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Celebrate Maldives Independence Day in Style at Meeru Island Resort & Spa

MEERU - Maldives Independence Day 2021

Celebrating Maldives Independence Day in Style at Meeru Island 

26 July 2021 marks the 56th Independence Day of the Maldives, and Meeru Island Resort & Spa is dedicating the day to celebrating the unique beauty of Maldivian culture.

The day will see the colours of the Maldivian flag, traditional costumes, cultural performances and hear the beats of ‘Bodu Beru’ drums, providing guests with a glimpse of local culture.

As one of the long-established resorts in the Maldives, Meeru prides itself on offering truly local and authentic experiences to guests.

Find out what you can expect to do on your stay at our Maldives resort in North Malé Atoll.

Independence Day Activity – Meeru Museum Special Guided Tour

Located at the heart of the resort is the traditional Dhoni-shaped Meeru Museum that offers an insight into the Maldivian way of life. It exhibits various artefacts and collectables from centuries ago that portray the Maldivian culture.

On this cultural tour, guests will learn about how the early local Maldivians cooked, dressed, travelled, and schooled – an experience that is sure to intrigue culturally curious minds.

» The special tour starts at 09:30. The meeting point is at the Main Reception.

Independence Day Activity – Maldivian Heritage Presentation with a Local Cultural Show

Meeru Island Resort & Spa Bodu Beru Show

Guests at Meeru must not miss out to experience the opportunity of immersing themselves in fascinating local culture by discovering an evening filled with music, dances, and discovery.

The experience begins with a cultural presentation followed by Bodu Beru dance performances.

» The show starts at 21:00 at Kakuni Bar Beach.

More cultural experiences for guests at Meeru

There is plenty to keep the cultural traveller entertained at Meeru. The Meeru team recommends:

Locally-inspired Excursions

Casting and Big Game Fishing are two excursions guests can opt for that will offer them the chance to learn how to reel in the big fish like a local fisherman – Maldivian style! On these trips, they will be introduced to the environmentally sustainable fishing practices in the Maldives.

View our range of Maldives excursions at Meeru here »  

Make it a Summer to Remember in the Maldives at Meeru Island Resort & Spa

Meeru Island Resort & Spa - Maldives

We invite you to come to soak up some tropical sunshine this summer with us. Whether you are holding a wedding amidst our palm-fringed paradise, dining at one of our beachfront restaurants, or simply appreciating as many Maldivian sunsets as you can, we look forward to welcoming you.

Here at Meeru Island Resort & Spa, we are genuinely proud of our heritage, and we love sharing it with everyone who chooses to stay with us.

Find out how we can make your Maldives holiday one to remember by getting in touch with us today.

Traveling in the ‘New Normal’ – A Safe Holiday Experience at Meeru

Quick Links

Your Questions Answered Before You Travel |  Facilitating PCR Testing at the Resort |  Travel Flexibility & Cancellation Policy Update | See What Our Guests Say About New Normal Holidaying at Meeru

Special Offers

Are you planning a Maldives holiday? Here is a selection of offers, including last-minute deals. See All Offers »

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Meet the Team: Meeru’s Commis Chef Parvisha

Meeru Team - Parvisha

Meet the Meeru Team: Parvisha 

For this ‘Meet the Meeru Team’ blog series, we ventured down into the kitchen and waited for a moment so that we could catch up with Parvisha. 

Originally from India, Parvisha works as a Commis Chef at Meeru Island Resort & Spa and has been with the property for three years. 

She holds a Diploma in Hotel Management and enjoys working in the kitchen and learning new and exciting things about her profession.

In her current role, she assists in the food preparation process, helps with deliveries and restocking, and contributes to maintaining kitchen and food safety standards. 

Like all of the team members at Meeru Island, Parvisha’s contributions to guest satisfaction do not go unnoticed.

Meeru Maldives Team - Parvisha
Image: Parvisha at the live pasta station at the family-friendly Farivalhu Restaurant 

Why did you decide to become a chef? 

I found my calling to cuisine at a young age. It was a childhood hobby that has turned into a fulfilling career, and I am truly passionate about it. 

