A Trip To Maldives
#17
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NYC, WAS, MAD
Programs: Marriott Gold
Posts: 25
Always a pleasure to read another beautiful trip report ^^^
One question: When you price things in your reports using the "$" symbol, is that referring to USD or NZD? I had always assumed USD but I thought I'd better ask to make sure
One question: When you price things in your reports using the "$" symbol, is that referring to USD or NZD? I had always assumed USD but I thought I'd better ask to make sure
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Thank you, Madone59, yes a very photogenic part of the world, and such a great place to relax and unwind.
I did wonder how a DanielW report of the Maldives could be done by DanielW. You tend toward the grit of challenging destinations. And yet again, this was a fascinating report. Many of us, myself included, have simply flown in and headed on to our luxury resort. This let me see what more the country has to offer. Thank you.
Thank you, chongl.
Love this TR - the picture are awesome. Its great to see a TR of Maldives at a local hotel versus a resort.
Questions:
1. What camera did you use?
2. How did you end up choosing the island of Maafushi and then choosing your guesthouse?
3. Are there other islands to choose from?
4. How did you book the speedboat?
Questions:
1. What camera did you use?
2. How did you end up choosing the island of Maafushi and then choosing your guesthouse?
3. Are there other islands to choose from?
4. How did you book the speedboat?
1. My camera is a Canon 5D3: http://www.dsw-photo.com/Travel/My-Camera . For the underwater shots I just used a Gopro.
2. I read a good travel blog last year that was really helpful for planning a budget trip to the Maldives. Maafushi is one of the bigger local islands so has better transport options, more guesthouses etc. The writer also recommended the guesthouse, Water Breeze, so thats why we picked it too. This is the blog: http://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/...s-on-a-budget/
3. The blog writer above also went to smaller islands, Fulidhoo and Guraidhoo. If we had a longer stay we would have liked to visit/stay there too.
4. The speedboat to Villivaru Island was organised through the Water Breeze. The speedboat from the airport to Maafushi was just booked through iCom tours: [email protected]
This is their daily schedule:
08:00 Maafushi to Male and Airport
09:00 Airport to Male
09:15 Male to Maafushi
12:00 Maafushi to Male and Airport
13:30 Male and Airport to Maafushi
17:00 Maafushi to Male and Airport
18:40 Male to Maafushi
For more info: +9607902069
Wow! Like many others I was wondering how you could show the 'true' Maldives after all, these boards are more used to reports on the Park Hyatt/Conrad/generic luxury resort. However I need not have wondered- what a fantastic report. In my book your reports are up there amongst the elite of our FT correspondents.
Thank you, hirohito888. Yes, was great to interact and talk with the locals etc. Staying at an island like Maafushi was a great way too experience living and growing up on an island for your whole life, from the school, prison and even the local cemetery.
#21
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: North-West Europe
Programs: Flying Blue, BA Executive Club, LH Miles & More, Air Asia BigShot, Les Collectioneurs
Posts: 268
Beautiful pictures! Brings back memories when we went to Maafushi. Sometimes a couple of minutes of sun, but mostly rain, and a lot of it.
View My Video of the downpour in Maafushi, thought the island was going to wash away !
View My Video of the downpour in Maafushi, thought the island was going to wash away !
#22
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: Skymiles Plat/1MM, United Prem, Marriott Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 326
Happy to see Rianda starring in many of the photos from this TR - looks like you guys had a great time. And as a fellow diver, always fun to see underwater friends.
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Many thanks, BEYFlyer. For a short weekend getwaway we got to do and experience alot, definitely felt like we were away much longer.
Thanks, Justin Case. Looks like you got a decent dose of rain! February is supposed to be the driest month in the Maldives so was surprised how much we rain we got. You normally only see pretty blue, cloudless skies when you see pics of Maldives so wasn't actually expecting rain at all!
Yep, trips are always more fun with your significant other. My next couple of trips are solo, but we have a trip planned together in May, and hopefully some more diving too.
Thank you, RandomBaritone, was a great trip.
There's quite a few things to do in Maafushi. Hire a jetski, go sailing on a catamaran (with guides/sailors), do a day trip to one of the local resorts ($60-180 depending on resort, and generally includes lunch etc.), go on a fishing trip, visit one of the sand bars for a picnic etc.
This travel blog post was also very helpful for planning. She spent 3 weeks on Maafushi and two smaller islands Fulidhoo and Guraidhoo. We would have done something similar if we had a longer time: http://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/...s-on-a-budget/
Male is worth checking, just to have a walk around and experience the vibe of the capital. Not really any specific sights to see, and probably not worth staying the night unless you needed to though (for an early morning flight etc.)
Beautiful pictures! Brings back memories when we went to Maafushi. Sometimes a couple of minutes of sun, but mostly rain, and a lot of it.
View My Video of the downpour in Maafushi, thought the island was going to wash away !
View My Video of the downpour in Maafushi, thought the island was going to wash away !
Thank you, RandomBaritone, was a great trip.
This travel blog post was also very helpful for planning. She spent 3 weeks on Maafushi and two smaller islands Fulidhoo and Guraidhoo. We would have done something similar if we had a longer time: http://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/...s-on-a-budget/
Male is worth checking, just to have a walk around and experience the vibe of the capital. Not really any specific sights to see, and probably not worth staying the night unless you needed to though (for an early morning flight etc.)
#27
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
decent value food for sure. the picnic looked it it could have fed 4-5 people...
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Thanks, wp_kid, Maldives definitely exceeded my expectations and hype.
Yes, Maldives is primarily known as the place where budgets do not exist! It is great that they've started to cater for mere mortals like myself though. A 5 star resort resort would be nice, but I don't think I would appreciate it enough to spend that kind of money.
The picnic tasted great too, fried rice, grilled fish, salad and some tasty papaya and pineapple to finish.
Thank you, halfcape. Certainly not as adventurous as the recent West Africa trip, but definitely much more relaxing and stress-free.
The picnic tasted great too, fried rice, grilled fish, salad and some tasty papaya and pineapple to finish.
Thank you, halfcape. Certainly not as adventurous as the recent West Africa trip, but definitely much more relaxing and stress-free.
#30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA, TPA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG, FB Gold
Posts: 287
My camera is a Canon 5D3: http://www.dsw-photo.com/Travel/My-Camera
As a one-time pro myself, all I can say is "Bravo!" And that anyone reading this now who doesn't click through to that page for a fantastic photographic and "wonders-of-traveling-the-world" treat will forever regret the omission.
Always a pleasure following you and your adventures -- and always an inspiration! Thank you!