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!
Loama Resort because the ocean is steps from your villa and I love the idea of being so f-a-r away.
I would love to go to the Loama Resort as my wife and I have always dreamed of going to the Maldives. This may be the way to make it happen. Also, another auction that I love is the Kata Rocks luxury resort auction for Phuket!
The most interesting auction I saw was 3 Nights At The Stunning Athina Luxury Suites In Santorini. My wife and I really want to visit the island, and I have never been to Greece. That being said, all of the South Africa auctions also sound pretty amazing.
I’ve never visited Maldives and the Loama Resort sounds like a great place to relax.
I have had Maldives on my dream destination for the past 25 years and been unable to make it there still. The Loama Resort looks gorgeous and the thought of being in their beach villas enjoying the blue ocean is beyond inspiring. It seems like a paradise and I’d love to experience that.
I’d stay in Loama because it looks amazing! Real tropical paradise!u
I would totally be into two nights at Roch Castle in Pembrokeshire! I went to school in Wales as a child back in the 70s and would love to go back for a visit.
My favorite auction item at the moment is the 2 Nights At Casa De Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort, Argentina. Great price and perfect for wine lovers!
Fave item up for auction? 2 NIGHTS AT THE 5 STAR HOTEL DUPOND-SMITH, PARIS
I am looking for a place to meet my daughter and her husband, who live in England. The Maldives sound great including the Loama Resort. Would’ve to go.
As for Loama resort, why would I want to stay there? Um, because it’s gorgeous. And in the Maldives.
You weren’t kidding; the Asia auctions are such a great value! I’ve been to a lot of the places currently on the list, but not Sri Lanka.
I’d pick Malawi. I had an amazing time in the country in 2012 and would love to go back and see even more. The lake was BEAUTIFUL, and I am sure it still is!
I’d stay at Loama for the peaceful beach atmosphere. Can’t beat the Maldives when it comes to that!!
Luxury Travel Diary is putting on some great auctions and I have my eye on their 4 nights listing with stunning Pool Villa at Fusion Maia Da Nang in Vietnam. That looks like an incredible experience, especially knowing that it is Asia’s first all spa inclusive resort and the auction includes daily breakfast (anytime anywhere) and all your spa treatments for free included. No one else bid on it, coz I’m going to outbid you 😉
My Girlfriend loves Singapore, and wants to visit India now – the Maldives and Loama Resort are the perfect rest-up between Singapore and Mumbai. Can’t wait to enjoy all the Loama Resort has to offer.
I would choose to stay at the Loama resort because the transfers are easier than getting to the Park Hyatt or W
I’d choose the Riad hotel package in the auction.
Being retired gives us all the latitude to do what we want when we want – and now that we see all the beautiful pictures and information about the Loama Resort, we want to visit it. Ready to take-off!
Loama Resort – just because you recommend it. Good enough for me!
I would choose the Loama resort because of its relative ease of access and the over the water bugalows
Loves Maldives and would really like to go back there!
Eugene Hotel In Paris looks very interesting from my next trip in the Ville Lumiere 🙂
I know you’ll probably use a randomizer for the draw, but I’ll put this out there anyway: I’d love to book an ocean villa in Loama for a therapeutic reason. We live in Chile now, and ever since the tsunami caused by the 9.2 earthquake in February 2010, when we just happened to be at a beach resort, my husband has been terrified of staying anywhere near the ocean (a move to my hometown of Denver is in the works now, and guess what? No tsunamis!). I did finally, after many years, get him to agree to an over-water stay, but now that we’re two the price (miles/points and cash) is out of reach since we use them for things like visiting family in the US when living in Chile, and visiting family in Chile when living in the US. This would be the best “vacation with benefits” that I can imagine!
Loama resort looks amazing. Maldives is one of my dream destinations!!
Three nights at Monaci Delle Terre Nere in Italy! What a great auction site!
Just look at that water. That’s enough to get me to stay there.
Steak dinner for two at Smith and Wollensky!
I have always wanted to visit the Maldives! I would want to stay at the Loama resort because it looks absolutely beautiful, and I think it would be the perfect place to relax. I have a stressful job, and it would be great to get away to somewhere so remote and peaceful!
Would love to celebrate 25th Anniversary at the Loama Resort – It looks AMAZING!
I have never been to the Maldives, the Loama looks beautiful!
The villas at the Loama Resort look amazing – that’s definitely why I would chose to stay there.
Two nights at Roch Castle in Pembrokeshire seems like a unique vacation experience!
I’d love to stay at Loama Resort to relax and go diving.
Three nights at Monaci Delle Terre Nere in Italy would rock my world.
I went to the Maldives on my honeymoon last year, and wish more than anything we could go back!
I’d stay at Loama because the food and restaurants look amazing!
I have been looking for a great reason to got to Sri Lanka and this auction location would help make the trip easier!
3 Nights For Up To 4 Guests At Gal Oya Lodge In Sri Lanka
I would love to win your giveaway!
Staying at the Loama Resort looks like a dream come true. I’ve been stuck on Hawaii vacations, need to branch out. Maldives is a perfect option!
Intrigued by Capella Marigot Bay St Lucia with Luxury travel, also their auctions in Morocco!
I would choose to stay at the Loama Resort because it sounds so relaxing and as you indicated, a complete getaway that can really make me unplug. Thank you for offering this contest and I sure hope I am lucky enough to win!
2 Nights At Villa La Tosca 5-Star Villa Hotel In France
The Loama Resort would allow us to unhook from the world for awhile enjoying the spa, the 6 restaurants, the scenery and the tranquility! We would treasure this experience at this point our lives!!
The asia packages all look good
Would love to go back to the Maldives and stay at a luxury resort this time instead of a budget one!
My favorite item up for auction is the 3 nights in Santorini. Love Greece anytime of year.
I would stay at Loama Resort just to unwind from the daily routine.
Definitely the Loama Resort. An overwater bungalow is the coolest lodging I’ve ever experienced!
Loama Resort because it appears to be a place that I could go and truly not worry about work stuff :).
It’s beautiful, do I need another reason?