The Maldives consist of a myriad of little islands, about two hundred of which are inhabited, and these are engulfed into twenty-six natural atolls. They straddle the equator with the appearance of a garland of little gems haphazardly abandoned on the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.
Each resort has a shallow yet brilliant blue lagoon and is surrounded by a coral reef. The islands themselves are blessed with relatively deserted beaches of the softest powder-white sand, with a backdrop of gently swaying palms.
Below the ocean is a world apart, a truly amazing kaleidoscope of over 900 species of exotic fish inhabiting the crystal clear waters. The splendours of the underwater life include turtles, sharks, dolphins, whales, stingrays, moray eels and manta rays.
It’s a honeymoon image set to stun, but homework is required to get the most out of the Maldives.
How so? First off, the Maldives doesn’t do cities. Apart from the tiny capital of Malé, tourism centres on scattered small island resorts. Shopping, nightlife and local interactions are in short supply (anyone looking for a city or cultural buzz should add a stopover - in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, for example ).
Then there are the costs. The Maldives has its relatively affordable resorts, but these can feel cheap and generic. Luxury is the calling card, so my advice is to splash on a shorter stay, rather than scrimping on a longer one.
What are the restaurants like? Is there a house reef? How many guests will be there? How long are the transfers? Does it have a spa? Is it near a famous dive site or surf break? We have the answers to all of your questions and can assist with your idyllic island location.
Temperatures average out at a pretty consistent 27 to 30 degrees, but there are distinct seasons in the Maldives. December to February is peak holiday time, with the least rainfall, clouds and humidity, but blue skies bring high prices.
March to April is hot and clear-skied for the most part (you’ll find the best deals outside of the Easter holidays ), while May to November is off-peak - it’s when you’ll find the best value breaks.
