The Seaside Finolhu hotel in the Maldives has unveiled a Beach Bubble room on a stretch of sand, perfect for couples looking for an 'isolation vacation'. Jenny Southan reports

This July, the Seaside Finolhu will reopen as a member of the trendy Design Hotels portfolio, the only property with this designation in the Maldives. As part of its relaunch, it will be offering stays in a new Beach Bubble room on the shore, in a transparent dome.

Translated as “sandbank”, Finolhu is an island resort located in the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll, famous for its reefs, submerged cliffs, and small, round underwater hills known as thilas. Originally opened in 2016, it consists of four islands with long beaches, and a mix of 125 private over-water and beach villas.

The new Beach Bubble concept is positioned on a private sandbank, surrounded by the ocean, and is the first of its kind in the Maldives.  Stays lasts from sunset until sunrise and offer the opportunity to star-gaze at night, and have a private chef prepare a barbecue meal on the beach, while a “Bubble butler” will be on-hand for any additional requests.

Inside the Beach Bubble, the hotel says "guests can expect a contemporary design mixed with a distinct organic edge, offering all the comforts of a hotel suite, including a double bed and bathroom".Although it has not been specifically designed for social distancing in the age of coronavirus, Globetrender predicts that "bubbles" could become the new cabana – both poolside and seaside.

Guests staying at the resort for three or more nights can book the Beach Bubble experience from £570 (excluding tax) for one night. A stay of four nights at Seaside Finolhu, including a night in the Beach Bubble, costs from £2,215 per person. (The price is based on two adults sharing on a B&B basis in January 2021, including seaplane transfers.)Meanwhile, over in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Anantara has unveiled two new biodomes at its Golden Triangle Elephant Camp, constructed with high-tech polyester fabric, using exclusive Precontraint Serge Ferrari technology to make sure then are strong and safe.Guests at the five-star resort can spend a night observing elephants in their natural habitat from the comfort of their own transparent Jungle Bubble, custom-made by Eye in the Sky. The fully furnished domes sit on a wooden deck in the forest, offering unbeatable views of local wildlife.

Features include air conditioning, a spacious bedroom and living space, a non-transparent en-suite bathroom, bathrobes and slippers, a dinner basket, fully stocked minibar, 24-hour in-room dining, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Rates are from THB 17,700 (£455) per night for two people.

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