It’s that time of year again when Condé Nast Traveller wants to hear from you – it’s the Readers’ Choice Awards 2023. Which destination have you fallen in love with? Has a particular hotel changed your relationship with travel in unexpected ways? Ultimately, where are you at your happiest? We want to know so that we can celebrate the hotels shaping the hospitality industry for the better.
To mark the return of the Readers’ Choice Awards, Condé Nast Traveller and InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort are teaming up to give away the ultimate Maldivian escape for two travellers. The prize, worth around £20,000, includes seven nights at the resort for two people on a full board basis, return flights from the UK to the Maldives courtesy of Qatar Airways, seaplane transfers and indulgent spa treatments.
Amid the sparkling crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean, the Raa Atoll’s pristine sandy banks appear, punctuated by bursts of lush vegetation. Occupying one of these dazzling islands, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is a short journey from Hanifaru Bay – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve teeming with underwater life. Watch out for dolphins playfully escorting boats on their excursions and manta rays gliding through the water, joined by glistening fish.
Wake up to the soothing sounds of the rippling ocean and little else – here, time seems to stand still. The resort is a barefoot luxury haven, from the overwater residences to the sun-soaked beach villas that decorate the island’s extremities. Each accommodation category offers a unique experience. Feel at home in two-level lagoon villas, showering outside among the greenery before dips in the infinity pool and sundowners on the private terrace, or enjoy unobstructed views of clear skies and the ocean from the sundeck – or bathtub – of an overwater villa.
Indulgent multi-course suppers are as accessible as laidback lunches. Six restaurants and bars cater to all tastes, from majestic morning views and crafted pastries in Café Umi to deli favourites and pizza slices at The Collective between afternoon dips in the main pool. As the sun begins its descent into the distant water, raise a signature cocktail or sommelier-recommended flute of Champagne to the trip of a lifetime at Sunset Bar. Elsewhere, The Lighthouse is one of the most unique restaurants in the Maldives – soak up 360-degree views of the resort as sizzling plates of seafood spill out of the kitchen.
Discover a newfound love for wellness at the resort’s award-winning AVI Spa. The sanctuary is inspired by the ocean and designed in natural harmony with its surroundings. Expert therapists ease tension, release knots and ensure visitors leave rejuvenated, thanks to signature treatments that utilise brands including Eminence Organics, Kerstin Florian and VitaJuwel Crystal Gemstones. Post-treatment, discover the power of yoga in all its forms – aerial, paddleboard, and more traditional classes are available, tailored to individual needs by experts in the field. The jam-packed wellness calendar is regularly updated with new options, from HIIT classes to power yoga sessions in the tranquil yoga pavilion.
Looking to do little more than soak up the surroundings and top up the vitamin D levels? There’s no judgement here. But, when the desire to try something new arises, attentive staff are on-hand to showcase all this dreamy environment has to offer. Sail into the sunset aboard one of the resort’s sleek yachts, swim among the lagoon’s aquatic residents or embrace the castaway life and take over a nearby sandbank for a sun-soaked afternoon.
A sustainable ethos influences everything InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort does. Located close to a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, good practices are non-negotiable and ‘green engage’ initiatives minimise guests' carbon footprints. The team is committed to reducing plastic waste by 90 per cent and glass waste by 80 per cent. The installation of 1,577 solar panels to date means the Maldives’ sunshine hours source 15 per cent of the resort’s energy requirements – resulting in a reduction of 900 tons of CO2 annually. Conservation efforts are just as important to the team; The Manta Trust is one of the world’s leading manta ray research organisations and started working with the hotel in 2019. Presentations and sustainably-run excursions are designed to educate travellers about the beautiful rays within easy reach of a juvenile manta feeding ground.
Winners will arrive at the resort in the best of spirits, thanks to complimentary flights courtesy of Qatar Airways. It is no surprise to frequent-flyers that Qatar Airways picked up the Airline of the Year gong at the 2022 World Airline Awards, thanks to their impeccable service standard, a choice of more than 160 destinations worldwide, and dedication to the travel experience from the moment travellers arrive at the check-in desk.
How to enter
To be in with a chance of winning this once-in-a-lifetime escape, tell us all about your favourite travel experiences in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards.