Soneva always aims to surprise and always delivers - the more remote the island the more unique experience you are going to receive and this is exactly what Soneva Kiri provided. Set amid a tropical rainforest is a secluded bay on the north west coast of un-spoilt Koh Kood Island is a Robinson Crusoe way of life, think natural beaches, tree house living and farm to table cuisine.

Most visitors to Koh Kood fly from Bangkok to Trat, and then take a public boat. But this is not the case for Soneva Kiri guests. They fly on the resort’s own airline from Bangkok airport 1 hour to the neighboring island of Koh Mai Si, then take the hotel’s speed boat across to the resort. Soneva’s private plane also operates from Siem Reap Cambodia.

Once we arrived at the island’s jetty we were greeted with a warm welcome by the GM and his team and our Mr. Friday was on hand to escort us to our room. Once on the island the “No news no shoes” policy kicks in so your shoes are put away and the time goes back an hour in order to give you more hours in the day.

Heading to our room through the jungle paths capturing glimpses of the sea through the trees we arrived at what can only be described as the largest tree house I have ever seen. Walking up the wooden stair case opening into a world of escapism and complete luxury as we were given a 6-bedroom ocean view sunset villa. All rooms are double rooms with large bathrooms and one room is perfect for kids with 2 sets of bunk beds, open the door and it’s the entrance to the slide! The slide goes into the large infinity pool, which embraces the wonderful views of the ocean. Dining can be enjoyed in the villa with a large dining table or sunken dining area in the pool. There’s an open massage area so the spa can come to you. For a little time out there’s a beautiful library, TV room and a games room. This villa provides so much space that you can get ample time alone to sit back in peace to take in the breathtaking views. 

I loved my bedroom, minimal yet extremely spacious with a four poster bed, and at the end of the bed were the signature Soneva stacks of vintage suitcases/travel trunks which hide the flat screen TV. Across the way was the largest bathroom you could imagine with floor to celling windows, a relaxing seating area and doors opening onto the terrace showcasing a view that goes on for miles. 

Soneva lives by the ethos of sustainability and is very forward thinking in its approach. I witnessed this when I was staying at Soneva Fushi in the Maldives as well. One of the ways to truly understand the depth of which they take their promise is by going on an Eco-Tour of the island and seeing for yourself the work and commitment that goes into making a property/island sustainable. It’s not just about no plastic, not using straws and other conventional eco-solutions. Soneva’s responsibility, goes further - cooking oil is recycled as biofuel, water gets reused several times with many oxidation ponds to help purify water for irrigations so as its not put back into the sea.  All food waste is put into a sophisticated compost system and the organic garden is a delight growing nearly everything that you will eat during your stay. They are now even growing coco plants for the vast amount of chocolate served in their chocolate room. After chatting to the Soneva founder and visionary himself -Sonu, he informed us of a new system which they will soon implement at Soneva Kiri which has proved very successful in the Maldives which eradicates the mosquito without using any sprays/chemicals.

One of my favorite concepts at Soneva Kiri is the tree pod dining which ticks the sustainable box and leaves a very small footprint as a waiter zip lines your food to you in a bamboo pod made for four people winched 6 meters in the air surrounded by trees with the noise of the waves crashing in the sea below.

The Soneva Spa provides a sensory journey with all the rooms designed for couples with some facing the sea and the others in the middle of the jungle. One of their most popular services is the Wellness Screening, a full non-invasive reading of your body’s composition and biomarkers.

When it comes to dining, wellness plays a prominent part in the composition of the menu, with one exception – the all day ice cream and chocolate rooms  - but hey everyone needs a little treat!

One of the resort’s very well respected chefs is Khun Benz who looks after a small restaurant on stilts that is reachable via a speedboat through the mangroves called BENZ. This traditional Thai restaurant is a hit with all the guests and receives so many wonderful reviews.

 “Views” restaurant provides the most amazing sunset views so book a table in time to watch the sun go down with a cocktail in hand.

I am not in my children’s good books as on this occasion they didn’t come with me to Kiri and being such advocates of the Soneva experience, they really knew that they were missing out as when it comes to children and families, Soneva have thought of everything. The Eco Den is for 1-4 year olds. Qualified childcare experts look after children. The Den is the most creative playground a child could wish for, A giant bamboo structure shaped like a manta ray hangs in the tree tops providing not only a wonderful place to play but brings nature inside.

