We have just returned from two wonderful weeks in the Maldives, and what an experience!
From the moment we arrived on the island, we were made to feel welcome and looked after.
We were greeted with cold towels and refreshing drinks, followed by a lovely introduction to the island, its facilities and everything available to us from our wonderful host, Bonnie.
There was a slight hiccup with our original room allocation, as the room we were given wasn't what we had booked. However, this was resolved quickly and efficiently by the hotel, with very little fuss. The team arranged everything for us, including transferring our luggage to our new room, which we were absolutely delighted with.
The island itself is simply beautiful. Stunning beaches, crystal-clear water and the most incredible marine life. The shark and manta ray feeding experiences were some of the most memorable moments of our holiday. But you didn't even need to attend an activity to see the wildlife. You could simply be swimming in the sea, surrounded by fish, and suddenly spot a sneaky shark patrolling the shoreline!
You can also see just how hard everyone works to keep the island looking beautiful. The grounds, beaches and communal areas were always so well maintained.
Food was another highlight of our holiday. The buffet offered a great variety of dishes, with something for everyone, and we never found the selection repetitive during our two-week stay.
We also visited two of the speciality restaurants. The newly opened Indian restaurant was absolutely fantastic and genuinely served some of the nicest Indian food I have ever eaten. If you're visiting the island, I would highly recommend booking a table!
The staff were brilliant, recommending dishes and advising us on how much to order so we didn't end up with far too much food. The chef even came out at the end of our meal to ask for our feedback and thank us for visiting. It's those little things that really make a difference.
The pool area was lovely, with a relaxed atmosphere and a choice of views across either the pool or the sea. We really were spoilt for choice!
We thoroughly enjoyed the snorkelling, and it was great that the hotel provided complimentary snorkelling equipment for guests on the All-Inclusive package.
There were also plenty of activities available to book through the desk in reception, including some promotional discounts.
I treated myself to a spa package, which was about £120 for an hour-and-a-half treatment. The spa itself was beautiful and relaxing, and the staff couldn't do enough for you.
Towards the end of my treatment, the lovely therapist even took the time to plait my hair and add flowers. Such a small gesture, but one I absolutely loved. ❤️
But what really made this holiday special was the people.
Sabbir looked after us at breakfast and dinner, and he was absolutely wonderful. He quickly remembered our drinks and preferences, often knowing what we wanted before we'd even asked. But what made him particularly special was that he always took the time to stop and chat with us, asking about our day, sharing stories and telling us more about the island. Such a lovely man, and someone who really made our holiday special.
Sharman was another absolute star! He looked after us around the pool and always made sure we had two sunbeds ready for us. No need to rush down to the pool first thing in the morning to find somewhere to sit! It was such a lovely touch and another example of how the team go out of their way to look after everyone.
Tara, our superstar barman! Honestly, it was almost as though he could read our minds. You'd be sitting there thinking, *"Ooh, I could just do with a drink,"* and suddenly Tara would appear! Usually with our favourite orders already in mind.
That was something we noticed throughout our stay. Whether it was your favourite drink, what you liked to eat or where you preferred to sit, the staff had an incredible ability to remember the little things.
We also have to mention one of the buggy drivers, whose cheerful personality and lovely greetings never failed to make us smile. Unfortunately, we didn't catch his name, but he certainly made an impression on us!
And a big thank you to everyone working behind the scenes, from housekeeping and the restaurant teams to the gardeners, maintenance staff and buggy drivers. You can see the effort that goes into keeping everything running so smoothly.
A few tips if you're planning a visit 🌴
- Towels: Don't waste suitcase space packing beach towels. These are provided by the hotel.
- Dress code: It's super casual! It's hot and humid, so pack light, comfortable clothes. There's really no need to overthink what you're going to wear.
- Sun cream: Make sure you take plenty with you. The island shop is expensive, so I'd definitely recommend buying your sun cream before you leave home.
- Seaplane transfer: If you have the option, I'd absolutely recommend it! We paid £75 per person and booked it one way only, for our journey to the island. The views were incredible, it was an amazing experience in itself and it saved us around two hours of travelling time. For us, it was well worth the extra cost!
- Getting around the island: It's quite a large island, but don't let that put you off! There are buggies running around the island, and you can even arrange to be collected directly from your room whenever you need to go somewhere. So if you don't fancy the walk, there's absolutely no need to!
- All-Inclusive drinks and extras: Before we travelled, we were a little concerned about the cost of drinks that weren't included in the All-Inclusive package. However, we really needn't have worried! The menus were all clearly priced, and whenever you ordered drinks or anything additional, you were asked to sign for what you'd had at the end of each interaction. Everything was completely transparent, so there were no unexpected charges or nasty surprises.
- Tipping: We took US dollars with us so we could tip the staff at the end of our holiday. Something worth thinking about before you travel.
Overall , we had a fantastic holiday and made some wonderful memories.
The Maldives is beautiful, and the beaches and surroundings are everything you hope they will be. But honestly, it's the people who make it.
Thank you to everyone who helped make our two weeks in paradise so memorable. ❤️🌴
