what time of year for maldives

[clive f]

thinking ahead to next year, and fancy an all inclusive to the maldives, is there a particular time of year/season to avoid?

also can anyone recomend an island with more to do than just chill out on the beach, as my wife isn`t a great swimmer so will need something other than water based recreation ect.

[kiteless]

Avoid April - September (rainy season)

Try here:

http://www.meeru.com/

[clive f]

thanks, I `ve been looking at that resort and Kuoni seem to do some good deals there, so rainy season is April through to September, or just those 2 months?

notice on the kuoni site that you can fly direct with Sri-lanka airlines, or go with emerates but stopping off in Dubii, so assume direct is the best approach?

Edited by clive f on Friday 5th June 06:51

[LaserTam]

Clive - rainy is April through to Sept. I went via Dubai, but the other option for me was Monarch direct, decided Emirites was probably a better option. Obvioulsy quicker direct, we had about 90 min wait in Dubai.

Blimey I wish I could afford to go back there this year...

[n1ckm]

Don't fly with Sri Lankan Airlines, they're pretty rubbish ! Emirates definitely the better option....

We were there in late April last year and although it rained for the first few days the weather was great after than that.

[edwardsje]

Can't find my copy I'm afraid (builders in...), but invest £6 or so in Maria Harding's "Weather to Travel".

All world countries, monthly climatic conditions, comfort index, highly recommended.

ETA A princely £2.76 incl postage for a used one via Amazon

Edited by edwardsje on Friday 5th June 20:47

[clive f]

thanks chaps, definately going for it, but there is so much choice being so many islands!

[CaptiV8ted]

Just to add a slightly different perspective. I had two weeks at Olhuveli in August 07. The weather forecasts said heavy rain every day. What was actaually happening was frequent heavy rain showers overnight, dry as a bone through the day! We had two afternoons of rain out of the whole fortnight. It can still hammer it down in the "dry" season though...

[siscar]

CaptiV8ted said:

Just to add a slightly different perspective. I had two weeks at Olhuveli in August 07. The weather forecasts said heavy rain every day. What was actaually happening was frequent heavy rain showers overnight, dry as a bone through the day! We had two afternoons of rain out of the whole fortnight. It can still hammer it down in the "dry" season though...

Yes 'rainy season' makes it sound like you'll be sat in your hut looking at rain all the time when really it means it's a bit more likely that there will be some heavy rain showers than in the other half of the year.

[siscar]

clive f said:

thinking ahead to next year, and fancy an all inclusive to the maldives, is there a particular time of year/season to avoid?

also can anyone recomend an island with more to do than just chill out on the beach, as my wife isn`t a great swimmer so will need something other than water based recreation ect.

If you aren't into water based recreation or just lying in the sun I think you are looking at the wrong place. There really isn't much else in the Maldives

[kiteless]

Oh. Forgot.

Do NOT fly Monarch.

It'd be more comfortable to be strapped to the wings of a DC-3 Dakota and fed mealworms.

[clive f]

kiteless said:

Oh. Forgot.

Do NOT fly Monarch.

It'd be more comfortable to be strapped to the wings of a DC-3 Dakota and fed mealworms.

point taken

[northwest monkey]

siscar said:

clive f said:

thinking ahead to next year, and fancy an all inclusive to the maldives, is there a particular time of year/season to avoid?

also can anyone recomend an island with more to do than just chill out on the beach, as my wife isn`t a great swimmer so will need something other than water based recreation ect.

If you aren't into water based recreation or just lying in the sun I think you are looking at the wrong place. There really isn't much else in the Maldives

This is a very good point. The Maldives are tiny islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean - it takes a very leisurely 30 minutes to walk around the bigger ones. You don't have to be a great swimmer to enjoy the place - my Mrs isn't - but we snorkelled everyday & she loved it. Get a proper fitting mask from a proper dive shop & she'll probably love it. There honestly isn't a great deal else to do on any of the islands - it's not what the place is about.

We've been in Sept/Oct & had bit of rain at night/evening but nothing during day although it can sometimes get windy. Maayafushi is a nice all inclusive island - all much of a muchness to be honest.

I flew from Manchester - direct flight on way out which was veeeery long & stopped at Gatwick on way back. Seaplane from Male to resort which was fantastic & made me forget all about sitting in a tube for 13 hours - especially when we flew over a whale shark which the pilot looped back for - wouldn't get that in a 737

Goa might be a better bet if you're after more to do other than beach

[kazste]

i would say depends on your budget, for both island and time of year. went in middle of rain season, and yes it did rain nearly every day but only for around 20 minutes and never longer than 1 hour which was in the evening, made a more expensive island cheaper for us, so something to think about. there is a very good book that goes over all the main island resorts might be useful and makes a good souiveniour ( i know its spelt wrong but at 0645 cant work it out) or of course tripadvisor is free! my money would be on Veligandu but have not been seen it's refurbishment as not too pricey (around £4.5k 2 weeks in the best over water room) or if not concerned about cost have a look at the westin maldives resort as very very nice.

i would suggest a cheaper island with an over water bungalow with direct access to the sea as in my opinion adds so much to the experience. hope this helps and if you want the name of the book let me know and wil find it for you when i get home.

[clive f]

thanks for all the replies, the mrs and I have beeen going through brochures and the net, tripadvisor being very informative.

to be honest the pics of the maldives do make for a dream destination,I would love the snorkelling, but the other half would get bored after a couple of days as she is not a great water lover.
I have looked at twin centre holidays,Dubii/maldives, Sri Lanka/Malidives, but it goes beyond my budget

so I have been trying to find something with the beautiful beaches, but with things to do on land as well, and so far Mauritius seems to fit the bill, there looks like plenty to do out and about, and a some nice hotels directly on the beaches, so any opinions and recommendations for Mauritius?

[siscar]

clive f said:

to be honest the pics of the maldives do make for a dream destination,

The Maldives is nice but also a little false. If you travel around the islands the resorts stand out because they are so different from the places the locals live. Nobody lives in anything remotely like the huts they build for tourists.

[clive f]

siscar said:

clive f said:

to be honest the pics of the maldives do make for a dream destination,

The Maldives is nice but also a little false. If you travel around the islands the resorts stand out because they are so different from the places the locals live. Nobody lives in anything remotely like the huts they build for tourists.

but surely that goes for every resort and hotel around the world??

[siscar]

clive f said:

siscar said:

clive f said:

to be honest the pics of the maldives do make for a dream destination,

The Maldives is nice but also a little false. If you travel around the islands the resorts stand out because they are so different from the places the locals live. Nobody lives in anything remotely like the huts they build for tourists.

but surely that goes for every resort and hotel around the world??

Well - the Maldives resorts are different with their little huts on the beach and on stilts. It's all sort of idyllic desert island.



But it's all false. Maybe it's just me, it just seems a bit odd.

[Si81]

Been to Kuramathi and Reethi beach and would recommend both.., also the sea plane is a must!!

[Tangoed]

Third world country, I for one would not want to live like the locals!

lots of long haul places are third world, and you expect the hotels to be more up-market or you would'nt go. Well I would'nt.

The Maldives are great, quiet and relaxing if you dont SCUBA dive. If you do then do a liveaboard, the best way of seeing what the atols have to offer.

I've been five times and have'nt got board with the place.