Maldives

[Soya_Bean]

How many times have you gone there?
Why CNY they are mostly muslim?

Ok haha just to clarify, am just trying to find the reason people want to go there because after spending on the airfare and lodging and food, most would find themselves in the room. If its sand and beaches then Thailand and Indonesia have what you want at lower costs.

Which liveaboard did you went with?

How was the diving experience?

Will you return to dive?

What's the total dmg?

Thanks

 

[kennysme]

Which liveaboard did you went with?

How was the diving experience?

Will you return to dive?

What's the total dmg?

Thanks

Iruvai
Not to my expectations
No
2K+
~ I knew it was low season and Maldives wasn't about corals and reefs, and more about pelagics but even then I wasn't quite that impressed. Thailand used to be very good and accessible years ago(decades ago when I dived there regularly) but there's too much pressure from divers/over-dived. Indonesia will be my next destination, just that I hate flying and changing planes and people on planes etc...

 

[juxtaposition]

Can try Okinawa

Maldives diving too $$$

But if getting open water in Maldives is nice but $$$

I got mine many yrs ago in Phuket.

Iruvai
Not to my expectations
No
2K+
~ I knew it was low season and Maldives wasn't about corals and reefs, and more about pelagics but even then I wasn't quite that impressed. Thailand used to be very good and accessible years ago(decades ago when I dived there regularly) but there's too much pressure from divers/over-dived. Indonesia will be my next destination, just that I hate flying and changing planes and people on planes etc...

 

[jamietehc]

I never thought of Okinawa as an option for diving! Do they do PADI courses there?

 

[jen1512]

Can anybody recommend the best hotels in Maldives please?

I went last year and stayed at Veligandu. Tourists were mainly angmoh. Liked that it was quiet and relatively small resort. The staff are all super friendly and they organise events for you to get to know them~

Rooms were in the process of being renovated (in stages) should be done by now. Food spread was fantastic, not much repetition.

They have over water villas and beach front villas. I stayed in the over water villas, every morning jump into the sea! Many coral reef sharks and stingrays swimming around you (but they are scared of humans so they also won't dare come too close).

 

[merlintehleh]

Has anyone tried COMO Maalifushi before? Considering to go there soon

 

[juxtaposition]

Como Phuket yes
Como properties not cheap
Will try a new resort this year (next mth)

Has anyone tried COMO Maalifushi before? Considering to go there soon

 

[natematedate]

Where u try? I try in BKK - it very nice

Como Phuket yes
Como properties not cheap
Will try a new resort this year (next mth)

 

[jodyyeoyeo]

I just got a quote from a hotel for a seaplane from Male at $660 pp. can I check - is this normal? Or can I opt to book separately with a cheaper company?

 

[juxtaposition]

Yes normal

Seaplane min 500usd /pax depending on distance n is not direct because is shared. So u may have to wait for other to disembark before arriving to ur resort.

Seaplane airlines is controlled over there

Warning, u may also travel w/o ur luggage on seaplane because weight limit so u may or may not receive ur luggage at the resort because seaplanes only flies during daylight.

There is always book the whole seaplane to urself option

I just got a quote from a hotel for a seaplane from Male at $660 pp. can I check - is this normal? Or can I opt to book separately with a cheaper company?

 

[merlintehleh]

What’s the luggage weight limit for sea plane plz?

Yes normal

Seaplane min 500usd /pax depending on distance n is not direct because is shared. So u may have to wait for other to disembark before arriving to ur resort.

Seaplane airlines is controlled over there

Warning, u may also travel w/o ur luggage on seaplane because weight limit so u may or may not receive ur luggage at the resort because seaplanes only flies during daylight.

There is always book the whole seaplane to urself option

 

[juxtaposition]

25kg (20kg check in, 5kg handcarry)

There was one time my luggage cannot be loaded because the seaplane alrdy full of luggage. So they say will send to me later but never happen......but I alrdy have what I need in my handcarry. Pls be prepared for it. So far only happened to me once out of a few times.

