White sandy beaches, aquamarine sea with billions of tropical fish and romantic sunsets make the Maldives one of the most popular honeymoon destinations.

The Maldives are a chain of twenty-six atolls. There are more than 100 resorts to choose from, and more recently tourism has spread to the local islands (which are much more budget friendly) as well.

When planning a shorter stay, it’s best to choose an island close to the airport, i.e. reachable by speedboat. The 4* Adaraan Club Rannalhi resort is set on a very small yet charming island. It is suitable for couples as well as families, wheras the only thing lacking is a better entertainment program. Watching the sun setting over the water villas is b r e a t h t a k i n g!

You can easily spend your days snorkelling (you can rent the snorkelling gear at reasonable prices), sunbathing and just being barefoot! If you plan to spend more time here, you can enrol in a scuba diving class, go on fishing trips or organised snorkelling trips.

Local island or resort?

In 2009, the government started allowing tourism on local islands, making it possible to experience the Maldives on a budget. There are a couple of things to consider when deciding on whether to go local or splurge on a resort.

One of the main advantages of local islands is most definitely cost related – affordable cost of living, cheap travel between various islands and cheap food. Also, you can experience the local culture, way of life, shop at local markets, etc. However, there are no bars or clubs, no alcohol (the import and consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited) and the local islands are far more conservative, mainly due to the most widespread and official Muslim religion. At resorts, there is more privacy, you can sip your cocktail at the beach and listen to modern music. In addition, the resorts are cleaner and more taken care of than local islands where litter still presents a problem.

Personally, I would recommend choosing a resort for your first visit to the Maldives (or for your honeymoon). Or at least, plan a day trip to a resort from the chosen local island.

Which resort?

Being able to choose from approx. 130 resorts, you should take into consideration:

• the length of your stay: for a shorter stay opt for an island closer to the airport
• the cost of transfer to the island: a return speedboat ticket to/from the above mentioned resort costs $150 pp, but the prices of seaplanes can be much higher
• their offer of trips & entertainment and whether the resort is family friendly if travelling with kids
• opting for an all-inclusive package, as the prices of meals can otherwise be sky high
• hidden costs like prices of WiFi use, taxes and service charges

The prices of resorts are much lower during the low season, so don’t be afraid of a little (warm) rain. February is considered high season (Dec-Mar), yet there was still a little rain one day, which we barely noticed as we were too busy enjoying ourselves.

Tip: Book ahead! We booked the resort basically last minute and the price was thus quite higher.