Maldive Islands Mystery - how do I choose ?

The Maldives are made up of 1180 tropical islands set on small coral sandbanks in the midst of vivid turquoise lagoons – 90 of these islands are set aside for dream Indian Ocean hotels – but just how do you decide which is for you?

Budget is a major factor with rooms available from £100 ($155) to £4900 ($7600) per night. However you should avoid being led by cost alone – for instance the most expensive island has only poor snorkelling available.

There are experts that can direct you towards a selection of Maldives hotels and accommodation choices – but you can also do some work yourself :-

1) Activities – narrow your search field down by deciding whether a good house reef for snorkelling, a dive school, a spa and a swimmable lagoon or swimming pool are important to you.

2) Transfers. Some islands are so distant from the international airport that they can only be reached by seaplane or an internal flight. This can be costly (£200/$300 per person) – especially if you are only staying a few days. It may be wiser to choose a closer island with a transfer by more economical speedboat. Also if you are taking a seaplane hop they only operate between dawn and late afternoon so check your arrival time to determine whether you should avoid a ‘wasted’ first night in a transit hotel awaiting your seaplane. Speedboats by contrast normally operate 24 hours.

3) Your room type will also rule out some islands. Choose from Garden Rooms (without a sea view), Beach rooms or Over Water Villas.

4) Dining – smaller islands may only have 1 restaurant (though the cuisine may be exceptional) while larger islands may have up to 9 dining and beverage locations.
All Inclusive is available – but is normally polarised between basic 3 star islands and ultra high class 5 star resorts.

5) Density of rooms – some islands can pack too many rooms into the available space – whereas on others you might think it is your own tropical island. Ask about the number of rooms – or proximity of your neighbours.

6) Children – some hotels cater for children with clubs and activities, while others just leave the parents to it. Even if your chosen island does not have a Kids Club there may still be children present as only 5 islands choose to restrict guests to 12 years and older.

7) Modern chic or classical romanticism? Decide whether you want your island to be an ultra-modern cosmopolitan resort or a natural, Robinson Crusoe destination with just palm trees and sand to keep you company.

One you have whittled your way through the 7 categories above you should be able to narrow your choice down to a more manageable half dozen or so. If all of that sounds like just too much hard work then why not just let the experts take away your stress – contact the experienced Maldives travellers at www.PurelyMaldives.co.uk for ‘in the know’ advice regarding your Maldives hotel accommodation and special offers.