Maldives - Barefoot luxury at it's best

I was privileged enough to be invited on an educational trip of a lifetime to the beautiful islands of the Maldives. A lengthy but comfortable journey on-board Qatar Airways via Doha saw us arrive in Male to board a smaller aircraft to another island before taking a speedboat to an even smaller island - but the adventure had just begun. Six Senses Laamu is picture perfect, barefoot luxury. Before arriving on the boat we were given a shoe bag and encouraged to spend our days without shoes on, even to your meals - YES, I took full advantage of this. Each guest is provided with their very own bicycle at their villa on arrival to move around the island and explore. With so much to do and so little time to do it, this is a welcome addition to your island holiday. Staying in a Lagoon Villa and being surrounded by water makes your room a peaceful haven. Outdoor showers, water viewing glass in the toilet and a deck leading out to the lagoon where you can jump off into the water at any time adds to the feeling of relaxation that just seems to accompany your arrival. My first morning started with a back, neck and shoulder massage at the spa with a view overlooking the blue waters of the lagoon. This was a great way to unwind and help with the jetlag that I was feeling a touch of. With over 5 restaurants to choose from, breakfast, lunch and dinner is an exciting time to try out local and international cuisine in a setting of your choice. As for dessert, well the complimentary choice of 44 flavours of ice-cream and sorbet is a must. Our second day was spent on a private island surrounded by white sand, blue waters, a picnic basket to die for and snorkelling as far as your eyes can see. You can finish your day off with a private dinner on the beach or movies under the stars. Six Senses Laamu's water sports centre offers, Stand Up Paddling, water-skiing, kayaking and surf lessons amongst other activities so you can fill your day with excitement and much needed Vitamin D. If your need of a holiday is to relax completely and find a sense of peace then a Maldivian Island holiday is definitely for you. Qatar Airways offers quick and seamless connections and there is more than enough to do during your downtime at Doha Airport from shopping to dining. There are relaxation areas, plenty of restrooms and even jungle gyms for your little tots. I will definitely return to these beautiful islands.