How to choose a Maldives hotel...
Discussion
I'm starting to look into options for some winter sun and, having not been there for 10 years, the Maldives is a strong possibility.
However, the more I look into it, the harder it becomes to choose exactly where to go as they all seemingly offer an almost identical experience:
- privacy and relaxation
- good weather
- good beaches
- good snorkelling / diving
- expensive food
It seems that even when you've decide what sort of accommodation you want (and how much you want to pay) then there are still numerous options.
That would naturally lead me to focus on those resorts with special offers at the relevant time, but then I worry why these resorts need to reduce their prices if others don't?!
Is it just one of those places where the experience is quite personal and the sort of service that really suits one person wouldn't necessarily suit another?
Happy to pay the required amount for a great experience - but don't need a personal butler to butter my toast for me etc...
How did you guys choose where to go?
Please
Sidicks
However, the more I look into it, the harder it becomes to choose exactly where to go as they all seemingly offer an almost identical experience:
- privacy and relaxation
- good weather
- good beaches
- good snorkelling / diving
- expensive food
It seems that even when you've decide what sort of accommodation you want (and how much you want to pay) then there are still numerous options.
That would naturally lead me to focus on those resorts with special offers at the relevant time, but then I worry why these resorts need to reduce their prices if others don't?!
Is it just one of those places where the experience is quite personal and the sort of service that really suits one person wouldn't necessarily suit another?
Happy to pay the required amount for a great experience - but don't need a personal butler to butter my toast for me etc...
How did you guys choose where to go?
Please
Sidicks
Edited by sidicks on Thursday 5th May 13:55
0000 said:
A friend who owned a travel agency said it almost doesn't matter in the Maldives, they're all great. Perhaps not the most useful advice.
In the end we shortlisted a few from a Kuoni brochure and then read reviews.
That's pretty much were I got to - just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something important!In the end we shortlisted a few from a Kuoni brochure and then read reviews.
sidicks said:
That's pretty much were I got to - just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something important!
You could be. They don't ALL have house reefs. Make sure you get a house reef for snorkling Other considerations: Seaplane flight, all inclusive (ALL drinks cost a bomb), west facing for sunsets. I would suggest the smaller, the better.
Puggit said:
You could be. They don't ALL have house reefs. Make sure you get a house reef for snorkling
Other considerations: Seaplane flight, all inclusive (ALL drinks cost a bomb), west facing for sunsets. I would suggest the smaller, the better.
1. Yes - seaplane is important for my wife, she doesn't like speedboat trips!Other considerations: Seaplane flight, all inclusive (ALL drinks cost a bomb), west facing for sunsets. I would suggest the smaller, the better.
2. Yes - house reef is important as my wife doesn't dive, only snorkel!
3. Not sure - although AI appeals (and we have done this previously) we are not massive drinkers and felt that the cost of AI assumed you be drinking massive amounts to make it worthwhile? I do like the fact that you don't have to stress about prices once you are there though.
4. That's not what my wife says. But she does prefer boutique hotels...
0000 said:
A friend who owned a travel agency said it almost doesn't matter in the Maldives, they're all great. Perhaps not the most useful advice.
Not true, you can get a completely different experience even on the same island in a different room.sidicks said:
4. That's not what my wife says. But she does prefer boutique hotels...
Going for a small resort is probably the best advice if you want some peace and quiet. We're not into drinking so all inclusive wasn't worth it, half board was enough. But it depends what deals are on obviously.
Been to Taj Exotica and Niyama, very different islands (Taj much smaller, Niyama has lots of stuff to do) and enjoyed them equally. However next time I'm going for a smaller, private island again. Also my wife hated the 1hr seaplane to Niyama!
We've had some amazing holidays in the Maldives. It's not often I recommend anybody for fear of people not getting the service and expertise we receive. However, I have no hesitation in recommending Sue Brown at Kuoni, she's Manchester based however the quickest way to get a response is to drop her an e-mail. She has visited many of the Islands a number of times so the advice you get is first hand rather than from screen prompts or a brochure. susan.brown@kuoni.co.uk
Puggit said:
You could be. They don't ALL have house reefs. Make sure you get a house reef for snorkling
Other considerations: Seaplane flight, all inclusive (ALL drinks cost a bomb), west facing for sunsets. I would suggest the smaller, the better.
