Maldives

893bet

Eyeing up the Maldives for ten nights maybe next April. Want all inclusive and a water bungalow or villa.

Any recommendations?

Thinking about using tropical sky.

Lex Luthor

would definitely recommend all inclusive
can be very pricey once you hit your island to buy anything over & above normal meals

went there in 2000, think we booked separate flights, transfers & accom

Stayed at Bandos resort island. Enjoy you'll love it there

893bet

Lex Luthor wrote: »

would definitely recommend all inclusive
can be very pricey once you hit your island to buy anything over & above normal meals

went there in 2000, think we booked separate flights, transfers & accom

Stayed at Bandos resort island. Enjoy you'll love it there

Is booking transfers difficult? Recommend sea plane or boat?

Lex Luthor

893bet wrote: »

Is booking transfers difficult? Recommend sea plane or boat?

really depends on how far your island is from the main island of Male

we got the speed boat and there was about 10 of us on it

stopped off first at another island and then onto ours

it was only 15min in the boat so didn't see the point of the sea plane with the cost

AFAIK it was a cost when booking with the island, but its that long ago I cant really be sure

The boat was big enough and took everyones luggage and 15min wasn't too bad and a great way to see the islands

Tabnabs

Get the seaplane and the water bungalow. Dig a little deeper into your finances and go all out as much as possible for the Maldives. It's a once in a lifetime type of holiday and it really is paradise. Can highly recommand Kurumathi

Tangey99

I did the maldives twice, once in Oct 2015 and again May 2016. Stayed at the conrad hilton, it's a great resort, very top end, makes a difference it you have hilton status (i.e. can get free breakie). When we were there, they had an underwater restaurant, they now also have an underwater room. They have both beach villas and a range of overwater villas. The resort comprises 3 isands in total, 1 for employees, and 2 for guests. the guest islands are joined by a 1/4 mile or so bridge. You can get around the islands using buggies. It is the only place I have ever been where you could realistic spend the entire time barefoot. Even the main breakfast area is sand covered. There are about 10 restaurants in total, caters for about 300 guests and 500+ staff. Although at max capacity both timess we were there, it mostly felt like there weren't many people about, such is the size of the resort and the number of eateries.

Staff were fantastic, when we went back the 2nd time, they remember that madam Tangey had a bad knee and enquired.

Seaplane transfer from Male to the resort was $560 for the two return, it was about a 25min flight, and an experience in itself.


You can do the Maldives with Etihad out of Dublin Via Abu Dabhi, which is how we did it.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g298325-d300676-Reviews-Conrad_Maldives_Rangali_Island-Rangali_Island.html#REVIEWS

Homer

We used Isalnd Escapes in Donabate and found them great to deal with. Went all inclusive in a water villa on Kuramathi and it was incredible.

Pics below I took while there. We got the sea plane from Malo Kuramathi which is an experience in itself

Any questions just ask.

Zulu

Tabnabs wrote: »

Get the seaplane and the water bungalow. Dig a little deeper into your finances and go all out as much as possible for the Maldives. It's a once in a lifetime type of holiday and it really is paradise. Can highly recommand Kurumathi

Was there myself for honeymoon. Will go back when the kids are older. Class. Best ever.

fermanagh_man

As already said go all out with the Maldives you won’t regret it - it’s once in a lifetime

I also used Tropical Sky, stayed in Kuredu Resort - stopped off in Dubai on the way for a few nights aswell

I travelled in November and it was 37 degrees my 14 nights there

Tangey99

893bet wrote: »

Lex Luthor wrote: »

would definitely recommend all inclusive
can be very pricey once you hit your island to buy anything over & above normal meals

went there in 2000, think we booked separate flights, transfers & accom

Stayed at Bandos resort island. Enjoy you'll love it there

Is booking transfers difficult? Recommend sea plane or boat?

your resort hould offer to do all the arrangements for you.

emo72

I shouldn't have wandered into this thread!

Homer

emo72 wrote: »

I shouldn't have wandered into this thread!

:D:D

Zascar

I went last year, booked with Tropical Sky - highly recommended. Went to Kuredu https://www.tropicalsky.ie/indian-ocean-holidays/maldives/kuredu-island-resort-spa-hotel - could not recommend it enough. It's all inclusive and the food is absolutely incredible. I just wish I went for longer!

xlogo

Is there much to do in the evenings in the Maldives?

Homer

xlogo wrote: »

Is there much to do in the evenings in the Maldives?

Absolutely not and thats the whole point! They are typically VERY small islands with a couple of small restaurants and bars but in my experience people do not stay up late like you might on a typical sun holiday. Its all about relaxation and enjoying a piece of paradise.

uluwatu

Homer wrote: »

We used Isalnd Escapes in Donabate and found them great to deal with. Went all inclusive in a water villa on Kuramathi and it was incredible.

Pics below I took while there. We got the sea plane from Malo Kuramathi which is an experience in itself

Any questions just ask.

Wow, those pictures are amazing!

Homer

uluwatu wrote: »

Wow, those pictures are amazing!

Thanks but its hard not to take beautiful pictures in a place like that! even phone pics were beautiful for the most part.