There was one time I had a promo n paid only 370usd (was 470usd) n this was in 2018

What’s the luggage weight limit for sea plane plz?

 

[friendmefreddie]

So helpful! Thank you so much

25kg (20kg check in, 5kg handcarry)

There was one time my luggage cannot be loaded because the seaplane alrdy full of luggage. So they say will send to me later but never happen......but I alrdy have what I need in my handcarry. Pls be prepared for it. So far only happened to me once out of a few times.

There was one time I had a promo n paid only 370usd (was 470usd) n this was in 2018

 

[natematedate]

$500USD!? Omg..... so much cheaper to visit elsewhere.... + these are just little island with no culture presumably

Yes normal

Seaplane min 500usd /pax depending on distance n is not direct because is shared. So u may have to wait for other to disembark before arriving to ur resort.

Seaplane airlines is controlled over there

Warning, u may also travel w/o ur luggage on seaplane because weight limit so u may or may not receive ur luggage at the resort because seaplanes only flies during daylight.

There is always book the whole seaplane to urself option

 

[juxtaposition]

Wahaha n u cannot choose timing because resort will try to arrange for u based on ur international flight. Pls don’t expect 5*service even tho u r paying quite a bit. Be patient is the key in this Island.

$500USD!? Omg..... so much cheaper to visit elsewhere.... + these are just little island with no culture presumably

 

[little pupsky]

They also tend to be very, very strict about the weight allowance for seaplanes, and won’t hesitate to charge for even the slightest excess.

 

[tuxguy]

Doing research, so far shortlisted below. Would be great if anyone can comment/feedback

* Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives
https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cirm/

* Finolhu Maldives
https://www.finolhu.com/offers/#offers-rooms

* Club Med Finolhu Villas
https://www.clubmed.com.sg/r/The-Finolhu-Villas/y

The above 3 seems nice (after checking out Youtube videos) and have all inclusive packages, but don't understand how Club Med can be so much cheaper with flight and transport to resort fare thrown in

Read a review that Club Med not buffet style and the reviewer was upset that needed to wait long for food, not sure if true

Looking at the 2 below too

* Gili Lankanfushi Maldives
https://gili-lankanfushi.com/
- This one looks amazing but unfortunately was ravaged by fire in Jan 2019, rebuilt launching in 1 Dec 2019. Own by Singapore HPL. Hoping after rebuilding, it look as good if not better

* Veligandu Island Resort & Spa
https://www.veligandu.com/
- This one, have seen quite a few reviews of ppl going back for repeated stays

 

[oceanicmanta]

been to Club Med Maldives Kani, meals were buffet style, eat like no tomorrow kind ... very wide spread of dishes, stone oven baked pizza, free flow wine during lunch ... meal times were something to look forward to

that time, the rooms dont have hot water one ... but the water is heated naturally by the sun

the beach is wonderful

that was many years ago, still good value

but their scuba diving operations very lax ... only open for that few hours per day ... 1 FOC dive per day

 

[dnsfpl]

went Club Med Finolhu Villas

both of us were delighted, if got spare cash will definitely go again

 

[juxtaposition]

Centara is entry level, always have good deals for all-inclusive with transport (speedboat/domestic air)

My advise is to find:

All inclusive (bfast lunch dinner) usually tea break n evening canepe are provided too. Most impt, check the all inclusive includes water n alcoholic drinks. Yes, some all inclusive “excludes” these n I find it v sneaky.

U also can settle with half board (bfast n dinner) so u can have late bfast n skip lunch. But if the difference is not big, then I think is better to go all inclusive.

Some all inclusive also include mini bar n refill daily, some include free 30mins massage and 1 activity. So all depends on the t&c n type of promo.

For me there was this time at Sheraton, I book v early at x price but when the date get nearer, the price drop a lot. I had to kp to get back the difference and in the end I got fed up n just cancel everything. It was a non refundable rate.