Overview
** MALDIVES TOURS **
Read travel tips for Maldives from our amazing community of BLACK AND BROWN TRAVELERS that will help you find some of the best places to visit in Maldives.Our variety of travel tips will definitely help you plan your next trip. Our tips range from best places to visit in Maldives, affordability, nightlife, local food, where to stay and even what it is like Traveling While Black. Lastly, we are working diligently to create a comprehensive city guide for the Maldives tours. Stay tuned! But in the meantime, scroll down to read tips below!
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My husband and I enjoyed our honey moon at Meeru island. This place is beyond romantic and amazing. We enjoyed and booked a over water villa which I’d give 10 stars. You could see all the marine life nice and clear. Water crystal blue….Resort was extremely clean, friendly staff, all inclusive options. The food is beyond amazing. Fresh local fish everyday. We were able to go fishing and they cooked what we caught. .. This place is a bit on the expensive side, but I’d say worth every penny.
I stayed at Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives resort in Dec 2020. I had an amazing time relaxing on the beach and by the pool. The resort offers typical water activities, a spa, billiard games, 3 bars and 3 restaurants. I had an all-inclusive package which included breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets as well as unlimited drinks from each bar. The resort took safety seriously. All guests were required to wear a mask, sanitize your hands often and wear gloves in the buffet area. Due to Covid, we were unable to Island hop which prevented us from seeing the underwater restaurants or visiting locals. I felt very safe and welcomed although I can tell they rarely see black Americans at this resort(typical curious stares from other guests and employees when black ppl travel East).
The customer service was excellent. The resort was clean and I never felt like my safety was threatened.
I definitely recommend this island for relaxing. I’ll be back post Covid to experience other islands.
@justday_day if you have questions
There is a lot to be said about the infamous Maldives. The country tends to be on many people’s must travel to destinations. My wife and I traveled there from China and with a layover in Sri Lanka. Once arriving in Male, the capital we had to take a boat from the airport to our hotel. BEWARE of when your flight arrives and as many boats and sea planes will stop running after a certain time and then you will be stuck in Male.
As you may or may not know that Maldives is a Muslim country, so be aware of which atoll (small island) you’re staying on. We wanted to get the ‘real Maldivian’ experience and stay on a local island. Little did we know they were doing the call to prayer at 5am every morning– to that wasn’t good for us in the beginning but then we used that as our wake up call and was able to watch the sunrise.
Additionally, as depending on where you’re staying their may not be any alcohol on your island if it’s a local island. Fortunately, we were able to take a day trip to Club Med Kani nearby and loved every moment of it. Club Med Kani had everything for kids and adults. Unlimited drinks and food and a variety of water sports. Another to be mindful of is if you want to snorkel, they make everyone take a short swimming test to ensure they can swim.
I would highly recommend but it’s a trip worth saving for and staying at an all-inclusive resort.
Maldives is probably on everyone’s bucket list. I found out the reason why so many people haven’t visited is because they seem to believe it’s highly pricey and not affordable. After Covid I needed a break from my busy life and I was worried about visiting the European countries with cases increasing each months and rules changing each day.
I then began researching for an affordable trip. I came across a 5 night bed and breakfast trip to Maldives. Stayed at Saii Lagoon Maldives. This resort was 15 minutes by boat trip from the Male airport which was fantastic for me.
Saii lagoon resort was shared with hard rock hotel, both recently celebrated their 1 year anniversary. Resort was big enough that plans are in place for an additional 9 hotels to be built.
Hotel was lovely, staffs were friendly and you meet other solo traveler’s as well. Clean and everyone spoke English. They speak to you and ask you how you were finding the holiday each day. They were also all handy in taking you pictures when asked.
Staffs had their mask on all day and guest temperature were checked every morning.
They offered a 10 free cocktail vouchers and also a complementary $100 credit. There were around 10 restaurants to dine from, free use of snorkelling gears and activities. Play station for kids as well. Price was around £1000 per adult which was fantastic. Meals vary between $20-$50 but portions are large .
I celebrated my 27tt birthday here and the staff were kind enough to decorate the rooms for me and also upgraded me for free to one of their overwater villa which was incredible. I asked how much it would have cost to upgrade and was told price would be $200 per night which was a fantastic price compared to other overwater villa I had seen.
October is the wettest month to visit but it rains for about an hour and it’s a sunny and bright again, definitely recommend spending at least a night in the overwater villa it’s an amazing experience.