For outdoor activities you can enjoy the kayaking and water sports, snorkel around the island or diving to explore the coral reefs. For a unique adventure you must visit one of the islands many waterfalls. There is one particular trek, which takes you through the island’s lusciously dense rainforest. Along the way, cool off in the crystal-clear waterfalls that cascade magically over five different levels and swim in your own private waterfall pool.

You can really experience the many facets of this island with a short boat ride to Koh Kood fishing village, which has many local restaurants. We enjoyed an amazing seafood extravaganza eaten on the waters edge in a very local setting.

I really believe once you immerse yourself in the Soneva experience, you are spoiled for life, I find it very hard to compare the experience, service and way of life to anything else. My Soneva Ambassadorship is very important to me as it complements my own ethos and that of Unique Family Travels and I get excited every time I book my clients to a Soneva resort as I know they are in for an unforgettable experience.

Thank you to the wonderful Soneva team for always making my stay the most enjoyable ever and I will be back soon as I’ve promised my children a stay in the room that has a water slide!

Watch our full resort video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RLxkSSQokU

Check out our bedroom within the villa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXa_4t4wWlY&t=10s

Sliding into Island life:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp2AKjkk_CI

Contact Unique Family Travels for exclusive rates

Rooms

The spacious suites are situated in a well laid out garden and furnished in sumptuous modern interpretation of colonial style, radiating unbridled luxury.  The rooms are expansive and beautifully laid out.

Visualize teak wood floors, a four-poster bed and a large outdoor seating area complete with comfortable sofas, complemented by extra-large bathrooms which feature colonial style claw tubs, as well as indoor and outdoor showers. Some of the larger suites come with private pools, which are ideal for families. The rooms have been well thought out in order to create a more relaxed at-home feel for additional comfort and relaxation.

By now most of you know I have a thing for baths – its apparent on my Instagram – so this beautiful white washed bathroom with clawed bath tub teamed with mosaic patterned floor tiles and vintage wall hangings gave a modern colonial twist to this utterly perfect bathroom.

Service

We checked in from the comfort of our room and were assigned our personal butler who was on hand via Whatsapp. To be honest I love this service and a lot of luxury properties are starting to offer it for convenience and all-round indulgence.

Food

The 137 Pillars caters for all dietary requirement and allergies. Breakfast is Asian style but chef is happy to make you anything you desire. Their fresh juices and ginger shots are great! For dinner you can opt between locally influenced ‘The Dining Room’ and Western themed ‘Palette, (produce grown in the hotels farm) both offer intimate dining experiences.

If you’re a foodie, the property offers a wonderful cooking class  showcasing how to make very tasty dishes which are actually rather simple but will leave you looking awesome at your next dinner party.

Relaxation

There are lots of peaceful areas around the hotel and in one quiet corner is the 25-metre long pool, set against a huge vertical plant wall that adds instant tropical vibes to the mood.

Their inhouse spa offers a vast menu of services with a couple of signature treatments.  

Family Friendly

Children are welcomed at the property, there’s not kids club as such but your personal butler will help with everything you and your family need. Opt for the rooms with the private pool as the space is ideal.

Location

Located on the west side of the Ping river in the Wat Gate area of Chiang Mai’s historic foreign quarter, the 137 Pillars House is close to the city’s main sites, boutique shops and cafes plus the famous night market which is a 15-minute walk away and the old city can be reached by a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride.

137 Pillars is a beautiful escapism and a place I will surely return too. They also have a property in Bangkok.

Read the beautiful story behind the brand which includes so much history: https://137pillarschiangmai.com/en/our-story/

We were in Sri Lanka touring the south coast and I had decided to start at the southern tip of the island in Tangalle pronounced Tan-GAH-leh and then head slowly back up the coast to Colombo. If you wish to cut out the drive time you can take a seaplane from Colombo to Tangalle where you will land at what might be the world’s most picturesque airport in Dickwella, just a shack near a dock on Mawella Lagoon, about 15 minutes from Tangalle. The 40-minute plane ride will spare you the 3.5-hour drive and provides a mesmerizing bird’s eye view of Sri Lanka.

Sadly since the deal with China has run into problems Hambantota Airport is temporarily closed for international flights, otherwise Fly Dubai flew directly from Dubai and being only an hour away from Tangalle is another fast way to get to the Sri Lankan south coast.

