Anyone been to the Maldives? Any tips welcome

[missingmevino]

Hubby and i planning week in Maldives for our 10 year anniversary next year.

Has anyone been?

Childcare is all sorted! So now need tips for good hotels and other useful info.

Bit worried about missing the kids too much but that's a whole other thread!

Thank you!

bump

yes I went - pre-kids - read 18 books in 2 weeks which were quite possibly also the last 18 books I ever read!

I did enjoy it but I did find it a bit limiting in terms of doing stuff - it was either reading, sea or sleeping - very relaxing and would probably be more appreciated post kids!

The diving and snorkling and just being in sea was amazing - even late at night sea was so warm it was lovely to swim and see the amazing fish etc

Food was better than you would expect given tiny islands and facilities were great

However, I did find it a bit too much "loved up couples"ville after a while - our island was very small - only about 20 rooms and there was a very much a feeling of competitive happiness with some of the couples .. So meant I did spend huge amount of tine with DH which could be stressful for some - luckily we are OK ignorning each other for vast parts of the day !

Did enjoy it though - seems a different world to holidays now!

I've been three times and have always stayed at Bandos Island resort and spa. I love it there. Have taken kids but there are lots of couples too. Its one of the nearest islands to the airport so not a long transfer which is good, just around 20 mins by boat.
There is a spa there, two pools, sports centre and a fabulous diving centre.
A couple of casual restaurants and an excellent fine dining one.
I love it there and would highly recommend it.

I've been 4 times and DH and I think it is the best place on earth.

The maldives is all about budget. Set yourself a budget and then see what you can get for that. Also whether your budget includes food/drink or whether you want an all inclusive island. We've personally been to lily beach 4 times and we are going again in May....definitely not cheap but i don't regret spending a single penny of it.

If you want all inclusive (and apart from Lily Beach), I would recommend you have a look at the following resorts:-

Veligandu
Reethi beech
Thudufushi
Athuruga
Vilamendhoo

Non all inclusive (and this is where budget comes into it as you can spend from £1500 ppp to £15,000ppp) I would look at Mirihi and The Conrad Rangali. Personally if this is going to be your only experience of the maldives I would say go for a island where you get a seaplane transfer (rather than a boat) as it is a once in a lifetime experience. All of the islands I have listed are only accessable by plane.

A bit vaugue I know but if you say what are your requirements (diving, good house snorkelling, AI or not) I could halp a bit more.

Hubby and I went to maldives a few years ago, absolutely loved it, stayed all inclusive in meeru island, water villa, were upgraded to honeymoon suite for 2 nights as double booked :)
We were originally going to kuredu as it looks amazing on seaplane but was 5months pregnant when we travelled so changed to meeru as it was a boat transfer.
Some trips are included on AI deals, would have liked to go to local island, did sunset cruise- quite rocky... Massages fab, snorkelling fab.. just relax and enjoy, took wee walks around beach.

I would say AI best as drinks etc can be costly, islands etc, food fab but not all restaurants incluede in resorts.

Would you have time for sri lanka, it apparently very good trip, we only had a week so never took the time.
Good luck x
PS when our kids are older we plan a return trip at some point

Last time we went to Lily I was 6 months pregnant and the seaplane was no problem. After 10 hrs on a plane a 20 minute hop on a seaplane was the least of my worries. Hope so anyway as when we go in May I will be 7 months pregnant. I sems that lately, whenever I book a holiday to the Maldives, I get pregnant shortly therafter!!

Bang goes my fortnight of all inclusive fines wines and cocktails!!

thanks everyone

sounds fantastic, am getting excited already and it is 18 months away :)

Hersetta - looking for good house snorkelling, definitely AI and maybe introductory scuba diving courses.

Budget is about 3500 all in.

Thank you!

I'm so pleased I found this thread as we're thinking of doing this in May (I will be 5 months pregnant). As I won't be drinking would you recommend AI as a good option still or waste of money ? THanks

soft drinks still expenxive so depends on how much your AI deal is, nice thing is you can drink without worrying cost or if you have cash as alrady been paid for..
I liked AI option but yeah could be annoying if you not able to drink..

Thanks Ip77. That's useful as I hadn't considered that, but thinking soft drinks will still be cheaper than the AI option...

Our travel agent has recommended the following to us. I'd be really appreciative if anyone has any info / experiences of them to give us:

Kuramathi Island Resort
Bandos Island Resort

Komandoo Resort

Reethi Beach
Meeru Island Resort
Medhufushi Island Resort

Thank you

We went to komandoo 6 years ago and it was utterly completely wonderful. The flight there was just stunning. Only advice is to request a villa on the side that doesn't face the supply island. That way you have uninterrupted views out to sea. Amazing.

Ooh thank you Ruddynorah - that's really good to know.