The beach villas are also large and modern, easy access to the beach and restaurants. There are also free bicycles and staffs are always around with buggies you can hop on to get around. Transfers from and back to the airport was also free
The resort was so big with loads of restaurants and activities to do that 5 nights wasn’t enough.
Number 1 activity I will recommend is snorkelling. The gears were free and you can keep with you all through your stay so make sure to take advantage of the clear water and explore the underwater life.
Temperatures were around 29-31 degrees so and even when it rained it was still beautiful.
There were always activities going on each week which you can find out in the hotel app downloaded on to your phone at arrival. Night life was also on at Hardrock which you could also attend. You would not need to handle cash at all , all trips and expenses are charged to your room which you then pay for at checkout . There were loads of black staffs across the resort with some from Tanzania, Zimbabwe and they were all so friendly and chatty.
Absolutely recommend saii lagoon Maldives if you are looking for a cost effective stay.
The Maldives is arguably the most beautiful place on planet earth…The fact that you’re reading this means an imminent trip there is planned and you’re seeking confirmation that you’ve indeed made the right choice in destination. My wife and I headed for the island of Meeru for what would be one of the most incredible journeys we’ve ever ventured on. The experience of a lifetime really begins once you’ve touched down on the island and you board your boat transfer. It’s all so exciting as you cut through the Indian Ocean passing Atoll after Atoll, taking an approximate hour from the airport to the resort. On arrival, guest are greeted by management and instrument playing staff members. You are also offered a much appreciated cool towel and a refreshing, delicious, rehydrating drink. It’s such a beautiful welcome and sets the tone for your entire stay. While you wait to be allocated your villa, you are surrounded by the most amazing 360 degree views of turquoise waters, palm trees, and the whitest beach you will ever see on earth!! Quite spectacular! It really is a WOW moment. Wifey and I were booked into a jacuzzi overwater villa which was amazing but I had done some extensive research on all the products available and changed my mind at check in and asked if they would allow us to change to a beach front villa instead. They didn’t have anything available at the time but said they would grant us our request in a couple of days when one became free. That was very kind of them and awesome too as we were able to sample both high end products. Check out my page @pinderworld for further reviews of both villas. So what do you do when you have fourteen nights of bliss in heaven on earth? Absolutely nothing is the answer to that! The most strenuous thing you will do for two weeks is lift a fork to your mouth. Everything is all inclusive. Right down to your mini bar which is replenished daily with beers, wines and a fab selection of soft drinks at no extra cost. There are speciality restaurants dotted around the island, but you must pre book your reservation. If you prefer buffet dining, the choices are great with a different theme every night. There is an abundance of entertainment too for every taste, but if you prefer, there’s always the sanctuary of your beautiful villa with your own private outside terrace with the sounds of the ocean crashing against the shore. It’s absolutely heavenly!! (I know I’ve used the term heaven often, but you need to know how special this place is. ) So a typical day on the island begins with a sunrise like no other, then a soothing outside shower, (all villas feature outside showers. But keep a watchful eye out for lizards. ) then a short stroll to breakfast at your designated restaurant. The views of the ocean and beach as you eat are second to none. It is the most idyllic moment ever!! A walk around the entire island is a great way to burn off the breakfast calories, and the walk can be as long as you want it to be. There’s something soothing on the eye at every bend. You can find your favourite spot and call it your own while you’re on the island. If there could possibly be a downside, for me it would be the rockiness underfoot in certain areas as you go into the ocean. But as we know, nothing at all is perfect, and the same applies to heaven! We took our own snorkelling kits with us but they can also be hired if you forgot yours. You can so easily spend hours snorkelling because it is so colourful below the surface that you just don’t realise how long you’re in the water. As that can work up an appetite, a spot of lunch is needed, so off you go again, living your best life. Because the entire island is private, why not seek out a different beach in which to chill on in the afternoon. What about a spa afternoon in the most divine surroundings. Wifey and I experienced just that with our very first ever couples full body massage. Months on, we still reminisce about it. Finding a spot on the beach to take in the evening sunsets is a great pastime. One evening you’ll have a saxophonist accompanying the sunset, and on another, you’d have a jazz guitarist. Then shower, dinner, repeat. Tomorrow why not add jet skiing or a historical trip off island to the mainland just to break it up?! The Maldives will be everything you have imagined and some. There are also many resorts, but Meeru’s all round consistency will be hard to beat. Ever attentive staff adds to the flava, and in heaven, everyone is equal, if you get my drift!!
