Vivanta by Taj, Coral Reef

The Maldives

The Maldives, in the heart of the Indian Ocean, is an archipelago of about 1200 coral islands. This paradise like country is divided into 26 atolls near the Equator.

Under the bright sun of the tropical climate, turquoise lagoons, palm leaves swaying in the breeze and sumptuous white sand beaches attract more than 800,000 visitors annually. In a country consisting of 99 percent water, diving masks, snorkels and flippers are standard and necessary equipment for discovering a magical universe of underwater flora and fauna, considered the richest in the Indian Ocean.

As a crossroads of Indian, Arab and British cultures, the Maldives has made island-hotels its specialty. Each of the country’s most beautiful islands have one and only one hotel and the promise of beaches surrounded by coconut palms and water as warm as it is crystalline.

An elegant resort

Located in the Northern Malé atoll, the Vivanta by Taj Coral Reef is an elegant and design resort belonging to the prestigious Taj Hotels & Resorts hotel group. Renovated in 2009, its new name Vivanta for “vivacity”, “vivid” and “bon vivant,” is a perfect match for the hotel’s style, refinement and a full and fulfilling “art de vivre.”

After a 50 minute motorboat trip, guests arrive at the jetty of this heart shaped island and discover an ideal environment for a relaxing vacation in the middle of magnificent flora and fauna.

The resort’s 62 luxuriouswater villas, located between the beach and the lagoon, were designed by Grant Kent, an Australian architectural firm. They are all spacious, bright, sober and modern, with indoor bathrooms and outdoor rain water type showers, ideal for a quick rinse after a swim in the turquoise waters of the ocean. From the pontoon, there’s a direct access to the sea.

Two ultra luxurious villas, hidden in a lush tropical forest bordering the beach, have their own private swimming pool and an enclosed garden.

These two story “ Nirvana” suites, with their thatched roofs and pure subtle décor are truly worthy of their name.

In the spacious and comfortable living room, there is a predominance of beige tones and natural materials. A wooden staircase leads upstairs to the bedroom, which like the rest of the villa is bright with occasional touches of color.

The design of the bathrooms was inspired by shells found in the water around the island. There’s an uninterrupted view of the limpid waters of the lagoon from the terrace, and if guests feel like taking a dip, a pontoon connects the villa directly to the beach.

Not far from the infinity swimming pool, the Reef bar with its black walls and wicker furniture is the ideal late afternoon spot. For dining, guests have the choice between the Hembadhu Grill, the best place to taste the wealth of fish from the Indian Ocean, and the Latitude restaurant, which proposes authentic Maldivian cuisine.

Between moments of lying on the beach or around the swimming pool, which reflects the blue of the ocean, guests might be tempted by the Jiva Spa for a rejuvenating treatment inspired by medical and aesthetic Asian traditions.

Finally, for an intimate, romantic experience, couples can reserve the Moon Deck, a table set up far from everything, where they can dine together with the ocean as the only bystander.

In the grill restaurant, the main attraction is the Teppanyaki. The head chef performs a number of acrobatic exercises for the guests as he cooks the food on a hot plate.