Maldives Holidays

Here’s to barefoot bike riding, dunking in the ocean and snorkelling with dolphins. To mermaids in the making, rum and romance on deserted islands and gobsmackingly good jaunts with junior generations. The Maldives. One holiday. A million feelings.

How to holiday in the Maldives

The Maldives is the great escape - smack-dab in the middle of the Indian Ocean and the fancy holiday on everyone’s wish list. Deciding to go is one thing, but choosing where to stay is quite another. Of 1192 islands spanning 26 atolls, over 150 are private island resorts you can stay on. Some are big in size and softer on the pocket (Kuramathi), others small and swish (Milaidhoo). There are islands as romantic as Venice (Kandolhu) and ones that know the adventure doesn’t end when parenthood begins (ananea Madivaru). It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole of resort research and get decision fatigue, plus the pressure to get everything beyond right feels even greater if it’s your once-in-a-lifetime holiday. Our advice? Work out what you really really want. A romantic resort where time stands still or a resort made for guests who hate to sit still? An outer edge atoll where snorkelling to witness the kaleidoscopic colours of tropical fish is on the agenda or an island designed for flipper-kicking family fun? Strip away the fluff, focus on the essential elements and we'll nail down your choice. Or take the complexity away entirely by choosing an island at the intersection of simplicity and luxury (Baros and Kurumba never fail to thrill). High quality. Timeless. Easy.

Still can't pin down ‘the one’? Then the trick is a twin island holiday. We can tell you which islands you can easily pair - this is a great idea for first-time visitors who want a zingy itinerary and returning guests sticking to their fave resort but wanting to see something new too.

Is the Maldives good to travel to with kids?

A new generation of page-turning hotels are making tiny sun-kissed noses and beach-bound toes part of the party from the get-go. There are plenty picking up rave reviews - Dhigali’s sea yoga and water balloon volleyball for starters and Niyama’s sandy cinema nights and snorkelling safaris for tweens and teens. These are the islands excelling at memory making for everyone. And as parents ourselves, we know all to well that not every child loves a kids club. Whatever your family make-up, from babies and blended to mutli-gen and a mix of ages - we'll match you to the island that suits you best.

Namast’ay in bed

Overwater villas in the Maldives are the storybook fantasy escape. Big on privacy and romance. The experience? Breakfast with baby sharks beneath your feet. Open-air bathtub soaks under an island sky. Instant access to the Indian Ocean from the private ladder on your deck. And beach villas? They’re made for cool, castaway vibes, along with a bit more affordability. Great for honeymoon moments and spacious enough for all the chaos and cuddles of family life (check out the duplex ones). Can’t decide? Experience both worlds. We’re dab hands at sorting a room switch mid-way through your Maldives holiday so you get the best of both.

And if poolside is your best side? Lots of islands have overwater and beach villas with private pools. Great if you want to swim without sand in your towel or fish at your feet. Private pool villas tend to be a higher price point but are a dream for families with young kids (no worries about temp, noise or depth) and a special kind of magic for honeymooners (flamingo inflatables and sunset dips). At Coco Bodu Hithi you don't even have to choose; all villas have private pools.

Do not disturb - we’re on honeymoon

The most drop-dead gorgeous resorts in the world have dropped anchor in the Maldives, making it a dreamscape for salty haired honeymooners. Where to begin when planning your Maldives honeymoon? The setting does the talking. For the earthy couple looking for marooned moments and bare bones beauty there’s the simple luxury of Diamonds Thudufushi and Makunudu Island. The bigger resorts of Kuramathi and Emerald Maldives are good for energetic newlyweds who have eyes on epic escapades. Couples as cool as Vogue will find classic luxury at Outrigger Maafushivaru Halaveli and Coco Bodu Hithi whilst the soulmates who prioritise sorbet summer outfits, taking selfies and taking time to themselves will find their luxury at LUX* South Ari Atoll and Finolhu. Perch in an overwater villa and disappear for days or become two lively lovebugs trying everything from sunset snorkelling and scuba diving to sandy cinema nights for two. We’ve got honeymoon happiness covered.

Seaing is believing - snorkelling and diving

Whatever your style and pace in the water - Tom Daley, Nemo or Dory - you’ll leave these islands smitten. Many have their own house reef, a beautiful coral garden right on the shore (Sandies Bathala deserves special mention). No scheduled snorkelling trip is required: just paddle straight out into glass-clear waters for a world of wild fish below the surface. It’s not uncommon for islands to have the double whammy - a house reef and a lagoon - which means overwater villas and easy snorkelling and sailing. You can and should go beyond the house reef. Diving in the Maldives is a dream. 500 miles of Indian Ocean that the blue planet uses as their giant motorway. Marine centres are attached to most resorts so whether you’re learning the ropes (hello sandy shallows) or a wizard under the water (hello drift dives), you’re in expert hands. Come for night diving and nudibranchs. Tuna, turtles and tropical fish. Dolphins, rays and reef sharks. The best season? December to April offers the clearest visibility. May to November is when the manta rays come out and days are more humid. Our view? There really isn't a bad time to visit.