My vacation to the Maldives was by far the most beautiful and relaxing vacation to date. Nothing soothes my soul more than the sound of the sweet ocean waves and being surrounded by the ocean. I’ve always dreamed of staying in an water bungalow so I set out to make it happen.
For this vacation I stayed at the Hurawalhi Resort (Adults only) located in the middle of Lhaviyani Atoll, which is a 40 min seaplane flight form the Male’ International Airport (MLE). After much research, I decided on this property primarily because it was breathtaking, still fairly new and boasts their 5.8 restaurant, which is the worlds largest all glass undersea restaurant.
Upon making the reservations, the room category I desired was not available for the entirety of my stay. I then opted to split my stay between their over the water ocean pool villa, and their romantic over the water villa, which had a hammock and bathtub on the sun deck along with access to the lagoon. They both far surpassed my expectations. I also opted for their All inclusive package.
Although not included in their All inclusive package, their 5.8 restaurant is a culinary delight especially when paired with the beauty that’s beneath the sea. Most of the locations at Hurawalhi required you go barefoot. As a nurse and a germaphobe, I was initially freak out by the concept of going barefoot but surprisingly grew to enjoy it.
They had performances/shows every night along with a of activities of things to do throughout the day. I also highly recommend making reservations for you and your significant other on Dream Island for a proposal, Romantic lunch or dinner.
Traveling while back…I met a black couple the day I left. Frankly, this was the most expensive vacation I’ve ever taken but I would do it all over again. DM me at @kerrybeannqueen for specific costs. It was definitely worth it.
I had the pleasure of staying at the W Maldives in September 2019 for four days , three nights. By far the most expensive & best hotel I’ve been too. First things first… i traveled via emirates to the Maldives from California. 15 hour straight flight from CA to Dubai , 7 hour layover in Dubai. We killed time st the Emirates lounge which was by far the best lounge I’ve been to! Hospitality, food, convince. That seven hours went by so quick. I didn’t want to leave the lounge, but I had to lol. Dubai to Male another 4 hour flight ?. Once I landed in Male we had to take another plane which was about 25 min … a small sea plane which could cost 500-1,500.00 to the Maldives. Fyi , a sea plane is the only way you can get to the W Maldives. Once we got to the resort it was raining cats & dogs. I stayed in the spectacular over the water bungalow which can run you 1k-2k a night plus tax & fees. I paid about 1700 plus tax & fees. our first day there was over. I stayed in the room it was raining there was nothing else to do but eat & sleep. In addition, we were jet lagged so it worked out. Day two, was amazing m! The sun cane out & life was good! restaurants & bars are on the island . You can’t leave lol so we dined at each of there restaurants . Before I forget, they have the best chocolate cookies I’ve ever tasted! Omg. So soft & you can taste the butter with every bite. Every single one of their restaurants had amazing food! breakfast to dinner was yummy. I would say get ready to spend about 1k just in food & drinks alone which is what I spent in 4 days. We had plans to scuba dive but due to the wind we had to cancel . Scuba diving however is free courtesy of the resort. I didn’t really do anything but relax due to the weather . I enjoyed every second of the views & hospitality. The W Maldives ?? is one heck of a hotel. Overall, I loved the place & I definitely want to go back.
I stayed at the Hyatt’s Hadahaa resort. Which was amazing. But be prepared to entertain yourself and relax. This is not a spot for getting the heart racing.
Myself and my ex had used the (not currently offered) Hyatt credit card’s 2 nights Free bonus (4 nights in total) to stay here. We made a video of exactly how much we spent on food and travel. you can check it out here: https://youtu.be/HnFFDVjGdPQ . In short we spent $1300+- on food alone and our flight we got free via miles. :)
The Maldives can be a wonderful experience without breaking the bank. Unless you want the high-end luxury resort experience for honeymoon or splurging purposes, the Maldives can be done without going overboard. I will not discuss flights because that will depend on where you are coming from. I was lucky enough to be in Sri Lanka and it was a short and inexpensive flight on Sri Lankan air. Let’s get into it. I visited the Maldives from 8-11 Feb 2019. Two day minimum and five day very max in my opinion. I stayed on the island of Omadhoo. It was 7USD (14USD roundtrip) in a cab from the airport to the jetty. 25USD (50USD roundtrip) for the speedboat from the main island to Omadhoo. I stayed at the Maldives Guest House (@kirulhiyamaldives). Just send Ahmed a DM. He is very responsive. I stayed for three nights for a total of 132USD. Food was about 21-30/day (B/L/D). Activities range from 30-350USD. Manta rays, whale sharks, deserted beach, sandbank trip and etc. They even offer a day tour to a resort. Their prices have gone up since I last visited. Tips: No alcohol on this island (muslim), only one spot on the island for women to swim in bikinis, USD or Local currency (there is no ATM on the island), and enjoy!!! DM me at instagram-elcidjarhead if you have questions.