Rugby I'd already commented on Bandos earlier up the threat but would again recommend it. Short transfer from airport, medical centre staffed by european doctors (so both useful for all these pregnant ladies that want to go to the Maldives!)
Good choice of restaurants, ie casual and 'posh' and fabulous house reef for those who want to dive as well as the normal range of boat dives.
Spa is lovely but wouldn't recommend a thai massage (felt like I'd gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson) - other than that, fabulous

We went for a child free week last May and it was fantastic! We had thought a week might be too short (but didn't want to leave DS for any longer) but once we were off the plane we were totally relaxed.

I have heard a lot of people rave about Bandos. We went to Lily beach and it was fab.

Some friends had their honeymoon at Meeru and they had a wonderful time.

I really recommend you look at an all inclusive resort unless your budget is totally limitless!

If you can afford it go for a Water Villa :)

We went to Meeru YEARS ago (probably about 10 years now ) - chose it as one of the largest Islands (didn't want to have to have that feeling of being locked on an island with the same 10 loved up couples - and a cheap all inclusive. It was fab. I loved having a bit more space, and different places to snorkel, dive school was pretty decent (we'd dived quite a bit before, though,so weren't learners); food excellent, with a better than I expected mix of local cuisine & more standard fare.
I loved being AI - it just took all the hassle out of it & seemed to fit with the feeling of the place iyswim - you felt very 'free' just grabing your sarong, book and being done... & I speak as someone who has never before or since gone AI.

(Oh, we also slept on a sailboat for 3/4 nights - which was wonderful - takes you to deserted islands for BBQ, got to see Manta feeding station etc. We were lucky & got it for free as they'd over-booked the island , but it was wonderful....)

DH and I went to Baros in January. It is beautiful and I can't fault a single thing about it. 25 minutes by boat transfer. They sent a lovely luxurious launch for us, providing cold drinks etc. Then champagne on arrival and straight to our villa.

We had a villa on the beach which gave us not only a good sized private deck but also our very own section of beach :). The villa had huge 4 poster bed, a massive bathroom and a beautiful garden bathroom too.

We had dinner on a sandbank on my 40th birthday there - just me, DH, a butler and a chef on a 20m x 50m mini island out in the ocean. Sunset with champagne and then lobster dinner. Stunning.

We also did a sunset cruise which was open to everyone so much cheaper than private hire, but only 1 other couple turned up. As part of the deal there was champagne and canapés. DH and I were creased up with laughter watching this woman neck the champagne as fast as she could because there was just 1 bottle and she was determined to have (more than) her fair share!!

Staff were just brilliant - nothing was too much trouble.

Loved it, but sailed around the islands otherwise think the islands are a bit small.

Oh, and saw an advertisement for 'car hire' in the maldives. You absolutely do not need a car

have been to lily beach (most social, lots of english people, nice pool, a bit more "holiday resort"), vilhamendhoo (superb snorkelling/diving, very pretty proper paradise island with little coves for beaches superb lagoon, my favourite) and angaga (tiny, friendly, but the room was not as good).

we did the first two AI, but worked out for angaga that we'd have to eat and drink huge amounts to make it worthwhile so whent half board, which was worth it.

having had both, I personally wouldn't go for a water bungalow again, much prefer the little huts on the beach. In a WB it gets very hot walking to and from the boardwalk to the island and they often ruin the lagoon around the WB's when they build them so the snorkelling off your deck isn't that great.

warning: pregnant ladies, there isn't much in the way of medical infrastructure

we also went to veligandu for our honeymoon. fantastic and heartily recommend it.

food was amazing and the accommodation was stunning.

recommend getting the seaplanes from the airport, the views are fab.

enjoy, you'll love it (also agree with taking lots of books!)

i don't think it is right for everyone though, apart from beach and snorkelling and diving and eating, there isn't much else to do.

Banyan Tree for sheer individuality and experience!!! Being a small resort, the staff look after you so very well!

Also went to Vilhamendoo......6mths pregnant. Spent the whole time snorkling and trying not to be at DH diving.

Previously went to Lohifushi, house reef there was small, but the diving amazing. Could have been the time of year ( Nov ), but had several dives with manta rays, the last, where we were surrounded by 6, and then had dolphins playing round our boat as we got back to the island, so a dolphin swim too.
However if I didn't love being in the water I'd never have gone to the Maldives, as there really isn't anything else to do.

Oh and the only bother I had being pregnant was having to show my doc's letter to get the plane home, and giggling from some of the staff as I wandered into the sea with my snorking gear, bikini and massive stomach

HI,

Another Bandos fan here, went for two weeks with Dh and DS 5, it's a family feel though, and is marketed at families so if you want an adult resort I would go to Baros or Paradise island off the top of my head as a stand alone adult they are lovely.

Also if you are missing the DC's you don't want to be in a room next to a family perhaps!

I loved Bandos so much that when DH went away with work I took my son back there for 3 weeks!

Drinks are VERY expensive in resorts so if you can go AI then do, as they also add a 10% service charge to everything.

But not if you go back to Bandos.........

There is a newly marketed resort under Centara Grand resort chain I have seen which is the only island to market as a family resort with over the water family accommodation and looks like a better range of kids facilities to Bandos.