First time on Maldives
Aug 24, 2025 Dariusz M
A holiday in the Maldives had always been my dream, yet for a long time, it seemed unattainable. Last year, when I booked a vacation on Kuredu Island, I had no idea what to expect: what the weather would be like during the rainy season, whether I would be bored there (I’m not much of a sunbather), and if it really was an exotic paradise.
The…
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A holiday in the Maldives had always been my dream, yet for a long time, it seemed unattainable. Last year, when I booked a vacation on Kuredu Island, I had no idea what to expect: what the weather would be like during the rainy season, whether I would be bored there (I’m not much of a sunbather), and if it really was an exotic paradise.
The first surprise was the transfer from Malé to the island (about 150 km away), which turned out to be by seaplane. The Maldives are home to the world’s largest seaplane operator. We arrived after a 40-minute flight, taking off and landing on water. We were welcomed on the pier by resort staff, and by the reception area, a welcome team played drums for us. At reception, we met Sajini, who was our host during our stay and whom we later contacted via WhatsApp. Next, we were taken to our villa and could enjoy the resort right away (it was 11:00 AM and we didn’t have to wait for the official check-in time at 3:00 PM, which was very pleasant and convenient).
A few things were different from our previous holidays. We spent the entire stay barefoot (as did most people at the resort), and there was no need to wear shoes or even flip-flops at any time. In bars and restaurants, instead of floors, there was sand—fine, white, and clean (some areas had wooden deck flooring, but even there, you could walk barefoot). Another delightful feature was the semi-open bathroom, where one wall was replaced by a private garden enclosed by a high fence, so you could enjoy the bathroom surrounded by nature.
The weather ranged from 27°C to 28°C during the day. The actual feel was much warmer because the sun shone directly overhead, but in the shade, it was a pleasant 28°C. Weather forecasts on my phone often looked bleak, showing clouds and rain for most days, but in reality, sometimes the sun was muted by thin clouds, and if it rained, it was usually at night or early morning—and very briefly (it was always 28°C). After a shower, there was no trace of rain. In practice, the weather was always good and never interfered with beach time or ocean activities. Sometimes the muted sun was even helpful, reducing the risk of sunburn.
The resort itself is extremely well organized. There’s a mobile app featuring all the important information about the resort, including bar menus and prices, as well as a section for your reserved activities. Additionally, we were looked after by a dedicated host (in our case, Sajini), who helped book activities (excursions, massages, sports, restaurants, etc.), answered all questions, and checked in to make sure we were satisfied with our stay. The resort staff are friendly, smiling, and always helpful without being intrusive. The island is cleaned daily (like removing fallen leaves from paths), and rooms are cleaned twice a day (not that it’s necessary, but that’s how it’s done). The landscaping is well maintained, and everything is clean.
The food is very good, with lots of fresh fish (mainly tuna and jack fish). It’s worth noting that, as is typical in resorts and hotels, much of the food is kept warm, while some is prepared fresh, so the quality isn’t quite like top restaurants, but for all-inclusive standards, it’s high quality.
The island itself, though not very large, has plenty of places to explore, and getting around it takes some time. Guests have access to three restaurants and three bars (each is assigned to one restaurant but you can book a change for variety, though Sangu is adults-only). There’s a golf with driving range, tennis courts, badminton court, table tennis, volleyball court, and even a football pitch. There’s a water sports center (windsurfing, kayaking, jet skis, etc.), a diving center, yoga center, and two spas with massages and treatments. Some amenities are included with All Inclusive Plus, while others cost extra. The island has many internal paths (packed sand) and is lushly overgrown with exotic vegetation. You can encounter exotic birds, large bats flying even during the day (of course completely harmless), and, for example, black bees (also harmless).
Surrounding the island is a vibrant ocean with shimmering, colorful water. There are plenty of colorful fish, sea turtles, reef sharks (also harmless), and if you’re lucky, eagle rays, manta rays, or dolphins.
Personally, I love diving and snorkeling, and the Maldives offer ideal conditions for these activities. Add to this various boat trips, golf, restaurants and bars, evening performances, and there was never any time for boredom.
You may not be sitting on a cloud sipping ambrosia, but considering what this place looks like and how you can spend your time, it truly deserves to be called paradise on earth.
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