First of all, the Maldives is a beautiful place no matter where you decide to stay.
Check out our vlog channel for our travel experience in the Maldives.
https://youtu.be/lBBOpom7wKA
For our vacation we chose Como Maalifushi located in the Thaa Atoll which is about an hour sea plane flight from the capital of Male. We chose this resort because it is on one of the more remote islands which was our preference and at the time of our booking, they offered a few deals when we booked directly through their site.
The deals included:
2 for 1 seaplane transfer – This was excellent because a seaplane transfer normally costs $700 per person
Half board – This means you either get to select free breakfast and dinner or free lunch and dinner. This is also excellent deal because the food in the Maldives is expensive since everything is imported.
Complimentary 1 hour massage for two people.
Booking for 3 nights will allow you to get the 4th night free.
**Offers and deals change frequently so make sure to check what they are currently offering.
Como Maalifushi offers accommodations of all kinds. They have overwater 1-2 bedroom villas that include plunge pools, 1-2 bedroom beach villas w/ plunge pools and beach access. The amenities are great as well. If you would like to bring your kids, there is a maid service that’s provided as well as a children’s center where kids can play videos games (Xbox/Playstation), board games, billiards or play outside in the gated playground. Water sports like surfing, kayak, deep sea fishing and deep sea diving are available. The beach is also very nice and the water might be the clearest you’ve ever seen. They also provide complimentary Yoga that takes place every morning and an excellent spa to relax and receive a top notch massage.
The resort offers theme nights daily that you can chose to partake in, sometimes it cost and sometimes its free. They will definitely let you know. We did the seafood buffet dinner that was excellent and set up beautifully. They also had a welcome event which they provided unlimited wine and drinks as well as various appetizers located at the top of the resort that had an excellent view of the sunset.
Overall we had an great experience overall with customer service, accommodations, amenities and leanliness. I would highly recommend Como Maalifushi for your Maldives vacation.
wow what can I say. Heaven on earth. It was like a dream. The beautiful beaches the beautiful water. The house over the water. Everyone should at least visit once in their lifetime. Please. When it comes to the Price of Maldives. It isn’t cheap at all just to state this. A lot of ppl get the impression you fly there and you stay at a hotel. Flights to maldives depends on where you are coming from are pricey and once you get there. You have to book a seaplane which flies from 7am-4pm and cost about $300 a person round trip which isn’t included in the price of the hotel as you have to book this separately. You also have to make sure your international flights are between 7am-4pm so you don’t have to stay overnight in Male the main island. Depending on your budget you can go big or little. We stayed at Sun Aqua Vilu Reef. Our room was the pool water villa which cost around $980 a night which was all inclusive. I recommend doing all inclusive as if you don’t it get expensive. Everything is imported a bottle of water is $6 and its a hot island so you would go through that in minutes. Breakfast cost around $30 per person so it is pricey thats why i recommend doing all inclusive and not bother on your bill. The island was amazing, lots of water activities and house reef snorkeling right from your overwater bunglow. We stayed 7 days and it was well worth it. High season are Nov-March. Avoid going in May as its is really cloudy and rainy.
The Maldives is a dream come true for travelers want to lay back and relax. The islands are gorgeous and the people are very friendly. My fiancé and I took a tour to Malè to see the culture and how the natives live. This was setup by the resort. Other than that, we relaxed at the pool and on the beach or even in our beautiful waterfront villa our whole vacation and it was exactly what we needed. I definitely plan to go back!
https://medhufushiisland.com/
The Maldives is a destination for couples, so it was difficult to travel solo as everything was priced for a minimum of two people. However, this is s great place to get away from people. I stayed on 2 islands; Hangnameedo and Omadhoo. Both of these were small local islands; it literally takes 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other end of the island. That’s how small they are. The people don’t speak much English here, not even all of the staff at the guesthouse, but they are working on it and I still managed to communicate. Tuna is a staple, so there is a lot of tuna to be eaten; they put it in many dishes. I recommend Kuri Inn to stay. Maldives is a great place to go snorkeling or diving; any water adventures really. I swam in the middle of the Indian Ocean with schools of fish!
