If your 2026 bucket list includes turquoise lagoons, soft coral sands and the kind of sunsets that look as though the heavens have been lightly flambéed, you’ll want to pause your Christmas shopping. Two of the Maldives’ most stylish resorts, Kandima Maldives and Nova Maldives, have unveiled twin Black Friday offers that could see you lazing in paradise for half the usual price.
A Tale of Two Islands
Each resort brings its own distinct rhythm to the Indian Ocean.
Kandima, a perennial favourite among the young at heart, is known for its spirited social scene, art-filled spaces, and dizzying lineup of watersports. Over at Nova, the vibe slows right down a soulful island sanctuary where hammocks sway, the spa hums with tranquillity, and conversation competes only with the lapping tide.
Between them, they’ve captured both ends of the Maldivian dream: lively indulgence and peaceful seclusion. This year, both offer up to 50% off all meal plans and board types.
Nova Maldives – Mizu Aerial
When and How to Book
Bookings open 20 November to 3 December 2025, with stay dates stretching to 31 October 2026. For those dreaming of a festive island escape, a minimum seven-night stay is required for the popular Christmas–New Year period (26 December 2025 to 7 January 2026).
What You’ll Get
The offers don’t just stop at discounted rooms. Guests can expect a group sunset cruise, a 30-minute spa session for two, and, for the pool-villa crowd, that highly Instagrammable floating breakfast. Full-board guests also receive 15% off select watersports and Nova experiences, adding a little extra fizz to the holiday cocktail.
To catch the deals as they drop, head directly to the resorts’ official pages:
Why It Matters
Black Friday has long been a feeding frenzy for gadget hunters and fashionistas, but the travel world has muscled in on the action in recent years and for good reason. According to Tourism Maldives, visitor numbers are expected to top 2 million by 2026, making early booking more important than ever.
For the cost of a mid-range Sydney hotel room, you could be clinking glasses in an overwater villa where the room service arrives by boat. Now that’s what Peter Needham would call a bargain worth diving into.
By Alison Jenkins – (c) 2025
Read Time: 4 min
About the Writer
Alison Jenkins has spent much of her career at thirty thousand feet or at least close to it. Having worked in several sales roles with several airlines, she built a reputation for knowing her clients and flight schedules. Quick with a smile and sharper still with a deal, she became one of those rare people who could charm passengers and partners without losing her professional edge.
Trade shows and FAMILS were all part of the territory, and Alison became a regular on the circuit, with suitcases, smiles, and a notepad never far from reach. Somewhere between airport lounges and hotel lobbies, she discovered she loved telling the stories behind the journeys. Her post-FAMILS reports, meant for internal newsletters, began to take on a life of their own, lively, observant, and unmistakably hers.
That’s when Alison realised she wasn’t just selling travel, she was meant to write about it.
