Solitary chicken - need advice

[Guest]

Any recommendations or ones to avoid maldives for our 25th thanks indie

[chelsea]

We've always done our long haul travel through Kuoni with no problems at all.

 

Never done the Maldives, looks superb. Would recommend the Seychelles as an alternative!

 

Lovely thing to do for your 25th.

[Guest]

We've always done our long haul travel through Kuoni with no problems at all.

 

Never done the Maldives, looks superb. Would recommend the Seychelles as an alternative!

 

Lovely thing to do for your 25th.

 

 

Thanks we like Kuoni too and have used them before, we never had a honey moon as we bought our first house instead so this is a real treat holiday(just us). We are scouring the brochures and have brochure fatigue(in fact we may end up divorced over it ..OH is saying, "I should have just booked it".

 

So just looking for the good and ones to avoid, have been on trip advisor etc thinking of booking it ourselves too to save some money

 

thanks

indie

[chelsea]

I know a lot of people always say "go all inclusive" in the Maldives because the food/drink is imported it is very expensive. Are you thinking AI?

 

I would also check the number of bungalows on each island and weigh up if you want real "robinson crusoe" if so then pick a less populated island.

 

OH's cousin went and their helicopter transfer was cancelled and she had to suffer nearly 3 hours on a speed boat, so another thing to consider.

 

Let us know what you book....really exciting

[clootie]

Go for a water bungalow if you can - well worth the extra pennies.

[Guest]

AI seems harder to find and what I am reading it sounds very expensive holiday(I did say to my OH yesterday..Bournemouth on a hot day has nice soft sand..nice beach hut etc...)

 

But yes we do want to see no one and be really unsociable just switch off

 

I am counting how many they accomodate on an island too, but would be great for a recommendation

indie

[clootie]

Kuramathi - water bungalows

 

40 mins by seaplane from Male

 

If you're looking for total seclusion, you'll pay big money. Best going to a remote cottage in Scotland for that - not a soul for miles and scenery to take your breath away but then you have the midges and not the mozzies to contend with

[Happy chickens!]

Sorry, never been, any room in your suitcase though?

[Faye&Ant]

Kuramathi - water bungalows

 

40 mins by seaplane from Male

 

If you're looking for total seclusion, you'll pay big money. Best going to a remote cottage in Scotland for that - not a soul for miles and scenery to take your breath away but then you have the midges and not the mozzies to contend with

 

Kuramathi - Thats where we stayed - did you like it? - I thought it was a gorgeous location, and loved the fact that we could go straight into the sea and snorkle from the bungalow.

 

We met a couple that had been returning to the same place for 17 years

 

ahhh now you have me dreaming.........

[Guest]

Kuramathi - water bungalows

 

40 mins by seaplane from Male

 

If you're looking for total seclusion, you'll pay big money. Best going to a remote cottage in Scotland for that - not a soul for miles and scenery to take your breath away but then you have the midges and not the mozzies to contend with

 

 

Yes you are right we wont be going every year or probably never again! once in a lifetime to indulge..

[craftyhunnypie]

Meeru Island resort.

Take into account it is a relaxation holiday, not much to do there unless you are into sun worshipping, diving & snorkeling. Take some swim shoes, as you may not be keen about what is in the sea. (sting rays, small sharks).

 

Emma.x

[MadMitch]

It all depends on your budget and what you want to do. We spend most of our time snorkelling so if you enjoy that then choose one thats got a good house reef that is close to shore. Alot of the reefs were damaged a few years back with the rise in sea temperature but they are coming back now. I love Mirihi Island, the water bungalows are great, also Baros. They are both quite expensive though. I also like Eriyadu, it has a fabulous reef and is very laid back, I didn't wear my shoes the whole time I was there. It was alot cheaper (only a 3*), very good value.

Food and drink is very expensive wherever you go as everything is imported. You can pay £30 fo a £5 bottle of wine.

I never go all inclusive as I like to choose what/where I want to eat, it is a bit dearer but you are on holiday and it is worth it.

Shop around, the last time I went there was nearly £1700 difference between the price in Kuoni and the operator I used. I use Hayes and Jarvis quite often.

I actually prefer the chartered flights (then upgrade to the premium class) to the scheduled ones as I'm not keen on stop overs and most schedules stop in Dubai. I wouldn't recommed Sri Lanka airways.

Also if you can afford it, get a seaplane transfer, the last thing you want after a long flight is a 4 hour slow boat trip.

[Guest]

. I also like Eriyadu, it has a fabulous reef and is very laid back, I didn't wear my shoes the whole time I was there. It was alot cheaper (only a 3*), very good value.

Food and drink is very expensive wherever you go as everything is imported. You can pay £30 fo a £5 bottle of wine.

I never go all inclusive as I like to choose what/where I want to eat, it is a bit dearer but you are on holiday and it is worth it.

Shop around, the last time I went there was nearly £1700 difference between the price in Kuoni and the operator I used. I use Hayes and Jarvis quite often.

I actually prefer the chartered flights (then upgrade to the premium class) to the scheduled ones as I'm not keen on stop overs and most schedules stop in Dubai. I wouldn't recommed Sri Lanka airways.

Also if you can afford it, get a seaplane transfer, the last thing you want after a long flight is a 4 hour slow boat trip.

 

 

Thanks very much for all the responses we are studying all options/suggestions posted and still seem to favour Baros! (but as you say it is ££££ so it better be good) I did email Baros direct so see if we could book independently and the pricing for next year not available but I will look at Hayes and Jarvis..when we went to India we went via Kuoni but booked an extension to our holiday and went independant and booked hotels etc our selves...we also paid a bit more as Virgin fly to delhi and it was direct(have read reviews on trip advisor about sri lankan airways???) thanks very much will let you know the outcome and am going to look up now Eriyadu! cheers indie

 

But any other maldives ideas much appreciated as its such a lot of money(I could do with new car etc think how many I could buy ..could have a farm of them

[MadMitch]

You dont need to book a sea plane transfer for Eriyadu as they usually pick you up in a speedboat (good fun). It is also half board I think so good value all round. Being in the North Male Atol the reef hasn't sustained the damage that the ones further South have. Not sure who does it now though, other than Kuoni.

Don't go if you want super posh and loads of pampering as its not that type of resort. The rooms are quite basic but we were only in them to shower and sleep so it doesn't bother us. They are cleaned twice a day and the towels were changed both times. All the rooms are basically the same though it is better over the right hand side of the island (more beach and not as many trees), Its great for a relaxing holiday though.

[sunshinesupernova]

I've been to the Maldives twice - 1989 and 1990 - I was only very young then ! First time was to Meerufenfushi which was quite a big island and second time to Baros. Super holiday.... sun, sea, sand... surf

 

In Meeru back then, it was very very basic. Latticed wooden windows and doors to the floor. The free ranging chickens came into the rooms and woke us up in the morning as they could get through the door. I remember one laying an egg on the bed !

 

Food also left a lot to be desired. Tuna curry and egg soup as well as toast and chips were staple daily food ....

 

Not been in years - but it's all become very touristy now and had a serious serious overhaul and price inflation to match....

[MadMitch]

Ooh I forgot Velidhu Island Resort as well. Lovely island sort of middle of the road 4* but not one where you feel you have to be dressed properly all the time (nice and laid back) definately get a sea plane.

The water bungalows have a nice square glass floor under the coffee table, really cool for watching the fishes, and it is lit up at night.