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Sanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAE

From the relaxing environs of the Maldives to the dazzling high life of Dubai, Sanaya and Karan's honeymoon included the best of both worlds.

From gourmet food to gorgeous landscapes, Karan and Sanaya indulged in everything that took their fancy on their honeymoon in the Maldives and Dubai. They wanted to relax after their hectic wedding but also wanted to live it up. Here, Sanaya shares memories of their perfect honeymoon and those special moments.

Sanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAE

How We Met
“Karan and I have known each other since 2006 as we were in the same school. What’s funny is that despite having been in the same Bollywood dance group at that time, we never really spoke to each other. As fate would have it, we landed in the same university to study the same business degree. During our three years at Auckland University in Australia, we happened to see each other a lot since we had several mutual friends. However, our relationship was still rather platonic at that time. It was only at the end of course that the beginnings of our relationship set in. During the graduation ceremony, we noticed each other in a different light. And in an epiphanic moment, we realized that we were just each other’s type. This was followed by a ‘Friend Request’ on Facebook. After a while, we were inseparable, and eventually, the only thing left to do was to get married!”

Sanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAE Sanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAE

Honeymoon Planning
“Both Karan and I had similar views of what our honeymoon should be like. Due to this, zeroing in on destinations was easy. After a month of wedding festivities, events and socializing, we wanted to go to a location where we could relax in a tranquil setting. Maldives was the perfect place to start off our honeymoon. We also knew that we would want our vacation to end on a more happening note once we refueled our energies. Therefore, our next stop was Dubai which was a perfect match for our personalities. The combination of these two locations was ideal as we had the best of both worlds. Our honeymoon was everything that we had hoped for and more!”

Sanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAE

Honeymoon Highlights
“We stayed at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef Maldives which is a resort located on the entirety of an island. Friends asked us if got bored just staying at the resort for three straight days, but the truth is that there were so many activities on offer there that we did not have time to experience them all! The staff at the resort do everything possible to keep you entertained and on your toes, until you’re out of gas and just want to head back to your beautiful Over Water Villa at the resort.”

“In Dubai, we went outside the hotel more that than we did at Maldives, be it visiting the Burj Khalifa, relishing a High Tea and dinner at the Burj Al Arab, splashing water at each other at Aquaventure Waterpark, strolling on the beach of the Atlantis hotel in Palm Jumeirah, getting adventurous on a desert safari, belly dancing or unwinding at the Talise Ottoman Spa – we did it all!”

Sanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAESanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAESanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAE Sanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAE

Best Meal of The Trip
“We loved every night of our dining experience in Maldives. On the first night, we chose to dine at The Aqua which is an outlet at the Sun Aqua Vila Reef. So impressed were we by the restaurant’s fine epicurean offerings that picking our restaurant for the second night was a no-brainer. The range of the dishes and the quality of the food was absolutely fantastic. This night, however, was particularly special as the hotel had booked us for a complimentary honeymoon dinner this time. We were assigned a personal chef who approached us with the biggest smile and asked us to pick our dishes. The meal commenced with an amazing platter of starters, moved on to delectable mains and finished only after we had gorged the fanciest desserts. What else could someone want?”

“In Dubai, there are two places that we absolutely loved and would recommend – Tong Thai and Rang Mahal by Atul Kochhar, both of which are at the JW Marriot Marquis Dubai. Tong Thai, as the name suggests, serves up authentic Thai cuisine which is prepared and served only by a Thai team. Rang Mahal, on the other hand, is helmed by Michelin Star chef Atul Kochhar. The ambiance there was perfect and the food was utterly delicious.”

Most Romantic Moment
“Karan’s birthday happened to fall during our visit to Maldives, which is one of the most romantic destinations for honeymooning couples. The double celebration undoubtedly called for an extra special experience! The day began with a breakfast at the beach, followed by a luxurious spa experience. Later in the evening, with the help of the team at the resort, I surprised Karan with a romantic dinner under the starry sky with a personalized Indian menu that included his favorite dish – Butter Chicken, along with the finest wine to go with the meal. His birthday cake and flowers were brought in from the city of Male. It took me a month to plan the entire dinner and make sure things everything was flawless. I wanted to give him the birthday of his dreams, and I must say the time and money spent was truly worth it. Another unforgettable moment was when Karan surprised me by hiring the beautiful Dodge Challenger which waited for our arrival right outside our hotel and dropped us back only after our High Tea and dinner at the Burj Al Arab.”

Sanaya and Karan, Maldives and Dubai, UAE

Advice to Couples
“Try to spend at least four days in the Maldives, and grab all opportunities to experience everything that the island nation has to offer. The serenity and beauty of this place is nothing short of paradise.”

Must-experience
Maldives: “Don’t miss jet boating, snorkeling, kayaking and the Couple Destination Dining experience at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort.”
Dubai: “Try a desert safari, and plan visits to the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Aquarium, Burj Al Arab, Ferrari World (Abu Dhabi), Palm Jumeirah, Aquaventure Waterpark, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and the Talise Ottoman Spa.”

Must-avoid
“Nothing! Maldives and Dubai are both amazing, and the activities we did in both were truly memorable.”

Hotels We Stayed At
Sun Aqua Vilu Reef, Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Dubai

To book a bespoke romantic trip for two, click here

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