Maldives - peoples thoughts

[CooperS]

Wife and I were lucky enough in our twenties to go to Maldives. 12 years later we’d like to go back.

The island we went to (chaaya lagoon hakuraa huraa) but this has changed considerably- for the money it seems neither a rustic resort with a small set of water bungalows a single bar and restaurant nor a 5* resort with Michelin Star dining.

In 2009 we paid £4500 for 10 nights all inclusive- looking online I think now that budget needs to at least double if not triple.

What’s peoples thoughts? Where is good for a couple to get away from it all. We have a 10k budget (hotel/ flight / transfers) but is this realistic I don’t want to spend 10k to realise that if we’d delayed a year and spent little more we’d ticked a few more boxes. equally I don’t want to get carried away (we were looking at the intercontinental resort last night and that was 10.3k full board before flights and transfers).

Like Peter Pan in the film Hook - has it been so long since I did long haul holiday that I’ve forgotten the real costs involved ? (we mostly do Cruises now with an additional staycation with the dogs).

Thanks in advance.

[justin220]

I'm sure most people will recommend the resorts they have been to, so I'll go first.

We went to Atmosphere Kanifushi. It was absolutely outstanding. One of the highest rated vegetarian restaurants in the Maldives also, and even though I'm not vegetarian, the food was fantastic. All other restaurants were great. Accommodation was outstanding.

https://www.atmosphere-kanifushi.com/

I'd go back in a heartbeat if it wasn't for having a 3 year old

[Shaoxter]

Have been to:
- Niyama: probably best overall
- Lux* South Ari Atoll: best island, amazing beaches to walk around
- Taj Exotica: small and private, perfect for honeymoon/couple

They were all amazing in their own way and ranged from £5-8k including flights, transfer and half board.
The last time we went was in 2021, managed to get a nice post covid deal. Have not checked prices since then, I imagine they've probably rocketed!

[TeeRev]

justin220 said:

I'm sure most people will recommend the resorts they have been to, so I'll go first.

We went to Atmosphere Kanifushi. It was absolutely outstanding. One of the highest rated vegetarian restaurants in the Maldives also, and even though I'm not vegetarian, the food was fantastic. All other restaurants were great. Accommodation was outstanding.

https://www.atmosphere-kanifushi.com/

I'd go back in a heartbeat if it wasn't for having a 3 year old

We went there last year for our 50th wedding anniversary, I'm a committed carnivore but we went to the veggie restaurant twice and I really enjoyed it, excellent food in all the others as well.

We had five nights in a water villa and five in a beach villa with pool, that was lovely but the outside bathroom was not as great an idea as it sounded, much too hot and humid, if we went back we would go for the water villa with it's air-con and direct access to the sea for early morning snorkelling.

We did five nights in Dubai on the way to the Maldives, we wouldn't rush back there but would definitely do the Maldives again, probably another island though just to be different.

[DavePanda]

We went to Sun Siyam Vilu Reef for our honeymoon last year, small island with no more than 200 people, not much to do other than relax and chill out which is exactly what we wanted. Excellent snorkelling on the house reef. 10 nights cost us a shade over £7k. One of those places that looked exactly like it did in the brochures etc

[Crusoe]

I'd say it is never the same as you remembered, tried it but enjoyed Mauritius more though I'd quite like to go back now to try free diving.

[CooperS]

justin220 said:

I'm sure most people will recommend the resorts they have been to, so I'll go first.

We went to Atmosphere Kanifushi. It was absolutely outstanding. One of the highest rated vegetarian restaurants in the Maldives also, and even though I'm not vegetarian, the food was fantastic. All other restaurants were great. Accommodation was outstanding.

https://www.atmosphere-kanifushi.com/

I'd go back in a heartbeat if it wasn't for having a 3 year old

That does look phenomenal - thanks for the recommendation

Going to speak to travel agents later this week - I’m a little adverse to spending money but getting pretty excited at the thought of paradise for a week

[justin220]

CooperS said:

That does look phenomenal - thanks for the recommendation

Going to speak to travel agents later this week - I’m a little adverse to spending money but getting pretty excited at the thought of paradise for a week

Honestly it was fantastic. My wife's only complaint was there wasn't enough people to 'people watch'. I loved the remoteness of it all. Big section of beach all to ourselves etc. I'll see if I can find a pic of the space in between loungers.

