When I meet someone new, and I explain to them my job as a travel and lifestyle blogger, they always ask me the same question. “Where is the best place you’ve ever visited?” and my answer is always the same; Six Senses Laamu. Without hesitating, I can boldly say that of all the fabulous destinations I’ve had the great fortune to visit over the past couple of years, the Maldivian island that hosts the spectacular Six Senses resort is undoubtedly the most incredible destination I’ve visited. There is a certain magic about the Maldives, from that moment you first look out the plane window and see the dramatic atolls from high above, to when you step foot onto the powdery white sand on the islands and first dip your toes into the crystal clear lagoon. The Maldives will forever be a special place for Charlie and I too, as it is the place that we first met five and a half years ago. How crazy is that – meeting your partner on a tiny desert island in the Indian Ocean?! This year, Charlie and I travelled back to the Maldives for the first time together since we met there in 2012, and one of the islands that we stayed on was Six Senses Laamu. We instantly knew we’d love it; being the only resort within its atoll (readable by a short domestic flight and then a luxurious speedboat ride from Male) it certainly has that ‘castaway’ feeling that make it the perfect destination for a romantic retreat. Upon arrival to the island you’re introduced to your GEM – that’s your Guest Experience Manager. Essentially a personal concierge or butler for you during your stay, he will help you to organise activities, book dinner, basically help you with absolutely anything during your stay. Our GEM showed us to our luxury water villa, and I was speechless; I’d never seen anything quite like it. The vibe of the rooms is sustainable yet stylish, with local wood used to carve the impressive structures; complete with infinity pool, private decking area where you can enjoy your breakfast on a glass table with the ocean beneath you, and a glass bottom bath too. The outdoor rainforest shower was the epitome of the rustic-luxe vibe that you feel throughout the entire resort, and the roof deck above your private villa I knew instantly would be my favourite place for watching the sun rise with my coffee for the next few mornings. Behind the giant bed with floor to ceiling ocean views, was a wonderful his & hers sink area; with the basins set in rustic brown leather trunks; details like this were found throughout the resort, and each day we discovered something new to surprise and delight us. One thing that often I’m asked about a vacation on a desert island that’s not much bigger than Clapham Common is – don’t you get bored? Well, if you’re not a fan of sunbathing and spending your days relaxing by the ocean then perhaps a city break would be more suited, but Six Senses certainly understand that even when you’re in paradise, you crave some variety. Wellness is a big focus at the hotel, and Charlie and I had a ‘Wellness Screening’ at the beginning of our stay; the in house expert advised us on diet and exercise routines that we should adopt both on the island and back at home, as well as massage treatments that would be best suited to us. We didn’t delay before booking ourselves in for a variety of Asian inspired treatments at the hotel spa (where you can enjoy a couples treatment in an indoor/outdoor wooden egg shaped room) and planning some sessions at the resorts gym. One of my favourite parts of the gym was the upper deck where you could practise your fitness routine or yoga with an incredible ocean view – I filmed my On The Go Workout Routine while there; so you can watch it here to see how spectacular the gym is! As well as variety when it comes to fitness and wellbeing, there’s a huge selection of dining options too, with four main restaurants on the island, and even the standard buffet being one of the most incredible dining experiences I’ve ever encountered. The main dining area as well as the reception, dive centre, boutique and ice cream parlour (YES there’s unlimited free ice cream in countless flavours for you to enjoy during your stay!) are all set on a gigantic wooden stilted structure over the shallow waters; it’s possible to enjoy your morning smoothie while watching turtles and manta rays swooping past! You’ve never seen a buffet quite like those at the Six Senses; every type of fruit imaginable, fresh juices, eggs any style, smoothies, you name it; breakfast is very serious affair on the island! Lunch and dinner are equally as spectacular, with charcuterie, sushi and cheeses all found within a chilled room that resembles a giant ice glass cube on the end of the jetty. Sri Lankan and Indian chefs create a variety of curries and flavoursome dishes, while the pastry chefs spend hours creating intricate cakes and other sweet treats for you to enjoy after your main. Charlie and I frequently visited the Sip Sip bar for a more informal lunch; the swim up bar or cabanas on the beach were the perfect place to enjoy a salad or pizza, or perhaps the catch of the day. The ironically named ‘Rush Hour’ meant two for one drinks, and for a small sand island, the cocktails seriously packed a punch! It’s impossible to put into words how incredible our time at Six Senses was, from the world class service from the staff to the personal touches (such as our initials on our very own bikes to zip around the island!) there really are no words that can sum up such a sensational trip – so I hope this video gives even more of a glimpse into our time at Six Senses! Discover more about Six Senses here and book your stay at Six Senses Laamu here.
