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.  Beach Bubble Tent, Seaside Finolhu, MaldivesStays 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”.Beach Bubble Tent, Seaside Finolhu, MaldivesAlthough 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.)Beach Bubble Tent, Seaside Finolhu, MaldivesMeanwhile, 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.Anantara Jungle Bubbles, ThailandGuests 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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