Think serene water & beach villas, the craziest shades of blue ever, vibrant marine world, and much more. A Maldives getaway cannot be topped in the carousel by any other destination. Indeed! As rightly appreciated by Marco Polo, the Maldives islands are “the flowers of the Indies”. When the renowned 14th-century traveler Ibn Batuta spotted this scattered Indian ocean Archipelago, he labeled it as “one of the wonders of the world”. It still does justify the fame.
While planning a trip to the Maldives you should accept the fact that it isn’t a low-budget destination. But every penny is worth it, we can vouch for that. Almost everything but sunshine and natural grandeur is imported thus priced accordingly. We recommend planning a stay long enough – a week, for instance – to enjoy a troppo change of mind & mood. We visited the Maldives twice. Our first trip was work-related and the second one was entirely for travel purposes in March 2019.
How do I get there?
We took a direct flight from Mumbai to Male. On our arrival and completion of basic immigration formalities, the resort team that we had our bookings with, assisted us till we reached the destination. They welcomed us with snacks & drinks at the airport. We needed to take a domestic flight and then a speedboat to finally reach our resort. Sounds like we already started feeling pampered, right? Trust me we were spoiled by their caring services!
For distant atolls from Male airport, you usually take an additional spectacular journey in a seaplane and sometimes followed by another boat ride to your resort as we did. On the island, you stroll around in its sandy avenues by walking, bicycle, or buggy. Inter-island day trips are executed by launch or traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat.
Accommodation
Let’s take you down the memory lane to tell how we ended up planning a trip to the Maldives! So, March is Ritesh’s birthday month and I was very keen to take him on a surprise holiday this time. After a lot of brainstorming, I (Rinnku) decided on the Maldives. Because this is the place, he would have never agreed to visit. The reason being, I had been there already for a work trip and so he was like, “let’s go somewhere where we both haven’t been to”. So, I had a chance this time to plan for the Maldives and show him the beauty. I left a piece of my heart there when I visited the Maldives. So, I definitely had to take him. Then we needed to choose a resort. As we wanted to stay in an island that is secluded & supremely private, we chose Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa in Haa Alif Atoll in the Northern Maldives. We planned our stay for 4 nights that’s why we booked two types of accommodation to explore both the sides of the property. We went for Deluxe Water Villa With Private Pool for two nights and Ocean Villa With Pool for another couple of nights. Both of the villas were utterly luxurious with super comfortable amenities like a huge bed, wardrobes, free Wi-Fi, open bath area, jacuzzi, and a pool overlooking the mesmerizing ocean was definitely a star highlight. Did I tell you about the big glass doors in the hall & bathroom of the water villa that directly opens to the ocean? Our mornings were mind-blowing & how! We opted for an all-inclusive package including breakfast & dinner. The huge plethora of dishes was all we needed to taste the best cuisines that helped our stomachs and souls achieve gastronomical Zen, undoubtedly!
Also read: Life In An Island Paradise – Rinnku’s Ode To The Charm Of The Maldives
#Tip: Try to consider beach villas while booking your stay if not for the whole trip even for half of it. It gives you direct access to the ethereal beaches directly with cozy hammocks or private pools with top-notch privacy. It not only gives you a different flavor of the Maldives but also helps in budgeting the trip!
Itinerary
Day 1: Haalu Kihineh (‘How are you’ in Dhivehi), Maldives?
We arrived at the Male airport and then got transported into the resort with the help of the staff members. On the first day, you’ll want to just relax, recover from jetlag, and sink in the heavenly beauty of the Maldives. You may take a tour around your property as every private resort has its own special arrangements to amuse their guests. Taking a peaceful walk along the beach is a great option to just make your mind hit the refresh button!
Day 2: Say Aan (‘Yes’ in Dhivehi) to the water adventure!
The pristine ocean around you in the Maldives is not just excellent for visual delight, it has a lot of fun activities in store for you that’ll drive your adrenaline rush to its peak! We would recommend beginning with activities like snorkeling. It will present a jawdropping exhibition of incredible marine life at close quarters. You can swim & chill to witness the out-of-the-world sunset during the late afternoon. These are the moments you’ll want to pin in the album of your life.
*Tip: We do not recommend pre-booking of any sightseeing or activity, it’s better to book at the time of check-in. They can help you with the offers, combo offers, or any promotions if they are running during the period. Also, you will be sure of the weather conditions while booking.
Day 3: A scoop of SCUBA, Adhes Kohfa (‘Please’ in Dhivehi)!
If you’re in the Maldives and you’re a water baby then Voila! Take your vacation in the Maldives up a notch by going for a SCUBA diving. Get drenched in the aquatic gorgeousness and the resplendence of corals and other underwater species, and it’s going to be a lifetime experience for you. The activity will generally be managed by the resort authority you are living in. All you need to do is enjoy and have fun to the fullest!
Day 4: Balaa Balashey (‘Lookout’) the charm of the Maldives!
We spent the day at our own pace by relaxing for endless hours with musical waves of the Indian ocean in the background. Gazing at the view and munching on delectable food, and sipping cocktails were all about a fulfilling and enriching experience on our last day. Can you blame us? You can go for a chilling spa at the resort to gear up for the upcoming hustle you’ll encounter in your daily life. Do explore the island to find out the hidden gems and different restaurants to take a trip down the culinary lane of memorable food, especially the desserts.
Day 5: Dhanee (‘Goodbye’), the Maldives…
We couldn’t sense how the days passed by as we were so engrossed in enjoying the grace of the Maldives and we surely did want more! It was time to pack our bags and bid adieu with a heavy heart to this aesthetic chunk of paradise. The resort staff escorted us to the Male airport, we boarded on the return flight and enjoyed the last picture-perfect glimpse as we flew over the glittering blue lagoons.
So, this was all about our own elaborate affair with the Maldives – an island far away from civilization, embellished with spectacular huts & palm trees surrounded by ethereal turquoise water. This is an ode to our sun-drenched days laughing and chilling in the sparkling ocean and golden beaches. We hope it helps you to whisk up your trip planning to the tropical nirvana of your dreams really soon! 🙂
