Does anyone know if Sun Island is the one that used to be called Ari Beach please?
Ellie

Not as far as I know -- It has always been Sun Island

It is the one that belongs to VILLA HOTELS

I understand there is another island also with the same name as Sun Island

Oh ok, thank you. I went to Ari beach on my honeymoon and would love to go back, just as soon as I can find out what it's called now! lol
Ellie

Hi

We hope someone can help. We are getting married in September and want a honeymoon that is purely relaxation. We have been looking at the Maldives as it is the ultimate for us as far as complete relaxation is concerned. We really dont want the hustle bustle and we want to lay on a beach knowing we are on our own. But we want good weather too!

We have heard that the weather can be a problem in September and would appreciate some comments as well as any suggestions of an alternative where we can live out a fortnight of complete peace and relaxation.

Thanks

Hi Micamob. Have you managed to transfer any photos yet. I would love to see some. Thanks

Julie

Have you thought of Tunisia?

Hi all. I stayed at Meeru in Oct 2003 and had a truly fantastic time and I believe that it's great value for money. That said, I am not sure that it would be what you are looking for as it is actually one of the bigger islands (although doesn't feel big and you don't realise how many people are there until you turn up at the restaurant for dinner!). I also know that it has been extended (i.e. additional rooms and extra restaurant) since we went. Also, although it is AI and the food at the main buffet restaurant is excellent there were two other restaurants that are not included in the AI arrangement (although the drinks are included) so this is not the place for you if you're looking for a super AI plan where everything is included. The pool is superb and the bars are good. I thought that the snorkelling was very good (alhtough more experienced divers and snorkellers tell me that it is not the best island for house reefs) and they run regular boat trips for even better snorkelling. The rooms are all single storey. The land villas are basically "beach villas" and I think are probably the better option. The water villas are only partly over water but they are at the side of the island that gets very little breeze so it can get exceptionally hot and many people said that it was just too hot to sit on their verandahs. The standard rooms are clean and basic. Air con is good too. I'm sure you'll have a great time whichever island you choose!!

We are looking at booking a holiday at the White Sands Resort (Water Village) for April next year. Has any one got any info on this resort?
Have also had Quotes for Half board and All Inclusive. All Inclusive is quoted as £1200 more expensive for the 2 weeks.
Does anyone know if we can upgrade to all inclusive once you are on the island and would this work out to be any cheaper than booking here through a travel agent?
Many thanks
Webby

Thanks,

we're stopping in a beach bungalow (I think). THey appear to be the ones that look like chalets. It's doesn't bother me to be fair, as long as they are clean I'm not bothered. I'm not going for the room, I'm there for the sea and beach.

Hi,I would strongly recommend Kuramathi,Cottage and spa,it's got everything you want and more......pure paradise.

Most reports I have seen say that the beach bungalows are fine. I think they may have been recently refurbished.

A tip for you (if you don't already know this) is that when you go by seaplane, your luggage normally travels separately by boat. So take some stuff in a small bag for when you arrive. We took our costumes, sunscreen and a change of top for the evening. We arrived at about mid-day and our cases arrived at about midnight... well they were outside our room when we got back that evening.

I am racking my brains to think of other tips or info... we heard that the all day excursion on the Britt boat is well worth doing. Also, everyone raved on the massages etc. in the spa.

We did the night fishing trip - only cost about $13 each and was a good way of passing a couple of hours (especially as we hadn't ever fished before). We got a free sunset cruise, which was ok.... but a cloudy night, so no sunset (and no dolphins!).

However, as you point out, the sea & the beach are by far the best part of Kuredu.

We too are thinking about maldives. Has anyone stayed at the Hilton resort? I like the look of the water villas and wondered if anyone can tell me what they are like. We are not sure when to go. I was thinking around May/June? Does any one know what the weather is likely to be then. Are we likely to get rain then? Any advise would be great. Cheers,

June is in the middle of the rainy season so it will be more cloudy then at other times of the year (best time to go is Nov-April).

My best friend at work is at the Hilton right now though - she returns to work next Wednesday and i will let you know what she thought of it (it is supposed to be one of the best resorts in the Maldives) and what the weather was like compared to what the forecast's predicted which although warm indicated pretty grim conditions. Cloudy and thunderstorms. She's staying in a water villa as a free upgrade. She actually booked a jacquzzi beach villa but they are refurbishing that part of the island and have not finished on deadline so they were upgraded to a superior water villa at no cost.

Anyone help me

Thanks, That would be really great if you can let me know how your friend got on at the Hilton. I am actually considering doing a 2-centre holiday with Abu Dhabi. I really fancy experiencing a couple of nights at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi. I am not sure if it is best to go straight to the Maldives from Scotland(probably via Dubai) and stop off at Abu Dhabi on the way back or vice versa. I know our flight from Scotland to Dubai gets in after midnight although our room is available from midday, we are really losing a days holiday, so the time we got to Abu Dhabi we would nearly be onto our 2nd day's holiday, so I feel we would be wasting money paying for a room we would not have arrived at. Maybe the flight back from Maldives would arrive earlier in the day so that may be the better option. Anyone got any advice on which we should do? Cheers,

Hi
If I may suggest, it would be better to tag the stay in Abu Dhabi to the end of your holiday, it breaks up the long journey home.
Joe

I'd suggest going to Abu Dhabi first first, because then you'll have 'x' amount of nights or pure relaxing in front of you in the Maldives, after which you can return home refreshed rather than stopping in a bustling city.

We thought about stopping in Dubai on our way to the Maldives (didn't in the end) but if we had of, because our flight would have got into Dubai after midnight, we were going to say in a cheaper hotel close to the airport for that first night and then transfer to the 'nice' hotel the following day at midday; might be an idea? Bear in mind that in that part of the world, even a'cheap' hotel close to the airport for about £50/£75 is still very nice.

As for the Maldives, the Hilton has just been refurbished, so it's a good choice. We went to the Taj Exotica Maldives which is opening after being damaged by the Tsunami in December, so it will be fresh and new too.

As for whether to go in May or June, the earlier in May the better........June in the Maldives is statistically the worst month weather wise, and June in Abu Dhabi while be stifling.

Hope this helps.

I understand you have been twice and from your reviews have excellent knowledge of the Island but the official website says this:

"Sun Island measuring about 1.6 km in length and around 380 meters in width has 350 elegantly furnished guestrooms, including 72 water bungalows, out of which, 4 are Presidential Suites, 218 Super Deluxe Beach Bungalows and 60 Deluxe Beach Bungalows.

All Deluxe and Super Deluxe Beach Bungalows are built on the beach ensuring a direct view of the shore and sea".

Now as I said earlier the 350, thats including the 60 delux bungalows all appear to be counted for in the numbers 101-450 around the islands edge.
If what you say are the delux bungalows in the centre, that would imply there would be more than 350?

Obviously I don't want to have to pay out another £84 if in fact all we would be getting was a slightly larger room and a bath.

Anyone........

I have just booked a surprise holiday for my wife and I to Reethi Beech in the Maldives. This is our first real holiday together and i'm already looking forward to it.

I have a question that i'm hoping someone can help me with.

I have booked B&B for the holiday as the ALL I would cost me an extra £1000 and (I have heard) you are limited to certain restaurants , bars etc. Have I done the right thing? I have heard that its very expensive however, we are not big eaters and although we like to have a good drink we do not do this to excess.

Can anyone who has been recently provide any advice on costs of meals, drink etc.

Cheers

Kelvin