No battling for loungers and towel reservations here!

One negative, it was so good it's ruined all out holidays since as they just don't compare

[justin220]

[shirt]

TeeRev said:

We did five nights in Dubai on the way to the Maldives, we wouldn't rush back there but would definitely do the Maldives again, probably another island though just to be different.

there is a halfway house, sir bani yas island off the coast of abu dhabi.

[Sheetmaself]

Ive been to, in order ot first to last

Meedhupparu
Veligandu
Komandoo
Dreamland

Out of those four Komandoo would get my vote although Dreamland was nice and a fair bit cheaper although they do have mosquitoes if that bothers you.

Either get a Water Villa.

[otolith]

justin220 said:

One negative, it was so good it's ruined all out holidays since as they just don't compare

Beach holidays, certainly. We did Dhuni Kolhu twice about ten years ago. We hadn't been abroad for some years, while stuffing money in a holiday fund, so thought we would have a blow-out, and then the following year my wife got paid a very large and unexpected bonus and we went back. Wouldn't normally go to the same resort twice, but we knew we wanted to go back to the Maldives and feared disappointment.

I loved the privacy, the bungalows were set amongst the coastal vegetation with a little sandy path to a couple of loungers from which you couldn't see another soul, no hawkers, no loud watersports, no crowds, being able to swim round the whole island, clear, warm sea, snorkelling with plenty to see, no fear of anything getting nicked (nor any need to carry any valuables), no litter. Would love to do it again.

Downsides - you've got to really like the beach. I spent hours snorkelling every day and would have stayed another fortnight (or month) without getting bored, but that's not for everyone and maybe not every holiday all the time for anyone. Boat trips to see another island or snorkel a better reef, see manta rays, go fishing, etc, all appeal to me but maybe not everyone, and of course people go for scuba diving holidays.

You are at the mercy of the shop there - first time we went we stupidly put the sunscreen in the hand baggage (because your luggage might not arrive exactly when you do with seaplane transfers) and of course it got confiscated at the airport. They sold it in the shop, but it was bloody expensive.

You are also at the mercy of the catering, though we were very happy with the food and drink there. If you weren't, you'd be a bit stuck.

I've been since to places with parts of the experience, but nothing quite the same.

[abzmike]

justin220 said:

Honestly it was fantastic. My wife's only complaint was there wasn't enough people to 'people watch'. I loved the remoteness of it all. Big section of beach all to ourselves etc. I'll see if I can find a pic of the space in between loungers.

No battling for loungers and towel reservations here!

One negative, it was so good it's ruined all out holidays since as they just don't compare

Another vote for Kanifushi here - we visited 6 years ago before they built the water villas, and it was very quiet. We went in September but no weather issues, and we literally had the Japanese and veggie restaurants to ourselves. Food excellent and great range of wine included. Lovely villa, amazing beach.
Also been to Huduranfushi and Kuredu, but they don’t compare, to be fair at lower prices.

[shambolic]

We’ve been a few times now.
Conrad Hilton Rangali island. 2 islands joined together and is amazing. On the bigger side and quite expensive now.

W resort. Lovely laid back atmosphere but again expensive.

Makanudu was lovely very small, still is and not too expensive.

Velassaru. Cracking island been 3 times. Mid range price but really good diving.
Coco palm Dhuni Kolhu and Coco palm Bhodu Hithi are both great resorts one larger than the other.
Taj Exotica is mid range price and size but closer to airport with planes flying over.
One thing to think of is location. Depending on atoll you may need a seaplane transfer or a boat or if going right down south an internal flight between airports.
Also look at All Inclusive compared to having to pay at restaurants as can be expensive if you drink and like food.
There’s also an island and government tax added to your bill.
We tend to stay up North nearer the airport due to flight times from Scotland to Dubai times been garbage meaning a stay at the airport as seaplanes only fly daylight hours.

[gregch]

Not much help to OP, but I can sympathise. A year after we were married we had an excellent holiday at the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa.

