Cruising round the Maldives

Advantages: Peaceful, beautiful, relaxing and great to recharge your batteries
Disadvantages: None - unless you are looking for nightlife!

...I am not a great one for holidays myself but there was something about the advert for a cruise around the Maldives that caught my eye. After a few years of a very hectic and demanding job (and having just finished a period of studying as well) I knew deep down that I needed to get away from it all. Nothing really appealed until I saw a colour photo of the Maldive islands and read the blurb in an advert. It offered a week's cruise around various islands staying on a small boat and visiting a different island every day, some of which were described as uninhabited. There was a warning that the cruise wasn't suitable for anyone with mobility problems due to the need to transfer on to small boats in order to come ashore at some of the islands and somehow the more I read the more enthusuastic I became. The deal was attractive and made...

laramax 16.11.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of General: Maldives

Maldive update

Advantages: Relaxing or Active
Disadvantages: None

...See my latest review on Embudu village http://travel.ciao.co.uk/EmbuduVillageMaldivesReview5731213 Also on Summer Island village - http://travel.ciao.co.uk/SummerIslandVillageMaldivesReview5686286 Also my review on Fihalhohi Island Resort -http://travel.ciao.co.uk/FihalhohiIslandResortReview5546645 I will update this review, to keep folk informed with as much info as possible. That's what these island are 'Magical'. Just imagine the sun flickering on your face through palm leaves which sway in the warm flower scented breeze, the sound of tropical birds and the gentle swell of the waves on the beach.... there you are swinging in your hammock to and fro with not a care in the world. Well if this is your idea of paradise then the Maldives are for you. You can be as relaxed or as active as you want. All...

MALDIVEDIVER 03.07.2003 (27.12.2005) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of General: Maldives

Excellent diving in the Maldives

Advantages: Warm water, clear, lots of life
Disadvantages: Some dives not that exciting

...I recently did a dive trip to the Maldives, not a destination I would have planned on as I've always thought of it as a honeymoon destination. I travelled on a liveaboard boat, doing a circuit of dive sites around North and South Male atolls and Ari Atoll. Water temperature was mostly 28-30C, with mostly visibility of 15-25m. The weather was generally very warm, and fairly humid. Some of the dives were phenomenal. The highlight was the dive at Manta Point (though it's best to point out that there isn't just one but several manta points around the Maldives, partly according to season). We had 20+ mantas swooping in just over our heads, hovering and observing us as we observed them! Our second dive there wasn't as good but still around 10 mantas checking us out over the cleaning station. There were several other drift dives that were...

cathy_m80 27.04.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Maldives (Dive Sites)

Swimming With Turtles (Biyadhoo Island Maldives)

Advantages: Budget Resort With Stunning House Reef
Disadvantages: Insects And Rooms Tired

...We booked this year's visit to the Maldives with Kuoni and chose to stay at Biyadhoo Island which is in the South Male Atoll. If you are not familiar with the Maldives I will give you a brief introduction. The Maldives are a group of islands which are close to The Equator and are south west of Sri Lanka. The chain is made up of over 1190 islands which are coral, and which form an archipelago of over 26 major atolls. Those close to Male, the capital, are mainly reached by speed boat, whereas those further out are sea plane transfers, and intermediate ones offer a choice of onward transport. The flight time varies but non stop you are looking at 11 hours or so. It is possible to break the journey, especially if you choose to fly with a scheduled airline such as Emirates, and here you can drop down in Dubai on route. There are...

Violet1278 24.08.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Biyadhoo Island Resort, Maldives

Komandoo - the Maldives

Advantages: MANY SUN SEA SAND - TOTAL PARADISE FOUND
Disadvantages: Very expensive but worth every single penny

...inclusive. The Bar staff made our holiday most enjoyable. They kept us topped up at all times, and even mixed us a few cocktails. Watch out though because some drinks are off limits on the all inclusive tariff... so you could find yourself with an unexpected bill at the end of your stay. Make sure you swot up on what is and isn't included. Activities: The whole point of a Maldives holiday is relaxation. There are a few chances to get out and about on day trips to other islands, but mostly you are limited to the island. This was most definitely not a problem for us as we were there to chill out and relax. If you are itchy footed, andneed entertainment, there is plenty for you on the island. There is an excellent Dive school suitable for all levels of skill from beginers to experts. There are windsurfs, and kyacks(little canoes) a beauty spa...

