Located in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is one of the most famous honeymoon spots in the world and a leading luxury travel destination – and you may ask if the Maldives are worth visiting and whether or not it lives up to the hype. The Maldives is made up of 26 atolls (a ring-like island) across the Equator and is a bucket list item for many, including me! The Maldives was my dream destination (besides French Polynesia) and the only way I would visit is if I can stay in the overwater bungalows – so that’s exactly what I did. If I’m going to the Maldives, I will make sure to get the full experience of this high-end destination! I had tacked this destination onto a larger trip to Vietnam, Thailand, and Dubai so I had only spent 3 days here. Plus, it cost around $1,200 CAD per night and an additional $150 USD per person round trip on a speedboat to get from the Male Airport to the South Male Atoll. I would have loved to stay longer as I absolutely loved that our bungalow was on top of the water and you just walk down several steps to get into the ocean. But alas, I hope I will visit again before the sea levels rise even more because of global warming which can make 80% of this country uninhabitable unless investments in engineering and government support can save it!
When visiting the Maldives, spending 4 to 5 days is usually enough on these beautiful islands. If you love the water and are looking to slow down and truly relax, this is the best place to be as they have some of the best beaches in the world. You can also have a great diving experience to explore the coral reefs, go on boat tours, and many other water activities and have a chance to bask in the sun and just enjoy the breathtaking views. If you like snorkeling, the northern islands of the Maldives are a great option. If you are a diver, the southern islands of the Maldives may be better suited for you as there are deeper lagoons.
For now, here’s my first experience in the Maldives to help you determine if you’d like to make your own trip.
How To Get To The Maldives
When visiting the Maldives, you’ll need to fly into the Velana International Airport in Male. I had flown in from Bangkok, Thailand which took about 4.5 hours on Sri Lankan Airlines. If you’re flying in from Canada or the United States, you will need a layover. I recommend using Emirates or Qatar Airways for the best start to your experience in the Maldives.
For more travel tips on flights, I have also written about the Top Websites To Get The Best Flight Deals and the Best Ways To Save Money On Flights For Your Next Vacation.
Where I Stayed
As I was deciding where to stay in the Maldives, I researched dozens of hotel choices all on different atolls and ended up deciding on Adaaran Club Rannalhi, which I booked through Agoda. This luxury resort is on one of the islands that are closer to the capital city of Male with a distance of 34 kilometres by a 45-minute speedboat ride. And since my requirement was that my accommodations had to be an overwater bungalow, this hotel offered the best prices considering I was there around New Year and it was peak season for traveling and other hotels on other atolls were charging almost double or more. Also, because I didn’t have all the time in the world here, I wanted to make the most out of the property and the ocean so I didn’t go on any excursions. It truly was a time to be one with the ocean and just wind down.
At this all-inclusive resort, the water bungalows have their own private sun decks with a wooden ladder that gives you 24-hour access to the ocean. And my floor had a large window where I could see the ocean below. The general property was pretty small, but it felt cozy which I enjoyed. And the island itself took less than 20 minutes to get through but it is a nice walk, especially after dinner.
Food
You also get access to 3 meals a day at their main restaurant which has an open-air layout and gives you a great view of the property and ocean. There was a good selection of food and it was decent, but the food choices in the Maldives are generally limited as it’s very expensive to import anything here as it is such a remote location. The traditional Maldivian cuisine is based on coconuts, fish, and starches. Alcoholic drinks can be found on all resort islands but alcohol is generally not allowed on local islands and there’s a ban on importing it into the country as it is a Muslim State.
Resort Activities
At this hotel, visitors have access to badminton, beach volleyball, tennis and table tennis, volleyball and more. But to me, the best activity was to rent some snorkeling equipment (since at this time I didn’t bring my own) and head into the waters whenever I felt like it. The water was pretty low when I went so I had to walk quite a ways down from my bungalow to get into the water and I was pretty close to all the corals when I started swimming. The coral reefs were beautiful and the water was so full of marine life and as you get a bit farther out, there’s a big drop into the ocean. I also found that there was a lot of small jellyfish I couldn’t see and got stung a few times! Closer to the reception area, there’s a little beach where I saw many baby blacktip sharks circling schools of fish.
My Overall Experience In The Maldives
I’m so glad that I got to experience visiting the Maldives so I’m very grateful to have even been there for a few days to see one of the world’s most beautiful islands. My intention when visiting the Maldives was to stay at an overwater bungalow and just enjoy the ocean as much as I can – in a different way than other all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean – so I would say that it is absolutely worth the money and I would do it again. I felt really relaxed and at peace, which I wish I get to experience more at home, but the ocean really does something to you! I do wish I had more time to enjoy the ocean or even visit the iconic Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
If this is the kind of travel vibe you’re looking for or if you really want a luxurious vacation with a limited amount of people and to spend time with your significant other in a remote and romantic location, the Maldives is worth visiting.