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!
4 NIGHTS AT NAVUTU DREAMS RESORT & WELLNESS RETREAT CAMBODIA
Seriously anywhere in Maldives! A place to die for! Keep auctioning.
I would love to stay at Loama Resort for our 25th anniversary in 2017!
Heaven on earth. Exquisite. Paradise.
4 Nights In A Pool Villa At The 5* Milaidhoo Island Maldives
I always have read great reviews and feedback about Maldives. Would love to have the opportunity to visit there.
The auctions at Luxury Travel Diary are amazing, especially the 2 Nights At Rhino River Lodge, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Loama Resort – With Trip advisor and Conde Nest claiming this to be one of the hottest and upcoming hotel, I would love to see what the deal is at this location.
Conjoin with the auction would be a fantastic week vacation.
Luxury travel diary covers to globe. Can take advantage of auctions near and far – love it! Just bid on Uco…
I like the “3 Nights At The Serene Aava Resort & Spa In Khanom, Thailand”. We’ve been to Thailand the past 3 years, and we’d love to return.
My favorite auction item is 2 Nights at Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
Maldives.. My dream destination.. No other thought for my honeymoon in Dec 2016.. What would be best than Maldives and Loama Resort (Imagination over). Maldives & Loama Resort, See you soon 🙂
I’d pick the Loama – the reason I’ve not made it to the Maldives is that it seems like quite the journey once you get to MLE. I love the idea of a seaplane, too… haven’t flown on one yet!
I would love to stay there to experience the beautiful ocean.
Going there with my guy would get me SO Laid!!
I’m currently watching 10 auctions; this is my favorite: 5 Nights For Up To 5 At Villa Koru, Koh Samui, Thailand
Maldives.. Truely romantic location.. Waiting to start my married life from Maldives.. If lucky from Loama Resort Maldives.. May our wish come true..;-)
I would love to stay at Loama Resort with my wife, the perfect destination.
Favorite auction is the Fusion Maia Da Nang by far.
We did the Conrad Rangali for our honeymoon. It’d be cool to compare that experience with a stay at Loama.
I would use the Maldives giveaway as a 25th anniversary getaway
I’d like to stay at Loama simply because Gary Leff hasn’t (yet!). 🙂
The trtl travel pillow seems like a pretty inexpensive item to start with. Kind of interesting.
Wonderful place to stay. A great location.
Promoted by luxury travel diary that offers some unbelievable value travel experiences.
I have always wanted to go to the Maldives and have never managed to get there. I’m getting married soon and this would make the perfect honeymoon !
That pool may be the largest beachside pool I’ve ever seen – that’s where I’d spend all my time at Loama!
I have wanted to go to the Maldives for years but have just not made it – I would love to stay at the Loama because of the remote beauty and I also love the history of it as a Buddhist refuge. I would love to experience that energy. 🙂
So much good stuff in Thailand!! But this looks positively the most spectacular!! 3 Nights for 4 ppl in Koh Samui!! The scenery is amazing and it seems to be a bit off the beaten path!!
I new adventure, as never been
I’d love to go to the Loama Resort. My ex-girlfriend and I actually were beginning to plan a trip and bookmarked that place as a possibility. Now we broke up and I want to post a million pictures on Instagram when I go by myself!
Thanks to the fabulous advice from you and your blogging colleagues I’ve been able to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, Bora Bora, Eastern Europe, Iceland and more. To be able to stay in the Maldives at a gorgeous resort built from a Buddhist refuge? Well, that’s just about perfect! Count me in!
My favorite item for auction is the 2 Nights At Luxury Roch Castle
I’d love to stay at the Loama for the color of the water, sky and sand.
2 Nights At The InterContinental Dubai Marina, Dubai Auction item peeks my interest.
what a perfect setting for our 30th wedding anniversary
I no longer have to worry about looking for a place at the end of the earth – Gary found it for me at Loama Resort. Now all I have to do is figure out one of those tricky routes with my frequent flyer miles!!
And for less than the price of a decent dinner in the nation’s capitol, I can have 3 nights at AAVA Resort and Spa in Khanom, Thailand from Luxury Diary. Hey, there might even be some left over for a spa treatment if I factor in Uber to the restaurant and back. Let me check on those Cathay Pacific business class miles that I need.
Would love to celebrate my 10th anniversary at the Loama Resort.
Koh Samui auction is awesome!
Thanks
It would be a dream come true to stay in a castle. My current favorite auction – 2 nights at Luxury Roch Castle in Pembrokeshire Wales.
We honeymooned in Maldives and totally fell in love with the place. It will be awesome to go back to Maldives to celebrate 9 years of togetherness. And what better place than Loama Resort.
Laoma looks beautiful & a week there to decompress would be FANTASTIC
My favorite item up for auction at Luxury Travel Diary is 2 Nights At Rhino River Lodge, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
I would choose to stay at Loama Resort because of the good reviews in different sites.
I am getting married this year and would love to stay at Loama for my honeymoon.
2 nights at the intercontinental hotel in Dubai for cheap sounds like a great deal!
LOAMA—lots of amour, mes amis…tx to Lux travel diary, maybe chance to try out the Sparkle swimwear too…
Loama looks ideal for scuba in the Indian ocean, which would be a new diving experience for me!
Loama Resort Maldives looks great and as l loved my one and only trip to PH Maldives I’d like to try something new.
2 NIGHTS AT RHINO RIVER LODGE, KWAZULU NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA – my favorite auction item as a safari is on my bucket list!
Oh man, 3 Nights For 4ppl At Bartholomeus Klip, South Africa would be awesome for my family of 4! Maybe I could fly there from Maldives! 🙂
Would love to try the Loama Signature Massage!