Evelyne 18.06.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of General: Maldives

Kuredu Island Maldives

Advantages: Pure Paradise
Disadvantages: I really can't think of any

...INTRODUCTION Me and my husband first visited the Maldives (Sun Island) in November 2004 for our Honeymoon and we found it pure paradise, since then we have been back to the Caribbean and it just doesn't measure up so we now save hard all year for 2 weeks in paradise. We visited Kuredu Island for the last 2 weeks of May 2006 and as i have read many reviews to decide which island to visit this year i felt it time to write my own review on this fantastic island. LOCATION Kuredu island is located in the Lhaviyani Atoll in the North of the Maldives, it is one of the largest islands, we went on the 19th May 2006 for 2 weeks the weather was very hot approx 32(c) and above and the climate is very humid. The Maldives does have a monsoon season so before booking it is advisable to do a little researh to confirm the best month to go...

jomarannetyn 24.05.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Kuredu Island Resort, Maldives

Baros Island - Maldives

Advantages: This is my favourite Island so Far
Disadvantages: None what so ever

...the islands the clear warm sea and fantastic marine life is what many of us visit here for and you will not be disappointed, this is not to mention the diving, if you are thinking of learning to dive, I suggest that you complete your open water diver course at home then visit the Maldives. Many rays visit the lagoon at night; I think they still feed the rays at night, a great experience to be had by all. One of the best things about the Maldives is the fact you can relax on the beach and no one will bother you, unlike the beach vendors of other countries. Baros is one of the middle price range islands, and it is never discounted because of its high rate of return guests. If you can afford a little extra Baros would be one of my Top recommendation....

MALDIVEDIVER 02.07.2003 (21.12.2005) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Baros (Maldives)

A Good Value All inclusive Island in the Maldives

Advantages: Clear blue warm sea, white sand beached and total relaxing
Disadvantages: None

...**BACKGROUND** If you have read some of my other reviews, you will be aware that I have a bit of a passion for the Maldives. This is my review of an all inclusive island, Summer Island Village. It maybe a long review, but maybe helpful to those who are contemplating staying on this island, if not try to imagine you are there. **FLIGHT** Our direct flight was 10.5 hours from Manchester with Monarch this time. (But that?s another review). We stayed in June/July 2007 for 14 nights. **ARRIVAL** We arrived at Male airport; it is amazing to see this airport from the air. It just looks like a landing strip/runway in the middle of the sea. The first time I went the runway was not big enough to take jumbo jets. However this has now expended with the land reclaim project over the years. **PASSPORT CONTROL** We were the only flight...

MALDIVEDIVER 21.07.2007 (19.07.2007) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Summer Island Village, Maldives

Vilamendhoo Island Resort - Maldives

Advantages: Snorkelling - amazing house reef
Disadvantages: None - not for people who want the big plush pampered false hotel experience

...We stayed at Vilamendhoo from 7th October to 22nd October 2007. It was our 2nd time to the Maldives (went to Kuredu last year for our honeymoon), and we found this island completely different to our first Maldives experience. The island is a reasonable size, and takes about 15-20 minutes to walk around it. All the accommodation looked pretty much the same, except for a few deluxe rooms (looked the same as the others), and a few rooms in the middle of the island (wouldn't recommend those). We stayed in room 117 (we requested rooms 113 to 130 after reading other reviews) which was in a fantastic location, with a lovely beach outside the room and an excellent spot on the reef. The room was really close to the sunset bar (sitting out on the beach at night watching the shooting stars!), which was lovely, and wasn't far to the restaurant...

Lilolad 10.11.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of General: Maldives

Komandoo Island Resort Maldives

Advantages: Small, Friendly, Quiet, NIce Rooms, Priced well
Disadvantages: Too Quiet for some,Long travelling time from uk

...This review is based purely on our holiday to Komandoo in February 2006 There are many different islands offering many different holidays. For a impartial view on all holidays I suggest you buy RESORTS oF THE MALDIVES by Adrian Neville Tour Operator Hayes and Jarvis Price £1650 Each 14 days Feb 2006 Room Upgrade to Jacuzzi Villa £300 Each but we got it for free!!! Flight Operator First Choice Airlines Star Class (cattle class to you and me) Upgrade to Premium Star Class is about £295 Flight FCA046 Outbound FCA047 Inbound but these have since changed Flight time Outbound 10.5 to 11hours Inbound 12 to 12.5 hours Flight type Direct nonstop Airport UK London Gatwick LGW Airport Maldives Male MLE Currency Maldivian Rufiyaa but US Dollars and Major Credit Cards accepted. Our advise is take dollars for tips Roomboys...

adictivepie 31.12.2006 (01.01.2007) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of General: Maldives