kabarsula REVIEW: My Luxury Escapes gamechanger – direct flights to the Maldives bandar SLOT INDONESIA

Greg “Sparrow” Graham walked into a travel agency, hoping to book a well-deserved retirement reward trip to a Pacific island somewhere. Somehow, he ended up with a Luxury Escapes packages to the Maldives on their charter jet to the Indian Ocean.

The backstory

After 54 years in advertising/media and most recently at Travel Weekly‘s sister publication B&T, I called time on my career and retired. The top of my bucket list was a dream holiday in a villa over the water in a tropical location such as Bora Bora, Tahiti, the Maldives or Fiji. I went into the Luxury Escapes lounge in Bondi Junction with the intention of booking a Fijian adventure (cost-effective & a short flight). FYI, this is my first experience with LE and after spending time with Sonny and exploring various options I realised that the Maldives offered so many overwater villa options with great inclusions and stunning locations. I walked out after booking a 5-night all-inclusive package at The Standard Hotel by Hyatt on Huruvalhi Island, Maldives!

Direct flight closed the deal

What got me across the line were the new LE weekly Maldivian Airways direct charter flights out of Melbourne to the brand new Velana Airport in Male. Saves heaps of time vs stopovers in Singapore, Dubai, etc. Plus, I upgraded to business class with a flat bed for the overnight flight (10 hours). I boarded my international flight after a quick Qantas flight down from Sydney. Walked to the Melbourne International Terminal, and the first check-in row Q was our smartly co-branded LE Maldivian counter. Before the flight, I chilled in the Morhaba lounge near the departure gate, and the process was seamless with no friction, and it all came together perfectly. Mark from LE was prominent at the departure gate and wished us a great holiday as we stepped onto the Airbus 330 (the plane is older, a dry flight as the Maldives is an Islamic nation).

Entertainment options were limited; loaded iPads were provided however, I was sleeping, and most people had downloaded their favorite entertainment choices. The overall service was good and I was very happy. Slept solidly and woke up for a wonderful breakfast, and the next thing I know I’m in paradise.

Frictionless process & The Standard Hotel on Huruvalhi Island

Once on the ground in Male, the service level from The Standard Hotel kicked up another level. They took my luggage, organised the TMA seaplane transfer (even have their own lounge at the seaplane terminal). The seaplane fleet is super impressive with 66 De Havilland Twin Otters, the largest seaplane fleet in the world. Again, this transfer was seamless and no hassle; luggage was weighed and tagged for my arrival at the island, and the 35-minute flight was breathtaking.

Seeing the incredible natural atolls and thousand islands is proof you have arrived in paradise, and the views were truly spectacular. We arrived at Huruvalhi island with crystal clear waters, beautiful sunshine, 30 degrees & a friendly welcome from the resort check-in crew (cold towels & drinks plus The Standard coconut icy pole). Then a quick golf buggy to my above-water villa, with a spectacular view, private pool, a “WOW” bathroom with a mirror ball and views of the local sea life while you are showering or bathing. First impressions … simply paradise and I never want to leave.

The hotel check-in and check-out process was again frictionless; the villa was first class and the food outstanding. The restaurants, the food selection, quality, and just the variety were incredible.

The showstopper for me was the surf-and-turf night at Kula, with incredibly fresh fish, calamari, prawns, tender beef, and yummy desserts. A point of difference for The Standard was Guduguda restaurant, an authentic Maldivian cuisine – the fresh lobster was out of this world.

Some hotel stats

• 88 overwater villas (all with private pools)
• 25+ 1 & 2 bedroom ocean beach villas all with private pools
• Cool Lil Sharks Kids Club
• 4 brilliant restaurants -Kula, Guduguda, BBQ Shak & Joos Cafe
• A brilliant spa with the best view ever from a massage table
• Water sports and dive center
• Tennis Court & beach Volleyball
• Beach cinema screen for movie nights
• Plus, heaps of activities if you wanted, e.g. Music quiz nights, yoga, water polo, dolphin cruises, local cooking classes, aqua Zumba, wine & coffee markets, Kite flying, boat excursions etc.
• Winner TTM Awards 2026 -Best Beach Resort Awards, plus Tripadvisor Choice Travel awards 2026 – top 10% real guest reviews, etc.

The service is just right and special little touches that shine. The staff and service were just right: island vibe with barefoot luxury and there when you needed them.

Also, to me, sometimes it’s the small special touches that make a holiday special and memorable:

• Love an old-fashioned turn-down service
• The sustainability program and care for the island resources
• The Service button poolside – I want one at home
• A white ukulele for sunset jam sessions
• The comfy bicycles, the preferred island transport
• Coconut scoops of water to wash the sand off your feet
• The wonderful hotel team, special call out to Zainu, Shafau, Lina & Justin

First time Luxury Escapes adventure

On this Maldives adventure, I met quite a few very loyal Luxury Escapes customers who had booked up to 7-8 trips with them. As mentioned, this was my first experience with LE, and they sure did deliver. Besides the incredible service, the new direct flight is a real game changer and will open up the Maldives to many more Aussies. I went in off-peak, and this ensured great value with lots of inclusions, including all my delicious meals.

The Maldives is a really special place, and in 1 word: PARADISE! You have to see it in real life to believe the natural beauty – the colour of the water, pristine white sand, the marine life is spectacular, and the Maldives resorts are first class.

One down on my bucket list

I’ve now ticked off the No.1 adventure on my bucket list and I can’t wait to return to explore another incredible Maldivian island with Luxury Escapes … I may have mentioned the P word before … it’s really Paradise!

Star ratings out of five

• Luxury Escapes – planning/booking & follow-up 5 stars
• Luxury Escapes Maldivian Airlines 4.5
• TMA seaplane 5
• The Standard Hotel 4.5

Overall 4.8

The writer travelled at his own expense.