Speedboat transfers, great food, snorkelling, nice spa on a little island you get a boat to - really proper "movie star" treatment. If I had a criticism, it was almost too perfect - so that it didn't seem real. I got up very early one morning and went for a walk around the resort and there were fellas cleaning the sand dust off the leaves on the shrubs, and polishing them!!!

I seem to recall it was expensive, but not insane. But we have an anniversary coming up and were thinking of going back... until I saw the prices now! I'm certain the prices have *at least* tripled.

Like for like, it would now cost £20k just for the accommodation. There's no way we could afford that. I look at it that we were very lucky to have done it the first time. Not sure I'd want to go back and stay somewhere not quite as good, I'd rather try somewhere else I think.


PS: On the debit side, it's one of only two places I've stayed in the world - the other being a Travelodge in Towcester - where I found a cockroach in the bathroom. So it wasn't completely perfect!

[otolith]

gregch said:

PS: On the debit side, it's one of only two places I've stayed in the world - the other being a Travelodge in Towcester - where I found a cockroach in the bathroom. So it wasn't completely perfect!

Our bathroom was outside, so lots of opportunities to see wildlife while on the throne!

I loved that, the place we stayed in Bali had an outside shower as well as an inside one, that was nice too.

[marcosgt]

I spent 10 days on a liveaboard diving in the Maldives 5 years ago.

It was a fantastic experience, I loved every second and would have happily spent another 10 or 20 days if I could have!

Obviously, we were on a boat the whole time, but sometimes our dive sites were alongside resort islands and I have to say, the thought of spending a week on just one island didn't appeal to me.

My thoughts are it's a lovely place to go diving, but seems a long way to go to do pretty much nothing.

I'd agree with the poster who said he preferred Mauritius. If I was doing a traditional holiday, I'd pick that over the Maldives.

M

[otolith]

We did Mauritius last year. It was a good holiday, but a different sort of holiday. Beach was nice, but busy, with hawkers, and the snorkelling was OK but nothing amazing. Even when we took a boat out to snorkel over the main reef, it was just OK. We did a bit of sightseeing, which again was nice though it pissed down the whole day. Better bet for a family holiday with teenagers, but not as good for a couple to completely unplug, IMO.

[shambolic]

marcosgt said:

I spent 10 days on a liveaboard diving in the Maldives 5 years ago.

It was a fantastic experience, I loved every second and would have happily spent another 10 or 20 days if I could have!

Obviously, we were on a boat the whole time, but sometimes our dive sites were alongside resort islands and I have to say, the thought of spending a week on just one island didn't appeal to me.

My thoughts are it's a lovely place to go diving, but seems a long way to go to do pretty much nothing.

I'd agree with the poster who said he preferred Mauritius. If I was doing a traditional holiday, I'd pick that over the Maldives.

M

We have been about 15 times now but we both dive so that takes up the bulk of the morning leaving the afternoon to relax and have a few beers. Then a nice meal and an early night for the next days diving.
The liveaboard would be my worst nightmare stuck on a boat with folk you might not like. But each to their own.
At least with the resort you can go back to your own large accommodation for some peace and quiet.

The picture is velassaru and one of the good things with mostly honeymooners with their own pools etc means hardly anyone uses the main pool. So we have it to ourselves quite a bit. Right next to the beach bar.


Nice view to wake up to.

[cinque]

I went to Kuramati on the North Atol over 25 years ago with my girlfriend (now wife). Lucky to have air-con back then and our transfer was an old Russian Sikorsky helicopter, which was an experience. Reefs were out of this world and price wasn't too bad.

We've since been back 2-3 times with the kids, all on different islands and different experiences (Sun Siyam/Oblu/Reetha Faru). We've done the floatplane transfers, seen most of the marine wildlife and it is a fantastic place with something for everyone. On price, we've actually worked out it's cheaper for x2 weeks all inclusive, than x2 weeks in summer in Europe (with x3 kids).

BUT, i'd like to throw a wildcard into the hat for you. The Datai on Langkawi.

For your budget, you could do a couple of nights in Hong Kong/Singa or KL and then 10-14 nights in one of their jungle lodges.