The wind in your hair as you speed across the turquoise waters taking in deserted islands, marine life and fresh sea air is not something many of us associate with an airport transfer, but then most airport transfers are not on a private luxury speed boat heading towards one of the most idyllic islands on earth.

Situated in the North-Western tip of Male Atoll, Maldives is the island of Sangeli, home to OBLU Select at Sangeli, an island that takes your breath away and somewhere that is the ultimate in honeymoon goals, a picture postcard of paradise. From the moment your luxury speedboat grinds to a halt, you know what it’s like to be treated like royalty.

Greeted by an ensemble of smiling barefoot staff, who welcome you with beating drums and smiling faces the reality suddenly hits that this stay is going to be beyond amazing. The island is just an instagrammable heaven, boasting bright turquoise waters, diamond-white sugary sands, palm-fringed wooden boardwalks and clear blue skies, a honeymoon dream come true.

Are you a water baby or a beach bum? The choice is yours when it comes toaccommodation, there’s overwater villas or beach bungalows. But for the ultimate honeymoon experience you need to stay in one of the exclusive Honeymoon Overwater Vilas (there are only six in total) situated on their own wooden jetty and the epitome of luxury. Suspended on stilts over the crystal-clear water, this is what dreams are made of. This suite will leave you speechless, with its’ enormous round bed, draped in silk, with a mirrored ceiling porthole, that at the press of a button slides back to reveal the beautiful twinkling sky at night or the clear blue sky by day, positioned perfectly for a view of the ocean as you wake up every morning. Step into the huge bathroom, with its deep, red,free-standingbath; the outdoor shower that allows for privacy, yet has you looking down watching the fish swim below you. Step outside onto your private sundeck, and you’ll be mesmerized at your own infinity pool and private steps that lead you straight into the azure blue ocean. You can borrow snorkelling equipment from the resort’s diving centre, so you can explore the coral and marine life from the comfort of your own villa.

It’s the small touches that count, and there are many of those here, from a fully stocked fridge including champagne (which is replenished everyday), to your own dedicated butler, ensuring you feel like the most elite and pampered guest on the island.

Food here is an absolute pleasure, the resort has three restaurants catering for all tastes The Courtyard, (open all day)looks out onto the soft white sand and turquoise clear waters making it not only a foodie’s delight, but also a scene straight from a picture postcard . There’s breakfast buffet choices of just about everything, think fresh tropical fruit, pastries, curry, sushi, smoothies, along with cooking stations that change the offerings every day, for a true Maldivian breakfast try the mas huni, a healthy mixture of tuna, onion, coconut and chilli, eaten cold with roshi (unleavened bread, like an Indian chapati).For lunch and dinner there’s a varied selection of western cuisine, soups, noodles, rice, Indian curries, fish and speciality Maldivian dishes.

Just Grill a is all about fresh seafood and meat grills, (ordered via a tablet) that includes such things as reef fish carpaccio, a mouth-watering treat of reef fish with a lime dressing and accompanied with green mango and papaya as well as seafood skewers, yellow fin tuna and mix grill skewer – all the food is so fresh and a succulent masterpiece. Simply Veg is another culinary delight, here you choose from set menus ‘Contrast’, ‘Local’, ‘Colours’ and ‘Blend’ –  I chose ‘Colours’ and was treated to an explosion of delightful textures and tastes in dishes such as Red Triangle, a samosa filled with beetroot anise on top of a goat’s cheese and paprika tzatzikiand Asian Shine, asparagus, sweet melon and glass noodles with a citrus soya dressing, dining here really is a divine journey of fresh flavoursome food.

Sunsets in the Maldives are breath-taking, an explosion of colours, made even more stunning by the gently lapping of the ocean in the background, be sure to grab yourself a cocktail, pull up a chair and watch from the small jetty at The Rock Bar.

Because complete indulgence is a must on your honeymoon, make sure you take time for a little pampering at the resort’s ELENA spa. Situated on Sangeli’s ONE BANYAN ISLAND, a haven of pure uninterrupted bliss. The tranquil treatment room has you falling asleep before your treatments even begun, it’s so serene, all you can hear is the soft music and gentle breeze in the background and as your therapist works her magic, you become encompassed in your own little bubble of serene bliss. OBLU Select’s honeymoon package (included with a honeymoon overwater villa), offers two treatments per couple during your stay.

If you’re feeling adventurous there’s plenty of activities available including snorkelling, paddle boarding, kayaking and windsurfing, and of course a trip to the Maldives wouldn’t be complete without the chance to dive and explore the wonders that lie beneath the surface, OBLU Select has its own ………. So, you’re guaranteed

If diving’s not for you, then grab a snorkel and flippers and try your hand at snorkelling, you’ll be amazed at the amount of underwater beauty you still manage to see, glistening coral, beautiful anemonefish hiding in their anemones, gorgeous colourful clams, gentle hawksbill turtles and bright yellow angel fish are just a handful of the underwater world you’ll manage to get a glimpse of in the aquamarine waters surrounding this resort.

For the more energetic there’s always the gym, or if you’re up in time to see the sunrise, then join in with early morning yoga – a great way to set you up for the day, especially if you’ve decided to take one of the many boat cruises the resort offers; for honeymooners it will be difficult to surpass a boat trip to a desolate island, where you can feel the sand trickle through your toes as you make your way to the water’s edge, dipping your feet in the warm ocean, tempting you to walk in deeper, there’s no one or nothing to distract you except the pure unadulterated blissful surroundings of your own private island – OBLU Select will arrange for you to have your own food and drink to enjoy picnic style on the sand, whether it’s breakfast, brunch or a sunset dinner, the choice is yours and, of course,a honeymoon picnic wouldn’t be complete without champagne.

The whole experience from your exquisite honeymoon overwater villa to private dining on adesert island is how you imagine a honeymoon to be – complete unadulterated luxury, at OBLU Select the expectation certainly lives up to the reality, there’s no need for filters, it really is just how it looks in the pictures, it really is paradise.

BOOK IT

For Couples Only – The honeymoon overwater suites include direct check-in to suite with welcome bottle of champagne in the villa with canapés& fruit platter

Free dine-around in ALLthree restaurants throughout your stay: The Courtyard (all day), Just Grill & Simply Veg (available for lunch and dinner on pre-booking basis).

Turn-down service on all nights of your stay.

TWO Couples Massages at the ELENA Spa during stay

For more information, prices or to book, visit www.oblu-sangeli.com