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  White
Sands Resort & Spa (formerly known as Ari-Beach) counts among one of the few
resorts that has deliberately retain the special appearance of the simple and natural
atmosphere of the beautiful islands of Maldives. Avoiding the traps of a
"modern-city" hotels environment and giving emphasis to preserve the natural
assets and relaxed ambience, yet at the same time offering all the modern comforts, and
facilities comprising international and local cuisine, and excellent recreational
facilities - Ari-Beach is among the best harvested resort's in Maldives.
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  It's true as we can see from the
top left picture; that the island has a huge number of coconut palms, different
sort of trees and bushes. "White Sands" boasts of many birds, singing in its trees,
in the early morning hours.
To bring out a feel of the natural environment,
"White Sands" designed it's reception, bar and lounge with a low roof and a white sandy floor. All around
are the warm, rustic colors of thatch, weave matting, wood and coral. The handsome coffee
shop is a draw at sunset, and it is sited facing due west on the shoreline.
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Two restaurants and
3 well-stocked bars serve a good selection of local and international
cuisine plus some mean cocktails. The meal plan is usually a buffet Breakfast, a set Lunch
and a buffet Dinner for the guests, offering room only, bed & breakfast, half board accommodation to enjoy the
variety in the coffee shop. Still the resort has a Full board meal-plan
offering with a further option for the guests to go for an All-Inclusive
package.
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The 121 beachfront
air conditional bungalows with shower/WC, hot and cold water, mini-bar, IDD
telephone and private terrace are divided into Standards,
Superior and Superior Deluxe.
The Standard rooms
are in blocks of 6 - thus each block has 6 rooms and the are separated from
one another. We may consider that the standard rooms
are a bit small in size - providing basic furnishings, air-conditioned, bathroom with
desalinated fresh water,
shower, with/without terrace, idd telephone, curtains. These rooms does not include
hot water. However includes a dressing table and a mirror.
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The superior rooms are
NOT superior in all the aspects. Thus they are also in blocks of 6. However
in facilities wise they are much superior than the standard rooms. These
rooms are very well furnished, with a half-way open air bathroom (what the
locals called "gifili"), air-conditioned, shower, hot and cold
water, with/without beach front, idd telephone.
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SUPERIOR
A-Frame Rooms are
superior in every aspect. They are A-framed (front view), thatched roof,
twin bungalows. The Italian architect have had tried to make them look local
boathouses in inhabited and uninhabited islands - which we call it "haruge"
in Dhivehi. These rooms are well furnished, airconditioned, half open
bathroom, shower, hot and cold desalinated fresh water, mini bar,
with/without terrace, idd telephone.
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  This
is an extra wing added to "White Sands", known as the "WATER
VILLAGE". Water Village has 49 individual WATER bungalows and 3 WATER
SUITES which are built on stilt in the lagoon. Usually these rooms are
known as "Water Bungalows" or "Lagoon Villas".
These WATER Suites are
easily convertible to family-Water-Suites. They are twice as large as a
Water Bungalow. And includes a bigger living and a working area.
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  All WATER Bungalows are
elegantly designed wooden huts on stilts on the water, in the form of a
traditional sailing vessel (Dhoani), beautifully furnished to present a warm
and cozy atmosphere.
Facilities in these
W/Bungalows include; all modern comforts, pay tv, desalinated hot and cold
fresh water, bathtub, shower, mini bar, hair dryer, idd telephone,
safe, private sundeck with direct access to lagoon.
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White Sands has a huge and a
very ideal lagoon for water sports - that could be the main reason why
"White Sands" couldn't be considered as a snorkeling resort. Ari Beach has almost
all the water sports which are available in Maldives, from canoe to jetskii,
from windsurf to catamaran.
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Though Ari
Beach is more for fun-lovers, honeymooner and couples; providing lots of
extra-curricular activities - still the island has a reasonably good
dive-centre, to cater for the ad-hoc divers who visit to Ari
Beach.
Dhidhdhoo beyru faru, kudadhoo ethere
faru, kudadhoo beyru faru and Ariyadhoo are the well know dive-sites
close to Ari Beach. And some a bit far from Ari Beach, but close to
Vakarufalhi Island are kudarah thila, broken rock, dhigurah arches,
dhigurah thila and thinfushi ethere thila.
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Exactly, snorkeling is an
exciting alternative for diving.
Unfortunately most of our guests do not consider "White Sands" as an excellent place for
snorkeling, due to the large lagoon. Thus the reef is a bit far from the beach. To
overcome this difficulty in snorkeling, the resort provides a boat on twice a day (usually
these trips depends on the number of guests at the resort) to take people out to the reef
edge; plus a weekly half-day trip to another local reef (which changes every
now and then). |
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Making in
all, "White Sands" is a gentle, easy going, hassle free resort. The beauty of the
management’s operation of "White Sands" is the island’s motto "no
news, no shoes", where everyone seemed happy.
You know,
"White Sands" is very famous for
it's lively and informal, evening entertainment's - let's check out
"White Sands"
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