The Maldives is a dream destination for Honeymooners and Luxury-seekers alike and at The Destination Lounge we have been fortunate to have visited several beautiful islands, courtesy of Kuoni. What follows is Jake's take on each of the resorts he stayed at...
Kurumba
A luxury resort exceptionally close to Male and the airport (ideal for our holidays with dialysis clients) this island is the original Maldivian resort. Expertly managed by Jason Kruse and his team, this island has the most fantastic food out of all the ones I have visited – the beach barbeque has to be experienced to be believed. Kurumba is a large island so is ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to feel too isolated.
Maafushivaru
If small truly is beautiful then this island is stunning. You can walk around Maafushivaru in around 10 to 15 minutes tops. The island is fringed with fantastic beaches and coral and has a real desert island feel with a contemporary twist. Despite being lower in cost I would recommend the Beach Villas over the water villas – they are a bit larger and in my opinion better furnished with access to the amazing beach. The ‘white’ theme is very evident in the style of the island.
Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa
The welcome by the friendly staff is the lasting memory I have from the Sheraton Full Moon resort – along with the wonderful buffet which is generally included on the meal plans. The island is fairly close to Male so transfer times are short and the island has all of the usual Sheraton hallmarks – comfortable, high quality rooms with fantastic mattresses which guarantee a great night’s sleep!
Kuramathi
You have a choice of Sea Plane or Speedboat transfer when going to Kuramathi. The Sea Plane option is only a small additional cost on top of the usual holiday price and is definitely recommended if you aren’t a keen seaman! Kuramathi used to be an island with 3 resorts however now it is all run as one – and one with some the best quality rooms I have seen for a 4* resort. I would recommend rooms in the original Blue Lagoon part of the island (the far end) which has the easiest access to the sand bank where at night there is usually magical phosphorescence in the water, and it is also close the remarkably good ice-cream parlour…
Baros
The haunt of the rich and famous, and a small tranquil island to match. Baros is a 40 minute transfer by boat from the Airport which is just far enough to give you that castaway feeling – although this is luxury castaway! Although the suite usually occupied by Piers Morgan was very good indeed I was also pleasantly surprised by the entry level rooms on Baros. Attention to detail is what sets Baros apart from the rest. Baros is also home to a great selection of massage chairs you can relaxing while waiting for boat transfers back to Male.
Velassaru
Recently relaunched as a contemporary 5* island, this is The Maldives meats South Beach! Think beanbags on the beach, cool blue lighting and then add the sound of the ocean and a glass of cold champagne. Velassaru is ideal for clients looking for a modern Maldives experience not too far from the airport which is around 30 minutes away.
Male Airport
Is small and functional. No great duty free opportunity and it is worth having a good book to pass the time!
The Maldives is ideal for a week’s holiday to escape a busy and hectic lifestyle. However many people enjoy longer holidays there or consider twinning the destination with Dubai, Oman or Sri Lanka – or even Far Eastern Cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Bangkok. The islands are served by direct flights from the UK with BA or Thomson.
As a service orientated destination, be prepared to tip.
Kuoni
Superb staff on the ground in the Maldives and possibly with more experience than any other tour operator featuring the islands, Kuoni’s experience and wide choice of islands makes them the ideal partner for The Destination Lounge. All Kuoni holidays to the Maldives include complimentary access to the Executive Airport lounge at the airport on departure. The Kuoni staff make transferring from island to island a breeze with transfers operating via the airport island.
Please note that the star ratings are based on our personal opinions of quality level and that much of the content of these property articles comes direct from their own websites & factsheets and was correct at the time of publishing