What was the journey that led you to work at Meeru?

After completing my college course, I applied for the internship programme here at Meeru Island. I trained for six months in 2017, and I was selected as a permanent staff and given the opportunity to work as a Commis III Chef. 

What do you love most about your work?

It is a privilege to work in the Maldives for several reasons, including the culture, beaches, and tropical beauty – it’s like heaven on Earth! 

At Meeru, I enjoy doing various tasks, especially when catering to guests’ needs and requirements, working with people with a positive mindset, and working for a company that cares for its employees.

What hobbies do you enjoy when you are not at work?

I love listening to music, dancing, and painting. I also enjoy gardening. In fact, I have a mini garden just right in front of my room! 

What is your favourite among the wide selection of food in the buffet? 

I do have a lot of favourites. I love omelettes, pasta, and hot dishes that are prepared and cooked fresh. 

When I am at the live cooking station, I love interacting with guests and serving them these food items according to their tastes and liking. It gives me joy, especially when they come back and share their feedback on how they enjoy the food. 

What food on the menu do you recommend guests to try? 

That’s easy – fresh seafood that we have in the buffets daily. At Meeru, we serve freshly caught, locally sourced fish from fishers from the nearby islands. 

Additionally, the meat selections at the live cooking station which are grilled as per guests’ requests and preferences.

We hope you get a chance to see Parvisha in action soon and taste her dishes. Furthermore, we look forward to introducing you to even more members of our team here at Meeru Island Resort & Spa over the coming months.

To learn more about our dining experiences, you may visit Dining at Meeru Island Resort & Spa » 

Travelling in the ‘New Normal’ – A Safe Holiday Experience at Meeru

Quick Links

Your Questions Answered Before You Travel |  Facilitating PCR Testing at the Resort |  Travel Flexibility & Cancellation Policy Update | See What Our Guests Say About New Normal Holidaying at Meeru

Special Offers

Are you planning a Maldives holiday? Here is a selection of offers, including last-minute deals. See All Offers »

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Meet the Team: Aroofa, Meeru’s Front of House Supervisor 

Meet the Meeru Team - Aroofa

Meet the Meeru Team: Fathimath Aroofa

In our palm-fringed paradise here at Meeru Island Resort & Spa, we are so grateful to have many amazing colleagues working with us day after day to ensure that we are able to provide guests with a safe and beautiful holiday experience in the Maldives.

We want to take a moment this month to shine a spotlight on one of those amazing team members that has shown what it means to be a great Meeru team member. 

Meet Aroofa, Meeru’s Front of House Supervisor 

Born and raised in the Maldives, Fathimath Aroofa works as a Front of House Supervisor at Meeru Island and has been with the resort since 2017.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management and enjoys meeting new people and helping them craft a wonderful holiday experience.

Always motivated and up for new challenges, Aroofa is passionate about hospitality and eager to learn new things to grow and advance her career within the industry.

In her current role, she supervises and coordinates the entire Front of House team, ensures guests receive the warmest possible welcome, and that service runs smoothly.

We sat down with Aroofa for a chat to learn more about her experience and received some insightful tips that, especially those of you who are coming to Meeru Island for the first time, will appreciate.

Aroofa Meeru Island Resort & Spa Maldives

What is it like to be a Front of House Supervisor and how long have you been working at the resort?

As a Front of House Supervisor, I enjoy working with my colleagues from different nationalities and learning their cultures. Leading the team, providing excellent customer service, and overseeing day-to-day activities are my primary responsibilities.

I have been with Meeru Island Resort & Spa for already three years and eight months.

Why did you decide to become a Front of House Supervisor?

To become a Front of House Supervisor is a part of my journey to grow forward with my career in the hospitality industry.

What do you love most about your work?

What I love most about my work are my colleagues and the work environment. Additionally, I enjoy working with people and assisting them with their concerns to make their holiday experience feel like ‘a home away from home’.

What hobbies do you enjoy when you are not at work?

In my free time, I enjoy diving, hanging out with friends, and watching movies.