We were shown to our villa by tuk tuk – a lovely alternative to a golf buggy.  On the way to the villas you past the spa and gym, the kids club and once over the little bridge you spot two resident cows whom my kids named Milky and Clover. Around the grounds you will find a couple of hammocks where you can relax and enjoy the many squirrels, peacocks and a massive Sri Lankan turkey which looked very amusing walking by!

The 2 bedroom double story villas don’t have sea views but are more secluded and offer wonderful garden views with a really large private pool. Upon seeing the villa we immediately fell in love, it was so spacious, comfortable and felt like home. Spread across two floors the floor to ceiling windows let in so much natural light and picture perfect views.

The ground floor has a separate kitchen and bathroom and a large open living/dining room with sliding doors opening onto the garden and pool.  There is a large bedroom with two queen beds, a separate walk in open wardrobe and large bathroom, which included a bath and an outdoor shower. Upstairs is the large master bedroom with a separate walk wardrobe and a large bathroom.  What makes you feel really at home are the little touches such as a selection of books on the bed side tables and in the kids room they even had children’s books. If you’re a keen artist, in the master bedroom they had a desk complete with a large sketch pad and pencils and with the outdoor views, its certainly offers a great artist canvas.

The children loved the beach, there’s a surf school however the water was a bit rough for swimming in the sea, but that didn’t stop them from having fun playing on the rocks screaming as the large waves crashed against the side.  In the trees they had a tree swing which provided so much entertainment. The beach is raw, untouched and provided that sense of escapism. I love walking on the beach with the kids, kicking the water, collecting shells, which we always make into an adventure – well that’s my version anyway as my husband encourages the kids to climb the high rocks and jump off totally fearless while I am a nervous anxious wreck!

The large hotel pool is on two levels, offering various degrees of infinity inspired vistas. The shallow end has beds soaking in the water which are great for keeping cool.

I really enjoyed the cliff side restaurant Ll Mare , not only for its floodlight views of the ocean and the sounds of the waves but the food was amazing.  It serves Italian cuisine, which I don’t always eat, but with so many gluten free options paired with a nice bottle of red wine and the kids happily enjoying their pasta, it was a perfect dinner.

The other restaurant offers buffet for dinner and breakfast. With a vast variety of Sri Lankan and western dishes plus freshly squeezed juices from the "raw bar" which were delicious every morning - we were always spoilt for choice.

During the day we enjoyed lunch at the poolside bar and I believe during peak season the Verala beachside restaurant is another great option!

If you want to venture out of the hotel and into Tangalle you can discover the charm of rural fishing villages and fields of rice paddies, interspersed with Buddhist temples. Rekawa Beach is not far away and is famous for five species of turtles nesting on the beach, including the very rare hawksbill and leather back turtles.

It’s also a suitable base for combining a beach holiday with a visit to Udawalewe National Park and Yala National Park. We visited Udawalewe Park, two years ago which was amazing as we got to see so many elephants in their natural habitat - you can read our review here:

 http://www.uniquefamilytravels.com/2018/09/10/elephant-safari-in-sri-lanka/

So if you plan on visiting Tangalle you have to stay at Anantara Peace Haven - luckily for you they are a partner of Unique Family Travels so we can offer amazing rates and packages.

Heres a snap shot of the resort: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1whMl5JqL4

Anantara Kalutara

Our last destination on our road trip was Anantara Kalutara which is nearer to the airport and a great place for people to enjoy a few days who have been in the Kandy area and want a hotel not too far from the airport. This property is not as luxurious as its sister property Peace Haven, but its warm, friendly and amazing for kids. In fact from the moment you arrive the hotel is focused on the children as they gift them a very cute handmade elephant rucksack each and wooden jigsaws.

Let me start with the thrilling zipline/abseiling and rock climbing area, which is simply awesome. If my adrenalin junkie kids could have stayed on this all day they would have. They rock climbed and abseiled a wall of 10m and the zip line is 165 meters going over the lagoon. This was extremely well managed with the most gentle and sweet staff who made sure the kids were harnessed safely and encouraged them to have multiple turns.

Next to a fully equipped gym there is also a kids club with an indoor and outdoor area and a teenagers games room. Around the hotel are giant chessboards, which the kids enjoyed, especially my eldest who is really into chess now! There was also an area to learn archery.

On the far side of the resort there’s a cute duck pond and on the edge of the lagoon is the coolest tree house accessible by ladder and a swing over the lagoon which you get to from a little bridge – talk about back to basics fun fun fun!

