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 Loama Resort looks amazing! I’m always up for a new adventure!
I would go for the TRTL TRAVEL PILLOW – SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN SUPER SOFT NECK SUPPORT.
Just came off a flight and I really could have used it.
I would like to go there because it would be an amazing way to cap off our honeymoon.
My favorite auction item right now is the 2 Nights At Casa De Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort, Argentina. Looks really nice and the price in fantastic.
I’d gladly stay at the Looma Resort as I am not brand loyal when it comes to resorts and this one looks stunning! Maldives has been high on my list and this would be my push to finally make the trip a reality.
Favorite auction item is by far the 3 Nights For 4 Ppl In A Luxury Villa In Koh Samui, Thailand! A dream location and the auction price makes it very realistic.
i have been to maldives and once to loama resort .its worth seeing .no wonder you can find alot of other resorts like vellassaru,anantara,taj and paradise but this is above all.
Love Maldives! Bid and won number of auctions on their site. Stay at the Meridian House in Costa Rica was amazing!
I would love to stay at the 2 Nights At Casa De Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort, Argentina auction item. Looks like a great place to stay..
The Maldives are one of my dream list spots.
2 Nights At Kata Rocks Ultra-Luxury Resort, Phuket, Thailand – Looks amazing. Would love to go visit Thailand again.
Need to hit Morocco!
I haven’t been to the Maldives so Loama looks like a good place to start!
I’d stay at the Loama Hotel for the diving.
I would love to visit Loama Resort as it looks beautiful and romantic. It would be the perfect place for my husband and I to spend our 30th wedding anniversary.
I would love to stay there on my honeymoon with my girlfriend :-)!
My favorite auction item from Luxury Travel Diary is definitely “2 NIGHTS FOR UP TO 4 PPL AT LONGBERRY FARM GLAMPING IN KENT” – glamping with friends in the countryside of Kent sounds like a dream come true!
The Loama Resort sounds like absolute paradise! I would love to stay here with my fiance for our honeymoon
For the auction site, I’d opt for Belize – love Latin American travel.
Loama simply looks great – I trust your reccomendation!
On the auction site, I’d love to get the Belize stay – I love Latin American travel.
Favorite auction is 3 Nights For 4 Ppl In A Luxury Villa In Koh Samui, Thailand
I’ve always wanted to visit the Maldives and Loama resort looks terrific.
Loama resort looks like a fantastic getaway and I’d great way to experience the Maldives.
I would love to stay at the Loama Resort because my wife loves swimming but doesn’t like swimming in the ocean if she can’t see the bottom. The crystal blue water and beautiful scenery would suit us both perfectly!
Favorite item up for auction is 4 Nights In A Pool Villa At The 5* Milaidhoo Island Maldives
Man. I’m getting married in about 6 months and Loama would be great for our honeymoon…. hopefully it’s finally my turn to win one of these!!!
I’d stay at the Loama Resort anytime. The beach villas just look amazing — only steps from the ocean.
Definitely Loama for the snorkeling and serenity.
Would be nice to combine with any of the Sri Lankan auctions, and then maybe a stopover in Dubai on the way back…
2 Nights At Kata Rocks Ultra-Luxury Resort, Phuket, Thailand!!
I would love to stay at the Loama Resort for my honeymoon next year!!
I actually plan to stay at Loama Resort February 2017 so this is a great opportunity for me to extend my stay and enjoy the fabulous resort for longer. The Coco Bay beach and swimwear is my favourite auction item
Loama resort would be paradise for me!
I would choose to stay at Loama Resort because it just seems like the perfect getaway from the busy DC government job I have now. It will allow me to completely unplug!
Loama Resort. – snorkeling.
Great giveaway — thanks! My favorite auction item is probably the four-night stay and all-inclusive spa treatments at Fusion Maia Da Nang in Vietnam.
Loama Resort — Because it looks awesome in the photos!
I would love to stay at the Loama Resort, not only because you recommend it but because Conde Nast Traveler Middle East listed Loama Resort as one of the Best New Hotels in the World. Maldives has been on my bucket list forever and hopefully I can visit one day. I really hope you and The Hotel and Luxury Travel Diary pick me! 🙂
The Maldives is a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway. I’d love the chance to stay at the property for three nights.
Maldives is my perfect place on earth.
I Dive and visited different atolls.
Loana looks great
My favorite auction item: 2 NIGHTS AT COTTAR’S 1920S SAFARI CAMP, MAASAI MARA, KENYA
Stay at Loama for same reason as you: get away from it all!!
Love to stay at the Loama Resort for the fantastic beach view.
I would love this: £100 TO SPEND ON EXQUISITE JAPANESE CUISINE AT KOJI LONDON
Loama, because it would be the perfect place to celebrate my mom’s retirement. She’d love it there.
I’d stay at the Loama Resort because I have been wanting to take my wife there for about 10 years. I don’t churn or MS so getting the miles to get there and stay there is a long arduous process and this could tip the scales to the finish line. Would love to go!
My wife has been repeatedly sick this year (most recently with pneumonia requiring five day hospitalization). She is on the mend but it would be a miracle to have a chance for a restorative, beach side vacation in a villa, to have a few days of peace and joy. Most attractive on this exciting auction side is the Water Pool Villa at the 5-Star Milaidhoo Island in the Maldives, with direct access to the water and wonderful facilities.
I would love to stay at the Loama Resort because I have always wanted to travel to the beautiful islands in the Indian Ocean, such as the Maldives and the Seychelles
I have always wanted to go to the Maldives. My wife is from India so we have said that we would visit on one of our trips to see her family, but we have not had the opportunity yet. This resort looks incredible and I could definitely see enjoying our time there after wandering the busy streets of Delhi.