What extraordinary experiences should guests embark on when holidaying at Meeru Island Resort & Spa? 

There is a wide range of spectacular experiences to be had at Meeru Island. I recommend diving with mantas and turtles and going on full-day snorkelling trips and sandbank excursions.

On the one hand, candle-lit beach dinners are perfect for couples seeking intimate time together alongside delightful cuisine. 

What advice or motivational words can you give to those who want to work in Front of House?

“Quality is never an accident. It is always a result of an intelligent effort.” – John Ruski

Travelling in the ‘New Normal’ – A Safe Holiday Experience at Meeru

Quick Links

Your Questions Answered Before You Travel |  Facilitating PCR Testing at the Resort |  Travel Flexibility & Cancellation Policy Update | See What Our Guests Say About New Normal Holidaying at Meeru

Special Offers

Are you planning a Maldives holiday? Here is a selection of offers, including last-minute deals. See All Offers »

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Meeru Team Recommends: Night Scuba Diving In The Maldives

A Night Dive To A Shipwreck

“It’s a whole new perspective of the underwater world.”

– Hassan Nazeeh (10/05/2021) –

Night scuba diving is a wonderful experience and a relatively hidden gem of activity at Meeru Island, which most divers can enjoy. The dive team selects different locations around Meeru for night dives, and I had the opportunity to explore a shallow shipwreck.

The dive spot for the day was the shipwreck, conveniently located 15 minutes boat ride from the island. 10 May 2021 was a beautiful evening when we set sail from the Meeru jetty into the direction of the sunset while the sun was still blazing down the ocean and illuminating the water. Our dive instructor Marc Vermaas from Euro-Divers Meeru Island gave us a briefing on the dive during the boat ride.

The sun was about to set when the dive was planned out, and mandatory dive briefs complied. With much excitement, all the divers put on their dive gear with the help of the boat crew. We then jumped into the ocean with our torches switched on.

 

We jumped into the ocean, and our dive instructor Marc gave the signal to go down and guided the team to swim down towards the shipwreck. The shipwreck at night was even more awe-inspiring. I felt like being in a museum at night with all the history that is sunken with it.

Marc started to swim around and showed small yet magnificent marine life and mollusc, including the colourful nudibranchs, pufferfish, and parrotfish laying comfortably in the ship’s compartments, ready to dose off to sleep. Starting from the ship’s propellers to the cargo compartment, we explored the ship’s depths. Laying underneath the hull, we found parrotfish, lionfish, and eels.

Swiping the ship to the top of the mast took around 45 minutes of the total dive time, and the air on the tank was more than enough to do the safety stops of 3 minutes. The boat crew lit up additional lights from the boat into the sea, making it easy to find the spot to ascend to the surface.

 

While we were still undersea at a depth of the 5-meter safety stop, there was another underwater show that left us more in awe. All the divers had to turn off the torch lights and wave their hands in the water to stir it in the pitch-dark of the ocean. The hand movement caused the bio-luminous planktons to light up like stars and spiral around like the night sky lit up by a galaxy.

After the underwater starry-night show courtesy of plankton, we ascended to the surface to be greeted by the warm fresh, salty breeze and a star-studded night sky. The boat crew assisted us as we climbed up the boat’s ladder with the equipment. To warm up from the dive, we had hot tea, coffee, and fruit.

As the divers shared their experience of the night, Marc, our dive instructor, logged down our experiences, time, depth, and air left from the night dive while the boat started sailing back towards Meeru. To me, it was bliss lying on the ship, in the breeze, on a starry night. We watched the well-lit marina of Meeru and the warm lights from the Kakuni Bar – a welcoming sight as we drew near the island. The excursion team reached the island right in time for dinner.

 

[Related: Dive Calendar For Scuba And Snorkeling Around Meeru Island, Maldives » ]

Night Dive Tips:

🤿 The first step to prepare for the night dive is to check and assemble all the dive equipment on the boat before leaving for the dive spot. A ‘buddy’ check is also important at the start of the journey to ensure a safe and fun dive.

