My first brush with Maldives happened when I was 9 years old touring Puri ( a coastal town in Odisha) with my parents. I met a young Israeli couple on the Puri beach who for some reason started interacting with me. Given my love for the sea, they showed me a few pictures of the Maldives where they have visited in the past. I immediately felt a strong connection to this unique nation and knew that I am destined to land here one day.
Generally, there is a notion that the Maldives is very expensive and beyond the mean of commoners. This is a fact and understandably so when everything needs to be exported to sustain livelihood in this nation. However, in this blog, I will share with you tips to plan it smartly which will allow you to enjoy all the perks of this archipelago and probably at a lesser cost.
During my maiden visit to the Maldives, I stayed on a tiny island of 2 Sq. Km but gathered a bag full of tales for my grandchildren. So let me take you through his journey and I sincerely hope you get a chance to travel here before Nature decides to take it back on its lap.
Maldives is called the Island nation as it comprises of 1200 islands spread over 1000 Kms, across 26 Atolls. Fascinating isn’t it? The only airport is Male ( Velana International Airport) which is the capital. Currently, there is no political turmoil in the county and you can freely travel within the country. The Government is also trying to create artificial islands to cater to demands of tourism and I hope it does not create an ecological disequilibrium.
There are 2 modes of transportation; Boats and Seaplanes. The average ground elevation is 1.5 metres above Mean Sea Level and thus making Maldives the world’s lowest lying country. The total population is around 4,00,000, out of which almost 1,00,000 lives in Male
We all know that Maldives is a honeymoon destination as it provides privacy and a top-notch comfortable stay. Unlike an Islamic country, it doesn’t have prohibitions for foreigners with regards to sunbathing, dress code, consumption of alcohol in the islands (except in Male). However, tourists should respect the tradition of land and avoid too much public affection and follow basic decorum. In fact, every island has a designated adult zone that allows foreigners to sunbathe on the beach and normally keep out of reach of children or people who might find it offensive
Male is the only island where alcohol is prohibited for foreigners. Thus use it as a transit hub and avoid staying here. The Internet is flooded with information to make informed decisions about the choice of the island to stay. The islands are rated by various agencies across multiple parameters like transport, comfort, service etc. Notwithstanding, a high rating cascades to a higher budget too.
When I was researching about the Maldives I did review all the ratings but used my judgement too. It was my dream to travel in a Seaplane and thus I identified an island that would allow me to do that, at the same time will not leave a hole in my pocket. Welcome to Kuredu Island Resorts and Spa
Best Time to Visit:
- November to April
- My suggestion would be to visit in the mid of August just after the returning monsoon passes by. If the monsoon gets delayed travel in September instead of August and vice versa. This is the time the climate is at its best and the fares are reasonable
Connectivity:
- There are direct flights from all the major Indian terminals like Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and especially Kochi which is the nearest port to Male.
- However, keep in mind that this is the only country where you should book your flight after booking your accommodation.
- This will allow you to know the Seaplane timing and accordingly back-calculate the arrival/departure flight timings.
- The ports mentioned keeping in mind, my fellow countrymen. However, please note the connectivity across the globe is outstanding. My submission to Non-Indian would be to drop into India too. It would not be prudent to give it a pass after coming so close to the Indian subcontinent.
- Please reach to me and I will be glad to show you around my beautiful country
Visa:
- Indian have a free Visa on arrival.
- It is a small but very well managed airport. Post deplaning tourists walk straight to the immigration and clear it in a jiffy
- For non-Indians please check the website of the Ministry of Foreign affairs
Language Spoken
- The official language is Dhivehi which is an Indo Aryan language
- English is understood by almost everyone even if not spoken. It is very easy to get direction or basic help in the English language
- The Islands are a Global village of tourists across the world. Thus, there are staff from across the globe as well. During my stay, I could hear Spanish, Japanese, German, French apart from English.
Duration of Stay:
- 4 days 3 nights.
- This is good enough as you will probably stay on an island of a diameter of 2 Kilometre
- This is the best place to just relax and detox.
Kuredu Island Resort & Spa
This amazing Island resort is located in the Lhaviyani Atoll. It’s a small island with a radius of close to 1 Km. There are 387 rooms, which include 9 Private pool villas, 1 family villa suite, 50 Sangu water villa ( located over the water and is present on both sides of the island), 100 Jacuzzi beach villa, 90 Beach Bungalow and 45 Garden Bungalow.
The Sangu water villa is exclusively for Adults and costing upwards of $650 per day depending on the season. The cost includes all the meals and an Internet connection. The experience of staying over water and sleeping with the sound of waves underneath your abode makes it really special and thus only the privileged ones can afford to stay here
The next best pick, especially for a family with children is the Beach Bungalow facing the Sea. The room is quite large with all the amenities along with a special childbed too. The most fascinating part is the open-air bathroom which provides a new experience. The villa also comes with a small balcony to sit or lie down and while away the time with family.
