Maldives trip, recommendations and tips needed!

[Hudson]

We are booked to go to Kuramathi next year, our first time to the Maldives and can't wait! Flying man to lhr then direct to male, all with BA. Aqualiv was great and really helped us. So easy to book with her, would highly recommend... Happy planning


Stayed at kuramahti a few years...brilliant... the spit of sand at the top of the island with the clear shallow water around is awesome.
Not sure if the stingrays still swim up in the evenings to be fed but that's a great site to watch.
If you haven't booked the seaplane for your transfers to and from Male then I suggest you do.

[aqualiv]

Originally Posted by Hudson

We are booked to go to Kuramathi next year, our first time to the Maldives and can't wait! Flying man to lhr then direct to male, all with BA. Aqualiv was great and really helped us. So easy to book with her, would highly recommend... Happy planning


Stayed at kuramahti a few years...brilliant... the spit of sand at the top of the island with the clear shallow water around is awesome.
Not sure if the stingrays still swim up in the evenings to be fed but that's a great site to watch.
If you haven't booked the seaplane for your transfers to and from Male then I suggest you do.

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Think a lot of islands have stopped doing this now

[Scaramouche]

Originally Posted by Pumba

We found that some travel agents didn’t really want us to choose our island and were trying the hard sell for islands that really didn’t fit what we were looking for. One even told us that we didn’t want to take a sea plane. Their reasoning was why would we want 3 flights when we could “get away” with just 2?

The sea plane was a massive part of the experience for us!

Enjoy your planning. It is even more spectacular than the pictures in the brochures. 🥰 xx

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That’s awful behaviour from a travel agent and I’m really sorry you had that! The first thing that should have been on their note pad was “Sea plane” as straight away you’ve said it was a big part of it for you. “Get away with 2”. Yeah because a seaplane is exactly the same as a normal flight isn’t it. Argh it really irritates me - this is why people say don’t use a travel agent and it has a detrimental impact on the rest of us that do listen and want what’s best for the clients.

I’ve recommended looking at other operators when I know it’s what the client wants, rather than try to force them into buying something that’s not right for them - that just comes back to bite us on the bum.


OP - have a think about what’s important, sea plane/speed boat, larger island/smaller island, water villa with/without pool.

Have a think about what you want to spend, even just a ballpark - there are so many islands out there that bring up such a MASSIVE difference in price than an idea is handy just to start, even on my system I get them ranging from £5k total to £60k plus per person so it’s a huge factor.

I’d recommend all inclusive, even if you’re not big drinkers. But I’d also have a look at levels of all inclusive. Some islands the all in will include everything, snorkelling equipment, a couple of excursions, water sports, access to all the restaurants. Others will just include drinks and a Buffett restaurant. So do have a look and compare what would work best for you.

How exciting! This has made me excited to go back to work tomorrow, I love chatting about this haha.

[Lizzim]

Thanks to all so far. I don’t think I know what island we want, quiet and relaxing is probably the main theme.

I don’t drink alcohol and my other half doesn’t drink much either so it’s the food that is more important from an all inclusive perspective.

I have some things to research now though

[Scaramouche]

Originally Posted by Lizzim

Thanks to all so far. I don’t think I know what island we want, quiet and relaxing is probably the main theme.

I don’t drink alcohol and my other half doesn’t drink much either so it’s the food that is more important from an all inclusive perspective.

I have some things to research now though

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Definitely look at the inclusions for different restaurants and then extras like snorkelling equipment and things then . Soft drinks can still add up quite sizeably so make sure to look at that if drinks are the only difference between full board and all inclusive. Some islands are easily £5 a soft drink.

Happy planning!

[Lizzim]

Ok, so I’ve done a teeny bit more investigation today.

Would love some recommendations for places where the all inclusive is not just buffet restaurants, we are not big fans of a buffet so would be willing to pay more if we can avoid them as much as possible.

I will continue looking in the meantime

[aqualiv]

Originally Posted by Lizzim

Ok, so I’ve done a teeny bit more investigation today.

Would love some recommendations for places where the all inclusive is not just buffet restaurants, we are not big fans of a buffet so would be willing to pay more if we can avoid them as much as possible.

I will continue looking in the meantime

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There are a lot of islands that have a la carte restaurants included in the top all inclusive option (they all name them differently confusingly)
A few which come to mind are - kurumba, kuramathi, Reethi Beach, Vilamendoo, kandolhu, Meeru, Kandima
You can usually still go to the a la cartes if you are on the standard all inclusive but it will be at a surcharge

We find the buffets at the 5 star resorts are so varied and high quality we haven’t minded going to the buffet for the duration

[BIGDENNIS10UK]

Originally Posted by aqualiv

Hi!
My favourite subject and my favourite destination!
I am a Travel Counsellor and a Maldives specialist
My last trip was last month at Kurumba, so any questions ask away! 😃

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My kids are 6 and 9, what would be the best place for us for a general holiday destination, night entertainment, decent food, etc?


Also, we usually travel with our mothers, both able bodied, late 60’s, but youngish with it, is there 4 bedrooms for a decent price?

Thanks

[Blue nose]

Originally Posted by Lizzim

Ok, so I’ve done a teeny bit more investigation today.

Would love some recommendations for places where the all inclusive is not just buffet restaurants, we are not big fans of a buffet so would be willing to pay more if we can avoid them as much as possible.

I will continue looking in the meantime

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Obviously I've not been yet - going in August - but our island Oblu Sangeli has an all inclusive which also gives access to a Vegetarian restaurant and a steak type restaurant, think you can go twice if you're there two weeks, included in the all inc.

We also have spa treatments, two boat trips, free watersports like stand-up paddle boarding and also free snorkeling equipment for the duration.

The actual island is in two, one is adult only with its own pool. The water bungalows are on the walkway between both.

Not saying it's what you want but Oblu and Atmosphere by Oblu look like really good all inclusive and Trip Advisor seems to have excellent reviews.

We're on a speed boat transfer, in about 50 minutes.

Happy looking.

[aqualiv]

Originally Posted by BIGDENNIS10UK

My kids are 6 and 9, what would be the best place for us for a general holiday destination, night entertainment, decent food, etc?


Also, we usually travel with our mothers, both able bodied, late 60’s, but youngish with it, is there 4 bedrooms for a decent price?

Thanks

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In the Maldives or generally?
If the Maldives you would probably be best getting 2 bedroom accommodation, either 2 beach villas or beach houses next to each other as to get 4 bedrooms in the Maldives would cost a fortune