🤿 An essential part of diving is to always know the location and what to expect from the night dive. Before the dive commences, it is important to receive general information about the dive site. Night dives differ from day dives, where a torch is needed and where the underwater sign language is different.

Parrotfish Fun Facts:
Every night, the Bicolor Parrotfish have often been seen envelope themselves in a transparent cocoon made of mucous secreted from an organ on their head. This secret bag masks their scent, making them harder for nocturnal predators, like moray eels, to find.

Night dive at Meeru is a guided dive by Euro-Divers Meeru.
The dive is USD 135* per person & is a 2-hour excursion.
Includes Single Dive, Full Diving Equipment, Underwater Torch, Single Boat Fee, Tea/Coffee, Fruits & Water on board.
Suitable for certified Open Water Diver and above with no previous night dive experience required.
Maximum: 8 persons. The minimum age is 12, and children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Optional: Fluorescent night dive, Underwater Camera rental, Night snorkeling

*Prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change.

The Author:
Hassan Nazeeh is the Assistant Sales & Marketing Manager of Meeru Island Resort & Spa. A Maldivian, he has great respect and is awe-inspired by the ocean and the marine life of the Maldives. He is an avid diver and enjoys his time off at the resort diving, participating in reef cleaning, and monitoring the health of Meeru’s coral garden.

Photo Credit: Marc Vermaas, Euro-Divers and Euro-Divers Meeru Island

Traveling in the ‘new normal’ – A Safe Holiday Experience at Meeru
Quick Links

Your Questions Answered Before You Travel  |  Facilitating PCR Testing at the Resort  |  Travel Flexibility & Cancellation Policy Update | See What Our Guests Say About New Normal Holidaying at Meeru

Special Offers

Planning a Maldives holiday? Here is a selection of offers including last-minute deals. See All Offers »

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Capture Those Beautiful Holiday Memories with Meeru Moments Photography & Videography Studio

Meeru Moments Photography & Videography Studio

Meeru Moments is our in-house professional photography studio that specialises in leisure, family, and wedding photo sessions. With so many photo opportunities around our expansive resort island, Meeru Moments can capture those precious memories in beautiful photographs whilst you are on your holiday with us.

Our professional team of photographers can bring out the best of every moment in a fun and memorable photoshoot for you to take home treasured memories. They know the best locations, the best time, and the best perspectives for your shots.

Meeru Moments Maldives Photography Studio - Family

You can choose a family photo session at the beach, with candid shots and a spectacular tropical background, or you can also select a fashionable photo session with friends, with props. If you are travelling with your special someone, you may opt for a romantic photo session with lots of lovey-dovey moments. Regardless of your choice, you will have a creative team by your side to snap those cherished memories.

“Because life’s little moments are meant to be captured….”

Meeru Moments Maldives Photography Studio - Romance & Weddings

Explore these Maldives photography session packages tailor-made especially for you. 

Basic: 20 digital images plus 1 printed 8″ x 12″ image

Bronze: 50 digital images plus 1 printed 8″ x 12″ image

Silver: 50 digital images plus 10 printed images in an album

Gold: 100 digital images and 26 printed images in an album

Platinum: 100 digital images and 50 printed images in an album

Wedding: 100 digital images and 40 printed images in an album

We encourage you to book at least 24 hours prior to the arrangement (at least a day before departure) due to high demand.

Book a Photography Session with Meeru Moments Photography Studio »

Have you not booked your holiday at Meeru Maldives yet? » See all our special offers here.

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Here is how you already experience Maldivian Heritage at Meeru

Much of the beauty that is Meeru Island Resort & Spa originates from the authentic and proud practice of Maldivian heritage. By preserving the unspoiled natural resources of the Maldives Islands, Meeru continuously helps create an unforgettable holiday experience.

To honor World Heritage Day, here are the ways that you already experience Maldivian Heritage at Meeru, from arrival to departure and everything in between:

Abundant Ocean

From arrival, you are transported by speedboat to the Island, which is only a 55-minute transfer away from Velana International Airport. The experience allows you to take in the first natural resource, the abundant ocean surrounding the Maldives.

