This year, working remotely has become the new normal for many of us. As offices and workplaces closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, commuting dropped off the radar and the world settled into a new remote working pattern.
Many hotels that have taken a financial hit in the pandemic have restructured their offerings to capitalise on this new work-from-home scenario. This means there has been a noticeable rise in the number of resorts and hotels offering long-stay packages.
If money is no object, the One & Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives is offering what is possibly one of the most idyllic remote-working set-ups in the world.
28 days in paradise
The all-villa luxury resort in the Indian Ocean is selling a 28-day remote-work stay on the island at a cost of Dh156,000.
Travellers booking the package will have nearly a month to spend in paradise. Daily breakfast at the all-villa resort is included in the price, as is half-board dining at Reethi Restaurant. Getting to the island in North Male Atol is a breeze, as travellers will be picked up from Male via a luxury yacht; the price of this transfer is also included in the stay.
To ensure remote working is easy, villas all offer high-speed Wi-Fi and plenty of work space coupled with amazing views, especially if you book an overwater villa. You won't need a virtual Zoom background if you're working from here.
For families with children, the daily activity calendar at the Kids Only club will keep little ones entertained throughout the day, leaving adults to get on with their work.
And when it's time to down tools, there's lots to help travellers take advantage of being in such a paradisiacal location. With 12 beaches, the resort also has some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world right on its doorstep and all non-motorised water sports are complimentary.
There's also a range of pools to while away the day in, from an adults-only and infinity pool, to a palm-shaded family-friendly pool with in-water slides and mini sunloungers.
A fully equipped fitness centre offering daily classes is good for quashing any lingering work-related stress and there's also a sea-facing spa where access to the vitality pool, crystal steam room and sauna are included in the package price. Evenings can be spent watching a show under the stars at the outdoor cinema, or dining in the treetops at one of the resort's other eateries.
All this for a bargain Dh5,500 per couple, per day.
For the rest of us, who can only dream of such a remote-working set-up, the resort's 24-hour live stream is probably as close as we'll get to working with that view of impossibly blue waters and towering palm trees.
Covid-19 tests for tourists
The Maldives reopened to tourists in July. Initially, no requirements for quarantine or Covid-19 testing for visitors were in place, but authorities updated this rule in September.
All tourists and visitors heading to the tropical archipelago must now present a negative PCR test on arrival at Male International Airport. The test must have been taken in the past 72 hours, according to the latest update from the Ministry of Tourism.
