The Island of Love
Kathryn Otto and partner enjoyed an enchanting escape to OBLU SELECT Lobigili in the Maldives
Location
In the Maldivian language of Dhivehi, ‘Lobi’ means love and ‘Gili’ means island. Lobigili is, in essence, the island of love. This contemporary, adults-only 5-star resort allows for a truly romantic getaway for couples. Set along a dreamy white beach and over a sparkling turquoise lagoon are 68 stylishly designed villas.
Connected by a long footbridge, guests of OBLU SELECT Lobigili are also invited to use the facilities of its sister property, OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi. This includes the use of their shops, coffee and wine cafe La Promenade and the resort’s X360 Bar, one of the largest multi-level bars in the Maldives with live, nightly DJ performances.
Villas
The resort offers Instagrammable beachside and overwater villas that have been designed entirely for honeymooners and couples. The SunNest Beach Pool Villas offer a sunlit one-bedroom beachside escape; the Nest Water Villas offer crystal clear lagoon views and the SunNest Water Pool Villas offer an overwater villa with a pool.
Dining
Guests can explore a range of exquisite food and beverages across the resort.
Ylang-Ylang is the island’s main restaurant that serves up a hearty breakfast buffet. At lunch there are live cooking stations making fresh Thai and Indian dishes and a section of the buffet dedicated to serving fresh sushi for lunch. For dinner, the restaurant host special themed nights and serve a delicious à la carte menu with dishes from around the world.
The Swing Pool Bar is an incredibly relaxed beachside bar, overlooking the turquoise lagoon. Offering a range of Maldivian snacks, a sprawling infinity pool, intimate cabanas, hammocks and swings, it comes alive at night with a DJ and live band performances.
Gaadiya-17 Food Truck is a unique casual dining option under the sky available to pre-book. Offering a three-course meal featuring grilled meats and seafood options, you can enjoy your meal al fresco with the sand under your feet.
The star of the show is the magical Only BLU Underwater Restaurant, which is 6.8 metres below sea level and surrounded by exotic blue hues and a colourful flow of marine life. Here you can enjoy a curated menu of fresh seafood, succulent meats and vegetarian delights, perfectly paired with fine wines.
Facilities
If you’re looking for water sports, OBLU SELECT Lobigili offers everything from snorkelling to paddle boarding and kayaking. You can also book in special excursions, such as sunset fishing. Gym lovers will appreciate the state-of-the-art overwater gym. The resort even has its own tennis court.
For couples that go on holiday to unwind, the ELE|NA Ayur spa offers an array of treatments and features four secluded double treatment rooms with a couples bath, each cocooned in a lush tropical garden. Treatments include Lobi Dhooni (Love Bird) for couples, which offers a choice of coconut shell massage or Maldivian sand massage along with a coconut body scrub, a nourishing scalp treatment, face mask and bath ritual over 180 minutes.
My Experience
We decided to combine our visit to the Maldives with a trip to the UAE, enabling us to fly directly from Manchester and enjoy a couple of days in Dubai before our short flight to the Maldives. The swift, complimentary, 15 minute transfer from Malè airport to OBLU SELECT Lobigili was ideal.
We chose to stay on the adults-only Lobigili Island, as
it also offers access to facilities at OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi. We enjoyed the best of both worlds and visited the more energetic and family-focused sister resort, before returning to our more peaceful island, which had a laid-back, romantic atmosphere.
Our Sunnest Water Pool villa was lovely and spacious, with incredible views, a private plunge pool and direct access to the sea. Our outdoor bathroom was a highlight; there was something rather magical about waking up and taking a bath outside whilst feeling the sunshine on you.
We enjoyed all of what Lobigili Island had to offer, which included a morning spent jet skiing, a romantic Maldivian breakfast in our pool and a very special evening dining at the largest underwater sea restaurant in the Maldives, Only BLU; a memory we will cherish forever.
The island is small enough for you to be able to walk around, or you can hop onto one of their candy-pink buggies if you prefer to be chauffeured and shaded from the sun. These will also happily take to you across to Ailafushi Island.
Lobigil translates to the ‘Island of love’ and love is at the heart of the resort. If the setting wasn’t romantic enough, there are various activities you can plan and book to enhance this even further, including a private film screening for two on the beach surrounded by candlelight, or you can experience one of their private dining offerings, including visiting a heart-shaped island just a few minutes away, which has been the backdrop for many engagements and intimate weddings.
OBLU SELECT Lobigili & OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi combines everything you could experience
in the Maldives in one place. There is fun, games, entertainment, bars, restaurants, quiet areas, various pools, luxury accommodation and water sports, plus the all-inclusive Lobi Plan package also ensures nearly everything is included in the price of your stay. This is ideal for someone visiting the Maldives for the first time.
OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi is a lively retreat with playful experiences, whilst OBLU SELECT Lobigili offers the serenity and ocean views that you only find in the Maldives. A truly unique resort.
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