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Luxury is defined differently by different people. For me, true luxury lies in the details – and one place that encapsulates that perfectly is Cheval Blanc Randheli.
Situated in the turquoise shallows of Noonu Atoll, just a 40-minute seaplane ride from Malé, the islands of this luxury resort are a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of Dubai.
The arrival at Cheval Blanc Randheli feels like stepping into another dimension of luxury – one more subdued than those of us based in Dubai are used to.
GRAZIA was fortunate enough to be among the few invited to see inside one of the most discreet and coveted sanctuaries in the Indian Ocean. While optimum luxury you may assume comes with glossy excess, I was met with something more nuanced – a symphony of intuition, craftsmanship and true warmth.
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, the resort is an ode to restrained grandeur. Each villa, some of which are suspended over water and some situated beachside amongst vast greenery, brings a palette that is soft and elemental, all of which are vast, yet intimate in the same breath.
And, of course, privacy here is a given. Villas are situated to ensure that the only thing you see from your deck is the Maldivian horizon. Staff glide in and out seamlessly and if you so wished, you could spend an entire week here without crossing paths with another guest – it’s solitude that feels less like isolation, more like luxury distilled, giving guests a chance to switch off in all senses.
For all its seclusion, Cheval Blanc Randheli has a varied restaurant offering which includes two renowned restaurants with limited availability on certain days – Le 1947, which brings the finest French dining to island life and Diptyque, which plays on Japanese and East Asian flavours.
For us, it was Italian cuisine with a flair that was on the menu at Deelani, a restaurant towards the front of the main island, suspended over the turquoise waters. Hosted by Silvia Rothfelder, the current marketing director for the resort, it was like dining with an old friend from the outset – a true welcome. As we discuss what a special place Cheval Blanc Randheli is, it transpires it’s been able to retain over 57 per cent of its guests as regulars, a figure that speaks volumes in a region filled with postcard-perfect competition. That kind of loyalty can’t be bought. It’s earned through time, memory, and a consistency of care that transcends service.
And it’s not an act at all, it’s part of the culture. One that’s been lovingly cultivated since the resort first opened its doors over a decade ago. Remarkably, many of the staff have been there since day one and while their longevity is rare, their happiness is tangible. It’s felt within the way guests are greeted, not with a rehearsed smile, but with genuine pride.
It’s the kind of emotional investment that translates with ease and the kind of hospitality that almost feels telepathic. Before you can even think of something, a plan is already in motion. When rain is forecast, for instance, families won’t find themselves wondering what to do. Within moments, a villa will be transformed into a home-cinema set-up or with crafts for the kids or an impromptu menu tasting by the chef.
Or for those couples holidaying together, a signature spa treatment awaits at the Cheval Blanc Randheli Spa by Guerlain. Located on its very own island within the resort, accessible only by dhoni, here you’ll find Guerlain’s legendary savoir-faire meets the soothing soul of the Maldives, expressed through bespoke rituals designed exclusively for Randheli.
It’s this invisible choreography which almost defines the Maison – and I have no doubt for the six other properties which span across Paris, the Alps, St Tropez, St Barths and more are the same.
And while Cheval Blanc Randheli’s main ethos is discretion, you’ll never feel detached. It’s a true art which Randheli has mastered over a decade since its opening. Perhaps it’s why so many return. Not for the Instagram photos (which, of course, there’s an opportunity to capture them at every corner), but for the feeling and the sense of soul in the Maldives.
Here, the extraordinary hides in plain sight. It’s about the quiet conviction that real luxury isn’t about more – it’s all in the details.
chevalblanc.com/en/maison/randheli/