We had a lovely large 2-bedroom villa with a swimming pool in the middle of the hotel courtyard. It was really comfortable and spacious but it offers no views as it has a wall around the villa providing privacy.

The hotel has two large swimming pools – one by the main restaurant where a lot of the hotel rooms look out onto which also has a dedicated kids pool and the other one is a large lap infinity pool but it’s adults only and has a bar/restaurant attached to it.   

Due to the lack of tourism in Sri Lanka since the start of the year, only one restaurant was open which served buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner – for me, I like a little variety so the chef went above and beyond to assist with this and I can’t thank them enough for being ever so caring, thoughtful and considerate to my families needs.

When we checked out of this splendid property I was blown away by the farewell ritual we received which is customary to Sri Lankan life. A young man sang a beautiful prayer with the most angelic voice, which was so moving, while he also tied a thread around everyone’s right wrist in order to wish us safe travels – a simple but powerful gesture that really touched me and my family and truly reinforced the feeling that Sri Lankans are the most soulful people and despite the recent tragedy, tourism in this magical place will come flowing back strongly.

Watch our videos here:

The kids club, referred to as the “Jungle Nook” is on the smaller size but it still provides enough activities to keep them busy including arts and crafts. We also gave the children a culinary experience by putting them in a cooking class. If they had been a little older they could have made a unique Sri Lankan dish to enjoy for lunch but instead chef showed them how to make iced tea and decorate cup cakes. For this they used “Tableau” the chef’s table dining experience, which is housed separately on the cape.

Each of the stunning villas are in clusters of 2 or 3 and come with a shared 15 meter swimming pool in the most immaculate lush gardens, most of them with sea views. Each cluster is named after a famous adventurer such as Samuel Baker, Ernst Haeckel, Marco Polo to name a few. This is a perfect resort for large families traveling together but need their own villas as you can all be next to each other yet still have your own space. Designed by renowned Thai architect Lek Bunnag, the resort is an upscale evocation of a Sri Lankan village. Each of the spacious villas is topped by terracotta roofs and surrounded by flower-filled gardens. 

Our two bedroom villa was perfect for my family providing enough space, beautiful grounds for the kids to play and of course a swimming pool. I have a thing for bathrooms and this bathroom was so big with a shower/steam room, large bath, double sinks on either sides of the wall and a large walk in wardrobe. Also such a genius idea - they had a beautiful chest in the bathroom which hid a massage bed so as you could have the spa message service in the comfort of your own room.

The villa’s sound system is run on Sonos which we use at home so we already had the app on our phone so the volume quality was great and the Smart TV is loaded with a vast collection of movies and television shows.   

There are a couple of options for dining starting with the main restaurant “Ocean Terrace” positioned at the top of the cape all open fronted and showcases the most wonderful panoramic views. With a vast menu including a large selection of gluten free and diary free options, this is a great spot for breakfast or dinner.

For breakfast one morning we were offered a floating breakfast which is part of the Cape Weligama experience and is at no extra cost. You order what you would like to eat the night before, set a time and in the morning your food is waiting to be served to you in the swimming pool. I loved this experience but my kids were so confused! I always tell them not to eat in the pool or even go in the pool straight after they have eaten, but this experience goes against everything I have told them – they could now eat their pancakes and coco pops in the pool!!! It was very amusing to watch the kids try and eat and also a perfect picture/Insta opportunity.

For lunch you can have a more relaxed vibe, either ordering to your villa as they will set up the dining area on your terrace or you can go to the surf bar, which has a pool table, and out door seating. The Surf Bar is also attached to a fully equipped gym, so while the husband burnt a few calories, I piled them on enjoying a couple of glasses of rose!

As Cape Weligama is owned by Resplendent Ceylon (Owners of Dilmah Tea) you have to experience their afternoon high tea, which is served in the elegant setting, of “Cape Club” - we also enjoyed sundowners and evening drinks in this bar/lounge that invokes a lot of Sri Lanka’s colonial history with pictures, paintings and old books.

The resort does provide buggies to get around the property but its much more fun to experience the grounds by walking. We were told that there were 4 “look out spots” on the cliff edge all named after whales, which had been spotted in the sea below. One of these divine hidden spots, called “lookout blue’ is also a beautiful location to enjoy a private al fresco dinner, the sound of the waves crashing below being your only soundtrack.

