First look: Inside Soneva Fushi’s new overwater line-up
“Aren’t you a little too old to be playing with buttons?” I silently ask myself, grinning while tinkering with my bedside console. You can’t blame me, though. How often do you get to unfurl a high-pitched roof on demand and let in the Maldivian sunshine – or the moonlit night sky – directly above your bed?
The retractable feature in Soneva Fushi’s new overwater line-up made it hard to leave my bed. But there is much to explore outside this stilted wooden castle, located in Baa Atoll.
Under this week’s new rules, all non-essential travel to the Maldives (as elsewhere) is banned – but come December, when restrictions are lifted, the island nation is likely to be back on the UK’s quarantine-free list. Britons will once again be able to experience Soneva Fushi’s recently opened Water Retreats, the largest one and two-bedroom overwater villas in the world.
These are the first completely overwater villas at the luxury eco resort – all the other villas fringe a large, lush island – and each castaway-style retreat includes a private ocean-facing lap pool, a second-storey outdoor living space and a 60ft water slide. A gently curved jetty links the eight villas – one-bedrooms are 6,290 sq ft and the two-bedrooms are 9,225 sq ft – on an isolated side of the island, accessed via bicycles, a lengthy walk or golf carts driven by a designated butler.
The “ohhs” and “ahhhs” will commence immediately upon opening your sliding wooden doors: you will overlook the dining and living space – kitted with glass-bottomed floors and jewel-toned fabrics – and peer directly into the sparkling lagoon just beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Outside, a gargantuan pinewood deck contains a saltwater pool suspended above the shallow water, enough seating and loungers to accommodate 20-plus guests (comfortably!) and the slide that is fiercer than it looks: my lightning-fast plunges into the turquoise lagoon weren’t graceful in the least. Inside, recycled styrofoam insulates the rooms and subdues the sound of the wind and waves. The master bathroom wing features an indoor and outdoor shower, an open-air sunken tub and private swimming area.
The one-bedroom Water Retreats are the obvious choices for couples and honey-mooners – there are several spots for lovers to, ahem, enjoy each other’s company – while the two-bedroom villas would suit families, though a hawkish eye is required with young ones on the deck.
Just as impressive as the size and ocean views is the masterful craftsmanship of the joinery. The villas are a wonderland of assorted, reclaimed woods: thin slivers of eucalyptus make up the ceiling and retractable roof’s underbelly, while gorgeous artistic driftwood accents and furnishings enliven the tanned oak walls and sturdy cedar frames.
While it would be easy to self-isolate by choice in these mega-villas, it would be a shame to skip on the varied and fabulous restaurants on the island, such as the organic-driven Fresh in the Garden, dramatically perched above a dense jungle canopy, or the plethora of activities on and off site, such as snorkelling with manta rays, dolphin sunset cruises, complimentary water sports and even glass-blowing classes.
But if you’re after a slice of this Crusoe-esque lifestyle, book quickly. Despite the global pandemic, occupancy levels at the Soneva group’s resorts were higher in 2020 than they had been the previous year. The allure of paradise remains undimmed.
Read the full review: Soneva Fushi, Maldives
From
£ 1,997
Rates provided by Booking.com
