Finding out where in the Maldives is the best place to relax! We have reviewed the most popular islands, as well as selected the best hotels and beaches.
The Maldives - a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean - is simply an extraordinary gift from nature to man. Islands in the middle of a turquoise ocean, clear water, dazzling white sand and palm trees ... Paradise? The most real! It remains only to choose a place to stay. The Maldives is more than a thousand atolls, so it is not at all easy to decide where it is better to go on vacation. Our review will help you choose the best islands, beaches and hotels in the Maldives.
Take a look: How to go to the Maldives now - there you will find fresh reviews of tourists, conditions of entry in case of a pandemic and prices for tours. See also the list of open countries. Below we talk about holidays in the Maldives before the start of the pandemic.
Did you knowthat vouchers to the Maldives can be purchased from just 90 thousand rubles (for example, a tour for two for 7 nights from Moscow)? And even cheaper during the promotional period! Last Minute Tours search on the services Travelata and Level.Travel - they compare the offers of 120 tour operators and find the best option. You can buy a ticket online, which is very convenient. See also our tips on how to find the cheapest tours!
Where is the best place to relax in the Maldives
Not all Maldives are accessible to tourists. Some are occupied by the local population, some of the islands are uninhabited, and only a small part (about 80) is occupied by resorts.
The rest of any tourist begins with arrival at the airport of North Male, the main atoll of the country. The atoll includes dozens of islands, of which 27 are occupied by the best hotels in the Maldives in the 4 * and 5 * ranks. Tourists are brought to the islands by water transport or seaplanes. Russians love to relax on the islands of Kurumba, Kuda Huraa, Bandos and Banana Reef.
It is important to decide not only where is the best place to rest, but also to choose the best time for rest. Follow the link for a full review of the seasons.
The best atolls in the Maldives
Ari atoll - one of the largest and most beautiful tourism centers, consisting of 26 islands with hotels and more than a hundred small islets. The most popular among diving enthusiasts. Among our compatriots, Kuramati and Sun Island are considered the best islands of the Ari atoll; Angaga island is recognized as the most suitable for a beach holiday.
South Male Atoll popular among vacationers with children, because, despite the fame of the most romantic vacation spot, families also have a rest in the Maldives. This popularity is due to its convenient location relative to the airport, you can always quickly and conveniently get to your hotel. Of the 30 islands of the atoll, 17 are occupied by hotels. The only "adult" island is Kanduma; surfers love it for a good wave.
Lhaviani Atoll not very popular among Russian tourists, although it is quite large, it includes 63 islands. It is almost 120 km away from Male, so it's better to get there by plane. It is considered to be the best diving in the Maldives. On the island of Kuredu there is a water sports school where you can acquire the necessary diving skills.
These are only the most popular holiday destinations, the infrastructure is rapidly developing. Raa Atoll... Atoll Addu, whose islands once served as a deployment site for British troops, is built up with 3 * hotels. For those who want to go on an inexpensive trip, these are the best islands in the Maldives, since the vacation here is considered budgetary by local standards.
Do you want to know how to have a cheap vacation in Maldives? Follow the link - an overview of prices for food, hotels, transport, tickets, visas, as well as valuable advice on how you can save a lot on the expensive Maldives. We have a separate review about the most famous island for a budget holiday.
The best beaches in the Maldives
It is difficult to find bad beaches in the Maldivian resorts, after all, this is the main attraction of the islands. Vacationers named the best beaches in the Maldives:
- Cocoa Island beaches (Ari atoll)
- Sun Island (Ari Atoll)
- Pho Seasons Landaa Giraavaru (Baa Atoll)
- Fulhadhoo Beach (Baa Atoll)
- Pho Seasons Kuda Huraa in North Male
- Byadu beach in South Male.
The beaches here are fantastic - perfectly clean and uncrowded, with white powdery sand sparkling in the sun and the same sandy bottom that shines through the turquoise smooth surface of the water.
