Wednesday, January 15, 2020

MÖVENPICK KUREDHIVARU MALDIVES WITH GO AIR


When Go Air announced its winter schedule for Malé, Maldives, timed ahead of the upcoming holiday and wedding season in India and with fares as low as INR 9,999 all-inclusive, anyone would be enticed…so why blame me ?

NEERJA ON MY FLIGHT
Flight G8 33 took off from Delhi at 10.35 am on a Wednesday afternoon,
Bang on time and I make myself comfortable in my aisle seat, only to realize later that a window seat would have got me some better views on landing, I was flying to Maldives after all..!
Sneha Rajput on the left
I make friends with one of the flight attendants Sneha Rajput who I notice is doing her job rather passionately…it is evident that she totally enjoyed making passengers on board feel at home including little kids. She ensures I would get to enjoy the landing views and actually went out of the way to ask a passenger to exchange seats with me towards the landing, who luckily for me obliges…perhaps it is Sneha’s smile that worked its magic and also because he is newly married and much too engrossed in conversation with his beautiful wife. Go Air is a no frills flight but is comfortable and enjoyable and flight attendants like Sneha Rajput set it apart and I arrive in Malé at 02.15 pm and of course appreciating the views as I land the heavens literally open!
MÖVENPICK KUREDHIVARU
A bit of rest at the lounge and a sea plane ride north of Male International Airport later, I reach an untouched sanctuary and tropical retreat that is huddled in the unobstructed Noonu Atoll. As always, there is a welcome team which is very efficient. I am handed a refreshing glass of some citric mock tail and taken to a golf cart which takes me to my room. 
My over water villa has a private plunge pool…. I am in heaven already! It’s a good idea to have your experience tailor made. I have clubbed my visit with a photo shoot….a magazine is doing a story and needs a pleasantly plump lady to model and write about her experience… I am glad they have selected me.
As I set my feet upon the powder-white beaches and explore the resort, I discover, there’s so much to do here from Unwinding at the Sun Spa by Esthederm, refocusing your energy with yoga to exploring colourful marine life or simply Savouring wonderful cuisine at the three restaurants and marvelling at stunning vistas of the Indian Ocean. Parents can rejoice for they also have a Little Birds Club for the kiddos to enjoy. I spend my days trying not to burn myself on the beach, writing my pending articles, catching up on my reading, drinking lots of coconut water and eating well, retiring for a movie. Life on the island is easy. In the resort bubble, I didn’t have to stress about getting around, meals, or what to do. The staff is super friendly, they knew how to make a good drink, and there is always food around.
Meals in the package are buffet style at Onu Marché unless you pay extra for the romantic seafood restaurant Bodumas on stilts or enjoy an interesting selection of grills from the a la carte menu at latitude 5.5 like I did.  For a selection of decadent delights, I try not missing the Mövenpick Chocolate Hour – offered complimentary, every day. All In all, Mövenpick Kuredhivaru is a place for dreamers… The 5-star boutique resort amazes with outstanding villas, enclosed by lush nature, turquoise coves and infinite horizons. Only 72 overwater pool villas and 30 beach suites can be found on the entire island, which guarantees solitude and silence. The villas are large and comfortable, and is like enjoying having a big house with all luxury amenities to yourself. Being able to watch the stars from your private pool is simply priceless.  

FAST FACT
The airline added 2 new aircraft to its growing fleet within a single day. An Airbus A320neo was brought in from Hamburg in Germany and another A320neo aircraft arrived from Toulouse in France. This makes it a rare twin delivery in the history of Indian aviation and has helped GoAir double its fleet in less than 2 years.
DID YOU KNOW?
*  GoAir is part of the 283 year old $ 5.5 billion Wadia group
* GoAir flies to 8 international destinations, including Phuket, Malé, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Kuwait and Singapore.
*  GoAir has set a record by being the only airline in India to achieve On-Time-Performance leadership for 13 months in a row.
* GoAir took the delivery of 54th aircraft on the eve of its 14th Anniversary.
*  GoAir has placed a firm order of 164 aircraft and it will add one aircraft every month on an average in the foreseeable future.
*  GoAir has flown 77 million passengers since its inception in 2005; aims to touch the 100 million passenger mark in the next two years.
 AT A GLANCE
Flight tickets can be booked through the official Go Air website, or through the Go Air mobile app. 
Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives

Where? Kuredhivaru Island, Maldives, 20026-  Noonu Atoll, Maldives 
Tel:+9606563000; E-Mail:resort.kuredhvaru.reservations@movenpick.com


first published in Hospitality,Food & Wine Magazine by Rupali Dean