If Claudia says a place is great, then we believe her. In fact, we immediately start googling where to stay, hoping we’ll find ourselves sunning ourselves next to her on the beach. Not only has The Celebrity Traitors presenter written about how much she loves the Maldives, but she’s also said she thinks it’s ‘absolutely magic because you don’t have to make a decision about a single thing’.
We couldn’t agree more – which is why we think Claudia may head back there this winter, as there’s nothing like blue sea and sunshine to blow those Traitors castle cobwebs away. We’d swap a chilly Scottish field (with THOSE spooky scarecrows in) for 30-degree heat any day.
Whenever you think of dream holidays (and we do a lot), the Maldives is up there. And despite its nearest neighbour, India, being 600km away, reaching one of the thousand islands on offer is surprisingly easy – you fly direct to the capital, Malé, and catch a seaplane or boat to your resort. As Claudia says, you literally ‘plop off the plane and are in the middle of the ocean’. But where do you go from there?
Good Housekeeping's managing director, Liz Settle, and her partner, Susie, recommend Kandima, a spectacular five-star resort with 270 luxury studios including more than 80 overwater villas in the dreamy Dhaalu Atoll, about 200km south-west of Malé.
Set on a private 3km-long island surrounded by that trademark Maldivian sea (calm, crystal clear and tropical), Kandima is easily reached via a 40-minute seaplane ride or a 40-minute domestic flight to Dhaalu Airport, plus a 20-minute speedboat transfer.
Bright and playful, the decor is the perfect antidote to The Traitors dark, gothic aesthetic. ‘We got used to seeing baby blacktip reef sharks and iridescent blue parrotfish as we wandered down the long boardwalk to our overwater villa – a bucket-list experience ticked,’ Liz says.
What to read next
‘The 500-strong staff (at least half of whom are Maldivian, by law), all live on the island and their service is smiley, sweet-natured and slow – which even for me, an impatient Londoner, is fine – who cares if your iced coffee takes 10 minutes to arrive?’ she adds. ‘Just enjoy the view. And what a view. So many shades of blue! The sky is a deep cyan in the heat of the day, while the sea is a glittering mix of turquoise, jewel green and, to the far horizon, indigo.’
Kandima’s real magic is its family offering, something we’re sure Claudia and her brood would also enjoy. Parents can have a great time thanks to the beautifully appointed kids’ club with its own outside play area completely hidden from the rest of the resort. And for peace of mind, there’s a medical centre with a GP and nurse on call 24 hours a day.
There’s also a football pitch, tennis and beach volleyball, as well as ‘Fast Track’, a mini Grand Prix circuit where you can hire electric go-karts to race – ideal for those with bigger kids (or speed-freak grown-ups). The new ‘PlaySpace’ entertainment zone features a zip line, video gaming, bowling and all manner of other teen-friendly distractions. Smart thinking.
And if Claudia goes for Christmas, she’ll be in good company. Kandima’s festive programme includes the chance to play football on the beach with Lucy Bronze MBE, UEFA Women’s Champions League winner and England international, and Ona Batlle, World Cup and two times Champion’s league winner, before they head to Brazil to complete in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Now there’s an idea for The Celebrity Traitors next year . . .
When it comes to food, there’s 10 different places to eat and drink including Azure, a healthy lunch and dinner spot by the beach; all-day dining in the Flavour Zest food hall; Smoked for perfectly grilled steak, ribs or burgers; Sea Dragon for Asian fusion and the Aroma Café for speciality coffees and cake alongside painting and craft classes.
A highlight of Liz's trip was swimming with a turtle. ‘There was something about the way it swam – slowly and calmly, apparently carefree and without noticing either its own beauty or that of the sea – that was distinctly Maldivian. One for the memory bank, for sure,’ she says. See you there, Claudia!