Is the Maldives holiday good? Read on the link reviews of tourists: all the pros and cons of rest on the islands.
Top hotels in Maldives
A common practice for local islands is one hotel located on an island, sometimes there may be several. Good hotels offer several accommodation options, although most tourists prefer bungalows. Of course, the cost of staying at such resorts is high. So, some of the best hotels in the Maldives, according to vacationers' reviews.
Where to book a hotel in Maldives?
- Look for hotels in the Maldives to Rumguru - he will find the best price.
- Rent a villa, apartment or bungalow by the sea in the Maldives on Airbnb. It is cheaper if you travel with a company or family.
- Maldives Holidays by Tour plan with Level.Travel.
Four Seasons Resort Maldives
The best hotels of this chain are located on the islands of Kuda Huraa (North Male) and Landa Giraavaru (Baa Atoll). They are built in a rustic style, offer SPA services, a surf school, a bar, a restaurant. From entertainment - picnics on the beach and boat excursions, animators work with children. A day's stay in a villa costs from 97 thousand rubles. The pleasure is not cheap, but it is not for nothing that Four Seasons hotels are considered the best in the Maldives!
Sun Island Resort & Spa
Located in Ari Atoll. The hotel has several options for accommodation: houses on the water, near the beach or in the center of the island. There are several restaurants and bars, SPA, dive center on the territory. From entertainment - excursions, sports games, fishing, diving and cycling. This is one of the best hotels in the Maldives, while accommodation in it, by local standards, is very inexpensive - double rooms cost only 11 thousand rubles per day.
Lily Beach Resort & Spa
Located in Ari Atoll. The hotel operates on an all-inclusive basis and focuses exclusively on family vacations. There are two children's clubs of different age categories and a special children's menu. Villas cost from 60 thousand rubles per day.
Best diving spots
The Maldives has been repeatedly recognized as the best diving destination in the world - clear water allows you to appreciate the beauty of the underwater world and the diversity of flora and fauna of the Indian Ocean. The most interesting diving sites are located near the coral reefs. Finding a place in the Maldives where diving is best taught is not difficult, since there are a huge number of special schools on the islands. You can also rent the necessary equipment right there.
So where is the best place for divers to relax in the Maldives? Sea turtles, moray eels, rays and reef sharks can be seen on Haa Alif, and various fish species inhabit the Fileyo reef in Faafu atoll. Good diving spots are Banana Reef and Miiru Island of North Male, Batala, Ellaidu, Viligilivaru, Alaveli and other islands in Ari Atoll. But the most dangerous are the reefs of Daalu Atoll. Around its islands lie the remains of sunken ships from different periods of human history, as well as reef sharks.
Looking to travel to the Maldives for New Years? Read the link for all useful information.
Tips and tricks for tourists
When planning a trip to the Maldives with children, it is worth clarifying whether the chosen hotel accepts such guests, and what are the conditions for children's recreation. Some hotels have age restrictions. In advance, you should worry about a first-aid kit, on the islands this is tight.
Lovers of exotic fruits are often disappointed, expecting an abundance of fruits from "heaven on earth". Fruits in the Maldives are imported, and their prices are quite high. But more often than not, our tourists complain about the "lawlessness" of local authorities in relation to alcoholic beverages. Alas, these are the rules: everything bought in duty-free is temporarily confiscated, there is nowhere to buy alcohol on the spot, and in hotels it is expensive. So there are few options - either give the liver a rest, or pay exorbitant prices.
It is important to understand one thing - in the Maldives you need to rest your soul. There are no excursion programs and noisy parties, and all entertainment is associated with the sea: swimming, fishing, diving, snorkeling, fish feeding. Where is the best place to relax in the Maldives, everyone determines for himself. If all of the above seems boring, then it might be worth considering another place to stay.
You may be interested in comparing the Maldives with other popular resorts.
