Who says that the Maldives can be experienced only by paying over $1000 a night? It is pretty much possible to have a luxurious vacation in the Maldives for a lesser price.
Fear of losing this paradise
Whenever the Maldives comes to my mind, I always visualize beautiful islands with clear blue water and white powdery sand beaches. This small country is a group of 1200 islands in the Indian Ocean with an elevation of just 1.5 meters above sea level making it the lowest-lying country in the world. Out of 1200 islands, only 200 are inhabited and every resort has its own island.
With global warming and rising sea levels, this paradise might be lost forever. This fear hastened my decision to visit this extraordinarily beautiful island nation.
I decided on a small island and was particular about staying in an overwater villa. While finalizing the travel, I received a message from a friend that she would like to join me on this trip.
Booking is done!
Finally, after doing some research, I booked an overwater villa (all-inclusive). I had a wonderful stay at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon. It is a 4-star resort.
Reaching Velana International airport
You get a free visa on arrival and it hardly took five minutes to clear the formalities. Upon exit, you have to head straight to take the local ferry to reach Male city. The public ferry terminal is located just across the road outside the airport. The ticket counter for the ferry will be on the right side. It costs about USD 1 for the ticket to Male city. We stayed at a hotel in Male city since we landed very late in the night.
Reasons to visit the Maldives
Watching the beautiful atolls and islands from the seaplane
It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to enjoy a seaplane ride. Choose a resort that can be reached by seaplane. Ellaidhoo by Cinnamon resort can be reached by speedboat or seaplane. I chose the seaplane for the obvious reason to grab the opportunity to have a bird’s eye view of many other islands.
Seaplane Terminal
From Male international airport, the seaplane terminal is a short ride on an air-conditioned bus. The resort that you would be staying at sends the guest details to Trans Maldivian airways. Your luggage comes tagged with your resort name in a separate vehicle. A representative will greet you and take you to the check-in counter. Only a small bag is allowed as cabin baggage and you will be issued a boarding pass to claim your main baggage.
We were eagerly awaiting our boarding announcement. The lounge is great with a view of the seaplanes taking off and landing. There are some gift shops and cafes in case you need something to buy.
Can’t wait to board the seaplane
Finally, the announcement for our flight was made. They actually have a flight for 2-3 islands together. There were 4-5 more passengers for other islands. The seaplane can accommodate a total of about 15 passengers. There will be a brief safety demonstration before taking off. I was lucky to get a window seat.
The spectacular view of the Maldives and its beautiful islands and atolls was enthralling.
It can get extremely hot inside, and that’s the reason even pilots were flying with bare feet. The cabin can get very noisy at times but nothing could take off my eyes from the incredible views.
The landing was in the middle of the sea and there was a wobbly retractable jetty to connect to the boat that would take us to our resort. It was a 10-minute ride on the boat. The staff welcomed us. Soon after landing, you can take off your shoes. The sand was so soft and surprisingly cool that you would not want to wear your shoes. We were given an all-inclusive orange wristband to be worn during our stay. After the check-in process, we proceeded to our beautiful villa. It was a dream come true.
Over Water villas
Upon entering the villa, I was stunned by the decor, spaciousness, and most importantly the beautiful sea that could be seen from our room. You can sleep with the soothing sounds of the ocean waves.
The balcony outside the room was fantastic. The breeze was exhilarating and so was the sunset. One could sit here for hours and admire nature’s beauty to the fullest.
The semi-outdoor bathroom was lovely. Water villa guests are assigned a separate table at the restaurant during their stay.
Snorkeling
I had the best experience snorkeling here. Ellaidhoo is a reputed island for snorkeling and diving. This beautiful island has an incredible house reef.
Swimming amongst some beautiful marine creatures like different kinds of fish, eels, parrotfish, stingrays was an amazing experience.
I went with a guide and saw some beautiful coral reefs. The temperature in October during the day was perfect.
If you are not into Snorkelling, you can still watch some of these amazing marine life like stingrays, sharks, tunas during the fish feeding session at 5:30 pm every day.
Swimming with Stingrays
Relax, eat and enjoy the sunset
If you want to enjoy nature’s sublime beauty in a serene and surreal atmosphere, The Maldives is the place. I am sure all the islands here are beautiful. Watching the beach with spotless white sands, the sea in different hues of blue and the amenities and services is indeed once in a lifetime experience.
If you opt for an all-inclusive package, you do not have to worry about buying drinks, water, and snacks separately. They have a wide buffet spread with live pasta and noodle stations. To top it all, the chef comes to every table to take orders for the next meal. As a result, you eat, eat and eat. That’s how a relaxing vacation should be! Right?
Amazing sunset
Every day, the sunset from the room along with the splashing waves was a real treat. When it is not mealtime, just relax by the pool and enjoy unlimited drinks.
Visit the Spa
After basking in the sun, walking around the island, and doing other activities, a therapeutic massage in the Spa will be the icing on the cake. To make this trip complete, I went for a Balinese massage and it was superb. I came out feeling very relaxed. I only wished that I had gone there a few more times.
Celebrate your birthday at the exotic Maldives
Whether you are travelling solo or with family and friends, celebrating your birthday in the Maldives is definitely special. You can enjoy, relax and pamper yourself with a spa treatment. What else could one ask for?
The land breeze at night
Coming back after snorkeling, I was happy to see the room with special decorations. To my surprise, the dinner table at the restaurant was also decorated and lo, there came a birthday cake. All the staff (including the guests) started singing” Happy Birthday” which was a little embarrassing in the beginning but then I felt special. The chef made some special dishes too. Well, it was all on the house 🙂
Some useful tips
- Currency: You can use US dollars or credit cards in all the resorts. There is no need for local currency. Having some change in USD is good to tip the staff for their wonderful hospitality.
- Accommodation: To have an even more affordable trip, divide staying between a beach villa and an overwater villa. This way you can enjoy both and after all, the beach is going to be the same :).
- Shopping: It is expensive to buy things like sunscreen and clothes in the Maldives as they are all imported.
- The best time to visit: Maldives is warm and sunny throughout the year. I visited during the monsoon period in October and did not experience a single dull day. Room rates are slightly lower during the offseason.
- Prepare to spend a night in Male city in case your flight lands in the night.
- Being a Muslim country, respecting their culture is important. Dress accordingly while you are in Male city and other islands inhabited by the locals. While you are in resorts, there is no restriction on the dress code.
- Visa is free on arrival.
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