Lux opens 'South Beach' style property in the Maldives

Lux North Male Atoll is located on the island of Olhahali, a speedboat ride away from the country’s main airport in Male.

The interior design of the 67 double-storey penthouses has been created by Singapore-based Miaja and is said to represent a “vibrant South Beach aesthetic” that aims to “replace the thatched-roof overwater villas” so often associated with high-end accommodation in the Maldives.

Each villa has a roof deck, space for parties and private cinema set-up, while a private villa host can help set up astrology lessons in the villa.

Yachts are available for charter and can be docked at the terrace of each villa, while the watersports team can arrange semi-submarine or flyboarding adventures.

The resort also has a dive centre, overwater spa, three restaurants – Glow, Inti and Beach Rouge, a signature beach club among all the group’s resorts.

Another feature of the hotel is Barium, a private dining experience space, featuring an underwater fish tank and accessed through a secret door in a hidden chamber.

The group has further hotels planned in United Arab Emirates, Italy, France, Vietnam and China, and is part of newly formed company The Lux Collective.

The head office of the new umbrella company is now based in Singapore and also encompasses Salt, Tamassa and Socio, an urban hotel brand set to launch soon.

Dominik Ruhl, chief operating officer of The Lux Collective, said of Lux North Male: “We are so excited to be opening a truly different resort which dares to get away from what we call the ’sea of sameness’ with a thoroughly original approach to a luxury Maldivian holiday.”

More than 1.4 million tourists visited the Maldives in 2018, a rise of more than 12% year-on-year as interest in the country continues to grow. But police have also recently warned tourists about the risks of swimming following five drownings in January alone.