Friday, I'm in Love

But there's something pretty special and quite unique about Gili Lankanfushi; and those picturesque panoramas are just the start of it. It's the epitome of understated barefoot luxury without cutting any corners and, from the moment we were greeted by the arrivals team in Malé after which we hopped on-board 'Gili goes Cruising' for our 20-minute oceanic transfer, we couldn't help but embrace the 'no shoes, no news' concept.​

And there's the welcome addition of some two-bedroom Family Villas designed with children firmly in mind; each with a private pool, a living room set over the lagoon and accessible from a safe walkway, plus an alfresco rooftop dining area. Speaking of dining, the options here are, unsurprisingly, top-notch: from 'By the Sea's' Japanese fine-dining feasts and the epic home-made ice-creams and sorbets at Fini Foni (the salted crème caramel ice-cream is outstanding); to the all-encompassing Kashiveli and the assortment of island settings for unique private dining experiences, including One Palm Island, named – yes, you guessed it – for its single palm tree.

​But what really makes Gili stand out – other than its blissful sense of escapism and sheer eco-friendliness (recycling glass, cans and food waste; filtering their own still and sparkling water; growing coral… even selling coral-friendly sun cream) – is the Mr/Miss Friday butler service, named as a nod to the resort's Robinson Crusoe vibe. On-hand throughout your stay to help with anything you may need, they are superb, discreet and oh-so helpful, so it's pretty much impossible to not to kick-back, chill-out and reconnect with your loved ones."