Regular readers know that I love the Maldives. I’ve been 5 years in a row. It’s the only place I’ve found where I can really unplug. The distance is a feature not a bug, by the time I get there I’m really ready to relax and the time difference helps me to do it — I can answer work emails in the morning, and everyone is gone from the office the rest of the day so I can just enjoy myself.
I’ve gone to the same place each time, because I could use points, but there are some fantastic properties that I’d love to try some day. One that’s really worth checking out is Loama Resort.
A new property, a 45 minute sea plane from the airport in the capital, this was a Buddhist refuge dating back centuries. Artifacts from the Ching dynasty were unearthed during the construction of the hotel. The property was listed in Conde Nast Traveler Middle East as one of the Best New Hotels in the World.
A beach villa here runs ~ $840 plus taxes. And I’m giving away 3 nights there with breakfast.
The resort looks fantastic, and gets a certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor.
Whether you want to dive, snorkle, spa or just relax this is going to be tough to beat. Combine it with a points stay somewhere else in the country, or drop in on nearby Sri Lanka (flights from Male are cheap and it’s less than 500 miles) and make a bigger holiday of it.
This is a very special giveaway, thanks to my good friends at Luxury Travel Diary. Regular readers know them as a high-end travel blog with great reviews. They’re based in the UK and run travel auctions with real bargains.
As I’ve said before, folks who already know about these auctions don’t like this added attention, because there don’t seem to be enough bidders for many of their best offerings relative to the value available. Some of their items go way too cheap.
- Here are their auctions. The auctions in Asia are super deals.
- Here are their auctions in North America for those who prefer to stay on this continent.
- And here are the auctions ending soon which are probably the best to check out right now – to get an idea of just how good a deal you’re likely to get.
Seriously, these deals about to end are insane
This prize is being given away by the hotel and Luxury Travel Diary, I’m just helping to highlight it and randomly select the winner.
To enter: leave a comment on this post with your favorite item up for auction at Luxury Travel Diary, or why you would choose to stay at Loama Resort. You may enter two times if you wish and answer those two questions one time each in separate comments.
Contest deadline and drawing winner: Entries close Sunday, September 4 at Noon eastern. I will draw winner with the assistance of random.org.
The fine print: Advance booking is required and it’s subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply. Winner will have one week to respond to email notifying of the prize, otherwise the prize will be forfeit and made available to another reader.
For avoidance of doubt, I have no affiliation with Luxury Travel Diary or Loama Resort. I am not getting anything in exchange for running this giveaway other than an opportunity to share the place with readers.
The hotel is solely responsible for providing prize to winner. All decisions made in the course of running this giveaway are final and unappealable and your entry signifies your acceptance. The goal here is to make readers aware of a pretty cool auction opportunity, and to give away a stay. So please don’t make it hard on me for doing so!
The Laoma looks like there would only be one problem………….never wanting to leave.
8-night Camping & Hotel Safari with Big Foot Tours, Botswana
Easily my first choice in the auctions. 8 days is worthwhile for something so far away, and experience is so unique.
I’m bidding.
I would stay at the Loama resort because it’s in paradise!
My favorite item up for auction is the Hotel Eugene in Paris, because Paris!
My six year old has been asking to go to the Maldives before he could even speak; just pointing to pictures of perfect beaches as daddy reads travel blogs 🙂
I’ll give this a shot. I’d stay at the Loama resort because it’s looks gorgeous and is close the the Male. I was in the Maldives last year and loved it so much we decided to use points and go again a year later. Where using points to stay at the Hyatt but I wouldn’t argue with extending the trip a few more nights.
I like the 2 return Business Premier Eurostar to Paris tickets.
Favorite item up for auction would be 2 Nights At Rhino River Lodge, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
My favorite auction is Gay Oya Lodge (https://www.luxurytraveldiary.com/auction/?ult_auc_id=24868). Along my up coming Maldives trip we’ll be spending some time in Sri Lanka. I’m looking for great places to stay and enjoy the wonderful country.
Loama resort looks like heaven on earth!
I’d like to stay there for the view!
And my favorite item is the Hotel Eugene because Paris is a romantic city.
As my wife have a trip scheduled to the Maldives early next year, Loama Resort would be a wonderful place to stay at.
