Q: We want to go to the Maldives in September for our honeymoon but there are so many resorts to choose from I'm struggling to decide! We want somewhere very special with it being our honeymoon, considering a two centre trip so we can visit two different resorts. Any recommendations?
A: You would love Naladhu - it's an extra-special resort. They have enormous luxury villas with private infinity pools. You could then request a transfer to Anantara Veli or Anantara Dhigu; they are only a few minutes away by boat. Guests at Anantara Veli can use the facilities at Anantara Dhigu, and vice-versa. However, if you book into either of the Anantara resorts as the first place you stay, you won't be allowed to visit Naladhu afterwards. They do some beautiful honeymoon packages.
Q: We have been six times to different places and every place is just amazing, just paradise! We’re huge diving fans, looking forward to taking our little twins soon, looking for recommendations for places to take toddlers?
A: Bandos Island Resort and Spa is great for kids. It has a large playground and good facilities for families including free babysitting. It also has a well-equipped dive school. Diva is a five-star resort but was recently voted first choice for families by the MD of a luxury travel company, as we covered here. There are also many others with good facilities for kids including top end ones like Beach House Manafaru, Hilton Iru Fushi, One&Only Reethi Rah, Conrad Maldives Rangali, Shangri-La's Villingili, Island Hideaway etc.
Q: My girlfriend and I love watersports but she is really afraid of sharks. Do you have many shark attacks on people?
A: There are sharks in every ocean in the world, but here in the Maldives there hasn't been a shark attack since 1978 despite the fact there are many types of fascinating sharks here, and thousands of dives taking place every year. They are far too well-fed to want to attack a human, because there is such an abundance of fish for them to feast on. The Maldives is teeming with marine-life! One of the things on most divers' wish-lists is to see the gentle, plankton-eating whale sharks. They are the biggest fish in the ocean and can grow to over 40 feet (12 metres). The Maldives is the only place in the world where whale sharks can be found all year round. However, even if you don't see them the ocean here is full of rainbow-coloured tropical fish including the anemone fish (like "Nemo"), parrot fish, unicorn fish, angel fish and moorish idols to name but a few, plus colourful hard and soft coral.
Q: Which are the best islands for house reefs, also reefs that are easy to swim to?
A: We recommend Angsana Ihuru, Lily Beach, Bandos Island resorts, Soneva Fushi and Diamonds Athuruga. Go to accommodation our page, and look for the Snorkeling icon.
Q: My hubby and I went to Veligandu last October, our first visit. We would love to go back maybe even to the same island as it’s very quiet and good for total relaxation. We loved the sea plane journey and would want to do the same. Any suggestions for similar small islands?
A: Similar, small islands that you can fly to include Nika Island Resort, Angaga Island Resort and Spa, Diamonds Athuruga and the very exclusive Banyan Tree Madivaru which has just six special luxury tented pool villas. Click here to see all our recommended resorts.
Q: Thinking of going to the Maldives and am looking for simple/basic accomodation as I want to spend most of the time diving and exploring. Not interested in spas and such luxuries. Just dive, dive dive. Any recommendations?
A: How about a specialist "liveaboard", also known as a “safari boat”? Then you'll be on the water all the time, accompanied by experts and fellow scuba enthusiasts. There are plenty of affordable ones, as well as more luxurious ones. They will take you on a cruise of the top sites in the atolls.
Q: Can you give us advice on tipping? For example, who do you tip and how much? Do you tip waiter and cleaner each day, or at end of the trip, and how much do they expect? Just so I can take enough cash for them.
A: It is generally customary to tip 10 percent of the bill in restaurants in the Maldives. The other tips are at your discretion - there's no obligation or expectation in the Maldives for tips for every single service you receive, unlike there can be in other cultures. If you're particularly happy with a service given to you by your butler/spa therapist/waiter/concierge etc then feel free to give them whatever you want to. A guideline amount could be $10 but you are unlikely to cause offence by not tipping in such situations, or by tipping less than $10. Of course if you decide to tip even more than that, then they would be delighted. It's up to you if you'd like to do it at the end of the trip or on the occasions or during your stay.
Q: I have an enquiry, it may sound a bit strange, but I don’t like the idea of animals of any kind in the outdoor bathrooms. I know most people enjoy the fact their bathrooms are outdoors in the Maldives, but for me the experience would not be of excitement, more of anxiety. So my question to is this; is there any hotel, any room type, anywhere in the whole of the Maldives where the bathroom is completely indoors, nothing outdoors at all, not even the shower/bath/anything?
A: Yes, many of the villas at many of the resorts (particularly the high-end ones) in fact have 2 bathrooms, so you have a choice of both a completely indoor bathroom as well as an outdoor bathroom. You'll find others have only indoor bathrooms and no 2nd outdoor bathroom. You can check before booking, or feel free to ask us once you've selected a potential hotel.
Q: Please can you tell me what kind of weather to expect in the Maldives in August? Also would it make a difference which atoll, ie: is the weather better in northern Atolls?
A: A lot of people ask us this but it's hard to predict the weather. It's very possible for the weather in August to have long sunny periods. Sometimes there are occasional showers overnight, or brief ones during the day. Occasionally it can last a little longer, but you'd be really unlucky if that were the case. Either way, it never gets colder than 26c, day or night, in the Maldives! You can check the weather on our website here. No, there's no major difference whether you're in the north or south.
Q: I want to go to the Maldives in September but I am going to be a lone traveller. I want an all-inclusive deal, just a nice beach, sea and total relaxation. I can't find any lone packages everything is based on two sharing. Any ideas?
A: The Maldives is popular destination for couples, that’s the main reason most of the tour operators and resorts do not offer packages for lone travellers. However we found some resorts that offer packages for lone travellers with all-inclusive rates. Maybe you can try these resorts direct or through a travel agent. Club Faru, Chaaya Island Dhonveli, Chaayaa Lagoon Hakura Hura, Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi.
Q: Can you tell me how long the flight is from Riyadh Saudi Arabia to Malé?
A: With Oman Air it's 2 hours 30 mins from Riyadh to Muscat then 3 hours 40 mins to Male', or with Emirates it's 1 hour 35 mins from Riyadh to Dubai then 4 hours to Malé.
Q: How does it work at the airport? Do we get collected and taken to the resort? Is the airport organised, visas etc?
A: Yes you get collected at the airport. Tourists are granted 30-day visas on arrival.
