport in Montego Bay, this all-inclusive resort is “a little bit exotic, and a whole lot of chic”. Perched along the best stretch of Negril’s Seven-Mile Beach, Sandals Negril is an oasis in the midst of an unspoiled Jamaica. Enjoy the relaxed attitude and barefoot elegance of this luxurious resort as you listen to the rhythms of Bob Marley playing all around you. Sandals is the one resort that can make your romantic dreams come true.

The resort offers a wide variety of hotel amenities. There are three impressive pools and three whirlpools, all with gorgeous oceanfront views. The exclusive Red Lane®Spa is a sanctuary for mind, body, and soul that reinterprets classic European spa rituals with a distinctive Caribbean flair. The six distinctive restaurants on site serve Beringer wines and savoury cuisine from Italy, Asia, and of course, the Caribbean. There is also Butler service and 24-hour room service in select categories.

Every day and night is a party at Sandals Negril, with five bars and nightly entertainment with live shows, theme nights, Honeymooner’s Party, Returning Guest Party , talent shows, art auctions, and more. Want to go windsurfing, kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, or sailing? How about a game of tennis, racquetball, badminton, volleyball, bocce ball, billiards or work out at the fitness center? It’s all included and more!

Sandals Negril Resort offers 223 luxurious, spacious rooms and suites which are casual and well furnished with a tropical motif and come in a variety of styles. Imaging swimming up to your room, experiencing the height of tropical luxury in a two-story suite in a palm grove or retreating to a cliff-top sanctuary! All rooms include air conditioning, king size beds, and a private bath and shower. Views from the room range from the garden, pool, to oceanfront. All rooms have been renovated and contain four poster mahogany beds and furniture and tiled floors.

Best of all, a vacation at Sandals is all-inclusive. This means the airfare, the ground transportation to and from the hotel to the resort, the beautiful room you stay in, snacks, meals and fine dining, drinks including alcohol, most sports whether on land or at sea, tips, and taxes are included in one price. Sounds perfect? People who have stayed there say it is! For more information about Sandals Resorts, email travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca or call toll free 1-866-653-4055.

Photos courtesy of Sandals Resorts