A Maldivian Welcome

Your welcome to Meeru is with harmonious song and the sound of Bodu Beru drums. The Guest Services and Reception team adorns functional garments made from cotton, with traditional influences in design and threading.

Authentic Villas and Facilities

The design of each facility is influenced by traditional architecture that uses one of the most useful trees in the world, from the authentic, thatched Villas, to the high ceiling Restaurants. The popular Coconut Palm Tree is considered the Maldivian National Tree or “Tree of Life” for the many ways that it is used, to this day.

Maldivian Nights

Every Friday is Maldivian Night at Meeru Island, from the delicious themed cuisine at Farivalhu and Maalan Buffet Restaurants, to the informative Maldivian Cultural Presentation and Bodu Beru Dance Show.

Meeru Museum

Cultural Awareness

The Meeru Museum exhibits several artifacts from centuries ago that portray the Maldivian way of life. Particularly how the early local Maldivians cooked, dressed, traveled, and schooled.
An even rarer experience is the baby blue whale skeleton next to the museum where guests will learn how this animal came to Meeru.

[Related: Tales from the Meeru Museum – Raaveriya, The Toddy Tapper »]

Additionally,  Meeru offers excursions such as Casting and Big Game Fishing, where you can learn how to reel in the big fish like a Maldivian fisherman – Local style!

Subtle Cultural Fusions

Scattered across the island are traditional swings. Suspended from coconut trees are the single sings and fixed on the beach, the family-style large swings which provide a window into how the locals spend their time relaxing and a glimpse to the views they saw of the sea.

The Kurumba or the young drinking coconut is a refreshing drink guest of all ages can experience at the bar.

Beach and destination weddings including renewals of vows ceremonies incorporate cultural elements including drumming, local decor, and Maldivian styled wedding pavilion.

 

 

 

Book Meeru for your authentic experience of Maldivian Heritage, while you enjoy the beautiful tropical Island and it’s natural wonders

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2021 Travel Inspirations: A safe and fun filled Maldives resort stay in Meeru Island

If Santa can be merry, so can you

2021 is a year that will give new hope of freedom. If travel is in your bucket list, there is no better destination than the Maldives.

Is Maldives Safe To Travel?

Yes. Maldives is a WTTC Global Safe Travels Destination and received the ‘Safe Travel Stamp’ for implementing health and safety measures, in line with the World Travel & Tourism Councils’ Global Safe Travels protocols.

What COVID-19 Safety Measures Are There At The Resort?

Travel with confidence!
Visit our Travel Updates page to learn more about how Meeru facilitates Free PCR Tests at the resort, the Hygiene Guidelines for a Safe Holiday Experience In Paradise initiative by Meeru to ensure the safety of guests and employees during the new normal and the latest destination travel info.

Why Is Meeru the Best Resort For Me?

🏝️ Meeru Island is conveniently located a 50-minute speed boat transfer from the Velana International Airport in North Malé Atoll.
This makes the island perfect for late international arrivals, a quick transfer to your tropical paradise after a long international flight and great for young families travelling with small children.

🏝️ Meeru is a large island with expansive beaches. This offers the freedom of space on uncrowded beaches.

🏝️The island boasts an array of accommodation from Garden rooms, beach villas, villas by the water and over-water at different price points. Guest can also select their preferred meal packages from Half Board to the sought after All-Inclusive-Plus package, which offers great value and a range of complementary and discounted activities.

🏝️ Flexible cancellation up to 3 days to arrival for new normal travellers.
The Island has separated Adults-Only facilities and villas inclusive of Restaurant, Bars, Infinity Pool, over-water spa and a choice of beach and over-water villas.

🏝️ Meeru is a kid-friendly resort with separate family rooms and villas and family-friendly restaurant, bars, pool and wading pool, café, playground and a Kids and Teen club.

🏝️ Multiple dining options with 2 buffet restaurants, 2 a-la-carte restaurants, 6 bars and a café.
Guests also love private dinners on the beach.

🏝️ The island is a sought after destination for beach weddings and romance.

🏝️ Two spas by award-winning Duniye Spa. One over-water and the other amidst tropical gardens.

