Magnificent piece of art

July 27, 2016 | Cheval Blanc Randheli | By Maldives Tour Operators - OV Holidays

The White (the name of the main restaurant), the white-colored towering walls and ceilings everywhere, the white soft sand I loved to step on, and the white cushions I enjoyed hugging tightly kept reminding me that I was at Cheval Blanc Randheli for “Cheval Blanc” are the French words for “White Horse”.

Every nook and cranny of this resort is a uniquely magnificent piece of art. Ceilings are designed as high as 7 meters to give you the spacious and breezy feeling, complemented with the furniture's gray, white, green, and yellow shades that enhance the splendid luxury.

Linens are in gray shades, instead of the usual boring white. Even some of the restaurants’ menus are artistically designed. They are either put in a kind of a water bag or covered with a round-shaped sand box.

Dining in Le 1947, the fine dining restaurant, is an unforgettable experience. The number 1947 denotes the best year for Chateau Cheval Blanc's wine. I immersed myself in French high-end delicious cuisine, intricately made canapes and wonderful wine recommended by a Sommelier.

Each course was presented so exquisitely that I almost could not believe such things do exist in the Maldives. The particular spot where I dined and the cuisine made me feel I was somewhere in Europe, not in the sunniest side of a tropical country.

Leaving for Cheval Blanc Randheli, a member of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy hotel group, I expected to see a lot of paraphernalia with the worldwide known LV logo in the resort. Wrong expectation! Not a single LV logo to be found around the whole resort’s facilities. However, the luxury that is identical with the logo is flawlessly and firmly imprinted in Cheval Blanc’s service, artfully grand architecture, and swanky amenities and facilities.

People say that the first Cheval Blanc hotel in Courchevel, a ski resort in the Alps region of France, started from a humble home lodging business. Therefore Cheval Blanc is nicknamed “The Maison” a French word for “home”. Cheval Blanc Randheli’s hospitality and its staff’s friendliness indeed made me feel at home.

Instead of dining in one of the restaurants, I was given a chance to savor my lunch under the shade of the pergola at the back of my villa. I just needed to open the back door of the living room, turn off the television and adjust the air conditioner with the ipad provided in each villa. And voila! Sumptuous cuisine was already elegantly spread on my private spacious dining table.

A few hours after the midday feast I just could not resist plunging into the private 12.5 meters long pool and savoring the breathtaking sunset view graced by the swaying coconut tree leaves that danced to the rhythm of the gentle peaceful ocean breeze. I felt very fortunate to experience this paradise on earth and was even more thrilled when I was told that the villa I stayed at was the one which grandly housed Prince William and Kate earlier this year. What an honor and fortune I had!