Oooh what a great giveaway! The Kata Rocks Resort in Phuket catches my eye but staying at Loama in Maldives sounds equally fantastic.
Would love to stay in Loama Resort before our dive trip in January!
I’ve visited many countries and cities in my lifetime, visiting 3 more, Cuba, Singapore, and New Zealand in the next 4 months but my all time wish and fantasy has been to visit Male, Maldives, I hope this is my lucky break to make it here, my fantasy trip!
The auction item like is 2 Nights At Kata Rocks Ultra-Luxury Resort, Phuket, Thailand.
I have traveled the world and the Maldives are on the bucket list. The Loama Resort looks perfect. Let’s go!
Loana would be the perfect way-off-the-beaten-path adventure for my 15th wedding anniversary….would be a total surprise for her!
I’d stay here cause it’s free and I don’t have to pay a bazillion dollars/points for a hotel in MLE
Loama Resort looks like the perfect place to be!
As my husband still hasn’t made any hotel reservations for our upcoming trip to the Maldives, a three night stay at Loama Resort would just be great.
Wow. A double bonus. first I came across the viewfromthewing.com website which has incredible up to date info for frequent tarvelers like myself. Then come across the incredible Loama Resort property. Looks like heaven on earth. I have always wanted to go to the Maldives and now I will definitely plan on it as a bucket list place.
Never visited Maldives but would like to give it a try!
i’d love to check out the dive opportunities around loama resort!
I’d stay here for an anniversary since my wife and I did our honeymoon in the Maldives
Leeds Castle in Kent. I’ve always wanted to live in a castle. Staying in one is as close I’ll ever get.
4 Nights In A Pool Villa At The 5* Milaidhoo Island Maldives would be the perfect complement to this giveaway!
I like the fascinating 2 Day Mekong Delta Tour for 2 in Vietnam.
I’d go with the Kata Rocks, Phuket Thailand. Having been to Phuket would love to take my Wife back as it’s her favorite place we’ve been.
My favorite item up for auction is the 4 Nights For 16 At Villa Campo Verde Near Rome, Italy. I’ve always wanted to stay in Rome!
I’d love to stay at the Loama Resort because I’ve never been to the Maldives but always have wanted to go!
One look @ the aerial view of the Loma is enough to want to stay there!!
My favorite item up for auction right now is for the 2 nights at the trendy upscale Hôtel Eugène en Ville, Paris. I am heading to Paris this November and would love to be able to stay at a nice and luxurious hotel. It will be my first time there and I want to make the trip extra special. I placed a bid so hopefully the prize is mine!
I completely agree that the Maldives are a wonderful place to detach and the Loama resort looks like the perfect place to do just that!!
Living near (rather unspectacular) beaches as we do, it takes a lot for me to consider spending what little vacation time I have simply sitting on some other beach somewhere. But the Maldives, but Loama, is not just somewhere!
My favorite item up for auction is the 3 nights at Monaci delle Terre Nere in Italy – my wife and I have always wanted to go to Sicily!
The Maldives!!! Is there anything more to say? The travel bug bit me recently and would love to visit this place. Looks like a piece of paradise.
I would stay in Loama Resort because walking to my over-water bungalow sounds like a much better commute than being stuck on I-45S while trying to get to Galveston beach in Texas!
The Maldives has the most beautiful beaches in the world and the Loma looks like the perfect place to stay!
I would choose to stay at the Loama Resort because my wife has been wanting to stay in an overwater bungalow.
My fiance and I have talked about going to the Maldives for our honeymoon, but it just seemed to prohibitively expensive (in both time and money). Winning a stay at the Loama would definitely make us reconsider our honeymoon plans!
My favorite auction item is also the Hotel Eugene in Paris–I absolutely love that city!!
The Loama looks like a tremendous spot to unwind, relax, and work on my tan
Loama resort looks heaven on earth!
I put in a bid on the Belize resort because…why not?
I want to stay at the Loama as I’ve never been to the Maldives and it’s at the top of my list!
Just seeing the clear water.
The 2 nights at the Intercontinental Dubai Marina Dubai sounds great.
The Rhino Ridge Lodge auction in S Africa is insane!