Reflections seemed a rather fitting name for the adult only pool I sat besides, enjoying my final few hours in paradise, contemplating my time in The Maldives.
The ten days prior had passed by in a flash, having seen and done so much. It was a fabulous trip and I’m incredibly thankful to all the properties visited and our hosts, Sun Siyam Resorts.
From a personal point of view, The Maldives really is paradise, halfway between heaven and a dream – I would return with my family in a heartbeat, yes, these days, it really is a family destination and caters very well for groups also. Gone are the days when The Maldives was somewhere you went on your honeymoon never to return again. Don’t get me wrong, you can still have the most perfect honeymoon here; just don’t underestimate the rapidly growing family market.
From a business point of view, I learned so much about The Maldives as a destination, the logistics of getting here, and how diverse the choice of accommodation is. Those were my key take aways from the trip.
It’s absolutely imperative to choose the right island for you. Whilst on paper the majority of resorts tick many of the same boxes in terms of facilities, the ‘feel’ of an island can’t be communicated through a brochure or a webpage. Every property I visited has a different vibe, catering to different markets and budgets. Not all islands would suit a honeymoon couple, and likewise, they don’t all cater for families travelling with children or large groups.
Travelling to/ from your hotel in The Maldives is totally different to other destinations. Once you land into Male International, you need to relax and just go with the flow. Don’t collect your bag and assume you’ll instantly be whisked away for your onward transfer. Be prepared for a potential wait. Your island representatives will get you there as soon as possible. Sometimes plans change at the last minute – that’s normal here. Seaplane schedules don’t operate to a regular timetable, they’re more like shared taxi services with restrictions on flying hours and conditions. Timings aren’t provided until the night before/ morning of your transfer. Again, relax and just go with it! Boat transfers are a little more flexible but longer journeys are only possibly by air so if you want a particular island, in the majority of cases there is no choice in the matter, transfers are what they are, unless you have the budget to charter your own plane!
From a customer service point of view, I’m particularly conscious that The Maldives is surprisingly similar to Lapland – no I’m not going mad, for many, these are both dream destinations we often visit just once in our lifetime. For that reason our expectations are sky high and let’s face it, so are costs. These are not places you can successfully visit on a shoestring. Back in The Maldives, the average seaplane transfer costs in the region of £500 round trip, you can understand why prices tend to be higher than, for instance, neighbouring Sri Lanka and Mauritius. It’s so very important for us here at Once in a Lifetime Holidays to manage your expectations and be totally open and honest about what it’s like holidaying in The Maldives. We want you to know exactly what to expect so you don’t arrive underwhelmed having chosen the wrong island or under prepared for island life.
Yes, there are bugs and yes there is wildlife, yes your makeup will melt off your face and yes, hair straighteners are the most pointless item you could pack along with high heeled shoes!! But embrace this way of life, slow down, enjoy getting sand between your toes and away from the everyday. You know, brochure images really aren’t photoshopped in most cases, the sea really is that blue and the sand really is that white, but this is a real place with real people and those people live on real local islands. You may be able to see a local island in the distance from the shore of where you are staying. The vegetation is very lush and green but only thanks to the rain these islands receive. You are likely to experience a storm or downpour at some point on your holiday and in those moments the colours do fade. I travelled in May and experienced mixed weather, but the sunshine hours by far outweighed the rain so let me assure you, showers don’t last, there’s plenty to when it does rain, and when the sun shines, there isn’t a more perfect place on the planet.
The Maldives is now our number one bestselling destination. The service we provide our clients includes unbiased honest advice on which islands will suit your personal requirements and budget restraints as well as the seasons, expected weather conditions and which atolls are most favourable during the lower priced off season. We will package up your dream trip with your choice of airline and most suitable connections thus, ensuring your international flights will arrive/ depart appropriately in line with hour of operation for required transfers.