In my honest opinion I do not feel like the Maldives is a destination for “black” people. Me and my girlfriend stayed at Summer island and spent extra to stay in the water bungalows. We were the only blacks people on the island and airport which isn’t anything new to me since I travel around the world. Not only did the staff seem shocked to see us but even the the other guest seemed shocked everyone starred at us like some kind of side show. I spent six days and five nights on the island and by day four I was ready to go. None of the other guest would speak to us when we greeted them and the waiters would not come to offer us service we would have to go and ask for it ourselves but they would go to the other guests of non color. The island is also very expensive we spent the extra 60usd per person a day for the all enclusive but still somehow managed to rack up 1,500 in extras?? All of the water sports are scheduled in the morning time and you have to sign up for them the day before so if you miss the sign up or it’s full before you get there you have nothing to do on the island for the rest of the day but the beach and restaurant. They only have a Dj on fridays and Saturday’s so the rest of the week you have no entertainment cabin fever is real. Maldives is a beautiful place but I think I will find other islands to venture to in the future.
If you’re looking for a budget friendly , luxurious, adventure , you name it .. Maldives can offer it all. It was the first country I visited with my boyfriend and even though we stayed for a whole month it was worth the experience and I’ve learnt a lot that I to wish to do it all over and much better .
First of ,hulumale is one island you should visit . Most people will overlook it maybe because it’s the nearest island to the male airport but it’s a Beautiful island with nice beaches , friendly community etc . We would have extended our days longer but we got to stay there for just two nights . It’s only advisable to book your hotels a week or days earlier before you get there else the prices go way up.
For transport , I will advise to you the public ferry when going to the further islands if you’re on a budget .It’s the cheapest ride from the airport to the islands . I will avoid going to the capital town because its just way too crowded and busy unless you want to explore for fun.
We stayed at the royal inn rashdoo at the rashdoo island which isn’t a private island but a cool place . We stayed for a whole 28day but it was incredibly affordable and they had activities every other day . The only thing that sucked was the rains . It was in August but we experienced a bit of heavy downpours which ruined some activities we had lined up.
The food was amazing . Please make sure to try the MALDIVIAN BREAKFAST when you make a trip there. Just the thought of that meal makes me wanna go back right now . Our booking included breakfast so we had a mixture of their local breakfast and western breakfast which was great . For snacks , there were about 3 stores on the island where you could get any snacks or groceries they had a couple of restaurants on the Island as well with affordable meals on the menu. The island is not a fancy island so everything there is budget friendly.
Would love to go there again but this time around make sure I stay on 3 islands instead of just 1 just to change the scenery a bit . But if you wanna go there , hulumale island is a must visit !!
For my 31st birthday, I planned a trip to Maldives. Maldives had always been on my list of places to go, but there was just one problem! How the heck was I going to pay for it? The islands of the Maldives are ridiculously expensive, but I’m the type of person that will find something that I can’t afford and figure out a way to make it affordable. Whether searching the web for coupons or discount codes, travel hacking, playing with flight routes or jumping on last minute deals; just as sure as my name is Krys; I’ll find a way to make it happen. I’d been bored at home one day and decided to play around with flight routes.
I knew I didn’t want to exceed $1000 USD for my flight, so anything under that would be a win. I used $1000 as a price point because Maldives was all the way on the other side of the world, and I had to take into consideration that I’d have to take more than one flight, and I’d be traveling for over 36 hours just to get there. During my search, I found a deal for $849 through Turkish Airlines, and to make things even better, it was out of one of my “home airports”: MIAMI! The flight timeline was Miami, FL direct to Istanbul, Turkey with an 11 hour layover in Turkey and Turkey direct to Maldives. I had no issues with the 11 hour layover in Turkey because I had already visited Turkey, met some great people and I’d use that time to catch up with them.
The first part of planning was complete. I secured the flight in August 2017 using my Chase Shappire Reserve credit card, which was 8 months prior to my trip.
Now it was time to find a resort. Maldives is known for its over water bungalows, sandy beaches and of course its endless views of the Indian Ocean. Some of my must have’s when deciding on a Maldives resort were:
Over water bungalow
Private pool
All inclusive
Adult only resort
Water activities
Sunset views
The resorts in Maldives can range anywhere from $300 USD a night to in excess of $3500 USD a night depending on what you want. Obviously, at $300 a night you’d pretty much be getting a beach house or what I would call a hut on an undeveloped atoll*, with little to no amenities and pretty much a raw experience and not what you would think of when visiting Maldives.
