Thanks for that sean, we are looking to go to the maldives April 2006 (end of). but nothing is mentioned in the brochures about building work on this island?

Do they have jacuzzi beach villas there?

No Jacuzzi's in the beach villa's, there is one suite on the island for honeymooners, link attached to show the facilities (Room 300).

The possible build is only a possible and there are no definite dates as yet to when it will take place.

http://www.lilybeachmaldives.com/lily/acomodation/suite.pdf

The Lily beach does sound amazing, somehow my H2B isn't keen, and feels Kuredu is too big, is there another island which anyone can suggest? We need ALL Inc, good standard, and not too big of island, and we would like a beach Villa?????

Joe,

The photos have been moved to the Other Destinations folder, have attached the link.

Have uploaded about 90 pics to my free HP Photo site, if you want to see them, PM me your e-mail address and I can give you access.

Sean

Hi sean
Viewed the pics, just reinforced the fact that I need a waterproof camera case, always hard to commit to memory the scenes whilst diving.

thanks

Joe

Hi Guys

I cannot afford to buy an expensive underwater camera, but have bought an underwater one by polaroid. Will the pictures be any good.? It recommends an 800 film. What sort are they?

Thanks Julie

Hi Sandra, How did the holiday go? Hope that you had a lovely time. Hows your newborn Grandson?

Julie,

Underwater pictures taken with a polaroid can be as good as digital, and with the tools available on PC's to play with the photos afterwards they can be made a lot better.

Have attached a link about some frequently asked questions for underwater photography which might help.

First time I used a SLR camera I had very good, good, reasonable and absolutely terrible pictures. Case of trial and error to start, it's a pity Lily beach don't get photos developed there (I don't think ?).

http://www.seaandsea.com/faqs.html

Sean

Hi everyone

arrived back home safe and sound on sunday morning.

Here is my trip report.

1st May 2005 - 14th May 2005

HOLIDAY BOOKING - Hayes & Jarvis, booked through an independent travel agents, flying with emirates airlines.
No problems with the booking except a few weeks before we got our tickets I found out that our return flight from Male to dubai had been cancelled. It meant we had to leave lily beach earlier than expected and spend 12 hours in dubai. I asked the travel agents to ask emirates if we could use their buisness lounge while at the airport as a good will gesture. Emirates refused so I phoned them directly and they couldn't have been more helpful. They offered us the millenuim airport hotel to rest in with free transfers.

FLIGHT - Emirates Airlines, Gatwick airport to Maldives via Dubai
Arrived in plenty of time even though we had pre-booked our seats. Picked up our hotel vouchers for return journey. Topped up my mobile phone, had breakfast, flight left on time and we arrived in dubai about midnight. This is when I first realised I was going to have a problem with my phone. I couldn't recieve or send texts uh! My husbands phone was o.k but we hadn't put any extra talk time on his.
Second leg of journey also went smoothly and we arrived at male a little bit early than expected where we were greeted by our hayes & jarvis rep Jackie. Jackie is actually based at lily beach so you will see her around from time to time. We were then transferred to the seaplane terminal where we got our much needed earplugs for the 25min journey to lily beach.

LILY BEACH
On arrival at lily beach you are greeted by an elderly gentleman beating a drum. There are no queues at reception. From your comfortable chair you are given a welcome drink, a card to fill in and then your room key. I had requested room 160 - 169 after reading a report from a previous guest. We were not disappointed and given room 168. These rooms are at the opposite end of the island to the coffee bar and swimming pool. We were more than pleased with our room as in our opinion it was quieter with less people at this end of the island. The rooms are basic but are kept immaculate.
FOOD - you will not go hungry as there is plenty of variety to choose from. We had candlelit dinners, barbecues, a traditional maldivian menu and much more.
SEA LIFE & TRIPS - Please be aware that a couple of mornings we found masses of jelly fish in the sea and on the beach. They are not harmful but can give a nasty sting as one of our neighbours found out. It really only happened a couple of times and it never stopped us venturing into the sea. The marine life is awesome (apart from the jelly fish) parrot fish, angel fish,turtles, moray eels, sea cucumbers, stingrays etc etc. Could go on and on but if your going to lily beach I would recommend you buy your own snorkel and mask that are a good fit so you can enjoy this wonderful sea life.

PART 2 ON PAGE 4

Yeah !!! .Welcome back Sandra. Glad that you had a great time. Been wondering how it was going. Hows the new addition. Did you get any photos sent through? Can't wait to see some photos. How was the weather? Did you see any sharks?

Julie

Hi Julie

I did actually do a full trip report but my computer is playing up and some how loads of it got wiped off.I had been writing it for ages so I'm none to happy I can tell you. I will try to finish it tomorrow. How have I come from a stress free two weeks to feeling I want to throw this computer through the window. Take me back to lily beach please........

Sandra

Oh no. I bet you are well racked off. If you go back, let me know i will get my suitcase packed within minutes. (well i will try my best !!!). Need a holiday too.
Juliex

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

WHALESHARK TRIP - This was the highlight of the holiday for me. We all met on the jetty on a reasonably bright morning. I had taken my sea sickness tablets as the sea doesn't like me very much. After we had been out on the ocean for a while the weather began to change and the sea became choppy. Some of the waves were nearly as high as the speed boat. There were 11 of us on the trip and 3 were sea sick, 1 girl quite bad (not me I had taken my tablets whew!) It was not long before the weather changed again and the sun was shining. Thanks to our much patient guide it was then that 3 whale sharks were spotted. I missed the 1st but managed to get to see the next 2, the last 1 being the best. It was fantastic swimming above these gentle sea creatures. In the 12 days we were at lily everyone who took this trip got to see the whale sharks. In my opinion this is a must do trip.
CORAL GARDEN - You get taken to 2 reefs. I thought the 1st reef was not as nice as the house reef at Lily beach but the 2nd reef has much nicer coral.
NIGHT SNORKELLING - My husband enjoyed the night snorkelling as he got to see different marine life than during the day. You're given a torch and a guy fron the dive school takes you around the house reef.

STAFF
I cannot praise the staff enough at lily beach. We were fortunate enough to have the same room boy and waiter as Sean. On a couple of occasions our room boy decorated our bed with flowers and leaves. It was so beautiful.

WEATHER
Our 1st week the weather was very unpredictable with a few rainy days. The second week the weather was either sunny in the morning and cloudy in the afternoon or visa versa. It didn't stop us getting suntans as when the sun does shine through it is very hot as it is so near the equator. High factor sun lotion needed.

MOBILE PHONES
My phone is with orange and I was unable to recieve or send texts. My husband has T Mobile he could recieve texts and phone calls. It seemed that vodafone was the best network with no problems at all.

SUMMARY
When I arrived at lily beach it was not the robinson crusoe island I had imagined it to be. The day was cloudy and I was tired. The following morning the sun was shining and after a much needed eight hours sleep was when I began to see lily beach through a different pair of eyes. We had 12 wonderful relaxing days. I thought I would get bored, I didn't. I took 24 dvds with me, I watched 2. I didn't fall in love with Lily beach straight away but like so many other guests when it was time to leave I had fallen in love with this wonderful little island.

I cannot finish this report without telling everyone that on May 10th our gorgeous grandson Louis was born. The reception staff were brilliant often checking to see if I had recieved any e-mails. After we had heard the news my daughter e-mailed us a photo and the staff very kindly printed it off for me and so we were able to see the new arrival before we got home.

HOME
Left lily beach on a very rainy day. Flight to dubai was good and on time. As good as their word Emirates provided us with a room, a light lunch and an evening meal. The icing on the cake was when we went to board the plane at dubai airport. We had been up-graded from economy class to first class. wow! We couldn't have had a better finish to our holiday.

Many thanks to both lily beach and emirates for giving us one of the best holidays we have ever had.

Sandra
(going to collect my holiday photos today. Had them put on disc too. If the're o.k will let you know. Don't hold to many hopes on the underwater photos)

Hi Sandra
and welcome back, glad to hear that you had a great time and I hope the place lived up to the billing that I and others had given, good new about your grandson, must have been exciting for the staff there as they love kids.
I hope I don't make you envious or sound pompous but had to book again for next year and already looking forward to it, this time Debz and myself are taking our friends to sample this jewel.

Regards

Joe

Thanks Joe

At the moment trying to get back into the swing of things. Really enjoyed lily beach. Its the first time in ages I've had some quality time with my husband. Found out he has a real sense of humour and made me laugh a lot. We actually took time over eating our meals rather than rushing in and out as we normally do. It was great not having to get up in the morning and rush to find a decent sunbed. Guests and staff alike were so friendly. All these small things added together made a great holiday.
My only one complaint is that you practically loose touch with the outside world and yet I still couldn't manage to get away from one of my dislikes......football. It was nearly always on the T.V. in the bar. Where can I go in the world where I don't have to see or hear football for a fortnight.
When are you going back to lily and who are you flying with?
Guests we spoke too who had been to other islands in the Maldives said they would definitely return to lily beach. Suppose that sums it up really.

Sandra

Hi Sandra. I know what you mean. I am a football widow myself. It seems funny with a user name "englandfan". I wasnt sure what to put and thats what came into my head one day, while hubby had got england match on. I have warned him after hearing what you said, he better not watch every bit of footie that is on (or else we won't be celebrating our first wedding anniversary - but our forthcoming divorce !!!).
Seriously though i am glad you had a lovely time. By the way did you see any sharks? My hubby and i really want to see one, but don't know if they are a rarity.

Julie

Hi Julie

You made me laugh with your comments about football.
My husband didn't watch football that much although he did watch the chelsea v liverpool game. It was on quite late so I just went back to our room and read a book.
The staff love football. They have a game of footie everyday on the beach at around 5.30 p.m.

The only sharks we saw were the whale sharks and at feeding time 2-3 small white tips. After the guy had thrown in the fish he would often tip the blood out into the sea and this seemed to attract the sharks.

I'm sure you will have a lovely time at lily beach Julie. My husband and I are just so not beach people. I love travelling to exotic places and sightseeing with a relax by the pool in between days. And yet I had the most wonderful holiday at lily beach. It was the most stress free place I can remember going too. I have had some wonderful holidays and I don't often like to return to the same place. Lily beach/maldives would be the exception.

Sandra

Hi everyone
Glad to hear that Julie is excited about going, just to let you all know that I have booked to return to the Maldives for next March a couple of weeks later than we normally plump for, it seems that the Maldives are a popular choice next year I must have spent a least two days on the internet and on the phone trying to get the best deal.
I would have preferred to fly Emirates but had difficulties with the tour operators, Hayes and Jarvis could do the holiday but only if we travelled on their airline, eventually we decided to use H&J, flying First Choice Airlines on their new refurbished 767's and I must say a quite a bit cheaper than this year.

Regards

Joe

Hi Joe. Heres a question for you. Are the Rooms at Lily Beach quite big. I saw one on the net, but didn't know if it was a water bungalow or not. It looked quite spacious. Also quite fancy the night snorkelling. If you have done it what iis it like? It sounds a bit spooky

Julie