Travel Thursdays- The Maldives (AKA the postcard vacation)
TRAVEL
Today I want to write about one of the best vacations I have ever had.
I want to start a tradition of "Travel Thursdays" and I thought that starting out with a place I can only describe as heaven will be the way to kick this off.
I will try to share as many travel destinations as I can on Thursdays, including some tips and tricks on how to make every vacation as perfect as possible.
Background:
The Maldive Islands are located in the Indian ocean, south- east of India and Sri lanka.
It is comprised of over a 1000 island, but some of them are inhabitable.
The capital of the country is called Male. its located on the biggest island in the country.
Getting there:
There a few airlines that have direct flights to Male (MLE is its YATA code) from mostly Europe and Asia. and a few from middle eastern countries.
We flew to Mumbai in India, and from there flew with Srilankan Airlines with a quick stop in Sri Lanka.
Keep in mind that after landing at Male airport and you think you are done and can start you vacation- think again! most resorts will be on a different island, not the main island.
Depending on where you resort is located, you still have a speedboat ride or maybe even a small airplane that land on the water outside of your hotel. ours was 45 minutes speedboat ride.
Why did we go there?
I went there a few years ago with a co- worker of mine. we always talked about how perfect it looks and how it will be a dream come true to get there. until one day we both came across an article saying the islands of the Maldives are sinking and decided that we are going!
Now, you might think that this is the place you should go with a spouse or a large group of friends (we thought so too), but you know what? we were not bored for a single minute while we were there!
Picking the right resort:
When you picture the Maldives, this is what you usually imagine.
And you are right!
Now it depends on your budget. you can take a crazy 5* resort and will enjoy some of the best hotels you will ever see.
But we were on a budget (airline employees maybe get to travel a lot, but don't make a lot of money).
Since we thought the whole point of going to the Maldives is to stay in an over the water bungalow, we decided to take a 3* hotel and splurge on the water bungalow.
and it was worth it!
Important tips:
The most important thing you have to remember is that the speedboat will drop you off at the hotel, schedule a pickup time when you vacation is done, and that is it- you are stuck on the island full the whole duration! (well, unless you take a daily excursion which are usually very pricey).
So here are some must tips for the Maldives:
1- So you have to make sure you book an all inclusive deal! since you can't get off the island you will have to eat at the hotel. every meal you will order is going to be expansive, and if you have a few days there- that adds up! we did not know this and we booked a full board basis. that meant 3 meals a day but no drinks or water but coffee or tea in the dining room. now, you are on the beach in the sun all day- you have to hydrate... but every 500ml bottle of water is 10$!!!! and again- it adds up! so we had to go around it. what we did is buy 2 bottles because we didn't have a choice, and then every morning use the water boiler we had in the room to boil water, let it cool down during the day, then at night poured it into the bottles and let it stay over night in the mini bar. and another trick was to eat a lot of watermelons with our meals. watermelons have 80% water in them so its a nice way to hydrate. (we called it flavored water).
2- Bring a lot of sunscreen- you will need it.
3- Bring a good book or two.
4- Since almost every resort is an island on its own, you will be surrounded by beautiful clear water that you must snorkel around. our resort wanted 7$ a day for 1 pair of snorkels. again, eventually it adds up, so we just brought our own...
5- This is a tip/trick/ not a must but try it - it might work for you as well...
tell the front desk that its your honeymoon. you will have a nice chilled bottle of wine waiting for you in your room :)
In conclusion, for most people this will be a once in a lifetime vacation, and one you have to take!
If you find the right flights, settle on a 3* hotel and upgrade your room (or not, you don't have to), and make sure you book an all inclusive basis so no extra charges will be added- this is a totally affordable dream come true!
Feel free to leave comments or ask any question you may have.
Asaf.
p.s
Thank you Shiran for being an amazing travel partner to this little slice of heaven called The Maldives.
**** all pictures were taken by me or my travel partner ******
Today I want to write about one of the best vacations I have ever had.
I want to start a tradition of "Travel Thursdays" and I thought that starting out with a place I can only describe as heaven will be the way to kick this off.
I will try to share as many travel destinations as I can on Thursdays, including some tips and tricks on how to make every vacation as perfect as possible.
Background:
The Maldive Islands are located in the Indian ocean, south- east of India and Sri lanka.
It is comprised of over a 1000 island, but some of them are inhabitable.
The capital of the country is called Male. its located on the biggest island in the country.
Getting there:
There a few airlines that have direct flights to Male (MLE is its YATA code) from mostly Europe and Asia. and a few from middle eastern countries.
We flew to Mumbai in India, and from there flew with Srilankan Airlines with a quick stop in Sri Lanka.
Keep in mind that after landing at Male airport and you think you are done and can start you vacation- think again! most resorts will be on a different island, not the main island.
Depending on where you resort is located, you still have a speedboat ride or maybe even a small airplane that land on the water outside of your hotel. ours was 45 minutes speedboat ride.
Why did we go there?
I went there a few years ago with a co- worker of mine. we always talked about how perfect it looks and how it will be a dream come true to get there. until one day we both came across an article saying the islands of the Maldives are sinking and decided that we are going!
Now, you might think that this is the place you should go with a spouse or a large group of friends (we thought so too), but you know what? we were not bored for a single minute while we were there!
Picking the right resort:
When you picture the Maldives, this is what you usually imagine.
And you are right!
Now it depends on your budget. you can take a crazy 5* resort and will enjoy some of the best hotels you will ever see.
But we were on a budget (airline employees maybe get to travel a lot, but don't make a lot of money).
Since we thought the whole point of going to the Maldives is to stay in an over the water bungalow, we decided to take a 3* hotel and splurge on the water bungalow.
and it was worth it!
Important tips:
The most important thing you have to remember is that the speedboat will drop you off at the hotel, schedule a pickup time when you vacation is done, and that is it- you are stuck on the island full the whole duration! (well, unless you take a daily excursion which are usually very pricey).
So here are some must tips for the Maldives:
1- So you have to make sure you book an all inclusive deal! since you can't get off the island you will have to eat at the hotel. every meal you will order is going to be expansive, and if you have a few days there- that adds up! we did not know this and we booked a full board basis. that meant 3 meals a day but no drinks or water but coffee or tea in the dining room. now, you are on the beach in the sun all day- you have to hydrate... but every 500ml bottle of water is 10$!!!! and again- it adds up! so we had to go around it. what we did is buy 2 bottles because we didn't have a choice, and then every morning use the water boiler we had in the room to boil water, let it cool down during the day, then at night poured it into the bottles and let it stay over night in the mini bar. and another trick was to eat a lot of watermelons with our meals. watermelons have 80% water in them so its a nice way to hydrate. (we called it flavored water).
2- Bring a lot of sunscreen- you will need it.
3- Bring a good book or two.
4- Since almost every resort is an island on its own, you will be surrounded by beautiful clear water that you must snorkel around. our resort wanted 7$ a day for 1 pair of snorkels. again, eventually it adds up, so we just brought our own...
5- This is a tip/trick/ not a must but try it - it might work for you as well...
tell the front desk that its your honeymoon. you will have a nice chilled bottle of wine waiting for you in your room :)
In conclusion, for most people this will be a once in a lifetime vacation, and one you have to take!
If you find the right flights, settle on a 3* hotel and upgrade your room (or not, you don't have to), and make sure you book an all inclusive basis so no extra charges will be added- this is a totally affordable dream come true!
Feel free to leave comments or ask any question you may have.
Asaf.
p.s
Thank you Shiran for being an amazing travel partner to this little slice of heaven called The Maldives.
**** all pictures were taken by me or my travel partner ******
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