Keeping this in mind, I then set my budget for about $1500 a night and not to exceed $5000 for everything. With this $1500 a night budget, I needed to fit in all my amenities in addition to my seaplane transfer. Many are unaware that you have to book a chartered seaplane from the main airport in the capital of Male to your atoll*. I scoured the web for days trying to find how I could book my own charter for less than the $460 roundtrip price tag assessed by the resort. Unfortunately, mostly all the resorts in Maldives secure the seaplane charter and pass the fee on to the customer. Everything on the resorts in Maldives have to be imported so I guess this is another way for them to help make money.
I like to use Expedia solely as a guide when searching for hotels/resorts. I used their “filter” feature to narrow down the hundreds of resorts in Maldives.
Once I narrowed down my results, I came across a resort called “Hurawalhi“. It was a fairly new hotel, had all the amenities I was looking for and the reviews on TripAdvisor were excellent, and the icing on the cake…… It had an underwater restaurant! Almost instantly, I knew this would be the resort I’d choose. I spent a few more days looking at other hotels and comparing prices on third-party websites. Ultimately, the best deal came from booking directly on Hurawalhi’s website. Hurawalhi offered free late checkout, a 20% discount for early bird booking (I booked almost 6 months in advance) a free upgrade from “full board” to “all-inclusive” and other little perks such as, a welcome drink, massage and complimentary water activities. In total, for a four day stay with seaplane transfer and everything included such as food, drinks and alcohol and not having to pay a dime at the resort my total came to $4887.00 Not bad if you have to split this between two people.
Fast forward to April, my birthday month and I couldn’t have been more excited to travel. After the 12 hour flight to Turkey, an 11 hour layover in Istanbul and one 8 hour flight, I had finally landed in Maldives. Upon arrival, Hurawalhi had a representative waiting for me outside of the airport. The rep escorted me to the airport lounge, where I completed check-in, took last-minute room requests, and had some light bites while waiting on several other passengers to arrive before boarding the seaplane.
After a 45 minute seaplane ride with amazing views of the atolls* and their resorts, I landed at a sister property of Hurawalhi.
Next was a speedboat ride! LAWD HAMMERCY; how much longer? But at last, after about a 7 minute speedboat ride, I could finally see Hurawalhi just ahead. I was greeted by the resort staff playing musical tunes and a cold welcome drink being handed to me.
Sim, my assigned attendant throughout my stay
Since the check-in process had already been completed at the airport lounge, I was immediately whisked away in a golf cart; given a brief tour of the resort, then off to my room.
Entrance to the over water bungalow is to the rear of the room. The room was spacious, the wine cooler and snack bar was stocked with complimentary wines, soft drinks and candy, and the best part of all……The view! I opened up the door to the deck and as far as my eyes could see was nothing but ocean.
My routine was pretty much the same daily, eat and relax because once on the resort, the only way off was by seaplane or speedboat.
Snorkeling equipment was provided with my all-inclusive package, so I choose to walk down from my bungalow and go find NEMO!
Well it wasn’t long before, NEMO nem’ almost found me! I’m not the strongest swimmer, and between the heat and fighting the waves, I grew a tad bit tired. I had to struggle and fight like heck to make it back to a pillar and catch my breath before I headed back up to the bungalow. First and last time I go snorkeling alone!
My personal holiday (birthday) of April 14th had arrived, I woke to the sounds of crashing waters against my bungalow pillars that were so soothing. I freshened up and headed down to the restaurant for breakfast where a designated table was set for me.
Turn down service decorated the bed, left me a cake and a glass of champagne.
Evening was approaching and it was time to get ready for my birthday dinner at the world’s largest underwater restaurant called 5.8. I was O.D. excited to bask in the experience. While most 5 star restaurants I’ve been to, have all been about the experience and the ambience, I pretty much expected the same with 5.8. Upon walking down into the restaurant, I was in total awe, it was a complete JAW DROPPER. The entire restaurant was see through glass with 360 degree views of the sea.
Dinner was a full 7 course seating. Most of the food was nothing to remember but hey, the buffet would still be open by the time my 2.5 hour reservation was complete.
I enjoyed as the fish swam by my window to say hello, contemporary tunes played in the background, the restaurant staff stopped by every 10 minutes to refill my wine glass, check on how I liked the food and serve the next course. Seeing that my reservation began at 6:30pm, I got to enjoy the restaurant during daylight and watch as night fell under the water. The restaurant lights adjusted along with lighting in the water making it still easy to see the fish. I think as nightfall came, more of the fishies came out to play. There were schools and schools of them, big ones, little ones, and lots of colorful ones too.
My rating for 5.8 would be a solid 4.7 out of 5 stars. I took away .3 because of the food lol I guess I’m really not that bourgeois after all.
Since I was still hungry, I headed to the buffet. While at the buffet, Hurawalhi staff offered to seat me at a certain table, even though I had already picked one out. Once at the table, they again had a little set up for me. I could so get use to this. It’s like they knew my every move, and were always one step ahead of me.
I completed by last two days by continuing to lounge around the resort and get sunburned. There was an infinity pool deck, over water swing, tennis and soccer courts, spa rooms, several restaurants and more. I even pulled out my drone to get a few shots of the resort from up above, but that ended rather quickly as I got a call to my room from Sim telling me that drones weren’t allowed for privacy reasons.
My experience overall at Hurwalhi was a complete 5 stars, there’s nothing more I could have asked for except to spend a few more days. Even as I came down with a slight cold due to the climate change, I was able to see a doctor on site who provided a few prescriptions for me.
My personal room attendant Sim was the greatest, there was no request that went without being granted. Sim even also arranged a tour guide for me back in Male since I had a few hours to kill before my late flight out. There is so much more I could write about Hurawalhi and Maldives but for the sake of reading time, I’ll end here.
I had no issues traveling while black. Im sure the people in Male are used to seeing people from all over the world.
The Maldives comprises several jaw-dropping islands with white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters and coral reefs. Many of the islands are exclusive tourist resorts and a handful are inhabited by locals. I chose to stay in one of the inhabited islands, Thulusdhoo. The island itself is a short boat ride from Male, the capital of The Maldives, where the international airport is located. Note that some other islands are quite far from Male and can most conveniently be reached by sea planes.
Thulusdhoo is popular with surfers so if you are into surfing, you may want to consider staying here. There is a big hotel on the island as well as other smaller hotels and guest houses interspersed among the local houses.
Things to do: surf! If you are not into that, enjoy a walk through the narrow streets to the sand bank. There are also a few dive companies and you can try out scuba diving just off the island. You could also spot some dolphins off the coast. There are a few jet skis available for rent. Need more? Head out to Male on a speedboat to do some shopping or visit one of the tourist resorts (on other islands) as a day visitor (for a fee).
The people of Maldives were very friendly and staying with them gave me an opportunity to experience their culture and hospitality. However, please note that The Maldives is a Muslim country so adhere to the rules eg no importing of pork or alcohol and dress modestly. For some reason, dogs are also not allowed! I hear the rules are not strictly enforced in the resort islands.
The Maldives allows visa-free travel for most nationals but you must have a return ticket and evidence of accommodation booking etc.
Overall, great destination but best for couples. I enjoyed my time here and was really surprised that racism seems not to have reached this charming island!
If you’re looking for luxurious relaxation, there’s no better place than the Maldives. It was the last leg on our Asian journey and was much needed after several days moving around on planes, trains, boats and automobiles. The country itself is Muslim, so you cannot bring alcohol in, that was a lesson learned at Male airport ?, however, they will return your alcohol to you upon departure. I stayed at Anantara Veli Resort, which was simply beautiful. Amazing staff, accommodations (the beds were sooo bomb) and food. A few tips though, it’s extremely expensive so be prepared. We actually had a package deal that included breakfast and dinner which helped a lot, but an all inclusive may be a better option. Even though they had a few restaurants we could eat at, we couldn’t order off of the full menu w/o a supplemental charge, i.e. if you wanted lobster, you paid full market price. Also, at dinner they charged for all drinks, including water. The best option turned out to be eating at the buffet, which was actually very good with a large range of items. Alcohol prices on the resort were pricey as well, the average for a mixed cocktail being around $16. All prices were is USD. Overall, I loved the experience. The staff treated us with the utmost courtesy and respect, the overwater bungalows were all that I imagined and the views alone were worth the journey. I would definitely recommend visiting the Maldives at least once in your lifetime.