Cape Weligama is the perfect resort for romantics and families. Switch off and totally chill out in luxurious settings and breathtaking views – all of Sri Lanka at its true finest.

Watch our video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T__xrEMXASg&feature=youtu.be

Their Slowlife philosophy and “no news, no shoes” barefoot ethos complemented by Robinson Crusoe living has not only given me such wonderful memories but has etched a permanent place in my heart.

A 30-minute seaplane from Male (Soneva have their own aircrafts but on this day we used TMA service), Soneva Fushi’s paradise island is located in Baa Atoll. The sea plane lands close to a pontoon in the sea where a speed boat greets you and takes you to the island. You may wonder why the plane doesn’t arrive at the islands jetty – well this is for two reasons; limit noise pollution for guests and to preserve the sea life close to the island. These examples of ethical and conservation thinking are sprinkled throughout the Soneva experience. This was also evident at the airport as the Soneva car from the airport to the seaplane terminal was a TESLA.

Greeted by Mrs. Friday, your personal butler and in our case the wonderful and accommodating Christina, who by the way, loves her job so much that its clearly on display when she talks about Soneva Fushi. She welcomes every member of our family by name and chatted to the children.  The moment we stepped on the boat, she collected our shoes and put them into a cloth bag in order to follow the islands main rule: no shoes.

Once on the island, Christina gave us a tour of the island, which is 1.5 kilometers by 400 meters. Christina explained how she has designed an itinerary that she believes we would enjoy during our stay. She personally knows our likes and dislikes along with our dietary requirements. This is because a few days before we landed on the island I was emailed a detailed questionnaire in order to make our stay more personalized. These questions included: What pillows do we prefer and what fragrance we would like our pillows to smell off, preferred bathrobe sizes for the entire family, any additional items which we would require in the bathroom, everything you could imagine for traveling with babies and kids, our favorite type of music and of course favorite ice creams from the amazing variety of flavors served on the island. Also our dietary requirements and considering that Soneva Fushi is all about healthy food the options include a wide range of gluten and diary free items – more than I have seen at any other hotel.

Going through the lush vegetation of the islands labyrinth of narrow paths, we spot the entrance to our home for the next week with our 5 bikes all perfectly lined up outside.

 WOW - our villa was the ultimate in tree house luxury living. A massive 2-bedroom double-story house with its own large, salt-water pool and just a few steps away your own private entrance to the pristine white sandy beach and crystal clear ocean.

The design element of all the villas merge the islands ethos, with thatched roofs, large wood panel doors and timber staircases. The soft white furnishing and relaxing areas bring the indoor living outdoor. The bedroom on the ground floor offered a shower and sunken bath in the garden. At the end of the four-poster beds were beautiful vintage trunks that concealed a TV – not that you even want to watch anything. With 62 villas on the island, each one privately secluded, there are a range of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 bedroom villas with even a 9 bedroom private reserve with slides with everything you could possibly imagine.

The island also has 19 private residences, which are for sale, once I win the lottery, this will be my first purchase:

https://www.sonevavillaownership.com/

To preserve the coral reef Soneva Fushi doesn’t have any over-water villas; for an over water living experience you must try Soneva Jani their sister hotel which is about an hour away by speed boat. https://www.soneva.com/soneva-jani/

At Soneva their aim is to create unforgettable and enlightening experiences while aiming to illuminate lives and thread lightly on the earth. With that in mind, Soneva make every effort to create and follow sustainable practices, from recycling waste materials, conserving water and eco systems. Food is grown and sourced locally and the island has one of the largest solar power plants in the Maldives.

Activities

The sunset dolphin cruise was a lovely way to relax, enjoy the ocean and watch the sun go down. The kids were super excited to see the dolphins but on this occasion we were unlucky, as they didn’t want to come out and say hello – yet the day before and the day after the guests saw many. It wasn’t so bad as dolphins swam past our villa most days around lunchtime, which was beautiful.

Snorkeling trip – this was really the first time the kids have actually been old enough to appreciate snorkeling deep in the ocean. Our speedboat took us about 15 minutes away from the island where there was a stunning coral reef with turtles. The kids managed to swim with their fins, mask and snorkel especially Sisi but the other two wanted to dive down so they switched to fins and goggles and free dived. Using the Go Pro we managed to take many great pictures of the sealife including spotting a few turtles. Once you have been fitted for your snorkeling equipment its yours for the duration of your stay, so the kids got to enjoy the house coral reefs too and when the tide was out the amount of black tip sharks close to the shore was amazing. They don’t touch you so the kids felt comfortable swimming with them along with Nemo and angel fish!!

