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!
Canggu Bali is a nice little town, and a convenient distance from DPS for a quick escape from Hong Kong.
I love the PH Maldives and it’s staff, but of course it would be nice to try something different.
My favorite item on https://www.luxurytraveldiary.com/auction/ is: 2 Nights At Twr Y Felin Luxury Hotel In Pembrokeshire, Wales
From the Luxury Travel Diary, I’d pick the stay at “The Ant Collection”. (The bane alone is intriguing!)
A stay in one of the over water bungalows at Loama looks like an ideal way to unwind.
Is there anything that can beat a Maldivian sunset, especially from a new resort? I need to compare views!
Plus you can literally bid on a nights’ stay in Leeds Castle, Kent, England. What could be more unique (if not Maldives!)
Sahrai in Morocco
I would stay at Loma Resort because I am tired.
I wouldn’t mind winning the 3 nights for 4ppl at Bartholomeus Klip, South Africa auction.
The stunning pictures of the Loama Resort pretty much tells you why I’d choose the place to escape the world for a few days.
Loama Resort looks like the perfect place to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary
Safari (2 NIGHTS AT COTTAR’S 1920S SAFARI CAMP, MAASAI MARA, KENYA) is on my bucket list.
The 8 night camping and safari tour in Botswana auction looks like it could be an adventure worth doing.
I love the medieval feel in this listing and I always wanted to visit the English countryside https://www.luxurytraveldiary.com/auction/?ult_auc_id=25768
I would love to stay at Loama because it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s what I imagine paradise would look like. Also, I always wanted to visit Mauritius because that’s where my parents had their honey moon and would love to trace back their steps.
Would love to stay a few nights at the hotel Sahrai in Feb, Morocco.
The hotel Loama has an Amazing location that would be restful and peaceful.
I’d like to go to a Athina suites in santorini!
It would be an awesome adventure to stay at the Loama’s over water bungalows.
I have been wanting to go to Maldives for a long time, getting the free stay at Loama would be a dream comes true.
Love that they are auctioning off a stay at the Crowne Lanta on Koh Lanta!
Love to use this Maldives prize for my honeymoon!
I would love this stay …
2 NIGHTS AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL DUBAI MARINA, DUBAI. Just a hop skip and a jump from my home in Abu Dhabi. Would be a great weekend break
I would love to stay at Loama because one trip to the Maldives last year was not enough. The country gets into your system. I still can’t stop thinking about those beautiful blue waters.
I would stay at Loama to have an ideal beach vacation.
A Bali vacation would be awesome!
We’ve never been to the Maldives before and the Loama resort looks fantastic
I want to stay at Loama Resort because, well, look at those pictures!
The auction for 2 nights at Divani Apollon Palace, Athens, Greece looks tempting…
I would stay at Loama to to have the chance of seeing Gary in a Speedo.
I want to stay at the Loama Resort to see how it compares to other resorts in Maldives
The auction 3 nights for up to 4 guests at Gal Oya Lodge in Sri Lanka would fit
The auction for 4 nights & All Inc. spa treatments at Fusion Maia, Da Nang, Vietnam. Memories…
Maldives / Loama Resort – simply, bucket list and this would be a great opportunity!
Definitely the auction for Riad in Fez so we can visit the in-laws at the same time.
Back to the Maldives would be fantastic! Luxury Travel website is the best!
Oh, that is an easy one: Look at the pictures. How can you NOT want to stay there?
I would love to win the auction item: 3 Nights For 4ppl At Bartholomeus Klip, South Africa. I have been dying to go to SA for some time now!
Going to the Maldives would be a dream come true — It has been on my list for years. It looks so gorgeous and relaxing!
Loama resort and the Maldives sounds like the perfect match!
My favorite item up for auction at Luxury Travel Diary: 2 NIGHTS AT MAKAKATANA BAY LODGE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Why I would choose to stay at Loama Resort: Royal Ocean Pool Suite looks great.
Been waiting for an opportunity to go to the Maldives, this would be fantastic, the Loama looks like a very special place.
I would like to stay at Loama because it simply looks amazing.
Travel Luxury Diary – thanks for bringing this to my notice.
Already bidding on The Wallawwa in Sri Lanka – maybe to connect it with a Maldives trip? 😉
I’d stay at the Loma resort just because it’s in the Maldives. Going there has been a dream of mine to be able to take my wife and relax. I honestly don’t care where we stay and from the photo’s it looks baller there. I just want to get away from the work/stress and get some time to enjoy myself.
Currently my favorite item on the auction site is 2 nights at Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp, Maasai. Going to Africa to see the amazing wild life is remarkable and one that should not be passed up. This looks like a great offering.
Over-water bungalow is my dream vacation
Have been to Maldives before (Conrad) and would love to go back again!
As s foodie, the Santa Monica VIP foodie tour looks delicious! Too bad I will be there on the weekend because it is valid Thursday and Friday.