FIYA Magazine by Villa Air: The Ultimate Guide to Bucket List Experiences in the Maldives

Exploring the Local Islands with FIYA Magazine

Although Maldives resorts are popular for their beautiful and luxurious villas, there is something uniquely beautiful about local islands. You’re getting a budget-friendly experience without compromising on the white sandy beaches, azure waters, or even the lush greenery. If anything, local islands bring a touch more culture and vibrancy. From the friendly islanders to exploring something unique to each island, local islands are their own unique experiences. Here are some of the beautiful destinations, as recommended by the magazine for travellers to explore:

Maafushi – This is truly one of the most popular local islands. Located near Male’ City, Maafushi is a vibrant island filled with art, culture and beautiful hotels to explore. While one side of the island feels more like a resort, travellers can also explore the local side!

Fehendhoo – Tucked away in Baa Atoll, Fehendhoo is the perfect place to explore crystal-clear waters. In addition to being extremely beautiful, this small island has some of the friendliest locals you could meet!

Dhigurah – Dhigurah features those beautiful powdery beaches we all dream of visiting. While you’re on this island, you can also book an excursion to amazing destinations like Hanifaru Bay!

Thulusdhoo – This island is a surfer’s dream destination! the laid-back vibes and amazing surfing spot make this destination a surf enthusiast’s paradise. If you’re a cat lover, Thulusdhoo also houses some of the most adorable cats you’ll meet in the Maldives.

Huraa – Huraa and Thulusdhoo are both located in close proximity to each other. So if you’re looking for an island hopping experience, a stay in Huraa and a day visit to Thulusdhoo will make for the perfect trip.

Gulhi – This small island is perfect for anyone looking for an island near Male’ that isn’t too packed with tourists. Gulhi is the perfect place to interact with some locals and enjoy peaceful days by the beach.

Every Traveller Must Have These Experiences!

If you’re looking to explore the most scenic islands of the Maldives you must visit Baa Atoll! The Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve homing to some of the most vibrant coral reefs and aquatic wonders of the world. If you watched ‘Love in the Maldives’ you already know a trip to Vaavu Atoll is a must. This one is for adventure travellers. From dolphin watching to shipwrecks, everything in Vaavu is an adventure. And as we all know, an Excursion is an absolute must. Whether you’re visiting a resort or a local island, try to book at least one excursion trip. It could be sunset dolphin watching, fishing or even island hopping. There is something quite magical about this experience.

Don’t Miss out on these Resort Experiences

If you’re looking for a romantic and unforgettable resort experience, book a stay at Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll. This beautiful resort offers a beach bubble, perfect for creating lifelong memories. This intimate retreat setting feels like a glamping experience in the Maldives. Couples can enjoy the starlit nights of the Maldives and enjoy private beach dinners and breakfasts!

While you’re in the Maldives, book a romantic photoshoot with IM Studio. Whether you’re looking to create reels or capture the perfect picture, IM Studio elevates your experience. Go home with the perfect memories from your trip by booking with the amazing team that always delivers.

Whether you’re visiting Anantara, Soneva, CROSSROADS, SO/ Maldives or even Finolhu, don’t miss out on the overwater villa experience. A stay in an overwater villa in the Maldives is truly unique. You’re surrounded by the most beautiful waters and views one cannot forget!

If you’re taking a Villa Air flight to your next destination, dive into these bucket list experiences with the FIYA Magazine!

If you love traveling and earning rewards, the expanded partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards is great news. With over 35 million members worldwide, this collaboration lets you convert points between the two programs, doubling your opportunities to earn and redeem rewards whether you fly or stay at a hotel. Here’s a simple guide to what this means for you and how to get the most out of your travel loyalty programs.

What Is the Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards Partnership?

Marriott Bonvoy is the loyalty program for Marriott International’s vast hotel portfolio, including more than 30 brands worldwide. Emirates Skywards is the frequent flyer program of Emirates Airlines, flying to over 140 destinations globally. Together, they’ve been partnering for over 10 years to let travelers earn rewards faster now with a new feature that lets you convert Skywards Miles to Marriott Bonvoy Points and vice versa.

How Does the Points and Miles Conversion Work?

The key highlight of this partnership is the seamless conversion between Marriott Bonvoy Points and Emirates Skywards Miles:

Convert Marriott Bonvoy Points to Emirates Skywards Miles: For every 3 Marriott Bonvoy Points, you get 1 Skywards Mile. Plus, if you convert 60,000 points, you receive a bonus of 5,000 Skywards Miles.
Convert Emirates Skywards Miles to Marriott Bonvoy Points: Starting now, you can convert 3 Skywards Miles into 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points. The minimum transfer is 3,000 Miles.

To make a conversion, log in to your Emirates Skywards account, enter your Marriott Bonvoy membership details, and convert easily on the Emirates website.

Double Your Rewards Earn Both Points and Miles

Here’s how you earn more rewards by linking your accounts:

When staying at Marriott Bonvoy hotels: Earn 1 Skywards Mile for every USD 1 spent, on top of your Marriott Bonvoy points.
When flying Emirates: Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and above members earn 3 Marriott Bonvoy Points for every USD 1 spent on Emirates flights, in addition to Skywards Miles.

If you have elite status in either program, you also get special perks like priority check-in, priority boarding on Emirates flights, late hotel checkout, and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi.

Who Can Benefit Most from This Partnership?

This program is perfect for frequent travelers who fly with Emirates and stay at Marriott hotels regularly. To maximize benefits:

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite members earn bonus points on Emirates flights and get airport perks.
Emirates Skywards Silver, Gold, and Platinum members earn miles on Marriott stays and receive hotel elite benefits like late checkout and priority check-in.

Keep in mind, you need to be registered with both programs under the same name and link your accounts to enjoy these benefits.

Why This Partnership Matters for Travelers

With this upgraded collaboration, your travel rewards become more flexible and valuable. Whether you want to use your points to book a luxurious hotel stay across 144 countries or redeem miles for flights to 158 destinations, this partnership opens doors to a more rewarding travel experience.

It’s especially helpful if you want to switch between earning hotel points and airline miles without losing value. Plus, the ability to earn both simultaneously makes every trip more rewarding.

How to Get Started

Make sure you are an active member of both Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards.
Link your accounts online through the Your World Rewards portal or Emirates website.
Start earning double rewards on flights and hotel stays.
Convert points and miles easily whenever you want to enjoy stays or flights.
Don’t forget to check your elite status perks before booking to get the most value.

Elevate Your Travel Rewards with Marriott and Emirates

If you travel often, this enhanced Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards partnership gives you more freedom and flexibility to earn and spend rewards across a global network of hotels and flights. The ability to convert miles to points and vice versa means your loyalty rewards can work exactly how you want them to whether that’s booking your next Emirates flight, upgrading your hotel stay, or simply enjoying exclusive perks.

Link your accounts today to start maximizing your travel rewards and experience the best of both worlds the comfort of Marriott hotels and the luxury of Emirates flights all while earning twice the rewards.

*As announced on 27th May 2025 by Emirates