Move over, all-inclusive vacations; the all-you-can-stay resort package has entered the party.
A new offer from the adults-only Anantara Veli in Maldives invites travelers to use the resort as a personal vacation crash pad.
Their $30,000 package includes the use of a two-person, over-water bungalow at the private-island property for unlimited in 2021, with airport transfers and breakfast thrown in for good measure.
There will also be discounts for add-ons, which include Ayurvedic spa treatments, Maldivian cooking lessons and water activities like diving, snorkeling and surfing.
While that price tag isn’t for the faint of heart, it's less than the cost of a permanent vacation home in many parts of the world. And another potential bonus: it will go nicely with the new, first-of-its-kind countrywide loyalty program that Maldives is rolling out in 2021. Back in September, officials of the Indian Ocean country announced that a three-tier, tourist loyalty program called “Maldives Border Miles” would debut in 2021. Though specifics for how the program will work on a practical level have not yet been revealed, there are Gold, Silver and Bronze levels, which will correspond to the amount of money spent in-country and will come with rewards and perks for frequent visitors.
Maldives, which is heavily dependent on international tourism for its economy, was relatively early to open up its borders amidst the global coronavirus crisis. The archipelago's geography helped considerably, as most tourist accommodation is on private islands or atolls removed from the densely packed capital of Malé.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Maldives has had 12,059 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with only 12 deaths.