Review: Maldives

I have long wanted to write about my experience at Maldives ever since I returned from my honeymoon. So here you go. A photoessay comprising of only pictures is still in the works. In the mean time enjoy this review.

Well, for starters, Maldives is THE perfect place for honeymoon. Period.

I admit it’s a little expensive than other popular places like Thailand and Malaysia, but it’s well worth the money. And considering the fact that the islands will cease to exist after few years due to global warming, it is even more important to visit Maldives, because after that it would only be a legend, and we would tell our grandchildren that we have been to Maldives. Isn’t that motivating enough?

Let me first explain what Maldives is all about. Maldives is comprised of a large number of islands. Some of the islands are inhabitated by locals, and some are being used as resorts, appropriately called resort islands. There are dozens of resort islands in Maldives, each unique in its own way. Some offer the best water sports, some have the best accomodation, some are famous for dining, and so on. The good thing about resort islands is that there is no local population on these islands, so the place never seems crowded. They spread the rooms strategically around the island in such a way that you get maximum privacy. Most rooms are right in front of the beach, and when you are at the beach, it seems like you are the only one there. Pretty cool, eh?

So first thing to decide when planning to visit Maldives is which island is right for you. This is a very important because if you end up in an island that doesn’t suit your requirements, you are pretty much stuck. It is almost impossible to relocate to another island as all the resorts are booked well in advance. So take your time in selecting your resort. Never trust your travel agent in finding the resort for you. He will not be there when you find out that your resort sucks.

The resort I went for my honeymoon was Bandos. You can read detailed reviews on Bandos here. I absolutely loved the place. The reason I selected Bandos was that it was pretty close to airport, about 15 minutes, and had the best of water sports. It also cost quite reasonable. We spent 5 nights at Bandos and it was probably the best time of my life. Nothing beats spending 5 nights with your newly married wife at the most romantic and peaceful place.

At Bandos, and almost all the resorts, there are many types of rooms available, from standard rooms to lavish water bungalows. The higher you go in room category, it gets more luxurious and more expensive. So choose the one that suits your needs and budget. In my opinion, one should select standard room as it is adequate enough and spend money on other facilities that the island provides, like water sports and excursions. If you reserve the most expensive room and empty your pockets even before you arrive, you will end up spending rest of the time wandering around the island unable to use any other services the island has to offer. It really depends on your budget though. If you have deep pockets you can go ahead and live in a water bungalow.

Another thing to decide when making hotel reservation is food plan. There are three types of food plans available at most resorts, bed and breakfast (B&B), half board, and full board. Bed and breakfast, as the name suggests, include only breakfast. You have to pay for lunch and dinner. Now this can be a very good option if you are keen to try out different resturants at the resort, but the downside is that you have to pay for every meal.

Half board includes breakfast and one meal, lunch or dinner. This is the plan I selected and it worked perfect for me. We used to have heavy breakfast, skip lunch, and then have dinner. We didn’t really feel hungry during the day.

Full board includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it’s most expensive.

Finally, you have to plan the best time to visit Maldives. The rates are cheapest during off-peak season, which is from April to June. September to January is the peak season and thus most expensive.

Maldives is THE place to visit. If you plan it right, it will be a memorable experience for you.