Have you ever visited a resort that just ticks all the right boxes, a place you fall in love with more and more each day of your stay? That was our experience at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives. We had an absolutely magical 8-night stay that left us wishing we could stay longer!
Getting to this island resort requires some extra effort (and expense), which originally made us think twice about booking, but I can honestly tell you that it’s well worth it! The one-hour domestic flight from Male is arranged by the hotel, and the resort staff ensures a hassle-free experience from the moment you arrive in the Maldives. (Note: It’s a domestic flight, not a seaplane, so not quite as glamorous.) We were greeted by the hotel representative at the international airport terminal and transferred directly to the domestic terminal lounge, where we waited comfortably, while the staff took our luggage and handled all of the check in details. A short easy flight and a 30-minute speed boat ride later, we arrived at what we now call our vacation nirvana.
Overwater or On the Beach?
At Six Senses Laamu you will find 97 thatched villas, crafted from local and sustainable materials, in perfect harmony with their surroundings. The overwater villas are spacious and provide the quintessential Maldives experience with panoramic ocean views. The beach villas offer beachfront living and are tucked into the lush tropical foliage for extra privacy. Each villa comes with a personalized bicycle for each guest. It’s the preferred mode of transportation at Six Senses Laamu.
Our family stayed in a Family Villa with Pool, which is essentially a beach villa with an additional study that can accommodate two children on a twin day bed and trundle, and it has an additional bathroom. The room décor exudes castaway vibes with modern comforts and luxuries, like flat-screen TV, BOSE sound system, and a pillow menu with 9 different options. Our favorite feature was the out-of-this-world outdoor shower and bathroom area. Complete with two showers that together had 4 different shower heads and a large stone soaking tub- this area was meant for indulging.
Regardless of where you choose to rest your head, a beach or overwater villa, you will be cared for throughout your stay by your very own GEM- Guest Experience Maker, or butler. This is not the type of butler service where they wait around or are intrusive in any way. You simply have a go-to person that you can contact at any time, whether you are looking to book an activity or
a dining reservation, or you simply want to try one of the 9 pillow options available that night!
Our GEM was simply amazing. I can easily say that she made our vacation perfect by helping us find balance, and our children grew instantly fond of her.
She would check in on them while they were at The Den (the fabulous kids club onsite) or doing other activities without us. On nights where the kids club hosted dinner and a movie on the beach, my husband and I could enjoy a quiet dinner. Our GEM would pick the children up after their movie and keep them entertained until we were done with our meal. She was kind, caring, and genuinely did her best to ensure that we had the best experience possible during our stay.
Health & Wellness
Six Senses Resorts are known for their spas and wellness offering worldwide, and Laamu is no exception. The spa offers nine unique treatment nests, steam room, and juice bar relaxation area. The gym is properly outfitted with a variety of cardio equipment and weight-lifting options. The rooftop yoga studio offers daily classes with a variety of yoga practices, including aerial yoga.
The spa also host a variety of workshops and acitivities daily, some complimentary and some chargeable.
Activities Galore
Life at Six Senses Laamu just seems to flow effortlessly. It’s the type of place where you can do as little or as much as you like, and there is something for everyone. Their water sports offerings are top notch with the latest water toys available. Their house reef is brilliant and full of sea life, so snorkeling here is a must!
Want to learn to surf? Head to the surf shack, run by TropicSurf, where the surf guides can fill you in on the variety of surf spots around Laamu and give you one-on-one coaching in the water. The dolphin cruise is always a fun excursion, with a high likelihood of seeing dolphins. Even if you don’t get lucky, it’s a beautiful sunset cruise with complimentary champagne. For a truly unique, Robinson Crusoe experience, sign up for the Private Island Picnic. You are dropped off on a small uninhabited island for a few hours, with a proper picnic and beach chairs. We also brought sand toys for the kids and snorkel gear. Such a fun adventure!
Add a little worldschooling for the little ones during your stay with the Junior Marine Biology Program. It’s perfect for young ocean lovers! Children 6-16 have to opportunity to join the MUI (Marine Underwater Initiative) for a one-on-one mentoring session with a marine biologist. The session includes both classroom time and guided snorkeling. Once completing the course, children will receive a certificate and their own MUI uniform t-shirt.
Out of This World Dining
The dining options at Six Senses Laamu are amazing. I can’t think of anything we tried during our stay that we didn’t like. Some of the highlights for us were the Omakase (chef’s choice) offerings at Zen, the Japanese restaurant. Leaf is a treehouse-style restaurant, serving Mediterranean haute cuisine which is really tasty. The sommelier there is excellent if you care to do a pairing. The weekly lobster BBQ on the beach is a must as well! And the breakfast buffet is definitely something to look forward to. Make sure you stop at the pancake station for one of the chef’s special animal pancakes!
The Maldives is without a doubt a bucketlist destination, and picking the right resort can make your experience so much more enjoyable. At Six Senses Laamu, you can feel good about your luxury vacation. With a dedicated commitment to conservation and sustainability, they offer the essence of barefoot luxury with a minimal footprint.
Six Senses Laamu is much more than a resort, it is a destination in an of itself- a slice of heaven in a place that is already a paradise found.
