Surrounded by tranquil waters and private beaches, the resort officially opened its doors, inviting guests to try its wide variety of unique island experiences

What I consider to be my most significant discovery this year? That paradise is a mere four hour and 30-minute journey from Singapore &mdash; as I experienced last month, a four-hour flight to Velana International Airport, followed by a 20-minute boat ride is all it takes to arrive at the new Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort &amp; Spa.
And while I had never considered myself a proper resort-holiday-goer, my three-day stay at the Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort &amp; Spa has well changed that. Here, there are no such issues as feeling restless from too much time on a deckchair. For one, the resort houses 109 beautifully furnished overwater or beach villas &mdash; with the perfect balance of rustic details and modern elements, each villa boasts magnificent sea views and its own private pool. In fact, I just had to step onto the balcony of my overwater villa to enjoy the sight of clear blue waters and Maldivian sea life, such as blue Parrotfishes, swimming freely in the ocean.

One-Bedroom Beach Pool Villa

Speaking of making offshore discoveries, the resort is equipped with its own dive centre, where one can book snorkelling sessions and cruises. We tried the Turtle Quest and the Dolphin Cruise, which did not disappoint &mdash; on our snorkelling trip, we spotted a turtle, a lobster and a moray eel; and on the cruise, we witnessed pods of dolphins swimming in close proximity to our boat. Diving, paddle boarding and various watersports activities are also available at the Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort &amp; Spa. For those who don&rsquo;t fancy getting wet, there are plenty of relaxing activities to engage in &mdash; a Sunrise Yoga session, a cocktail-making experience at the resort&rsquo;s Cocktail Lab, a resin art workshop, or a cooking class for traditional Maldivian dishes. Parents who are bringing their children along to the resort will be glad to know that it houses the Krakengiri Kids&rsquo; Club, where the young explorers can be left to enjoy an outdoor children&rsquo;s play pool and a splash park, under the supervision of dedicated staff at the kids&rsquo; club &mdash; perhaps while the adult guests slip away to the 24-hour gym, or to enjoy their massage treatments or a hammam ritual at the Amingiri Spa.

Not least of all, nothing kept me feeling as excited on the island resort as its multitude of dining options to try &mdash; one can taste the Sip Tea Lounge&rsquo;s Coconut Cr&egrave;me Tea, enjoy Western and Asian flavours at Aura (there&rsquo;s even nasi goreng if you miss home), and savour a whole grilled lobster or a spicy Maldivian family-style dinner at Habitat. If you&rsquo;re feeling adventurous, as one should when in the Maldives, try Origin&rsquo;s desserts, which include the Salted Caramel Slice with fish fat, and Vanilla Cheesecake with Salmon Roe Crumble.

Maldivian Blues at the Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa

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