Highly recommended. Stayed in 5 different islands/resorts in a week. My ranking of them from favorite to least is as follows: 1) Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives 2) Tag Exotica 3) Baros Maldives 4) Sheraton Maldives and 5) Ayada Maldives. The service is beyond excellent. The house reef are easily accessible. The least I paid for a hotel was $900 and the most I paid was about $1300. (I paid a total of $2600 to stay in Tag Exotica for two night). Amazing snorkeling, turtles, baby sharks and eagle rays and a wide variety of fish can be seen, its teaming with life. The restaurants and accommodation and great! Its a couples destination so no young children. The airport transfer takes less than 20mins in a speed boat. All round truly excellent.
We stayed at Velassaru Maldives. Why did we choose this option? It was one of the closest hotels to the airport. The further away you are from the airport, the more expensive your transportation fee and the longer your ride will be. I fell in love instantly. There is a staff of around 8 people waiting to greet you as you arrive. From there on I was in complete paradise. Service was available 24/7, the employees were genuinely nice, would ask if we needed anything and just went above and beyond. I have no bad reviews whatsoever about this resort. The resort had many food options but we opted for the buffet every night which was pricey but the food was great, unlimited and catered to many nationalities. Let’s just say that I had a really hard time saying goodbye.
The reason why I wouldn’t give Maldives a 5 star is because it is not affordable for all but I do understand why. Although other people will be on the island, it still feels private and secluded.
I would highly reccomend staying at Olhuveli Beach and Spa Resort when in the Maldives. It’s a luxury overwater villa resort with all inclusive options, which is definitely necessary. Maldives is an islamic country, therefore you can not drink unless you are on a private island. This resort had everything needed for a great time and they treat you like royalty. The resort was super nice with the clearest water ever. The staff was really friendly and there were many activities in which you could do for free. However, this place is not for the budget travelers. We spent $650 a night for 2 people. Also, the only downside is to get to the resort from the airport you must take a speedboat which is $200 per person one way. However, to avoid this cost we went to the local island of Maafushi first and from there took a boat to Olhuveli. From the airport to Maafushi is only $1 on the public ferry anf from Maafushi to Olhuveli the price of the boat is $80. Therefore if 8 people ride, its only $10 per person. Our boat had 4 people so we paid $20 per person, for a total of $21 instead of #200 per person. I would HIGHLY recommend Olhuveli!
Ok so….. all while Maldives was quite the experience, it may be out of some people budget. I personally wouldn’t pay 1k a night to stay at any hotel. But I had enough Hilton honors point to cover my entire stay and with Hilton if you use points for 4 night you get the 5th night for free. I stayed on the Conrad. Because I am a diamond member I also got free breakfast and happy hour. The prices for food were pricey and I read that it’s because everything has to be imported. A burger was $40 plus 22% tax/service!!! So yea if you have the Maldives on your list make sure you are prepared to pay the cost. I read reviews prior to going to I packed a lot of snacks and ate breakfast late every day. Some activities were complimentary but the cool stuff like jet skiis and scuba diving/whale watching were all $200 plus.
The Maldives is truly a once in a life type of destination. You simply must go there atleast once. The high proce tag makes it a destination that you cannot travel to on a whim. We stayed at the most affordable resort we could find Velassaru and still the experience was amazing. Our bungalow was steps from the beach with both an outdoor and indoor shower. We drunk mojitos on the beach everyday and practiced the art of doing nothing. We snorkeled, walked on the beach, watched the sunsets, ate amazing food, kayaked and enjoyed a little piece of heaven.
From white sand beaches, a whole island to yourself, infinity pools, a spa right on the water it was one of the best destinations I have ever been to.
I went to the Maldives towards the end of March 2017.
It was a family trip mostly with the objective of relaxation. We stayed at Kurumba (smaller Maldivian island and resort) and weren’t able to make it to Male (the main island) due to there being a flu going round on Male at the time.
Relaxation – this was the most tranquil destination I had ever been to. Kurumba was great because they had all these soothing cosmetics made from coconuts on the island. It was the most scenic place too. Do not forget to take a camera and loads of pictures. If you love snorkelling etc, take a camera that is waterproof.
Food – the food was amazing, very natural and cooked by excellent chefs. The food was quite expensive though. This was probably because we mostly had food at the resort.
Things to do – there were tons of activities, especially if you love to swim, snorkel, scuba dive etc. There was also a tour called the Maldivian Experience, it was great.
Weather – it was hot. I mostly wore short dresses and shorts. Note: you will not really need shoes!!! Take sandals and slippers except you are planning to attend something formal while you are there. There are beaches everywhere so you will mostly be barefoot.
I would definitely recommend going to the Maldives.