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 looks amazing, would love to snorkle in that blue water!
Heading to Portugal in May and would love to stay at Unique Lisbon Holiday Apartments…
The Loama Resort looks amazing! Being listed as one of the Best New Hotels in the World certainly makes it even more attractive as a choice option in The Maldives!
I looked at everything. My interest level is high for the luxury villa in the Khanom District of Thailand. Never thought about going there. I am going to Thailand in November and still looking at places to stay. Also I have the dream to go to Maldives when I am in Thailand. I would love to stay at an independent hotel like Loama Resort to take in the local culture.
My wife and I have been talking about going to The Maldives for years… if we’re lucky enough to get there, The Loama Resort looks like a great choice!
Bali auction is of particular interest! Wife is dying to go!
Loama would be a treat! My wife and I love staying at different resorts on our trips to see different views and cultures. We’ve already stayed at 2 locations in the Maldives and would love to add this as our third!
I would love to snorkel at Loama!!!
I would love to stay in the lodge featured on Lake Malawi, it looks beautiful
four nights at the villa in Rome looks very enticing! That’s my favorite auction.
The Riad Palais Amani looks fab – would make my upcoming trip to Morocco that much better!
My favorite auction is to stay at Phuket Thailand!
the beach at the hotel looks amazing.
Can anyone say buck-list? This would be a great opportunity cross one more location (Maldives) off the list.
2 nights at the chic and stylish Hotel Da Vinci, Paris looks nice
The Loama Resort looks great – a perfect place to relax and unwind
I’d go for the resort in St. Lucia. Always wanted to visit the island.
This is my favorite auction from the site – 3 Nights At Monaci Delle Terre Nere In Italy. If I there wasn’t a date restriction on it, I’d bid for my trip to Italy in February :/
Loama looks wonderfully relaxing
Glamping in Kent sounds fun…maybe i could convince my kids that we are there for the Quidditch World Cup!
I would love to stay at Loama because it would be my first time to Maldives, but the KwaZulu Natal stay looks equally fantastic!
Really looking forward to the Maldives! Loama Resort looks awesome. I have a wedding to go to in India next year and I’m thinking about getting over for a R&R week after. But it’s expensive!!! This would go a long way to making that a reality.
favorite auction item: 4 Nights In A Pool Villa At The 5* Milaidhoo Island Maldives!
This auction is my favor. I always want to go Bali.
2 nights at Arnalaya Beach House in Canggu, Bali
As far as favorite ongoing auction, it would have to be The 1)Kata Rocks resort in Phuket, 2) Dream Hotel in Phuket, and 3) Aleenta Phuket Resort & Spa. See a trend? lol
It looks beautiful, and a perfect for refuge for in the middle of nowhere! I’d love to stay there and stay on its pristine beaches for 3 days.
Loama Resort is too good. I won’t want to leave if i stay there
From the auctions, I think I like: 3 Nights For 4 Ppl In A Luxury Villa In Koh Samui, Thailand. Been to Koh Samui once and can’t wait to go back!
Loama Resort looks great because my wife and I love the Maldives and we’d love to try a new place!
2 nights at Leeds Castle
Would love to go back to Maldives and try Loma!
I wanna stay at this $840/night property because I can’t afford to actually pay for it!
I would stay at Loama for the privacy, the beautiful water, and the snorkeling
So many great auctions! A stay at Monaci della Terra Nere would be awesome.
Loama Resort would be fantastic (for my first trip to the Maldives). I mean who wouldn’t want 6 gastronomic venues, spa pampering, infinity pools, and overwater bungalo’s?!
Staying at this new resort Loama for our first trip to Maldives will be just perfect!
I need this! 🙂
Thanks!
A beautiful island with white sand and private villas…that sounds like heaven. I would pick the Loama in a heartbeat for our next trip!!
2 Nights At The Chic And Stylish Hotel Da Vinci looks amazing. Would love to go to Paris again!
2 Nights At Rhino River Lodge, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa sounds great auction
From the auctions, I would want to stay at Hotel Da Vinci, Paris. Love the atmosphere in the city and the location of the hotel.
My favorite auction item is 3 NIGHTS AT THE STUNNING ALEENTA PHUKET BEACH RESORT & Spa.
defiantly would love to snorkel at Loama!
Would love to go snorkeling at Loama and the beach looks amazing!
I would like to stay at the Loama resort because my new wife and I had to cancel our Maldives honeymoon due to an illness in the family. This would be a great place to reschedule!
If we can’t go to the Maldives, the Da Vinci hotel on the auction would be a great alternative!
Favourite item up for auction is the 8 night camping and hotel safari in Botswana
I would choose to stay at the Loama as it seems different than the other resorts we have stayed at in the Maldives
My favorite item up for auction would be the Athina luxury suites in Santorini
Would love to spend 3 NIGHTS AT GAL OYA LODGE IN SRI LANKA to relax and photograph the wildlife!
we would stay at the Loama just to relax and get away from it all