🏝️ Golf and putting range, tennis, football, bicycle rental and a choice of land sports for all ages.

🏝️ Water sports centre with motorized and non-motorized water sports.

🤿Try Scuba Diving with Euro-Divers and Earn your PADI Certification while in Meeru. The resorts Dive centre operated by the renowned Euro-Divers offers a choice of dive excursions from turtle spotting to shipwreck diving.

🏝️ From yachting, excursions, and evening entertainment to yoga lessons, sandbank escapes and photography sessions, Meeru offers something for every mood, purpose of travel and lifestyle.

Book Direct. See all offers and travel flexibility Meeru offers »
Or request for Meeru from your travel agent and tour operators.

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How to enjoy coconut water in Meeru

Kurumba is the Maldivian name for a young coconut. Coconut water is a cure for dehydration and also given as a ceremonial gift. While it may not be a miracle cure, it does have many health benefits.
Meeru Coconut

How to Enjoy Coconut Water

  1. Drink it early morning on an empty stomach: Coconut water contains lauric acid, which helps in boosting your immunity, kick-starting your metabolism.
  2. Before or after a workout: coconut water is a great natural sports drink that helps in hydrating your body, replenishing the lost electrolytes, helps in fighting fatigue and exhaustion and is one of the best energy boosting drinks.
  3. Pre and post meals: It is low in calories and easy on the stomach. Drinking coconut water helps in quick digestion and prevents bloating after meals.

It has also traditionally been used to treat dehydration and given as ceremonial gifts. While it may not be a miracle cure, it does have many health benefits.

At Meeru Island Resort & Spa, you can enjoy coconut drinks at the Dhoni Bar beach on Sunday and Hot Rock beach on Wednesdays, freshly plucked from Meeru’s coconut trees.

 

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An Eggciting Easter Awaits This April In Meeru

The entire month of April will be full of delightful dining experiences offering delicious dishes and stunning views. To begin the month with a toast at the Sunset Lagoon Wine Tasting: an opportunity to sample fine wines in an idyllic setting. From Seafood Buffet at Asian Wok Beach to Easter Brunch at the buffet restaurants, its a treat not to be forgotten for all the guests who have planned their holiday during Easter on Meeru Island Resort & Spa.

It will be an even more exciting time for the kids as our Kid’s and Teen’s Club has prepared a full programme of fun and games. A kid’s day out at the sandbank sets the tone for a month of adventure. There is no room for boredom with an array of activities planned including an Easter Egg Hunt, Sand Castle Competition, Water Polo, Cookies Decoration, Egg and Coconut Painting, Kids Fitness Session and more.

At our guests’ disposal anytime during their stay will be the range of experiences that Meeru offers, from sunset cruises to indulgent treatments at Duniye Spa. Kids Stay for Free on offer gives you the perfect reason to book your April adventure and experience the #meerumagic.

View the full programme here.

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Meeru Meet The Team, Rasheed

Mohamed Rasheed is a staff housing area attendant, who has been with Meeru for over a year. We caught up with him to find out what he loves most about his job and his insights on being a good team player.

 

What do you like most about your job?

I like working with my manager and the rest of my team. I am confident with my job as Staff Housing Area Attendant because of the training I have attended that help me in doing my best at work.

 

What are your hobbies?

I love playing football. I am also fascinated by Egypt and watch documentary films about it. I would love to see the pyramids one day.

 

What do you like most about the resort? 

Meeru provides good accommodation and food for its employees. There are also different staff facilities to cater to the employees’ needs.

 

What advice or motivational words you can give to your colleague?

My advice to my colleagues is to always be professional at work. In doing so, you have to be always punctual, follow your supervisor’s instructions and have a good attitude towards work. If you love your job, everything comes easy.

 

 

What is the secret to being a team member?

Punctuality is one important factor in being a good team player. If you come to work on time, you can complete your tasks every day. Sharing your knowledge is another essential factor. I find time to teach my colleagues some ways to do things faster, sharing tips that I have learned from previous experience. Lastly, I think it is important to be cooperative to work well with each other.

 

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