Maldives for Christmas

[TinselTaTas]

Dh and I have decided to spend Christmas next year away, looking at the Maldives between Dec 20th - 27th which will also coincide with our wedding anniversary.

I've been twice before staying at Royal Island and Karumba both very nice but work related trips.

We'd like to experience a new place together, can anyone suggest a good place on par with the two previous resorts I've been to.

Looking for AI

Thank You

Been to Baros twice & loved it. Is it just the two of you?

Yes just us two! I've seen a few articles on Baros, what made it so good for you?

Depends what you like. Do you like glitz and dressing up in the evening or do you like barefoot luxury?

For barefoot luxury look at
Banyan tree (I've been to both and they are beautiful)
Soneva Fushi. Stunning but perhaps too many childrens facilities
Gili Lankufushi. Over water resort (the whole resort). Amazing. I've not been personally but friends went

In the cheaper category of barefoot

Angsana ihuru. Stunning been twice pre-DC. The spa is out of this world and its the best reef in the Maldives.

Glitz
Four Seasons - only been to Kuda Huura. Lovely. Very Four Season. Don't expect change out of £20k for two of you over Xmas even if you fly economy.
W Retreat. My personal favourite. Amazing. Out of this world in every single way. They don't accept children under 12 so perfect for romance.

Baros as someone else said. Much cheaper than the above.

Six senses laamu. Not been but DHs lucky lucky colleague is just back from there and it's amazing too.

Personally if you are not travelling with DC and you want intimate luxury then I would go for W Retreat, Banyan or Ansana. You won't really see children there. There are not many villas and the reefs are fab on all of them.
Best food is W. better than expensive Four Seasons.

That said for proper 5 star in Maldives over Xmas you will struggle to get anything below £12k on room and breakfast basis.

If you're looking for all inclusives only. I'd head over to trip advisor as I've seen lots of reports with problems relating to quality of food and type of drink that's actually included along with poor service.

I've been a couple of times and the best resort I have stayed at is Lux. The only downside to it is that the house reef is not amazing. However, they do daily free snorkelling trips and the diving around there is superb (we saw a whale shark). We didn't bother with AI there though - we never do. We are not big eaters or drinkers so it is not worth it for us.

We've been three times to the Maldives, first wasn't great (over Christmas and we should have realised why it was so cheap).

Second time we went here It was expensive, and lovely, but actually not a fabulous as it thought it was iyswim.

Third time we went here ignore the stupid name It was fabulous, very relaxed, but high standards everywhere. My only complaint, really was that sparking water was excluded from all inclusive - and I think they've had so many complaints about how stupid that is that they may have changed it.

We had a lovely time in the Four Seasons Giravaru Landaa or however it's spelt. It would be perfect at Christmas.

I still think about it sometimes, almost 2 years later as the most perfect holiday ever (it was our anniversary) but at someone upthread said, it is expensive, around $2k per night. If you go business class, I can recommend Qatar Air,, it was much cheaper than BA business and really good.

We have not stayed at either Kurumba or Royal Island, but have spent a few afternoons on Kurumba while on the little boat the Atoll Explorer. I think islands further away from the capital are much nicer in terms of views, peace and good swimming. We loved Reethi Beach as a good all rounder with mid range prices but have stayed at Vilamendhoo, good snorkelling but since refurb possibly overcrowded, Thudufushi, fabulous for everything but considerably more expensive, ( much nicer I think than Kurumba, or you could look at its sister island Athuruga). Meedhupparu - OK, Ellaidhoo, not the most picturesque but fabulous staff who made the holiday amazing, Biyadhoo, budget end, fairly scruffy accommodation, more like a posh french camp site, but two brilliant family holidays there. If you go to the Trip Advisor Maldives Forum there are lots of very friendly and knowledgeable people there who will give you plenty of advice.