Glamping under the stars, private chefs and poolside acrobats: Inside the luxury A-list Maldives island where celebs such as Rita Ora and Sam Faiers, rang in a VERY swanky New Year
- The A-listers were all spotted at the luxe Finolhu resort set in a UNESCO World Biosphere in the Indian Ocean
- With its own private airport, it can only be reached by seaplane and hosts parties featuring world-famous DJs
- It’s home to five restaurants and bars, a cinema screen, wine vault and a spa offering $400 couples’ massages
- Cara Delevingne has previously visited the resort but this year has already been suitably star-studded
Most of us made do with a plastic flute of bubbles this New Year’s Eve but when you’re part of the celeb set – only a party on a private island in the Maldives will do.
For stars including Sam Faiers, Rita Ora, Nick Grimshaw and Jaime Winstone, the uber-luxe Finolhu resort was the hotspot of choice.
Set in the Baa Atoll – a UNESCO World Biosphere in the heart of the Indian Ocean – and reached only by seaplane, the desert island location has long been the go-to for celebrities like models Cara Delevingne and Savannah Miller.
But just a few days in and this year has already been one of the site’s most star-studded yet with songstresses, reality stars and TV personalities all sharing snaps from their festive breaks.
Sam Faiers, Rita Ora, Nick Grimshaw and Jaime Winstone all celebrated the New Year with luxurious breaks at Finolhu – and its sister resort Amilla Fushi – in the Maldives. Finolhu’s poolside area, pictured, is just one of the luxe highlights guests can enjoy while staying within the UNESCO Biosphere site
The desert island resort is set within the Baa Atoll in the heart of the Indian Ocean and has long been a favourite of celebrities including Cara Delevingne and Savannah Miller
Combining retro-chic touches with classic luxury, the carefully-curated site is a feast for the eyes. By day, guests can lounge in their own private pools or visit one of the five eateries and bars including an ‘old school tuck shop’ or the Fish & Crab Shack reached by foot, swimming or boat.
If eating gourmet food all day isn’t your thing, there’s a cinema screen, spa offering $400 couples’ treatments, tennis courts and ‘wine vault’ to get stuck into.
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Accommodation comes in the form of 125 private water villas with direct access to the ocean and everything from a garden or sundeck to a 40″ flatscreen TV and sound system.
Measuring around 145 sq m the standard overwater villas also have ocean-view bathtubs, outdoor rain showers and vistas over the lagoon and sandbank.
The Baa Baa Bar, located within Finolhu’s swanky 1 Oak Beach Club, allows guests to enjoy vistas of the water while lounging on plush divan beds
The resort offers 125 villas with some spanning up to 145 sq m. They come complete with everything from outdoor rain showers to private pools and hammocks – all with direct access to the ocean
For those after an upgrade – and no doubt enjoyed by the A-list squad – there’s the larger options that span up to 530 sq m complete with hammocks, private freshwater pools and two bathrooms.
The most secluded is the aptly-named Rockstar Villa located at the end of the jetty with uninterrupted views of the water.
And the piece de resistance? The unique secluded Beach Bubble Tents that let you sleep under the stars with a private beach barbecue before waking to the sunrise.
Former The Only Way is Essex star Sam Faiers and her boyfriend Paul celebrated her 28th birthday in one of the picturesque globes the night before New Year’s Eve.
It was part of their stay having spent the Christmas period at the luxurious location along with their two children – Rosie, one, and Paul, three – as well as Sam’s mother Suzanne and Paul’s mother Gaynor.
Former The Only Way is Essex star Sam Faiers spent the Christmas period on the island along with her boyfriend Paul, children Paul and Rosie, mother Suzanne and mother-in-law Gaynor. Singer Rita Ora appeared to be staying at resort’s equally swish Amilla Fushi accommodation, with friend and presenter Nick Grimshaw, although she was frequently spotted partying with former TOWIE star Sam Faiers at Finolhu
Sam Faiers and her beau Paul Knightley enjoyed a night spent in the resort’s unique Beach Bubble Tents – under the stars – to celebrate her 28th birthday ahead of New Year’s Eve
The site offers five different restaurants and bars – as well as private chefs – from a fish and crab shack to the opulent Kanusan eatery that promises a gourmet menu of Asian Fusion cuisine
While widely regarded as a family resort, Finolhu is also famed for its poolside parties offering world-famous DJs, mixologists, fire-dancers and acrobats
On this year’s New Year’s Eve agenda, guests could enjoy a day of everything from dolphin spotting to a basketball match and a ceramic art class with a resident artist.
But it was after dark that the fun really got going at the resort – dubbed ‘Fun-olhu’ by those in-the-know.
Famed for its extravagant pool parties, the resort became filled with mixologists, world-famous DJs, fire-dancers and acrobats at its 1 Oak Beach Club.
While Rita Ora and pal Nick Grimshaw have shared snaps of themselves staying at the resort’s sister site – Amilla Fushi – just 30 minutes away, Rita and fellow star Jaime Winstone also posted pictures partying at Finolhu with Sam and her family.
Both Amilla Fushi and Finolhu can only be reached by speedboat or seaplane following a flight to Male airport. For those travelling by the latter, there’s a private airport area where they can lounge in armchairs and enjoy their final views of the area
The decor is a stylist mix of retro-chic touches and classic luxury including decadent cream furniture, metallic details and vintage-style pastel-hued prints
Many of the villas boast private pools with steps that lead straight into the rich waters of the Indian ocean. Guests can also enjoy tennis courts, a spa and a cinema screen
Outdoor rain showers and open bathrooms – filled with botanical Neal’s Yard products – allow guests to unwind after a day spent sunbathing, dolphin spotting or indulging in watersports
Coconut-leaf-thatched roofs and wicker sun-loungers add a hint of local charm to Finolhu’s uber-chic cream and white decor
Sam Faiers shared a photo of Jaime Winstone (left) and Rita Ora (right) with her daughter Rosie as the stars enjoyed a night in the glittering Maldives location
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