The sea will be a few metres away and the beautiful water will tempt you throughout the day to take a swim. These bungalows cost around $450 and above per day depending on the season. All rates are inclusive of meals and the Internet connection. The room will be accompanied by an Electric water heater, Espresso maker and 2 bottles of water. You can always order more water if you need it without any charge. The rooms also come with a Minibar. The toiletries are quite good too.
The Seaplane has a flying time of around 40 minutes to Kuredu. The entire experience will be like a dream. I pinched myself a few times during the flight, to double-check it! The beauty of this land on the Arabian Sea is nothing less than a miracle. It’s ineffable and thus I thought of sharing the pictures of my flight
In Maldives, all resorts provide a Kiosk number on completion of booking. There are hundreds of kiosks located just outside the Arrival gate of the airport. For some reason, I was not able to spot mine and thus requested the representative of another kiosk to help me out. Though he was amused at the request, he still took the pain to escort me to my kiosk. This speaks volumes of the locals and their warm behaviour towards tourists.
The Seaplane has the same boarding formality as a normal airline. The check-in is done at the Kiosk and a boarding pass is issued. Very important to note that Seaplanes do not allow more than 1 check-in baggage ( 25 Kgs) and 1 hand baggage( 7 Kgs). There is no deviation to this rule and thus please avoid arguing as it would only lead to mortification. Passengers with extra luggage will have to wait for it at their resort when it arrives and pay an extra charge. Therefore, please travel light. Infants below 2 years travel free in the lap of the parent but do not have additional luggage concession
After the completion of check-in, the passengers are transported in a bus to the Seaplane terminal. The journey lasts less than 10 minutes through the beautiful scenic island of Male. At the terminal, the guests are seated at the Waiting lounge which has complimentary Wifi and F&B. The waiting time is approximately 30 minutes and during this time the staff checks you in at the hotel by scanning the travel documents. Thus, on landing at Kuredu guests can go straight to their accommodation.
The Seaplanes are operated by Trans Maldivian Airlines while the booking is done through the Resort partners, without any additional convenience charges. Every resort set a time ahead of Maldive standard time which is equal to the Seaplane flying time to the island. By maintaining a different time the resorts ensures that there is sufficient time for passengers to and fro the airport. The time in Kuredu is 1 hour ahead of Maldive Standard time.
The operation of Seaplane operates during the daytime( 6 AM- 4.30 PM MST) and it needs a favourable climate. On inquiry of the safety standards, I was informed that there has not been any Seaplane related scare. Trans Maldivian connected 80 Islands during August 2019, when I last visited the Maldives. If your flight lands after 2.30 PM it would be advisable to stay overnight in Male and take a Seaplane for the next day.
The Seaplanes are definitely expensive but worth every penny for once in a lifetime view of the island nation. Though the fares are dynamic a return trip will cost around $250 to $450 depending on the duration. I would advise my readers to discuss with the resort for the best rate. In case you overseed the budget then the alternative is to book a resort close to Male and take a speed boat ride to that resort.
Day 1:
The Seaplane Pier is about 150 metres from the Resort Lobby. On landing, at Kuredu I politely declined a Buggy service to transport us to the hotel lobby. But, 50 metres in the journey I regretted my decision and cursed myself. Any guess, Why?
The afternoon sun was extremely hot and almost fried me alive. As I reached the lobby the staff immediately handed me a Cold towel and Welcome drink looking at my pitiful state of being drenched in sweat. After I was able to regain my composure the traditional welcome ceremony was conducted. A host is assigned to every guest in Kuredu who is a single point of contact for any information during the stay. The host explained the geography and facilities available in the resort while I sipped in the refreshing welcome drink.
My host recommended that I walk bare feet in the resort as the white sand is soft and it’s supposedly good for health. Initially, I was reluctant but as the day progressed I completely lost track of my footwear, till it was time to pack and leave! I spent the first day as lazily as possible. If you manage to keep your phone away you will realise that you are in Paradise where the only sounds are of the waves on the shore and birds chirping in the background.
Our host informed me that our Bungalow was about 500 metres from the Lobby and the Buggy service is available every 15 minutes. He also showed us the restaurant which was located adjacent to the Lobby. Actually, I didn’t need that introduction because the aroma of food did catch my nostrils and I knew from where it was coming.
I requested my host to transport our baggage while we decided to catch up on lunch. A slow lunch with family with lovely cocktails brought a huge desire for an afternoon siesta. As you woke up the sun was setting on the horizon, which I relished from the balcony over a piping hot Earl Grey
As darkness descended my daughter wanted to take a stroll on the beach and I gleefully accepted. It was one of the wonderful moment of my life where both of us collected seashells in the moonlight. We kept walking beside the shore till we reached back to the restaurant and decided to have an early dinner.
After dinner I headed to the wonderful and happening bar for some good time. There is a Theme every day and even if you do not have a dress code nobody would mind. I think it is a wonderful place for couples( old or young) to start/rekindle their romance and have some time together. There is a babysitting service to cater to families with children just in case you are wondering about it
Day 2:
The climate in Maldives is tropical and thus the afternoons get very hot. Therefore the key is to start the day early. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of equipment at the Gym. The other option which I choose was hiring a bicycle at just $5 per day. These cycles have wider tyres more like the mountain bikes and is the best mode of transportation on this island.