I stayed on a small island a few years ago and after a few days it felt like a 5* prison camp .Other considerations: Seaplane flight, all inclusive (ALL drinks cost a bomb), west facing for sunsets. I would suggest the smaller, the better.
Some of the islands you can walk around in 20 minutes .
The photos of the accommodation on stilts look fabulous but it all wore a bit thin for me .
Your right to think it is a minefield- it is.
In a nice way though, it's is a very personal choice such as:-
Party island and lots of guests vs quiet small and just a few guests
Spa island =expensive or just a small spa
AL La Carte or buffet
Diving or snorkelling
Side trips or no side trips
Ai or full board
Seaplane or speedboat
Beach villa vs water villa
IMO the best way to tackle this is to sit down together and start with the must haves and the budget and then list things you want in descending order. (For instance we snorkelled, like buffets, drink a bit, want seaplane, not into spa's and like a small island with one restaurant (we chose Veligandu with Hayes and Jarvis))
Start with tripadvisor and narrow it down, look at companies like Kuoni and Hayes and Jarvis
The islands are not the same, I've visited 6 and all different. The thing is not to get too hung up on the choice - all long as it ticks most your boxes you will be fine.
In a nice way though, it's is a very personal choice such as:-
Party island and lots of guests vs quiet small and just a few guests
Spa island =expensive or just a small spa
AL La Carte or buffet
Diving or snorkelling
Side trips or no side trips
Ai or full board
Seaplane or speedboat
Beach villa vs water villa
IMO the best way to tackle this is to sit down together and start with the must haves and the budget and then list things you want in descending order. (For instance we snorkelled, like buffets, drink a bit, want seaplane, not into spa's and like a small island with one restaurant (we chose Veligandu with Hayes and Jarvis))
Start with tripadvisor and narrow it down, look at companies like Kuoni and Hayes and Jarvis
The islands are not the same, I've visited 6 and all different. The thing is not to get too hung up on the choice - all long as it ticks most your boxes you will be fine.
Kenty said:
For instance we snorkelled, like buffets, drink a bit, want seaplane, not into spa's and like a small island with one restaurant (we chose Veligandu with Hayes and Jarvis)
That was exactly our criteria - and also led us to Veligandu! We were there 2 weeks before the tsunami, when the water villas were only on the northern tip. Funnily enough it was a British enclave on the water, with Germans and Italians in the beach bungalows. We haven't been back since they packed more water bungalows in...
Puggit said:
Kenty said:
For instance we snorkelled, like buffets, drink a bit, want seaplane, not into spa's and like a small island with one restaurant (we chose Veligandu with Hayes and Jarvis)
That was exactly our criteria - and also led us to Veligandu! We were there 2 weeks before the tsunami, when the water villas were only on the northern tip. Funnily enough it was a British enclave on the water, with Germans and Italians in the beach bungalows. We haven't been back since they packed more water bungalows in...
The Moose said:
How long are you planning on going for?
Why not do 2 or 3 weeks on different islands?
I'm lucky enough that this isn't a 'main' holiday it's 7 days to relax and unwind prior to the Xmas / New Year period, roughly halfway between our 'main' summer holidays - we are planning a trip to NZ for June '17.Why not do 2 or 3 weeks on different islands?
We spent a week on Mirihi a while back, so a smaller hotel with a good house reef appeals a lot. I think I'd prefer to try somewhere different as we have an unwritten rule that we don't go back to the same place twice (albeit one that we conveniently overlook when it suits us, as we are heading to the same horseback safari lodge in South Africa for the fourth time, later this year!).
Other requirements:
- Some variety of restaurants (but don't need hundreds of choices) - Teppanyaki would score lots of points with Mrs Sidicks!
- A half decent gym
- seaplane arrival rather than speedboat
Any recommendations?!
jinkster said:
We've just come back from Meeru, Maldives. Excellent place. Speedboat trip. Beach Villa, All inclusive. Booked through Kuoni and highly recommended. Have a look at the Meeru website to see if its something your looking for.
My wife hates speedboats / enjoys the seaplane, so Meeru is ruled out from that perspective! Thanks anyway.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff