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Original poster

Maldives - Bandos island, anyone been??

25 replies

sarahandruby · 15/05/2008 23:39

We are staying a week in bandos. Does anyone know if the little ones need any injections?? Are there loads of mosquitos?? Can't wait but a bit nervous, she is 14 months but well travelled, just hard when you going somewhere unknown and not sure what to expect.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Sarah

OP posts:
LadySweet · 16/05/2008 21:15

Hey

Haven't been to Bandos, but have been to the Maldives twice You don't need any injections and there are no mosquito's No insects at all to speak of really, the occasional small fly might buzz past you but thats it.

I love the Maldives, it will spoil you for all subsequent holidays tho which is why I have been twice now can't wait for my third trip out there

Have a fab time!

bigspender30 · 19/05/2008 16:12

no mosquitos??? Seriously????
off to get the travel brochures out! How long is the flight to the maldives?

wingandprayer · 19/05/2008 16:28

I have been to Bandos though not sure how accurate my info will be as we went in 1999. It was very pretty - clear blue seas, amazing diving just off the beach, white sand, palm trees, proper paradise. There are hundreds of small crabs on the beach so your DD can have hours of fun chasing them round, and feeding the fish and baby reef sharks in the boat dock.

I wasn't bothered by mosquitos at all, something to do with sea breeze and island thing I think. Can't remember having jabs specifically for it, but then my jabs were up to date at that point, so is worth asking your GP. It was exceptionally hot but we went in September. After meeting some people we realised that their air con was much better than ours and wish we'd said something and swapped rooms. Strange clunks on the roof at night. Think it was the enormous fruit bats that you'll see in the trees during the day. Hope it was. Occasionally huge bugs, as you would expect, spray is provided in the rooms. V. expensive for drinks and suprisingly for fish at their posher restaurant. Cocktails much cheaper than beer or wine (shame!) and their buffet meals, which were included within our package, were all of a much better standard than I've had in other all inclusive resorts. We throughly enjoyed our holiday there and came back more relaxed than I think for any other holiday before or since.

ComeOVeneer · 19/05/2008 16:32

My experience of the Maldives most certainly featured mosquitos!!!!!

No injections needed, but do be careful of the sun it is really really strong.

BigBadMouse · 19/05/2008 16:54

No Mossies when we went (but not to Bandos). It was fantastic. I personally would leave the children at home but only so I could snorkle all day .

The sun is very very strong so UV sunsuits required (and the sand gets very very hot too!).

The clunks on the roof at night are coconuts falling btw.

Flight was 11 or 13 hours - can't quite remember - the runway is a tiny island in the middle of the sea, bit hairraising. Transfers from the airport to your island can be very choppy if taken by speedboat btw (we went by sea plane - cool!).

All inclusive is the way to go. The coctails are fab as they are made with fresh coconut.

I am very btw - I wouldn't bother going anywhere else now having been - would rather save up and go to the Maldives every few years rather than every year anywhere else - not that I can afford to do either .

bigspender30 · 20/05/2008 12:04

i reckon my toddler would be in his element on a sea plane. Sounds idyllic! I have always fancied the Maldives but its expensive to go and the long flight put me off. Maybe if we start saving now we could afford it in a few years!

Lionstar · 20/05/2008 12:35

We went several years ago and it was lovely then. They were just refreshing all the bungalows and we were put in an older one but it was an upgrade and still nice. Had an outdoor (enclosed though) shower - lovely. Very big ants in the bathroom, but they provided spray. We were glad to only have a short transfer from Male airport (30 minutes by speed boat I think). BTW landing at Male is an eye-opener. The whole runway is just one small extended island, when coming in to land all you can see is sea - quite scary!

All the bungalows open onto the beach - it was like having our own private beach. So many fish it looked like the water was full of floating coloured plastic. House reef was perfect for snorkelling straight off the beach. We did see a small reef shark inside the reef, and turtles on the reef wall - amazing. Oh and I do remember the crabs too, funny little things.

Food was nice but expensive-ish. Evening entertainment was a bit limited, and some of the local musicians a bit tedious. Rained almost every night in absolutely torrential drown-your-dreams out quantities, but all gone and fresh the next morning.

The dive centre was very well run and took us on some lovely dives. Did do a couple of other trips - Male, a fishing village, but there is no real reason to desert the island, Maldives are true escapist holidays!

hifi · 20/05/2008 12:46

we also went years ago, bit of a honeymoon island. villas are huge, outdoor bathrooms. cant remember a prob with mossies.
really watch it in the sea though, when you are snorkeling, as there is little else to do and i got burnt to death by the sun. it has one of the best reefs as most of the top end ones have been damaged by buildin works.
i also ripped my legs open on the coral by trying to swim on top of it as the tide went out. no scrapping for sunbeds as you have 2 lots, one outside your villa and one by your bit of the beach.
only things to do are diving, snorleling and volleyball. take advantage of happy hour as drinks and food were very expensive when we went. you sign for everything so dont need cash. we were in bed by 9pm every night.

the island tours are good.i think you can walk around bandos in 20mins max, at night the sky is full of stars. have a fab time, ooh also take a disposable underwater camera and a few snacks for your lo.

hifi · 20/05/2008 12:48

dont eat the fish on the robinson cruso island, it inc in your tour, everyone was sick for 3 days.

hifi · 20/05/2008 12:49

remember you cant take any duty free booze with you as its muslim.

BigBadMouse · 20/05/2008 16:28

really hifi? In bed by 9pm? We stayed up until 2-3am the stars are fantastic out there and the wildlife changes once it is dark, the whole place feels different. Then there was the cocktails...one night I had to roll DH back to our bungalow along the beach

bigspender30 · 20/05/2008 16:43

maybe hifi was on honeymoon

Gobbledigook · 20/05/2008 16:45

Oooh I LOVE the Maldives. I don't remember any insect problems or the need for jabs - but it was 9 yrs ago.

BigBadMouse · 20/05/2008 17:07

bigspender30 - We were on honeymoon - during the midday the Maldivian sun is too hot to be outside but we had a lovely air conditioned bungalow and time on our hands......

Wish I was there now.....

Rocky12 · 20/05/2008 17:56

Going to Bandos next Feb. Note that Sri Lankan airlines will offer DIRECT flights from next year. Currently you have a pain the bum lay over in Male on the way back.

Direct flights are approx 10.5 hours plus of course the 20 min speedboat to Bandos which is one of the closest islands to Male.

Hayes and Jarvis are offering direct flights and 10% off if you book online. Of course nothing stops you calling Hayes and Jarvis beforehand with all your queries and then booking online....

bigspender30 · 20/05/2008 18:03

ooh direct flights. Now 10.5 hours we have done several times with DS. I am liking the sound of this even if its not my honeymoon bigbadmouse!!!! Do you reckon its more a honeymoon destination though or would a toddler enjoy it too?

hifi · 20/05/2008 19:27

direct flights to bandos? where the f* are they going to land?

hifi · 20/05/2008 19:28

not in bed EVERY night by 9, just most. dont bother taking any shoes.

ButterflyBessie · 20/05/2008 19:30

We went years ago to the maldives to an island in the ari atoll, boat broke down on way from male to our island, interesting journey

Got a free helicopter ride on way back as compensation for almost being shark bait

Amazing place, bit dull though

BigBadMouse · 20/05/2008 20:33

hifi - who said anything about landing? They just chuck you and your luggage out of the aeroplane as you fly over the island . Possibly less scary than landing at Male though!

When we went it was during the no fly zone over Iraq so went took a different route to the one the airline usually took. We ended up at a place called Shajar (poss not the right spelling) and we had no idea where that was so spent the hour or so walking around the duty free trying to work out which country we were in .

There was one toddler at the island we stayed at. Not been to Bandos so no idea what facilites are there but if your toddler is OK with the heat and bright sun and is happy to sit on the beach all day chasing crabs and paddling in amongst the fish in the shallows you should be OK - I think any other toddler-friendly facilities should be looked upon as a bonus. The locals seem to like children a lot.

hifi · 20/05/2008 20:38

thanks for clarifying

wingandprayer · 21/05/2008 12:49

BBM - LOL at Shajar. Been there too and had exactly the same experience!

Direct flights to Bandos? Are seaplanes now taking off from Manchester & Heathrow then now?

Rocky12 · 21/05/2008 16:02

Sorry, the direct flights are Heathrow to Male. I didnt count the 20 min speedboat ride which you will still have to take. Still big difference from previously when you had to change at Colombo on the way back

Original poster
sarahandruby · 01/06/2008 15:11

Thanks everyone. Bandos was brillant, fab kids club that my daughter loved so much she spent most days there, whilst we chilled on the beach and snorkelled. Wish we were still there, what has happened to our summer.
xxxxx

OP posts:
Tas1 · 22/06/2008 13:23

My DH took me to the Maldives in November for my 40th B-day. (Without the kids)
FANTASTIC!!!!
I did get bitten a few times even with Mozzi spray, but not too bad.
Did'nt wear shoes the whole time I was there.
Sea plane a must!
Can't wait to go back.

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