An early start to the day means an early breakfast at leisure. The turnout is the low before 9 AM and and thus recommended. After breakfast I found a nice place beside the pool and started reading a novel. The poolside staff approached me and informed that I am eligible for 1 complimentary beverage at the pool. Gladly, I requested for an Orange juice which was delivered instantly.
As the day turned hotter, I decided to take a dip in the pool. The water was cool and was very relaxing. At about that time my daughter arrived with the snorkel kit and we went about snorkelling together close to the shore. Please apply sunblock generously else the sun can surely peel off your skin
We stayed in water till we were too exhausted. The exercise made us very hungry and thus we took a quick shower and rushed to the restauntant for a lavish lunch. In the afternoon we rescued ourselves to the comfort of our room and slept like a baby. In the evening we cycled around the resort and discover the football ground, golf course, tennis and badminton court.
I would suggest, pedal to the northern side of the island during sunset towards the Sangu water villa. Head to the beach beside the villas. A small strip of an island will be visible which is easily accessible on feet. This is the best place to encounter the sunset and each picture I clicked looked better than the previous one.
As darkness enshrouded the whole island we picked ourselves from the beach and cycled back to the bar. To my surprise, I noticed an excited group with their snorkelling gear. On enquiring with them I learnt they are waiting for the instructor to venture for night snorkelling. Till that day I have never had been to a night snorkelling and thus couldn’t have let it pass. I made the booking through a kiosk present in the lobby. Thankfully, the slot was still available and thus I managed to squeeze myself just in time
I am not a very confident swimmer and it was nighttime. Thus, I decided not to take any risk and hired a buoyancy jacket. Even non-swimmers can try this with a life jacket and opt for covered snorkelling headgear. It allows you to breathe easily without worrying too much about water getting in. I opted for snorkelling gear with a headlamp for better visibility. Our instructor was world-class and he seems to knew exactly where marine life is.
The total duration was 30 minutes which passed away in a whisker. There were lot of colourful fishes in and around the jetty. But, then I saw something which stopped my heart for a second. With wide eyes, I saw a Shark pass by. The sharks rest during the day and hunt at night. Seeing one shark is acceptable but soon there were 5-6 of them around us and I could sense my heartbeat getting high.
Irrespective of the size of these sharks, Hollywood have created such scare around this predator, that I just could not calm myself down. In my mind, I kept on reminding myself to relax but to no avail. Suddenly a shark brushed past me and it was trigger for me to swim back ashore.
After everyone reached ashore, our instructor jokingly remarked that he was scared about a shark attack given the manner the group was attracting them. He soon clarified that these Sharks are small enough to attack humans and they have enough food to take notice of humans. There has been no shark attack ever in the island which is comforting too.
I sat there at the beach for some time reflecting and reliving the beautiful day which went by. It was purely magical and rejuvenating. I decided to have an early dinner and head back to the room to finish my novel before slumber takes me in its arm
Day 3:
This would be the last full day at the island and ought to be special. There are multiple options to choose from. For example, a Jacuzzi and spa session in the daytime and a special candlelight dinner in the evening. A photography session is also a great idea to carry back splendid memories clicked by professional photographers who know all the best spots on the island. Do decide and book in advance as all these are surely in demand
For the adventure seeker, there is a number of Snorkelling or Scuba dives across various timelines and budget. There are special lessons to learn snorkelling and diving and this would be a great opportunity for non-swimmers. I clubbed both the options and chose a half-day Scuba diving trip and was immaculately dressed for a candlelight dinner, in the evening.
There is a small cafe down the end of the Pier which is open morning till dusk. The best time to visit is during the twilight. Grab a cup of your beverage and wait beside the water. There is a good chance of spotting a lot of marine animals as dusk falls and the lights underneath the water glow up. Also, a perfect romantic spot to lounge and see the sunset on the horizon
Day 4
Depending on the flight timing the hotel staff will advise on the check out time. The normal check out time is 11 am. My Seaplane was scheduled for 2 PM MST and thus the Resort offered me a complimentary lunch voucher. The management of this resort somehow knows all the means to convince your guests to come back to this island again. Probably the warmth and comfort I encountered in Kuredu makes me share a travel plan with them. That is my way of showing my gratitude.
There is a souvenir shop beside the lobby which has brilliant collections across all price range, shape and sizes. Importantly,all customers flying Transmaldivian airways get a hefty discount. Do not miss it as friends and families do expect a souvenir on return from a foreign land.
Food in Kuredu needs a special mention and caution too. I thoroughly enjoyed all meal and a result carried a few extra kilos on the way back home 🙂
As I was flying back over the archipelago I felt a lump on my throat thinking that this dream is going to end in the next 40 minutes. In my heart, I knew all good things comes to an end and offered a silent prayer onboard the Seaplane. I thanked the Almighty for providing me with this chance and requested not to reclaim Paradise back from the human race. After that, I relished the remaining journey from my window seat
In case you have any queries or need assistance to plan your trip please feel free to comment or write to me on journey@metrotter.com and we promptly get back to you
