chipandpin Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Just booked two weeks all inclusive at Sun Island for Feb 07 - would be very interested to hear any first hand experiences of Maldives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I'm not familiar with Sun Island - last year we had 7 nights in Mirihi, a small exclusive island in the south ari atoll. This followed on from 7 nights in Dubai, so we were happy to have a 'desert island' with little to do but chill out and enjoy the scenery. The main activities available were snorkelling/diving (I passed my PADI Advanced Open Water qualification during the holiday), and there was an excellent Spa. If you are going for 2 weeks, I guess you'd probably need somewhere with a wider range of things to do ? The Sea plane transfer from the main airport to the islands is amazing! Enjoy! Sidicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 And enter quickshift40 ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickshift40 Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 THE MALDIVES ARE FANTASTIC - No brochure does them justice. We stayed at Bandos in one of the new for 05 Beach Villas and nothing has matched them before or after. The people are really friendly and aim to please. A perfect paradise second honeymoon for our Silver wedding anni. From the research I did before we chose the Maldives you are going in the high season so should get dry weather. Temps are around 30-32 degrees c year round and the sea warm and clear. ENJOY & RELAX Heres a pic I took to wet your appetite: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Doesn't the water look murky and unappealing in your photo......! Sidicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saab Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I'm getting married in Jun 07 and we'd like to go on honeymoon for two weeks in the Maldives. Can anyone recommend an island with enough stuff to do for a fortnight and/or a travel agent which will do us a relatively good deal and you have good experiences with? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I'm getting married in Jun 07 and we'd like to go on honeymoon for two weeks in the Maldives. Can anyone recommend an island with enough stuff to do for a fortnight and/or a travel agent which will do us a relatively good deal and you have good experiences with? Cheers! [/ QUOTE ] I've heard good things about the Hilton Maldives. However, what sort of activities are you looking for? You may be better off with a week somewhere else where there are lots of activities, e.g. Dubai, then follow this with a week at somewhere relaxing and exclusive - we can thoroughly recommend 'Mirihi'. Sidicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipandpin Posted May 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Cheers guys, Nice pic - shame ive got 10 months to wait! we booked with First Choice Holiday Hypermarket - they will price match any internet price and offered an additional £120 off their own internet price. (£390 for sea plane transfers though! bit steep but the missus wont do speedboat so had to pay it) i have booked with these guys for the last three years and have never had any problems with them. Also not a bad rate on the currency with buy back at same rate as you paid. They also offer an upgrade on the flights which apparantly was voted the best premium seating on long haul flights by one of the sunday papers (per my father in law) Im not sure that there are many islands with a great deal of activities - we are just going for a chill out beach holiday, so not too bothered what activities are availbale. Tripadvisor.com offers a wide range of reviews, but nothing beats chatting online with people whi have been Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjgreen4 Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 We stayed at Bandos in March 04 before the renovation work, the resort was fantastic and the Nazi Gorang was or is the dish to have. Must try the island hopping excursion and the parasailing. The staff are unbelievable - there is nothing they won't do for you and you don't need to cary any cash - just put it all on your room. The flight was a bit scary, only the landing though as you literally land on an air strip that ends in the sea. You get off the plane and there are boats ready and waiting to take you to your island. Thinking about going again and would go to the same island. will post some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjgreen4 Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 little fish being attacked by barracudas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjgreen4 Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 oh and skarks - only small oens and watch out for trigger fish, they love to bite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 Small ones? I saw a whale shark when I was there about 7 years ago. Not my pic, I hasten to add. And, if I'm honest, the one I saw was not as big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tizzy Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 To add to the rest - Maldives is probably the closest I've come to paradise. Chilled out atmosphere and probably some of the best reef snorkeling in the world. We spend two weeks sailing round the southern atolls four years ago and I'd love to go back. The landing at Male airport is "intersting" though - as are the seaplane transfers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 We took the boat transfer. About 3 hours in our case and really enjoyable as long as you can keep out of the sun. We saw dolphins and loads of flying fish and it was a damned sight cheaper than taking the air taxi. Overall a great holiday destination as long as you are interested in either doing nothing or aquatic sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Tone_ Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 We went via Hayes and Jarvis to Meeru (Jan 2000) which is north male atoll, stayed in a water villa for a week - fantastic place. Every morning up onto the veranda 3steps onto a deck and 3 steps later into the 2ft of water lagoon. Outstanding. The only downside with our deal was the bloody herding onto the chartered flight! Never again! W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Hi, Can any recommend the Hilton Resort (Rangali)? I have been to Taj Exotica (South Male Atol) which was absolutely superb but quite fancy trying the Hilton this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipandpin Posted May 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Hi, Can any recommend the Hilton Resort (Rangali)? I have been to Taj Exotica (South Male Atol) which was absolutely superb but quite fancy trying the Hilton this year? [/ QUOTE ] pretty much everyone on TripAdvisor.com rates this resort as 5/5. Looks awesome but a bit out of my price range. When are you thinking of going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari Posted May 13, 2006 Report Share Posted May 13, 2006 Hi, Was thinking of going anytime between September and Decemeber really. Doesn't have to be the Hilton, its just that we have been a few times to the Maldives and always wanted to try it based on the great reviews. The Soneva Fushi is the other one raved about too. We are looking for something very private and secluded along the lines of the Taj Exotica which we though was fantastic. The Kuredu Sangu is another place we have been too which was great for the wild life and snorkelling but we like privacy and intimacy you seem to get on the smaller islands. Just checked out Coco palm (dhuni kolhu) on tripadvisor and that looks quite good too. Never heard of tripadvisor until you mentioned it, brilliant web site, thanks for the tip. Out of curiosity, how does Maldives compare to the likes of the Seychelles and Mauritius? We keep going back to the Maldives as we don't really know where else to try and its hard to get the vibe from these places from a holiday brochure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 I'd recommend Mirihi for a luxurious retreat in the Maldives (South Ari Atoll, I think) - very small (circa 20 water villas only) with superb diving and a great Spa. We went to Mauritius and Seychelles on our honeymoon, and as you'd expect there are a lot of similarities between the three, beautiful beaches, clear water etc. Personally I found Maldives the most peaceful and unspoilt, whereas Seychelles and Muritius were much more commercial, although clearly that depends on where you stay. I'm unlikely to go back to either, not becuase I didn't thoroughly enjoy all 3, but more because I always wat to try out new places. If Indian Ocean is what you are looking for, then what about something of the coast of Mozambique such as Benguerra island (www.benguerra.co.za) or Tanzania (e.g. Zanzibar) ?? Sidicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted June 15, 2006 Report Share Posted June 15, 2006 my next door neighbours have just got back from Sun Island and loved every minute of it. Their photo's are amazing and the quiteness of the place is something else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Hey thanks for the info. I already booked for the Hilton Maldives for later this year before I read your reply. However I am very interested in Mirihi and your other suggestions for next time being the MalBenguerra island or Tanzania as they look stunning and right up our street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 cool thanks. thats got some good reviews on tripadvisor too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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