Elite Traveler Summer 2024

EXPLORE THE JOURNEY

Some of the resort’s overwater villas

This image Three-bedroom Royal Beachfront Residence Below The on-site Marine Center has a variety of toys including paddleboards

hammock and play table tennis — all within sight of your table. The food at Umi is exceptional, more so because it isn’t even seen as the island’s premier dining spot. Enjoy mouthwateringly fresh sushi, an abundance of tuna dishes (super local), tacos, tempura, curries and ramen, or go inside and dine from the teppanyaki grill. DAY4 There are plenty of adults-only spots at Maamunagau, so honeymooners and adults traveling sans kids won’t be disappointed. The Retreat is adults-only, perched overlooking the lagoon, and is where — once we’d dropped our daughter o ff at the kids club — we set up for the day. There is a serene library, private cabanas and a gin station where you can fi nd all sorts of botanical delights and an extensive cocktail list. Long lunches are served here, so settle in and soak up the calm beach club vibes as you gaze out over the in fi nitypool. If it happens to rain while you’re on the island, you’ll immediately be sent a wet weather itinerary by your curator. And whether you opt for a sushi-making class, aerial yoga or a snuggly movie session, the weather won’t put a damper on any of your fun.

Dinner at Café Umi is a playful a ff air. You can sit in swings (which keeps the kids entertained), and while you wait for your food the little ones can also run around the beach, hunt for geckos, loll in the Children are a cherished part of the itinerary rather than an afterthought

DAY3 After breakfast, take a quick dip in your private pool overlooking the ocean, before heading back to the center of the island for a cooking lesson at The Collective with one of the knowledgeable chefs. The Collective is where you’ll usually fi nd pizza and afternoon tea, but today it’s transformed into an aromatic haven of Asian culinary possibilities. We cooked a delicious Maldivian tuna curry with local chili peppers that packed a serious punch but was nicely complemented by coconut milk, ginger and pandan. It was served with delicious breads and rice and a much-needed cool glass of wine. Burno ff your lunch with an afternoon of water sports. The on-site Marine Center has a variety of toys — paddleboards, canoes, jet skis and pedal boats are all available, and of course snorkeling equipment. Even though we’re no strangers to snorkeling, we took a guided snorkel tour of the house reef one afternoon; I highly recommend it, as it gave us some tips and tricks for when we took our daughter out. It ensured her fi rst snorkeling experience went straight to the action, and we knew exactly where to go to see the best fi sh, what areas to avoid and the likely direction of the currents we’d face.

Inside Planet Trekkers