Food for thought

Full board or all inclusive? Full board is a great one if you want to be economical, don’t drink alcohol (or don’t drink much of it) and don’t mind eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at a designated restaurant (usually the good food good vibes buffet). But if food is your focus you’ll get a lot more with the all inclusive packages. The one that tickles guests pink the most is the all inclusive extra option (look out for those marked Select, Gourmet and Full Dine Around). These are the whole kit and caboodle. Nearly everything you need, if not everything, is included. Popsicles, pizza, piña coladas and à la carte restaurants. Bubbles at breakfast, bottled water and daiquiris with dinner. If you’re on holiday for connections, conversations and collective experiences, it’s this all inclusive that you want. Depending on the island you choose there will be overwater dining domes above coral reef, tiki torch-lit thatched cabanas along the shore and the kind of charming restaurants you have to catch a speedboat to. Further inclusions such as ice cream parlours, pizzerias, snack bars (great for families with kids who are constantly hungry), access to fitness classes, snorkelling tours and paddle boarding trips prove great value.

Isn't it always sunny in the Maldives?

You’re right by the equator in the hot and humid tropics (a 99% chance you’ll get frizzy hair and need a cooling mist) and the weather can be as unpredictable as anywhere, even the dry season (November to April) - super sunny and gleaming like gold and diamonds - isn’t immune to a bolt from the blue. But tropical showers are usually liquid sunshine: short, sweet and a breath of fresh air. And there’s still stacks of stuff to do. Off-peak has advantages: holidays are less spenny, surfing is better, and it’s the season of manta rays, whale sharks and bioluminescence.

Saving pennies or splashing out

For some, booking a trip to the Maldives is a once-in-a-lifetime experience they've saved hard for; for others, it's the once-in-a-lifetime experience they're splurging on. Whether saving pennies or splashing out, you’ll get your Tom Hanks ‘Castaway’ moments (albeit with a key to a swish villa and torches lighting the way to beachfront restaurants). There are resorts that come with a ‘big on value’ tag - Kurumba and Kurumathi make the Maldives accessible without sacrificing style and luxury and there are those that come with all the bells and whistles, such as private boats and butlers (Gili Lankanfushi) or low-key beauty and bottles of Champagne (Milaidhoo).

But luxury is subjective. It might be that you don’t care for bars and spas instead favouring a remote island free from frills, or it might be mimosas, massages and marine activities all the way. It could be the luxury of peace (or the luxury of time spent with the kids) or perhaps that overwater villa where your daybed almost dips into your private pool and your pool almost slides into the blue lagoon. Regardless of what luxury means to you, we'll find it.

Getting there

Fly direct with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, depending on the time of year. Fly via Dubai / Qatar on a transit (no need to collect your bags before switching planes). Stop off en route for even more adventures and flavours - Burj and Bedouin in the Middle East, jungle and Jaipur in India and Singapore’s Sentosa island for starters. The transfer to your island is by seaplane or speedboat. The options sometimes depend on the distance to your resort and sometimes on your arrival time (only speedboats run in the evenings) The pros of a seaplane? Sky high views and a sensational experience. And what a way to arrive. Seeing those tiny specs of islands and water shades of blue that are oh-so-much brighter than the brochures - it's simply breathtaking. The cons? More expensive than a speedboat and not going to be a favourite if you’re not comfortable in small planes. Speedboat arrivals? More frequent departure times and a quicker transfer if your resort is closer to the mainland.

If indecision’s got you, do both (speedboat one way, sea plane the other). As long as it’s an option at your chosen resort, go for it.

Maldives plus - twin centre holiday ideas

Enjoy the Maldives plus another destination all in one go for a holiday that goes beyond the ordinary.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Tick off lost civilisations, Ceylon tea and safaris in Sri Lanka. Check off blue health, blue lagoons and blue-faced angelfish in the Maldives. Both destinations are beauts and with only a one and a half hour flight between them it would be criminal not to see them both. As you'll tour, hike and explore Sri Lanka, the Maldives make the perfect finale - swimming, snorkelling, and anesthetised by the peace and quiet of the ocean.

Indian Ocean island pairings

The speed boating, toes-in-the-sand, hit the water, slow the pace crowd know how to have a summer of fun in the sparkling shallows of the Indian Ocean’s finest islands. We pair the Maldives with Mauritius or Seychelles for waterfall chasing, forest hiking, meeting giant tortoises and swimming with turtles happy holidays. Make it a low-key ‘do nothing’ trip or mooch around on island time scheduling in a few well placed adventures.