So Star Stuck

Once the sun goes down and the skies canopy is lit the resident astronomer is on hand to talk you through the stars and planets and you can get a clear view using the state of the art telescope via the only 3D technology to be installed in any resort in the world.

Life really is about creating experiences and Soneva bring this to the forefront. One experience you can enjoy is a private picnic on an UNESCO island, not too far from Soneva Fushi.

Cinema Paradiso

There is something about watching a movie under the greatest canopy in the world, but on this occasion it was even more magical as actress, producer and writer, Tilda Swindon was on the island so kindly offered to introduce a movie, which she starred in – the fantastic Wes Anderson production called Grand Budapest Hotel!

A few words from Tilda https://youtu.be/whhLILy2GZs

The Den

The Den is the ultimate in kids’ club entertainment. One giant open plan and no door playground with a slide going into the pool, a pirates ship made out of wood and so much entertainment that the kids could never get bored. The Den’s activity schedule was jam packed from arts & crafts, milkshake making and cooking classes, sailing, paddle boarding, mini triathlon, marine life bingo with the resident marine biologist and a scavenger hunt. They also had a great music room and built in piano on the floor which was a great way to hear when people are entering and leaving the club. The staff was super friendly and my kids all gained a friend each: Bebe, Daniella and Rio!! Funny that!!!

Dining

Each restaurant on the island provides not only a culinary experience, which foodies would die for but each restaurant provides a different experience in the most amazing of settings. Everything served on the island is organically grown or produced with vast vegan free and diary free options. Beef dishes are not included on any of the menus due to not being sustainable, however you can ask chef to cook you a beef dish and he will come up with something truly delightful.

Breakfast is served at the Mihiree Mitha restaurant which is back to basic dining on the beach yet cooked and presented like no other. Every morning the resident mixologist will ask you how you’re feeling and prepare you an Ayurveda drink/shot for your needs.

Out of the Blue sits on stilts and hovers over the crystal clear sea attached to the island by a winding wooden bridge. It’s the perfect spot to keep cool with a giant slide into the sea and great marine life spotting. This all day dining restaurant offers Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine with the most desirable desert room that you could walk into for a sweet snack and pick from its extensive choices of the most delicious ice cream flavors.  For bespoke dining you can enjoy So Hands On the sushi counter that is in partnership with Chef Kenji Gyoten, one of the only four sushi chefs with 3 Michelin stars. There is also a Teppanyaki table for entertainment dining.

Fresh in the Garden was one of our favorites to dine at because of the garden to table dining but also the restaurant, which is located in a tree house in the Eco centre and vegetable  garden connected by a rope walking bridge crossing over to the restaurant which provided great enjoyment alone. There was something special about dining high up in the trees.

Sadly we never got to experience Shades of Green, which is a full plant based menu of Asian fusion dishes using Nordic cooking methods. And we also didn’t get to experience the underground wine cellar, which offers wine tasting opportunities.

Once upon a Table is a culinary theatre showcasing some of the biggest names in fine dining. The island will invite top chefs to provide a non-menu dining experience at a exclusive table of 8-10 overlooking the Indian Ocean – simply an experience of a lifetime.

Island Friends

The island has over 300 rabbits hopping around in the lush grounds. The kids enjoyed spotting they were super friendly so we  would feed them lettuce. All the islands communication is provided on recycled paper and presented in bamboo tubes. The children were also gifted hand drawn illustration books about the resort and the rabbits which is another magical touch.

Six Sense Spa

Six Senses Resorts and Spa was originally founded by Eva and Sonu the brains behind Soneva. They sold the brand in 2012 but still have Six Senses manage their spas in all the three properties, Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Kiri. They invite famous practitioners to the island and while we were there they had Claude Simard and Jill Banwell, massage and meditation specialists offering their unique services and insights to the island guests.

Upcycle

As no plastic is allowed on the island all drinks are served via glass bottles – but what does the island do with all the empty bottles and breakages?  Well simple, this is Soneva! They have taken the solution into their own hands and manage it on the island via their very own glass factory. They first crush down the glass and melt it in a glass furnace then via a variety of techniques they upcycle!  After that Soneva’s own skilled team of glass specialists create signature items for the restaurants and villas. They also mix fine particles of glass with cement and Styrofoam to make cement bricks for construction. From the coconuts they make oil for cooking and to  use in the spa.

