We explore an ‘adult-exclusive’, romantic getaway in the Maldives. alone
We explore an ‘adult-exclusive’, romantic getaway in the Maldives. alone
I smile oddly at the couple of speedboats we’re in on our way to the resort from Velana International Airport in the Maldives.
Even as I light up about visiting the adults-exclusive ‘Love Island’ OBLU Select Lobigili, I remind myself that I’m probably one of the select few who can be considered a solo traveler. Instagram’s version of heaven in form will get a little picky.
sunset at swing bar
However, no amount of social media scrolling prepares you for the spectacular blue seas, clean beaches and warm, hospitable people of Lobigili. There is certainly a lot to be said about the ‘Island of Love’ – in the Maldivian dialect of Diveh, ‘Lobi’ means love and ‘Gili’ means island.
Adult-exclusive resorts in Maldives are few in number but are a welcome getaway for couples looking for uniquely curated experiences and some peace and quiet. Lobigili promises a ‘completely secluded and unsightly experience’.
There are 159 registered resorts in the Maldives according to the Ministry of Tourism, and like Lobigili, they operate under the unique one-island one-resort concept.
Daytime Swing Bar Poolside
The island hostess who shows me around the property tells me to enjoy everything it has to offer, even if I travel alone. “Wait until you see the sunset,” she adds. That alone is a big part of my experience at Love Island – the sunrise and sunset. I even stop and volunteer to click a picture for a couple trying to hold themselves against the orange sky.
Couples can enjoy curated dining experiences, massages at the spa, and indulge in water sports. Lobigili will soon have private beach bonfires, movie nights on the beach, a love language therapist, a body artist who can customize tattoos, and a fragrance testing experience to create your own perfume. Couples can also have a special ceremony to renew their vows, in a heart-shaped structure made of sandbags near the main resort island.
sunset at swing bar interior
for me? I am grateful to fellow journalists who have traveled alone; We stand out as a large group of people among loving couples. While that doesn’t turn us away from experiencing a sunset cruise or a barbecue dinner under the stars – the island more than makes up for in the lack of familiar company.