At Soneva you really are at one with nature. Nothing looks out of place as every raw material, building, and construction looks like it’s supposed to be there. You’re paying for the pleasure of being on the island, living the dream, eating the best food and literally being spoilt with attention by the staff.

I am also honored to be a Soneva brand ambassador – the first in the GCC. I honestly believe I manifested this relationship, as I have loved the brand for over 10 years since visiting one of their first properties. When I asked the kids to give me one word to explain their stay at Soneva Fushi, this was their reply:

Rio – “Epic”

Sisi – “Incredible”

Amara – “Luxurious”

Here's a little video from our stay at Soneva Fushi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnSkApUyNbg

You need to disconnect to reconnect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUTi2wmrdf0&list=UU4bm0EBz_Ex8wHeCa6RVdvg

Always giving back!

Sonu was one of the founders of the Soneva Foundation (previously known as the SLOWLIFE Foundation). For nearly 20 years Sonu and his wife, Eva, have created the template for sustainable tourism, coining the concepts of SLOW LIFE and intelligent luxury which recognises the ability for luxury holiday making and care for the environment to co-exist in harmony. The Soneva Foundation is a UK registered charity which supports the development of innovative and imaginative projects whose impacts directly address social and environmental challenges around the world.

The Soneva Foundation has so far raised almost USD six million from Soneva's 2 percent environmental levy. The money has been used to fund a forest restoration programme in northern Thailand where around half a million trees have been planted to mitigate 255,000 tonnes of CO2. The money has also funded a windmill in South India.

Emirates fly direct from Dubai airport with a 4 hour flight. Visa's are given on arrival.

Sea plane transfers are required for Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani   

I had just found out I was pregnant – not aware that I was going to be having twins, so my husband and I along with our 4 month old daughter Amara, escaped to enjoy total relaxation in the middle of nowhere.

Even though they don’t advise staying in ocean villas with young children due to safety – our daughter was only 4 months old so she was totally fine. Our gorgeous stilted ocean villa was on wooden jetty which went from the island into the Indian Ocean. Parked outside our villa were our bikes which had been personalized with wooden tags. Don’t ask my why, maybe it was instead of taking a pram on holiday, I ended up taking a car seat with me – however this actually worked out to be very handy as it fitted neatly in the bikes basket so we could all enjoy bike riding around the island. 

The villas come with the best views you could ever imagine waking upto and a private terrace where you can jump straight into the crystal blue water (OMG I want to be there right now, writing this brings back so many lovely memories) and there is also a large hammock (like a trampoline net) to relax on. The villa hass a large bathroom with an outdoor shower but don’t worry the clever design still provides privacy. 

The rooms are typically Six Senses rustic designs offering natural wood fittings with a double bed in the middle of the room facing the windows.

The snorkeling is world class all though we didn’t do it for long as one of us had to watch the baby, however when we did we were transported into a scene from “Finding Nemo” Also just off shore is the impressive Yin Yang, the Maldives most famous surfing 8 foot wave break.

Six Senses Laamu always plays on a journey of senses and this is brought to the forefront when it comes to dining. With 3 restaurants and 2 bars all offering a different vibe. The breakfast spot, Longitude is open air dining on a split level right on the waters edge.  Leaf offers fine dining cuisine where every meal was just mouth watering and the Chill Bar is perfect for sundowners and chillaxing after an eventful busy day swimming, eating and sleeping!!.

All the vegetables are grown onsite and the seafood is fresh from the ocean. There is also an ice cream parlor with so many flavours to work your way through.

Six Senses are well known for their amazing spa’s but as I was pregnant I unfortunately didn’t get the chance to enjoy any of their services – but not too worry as I will make it up it on my next visit.

The resort also offers the following: private picnics and barbecues on remote patches of sand, Sunset Dolphin Cruises, as well as boat excursions for diving and snorkelling, and the dive school does certification courses. The resort is child friendly offering a kids club called The Den. The Den has a wide range of activities and games and babysitting is on request. Also a good point to mention is that the resort offers baby high chairs in all the restaurants and childrens toys are availble on request.

There is only one rule when visiting Six Senses Laamu and that’s NO shoes – so kick back and enjoy every second of your stay as time goes by far too quickly when your doing nothing but having fun.

Until next time Laamu ………