we were due to go in March however the holiday was cancelled on us by the T/O with only 11 days to go. There is alot of building work going on there that is affecting the whole island. They told us it was reef conservation work and trying to stop the sea swallowing the island but then Thomas Cook told us the truth in that it was just building work that had been ongoing since the Tsunami. Apparantly, the lagoon villas on stilts have now all been rebuilt but there is further work going on on the island itself. Thomson told us there were bulldozers etc everywhere and offered us an alternative..I thought they would offer us an alternative island but they offered us Fuertaventura!!!!! Hmmmm..no brainer. We ended up not going at all with Thomsons/First Choice and organising a last minute trip to Thailand instead with Thomas Cook and arguing to get our money back later..

I understand that Paradise Island is one of the bigger islands but all the reports we had from friends that had been all rated it highly for scuba diving especially. Don't know if building work is still going on.

Actually not my favorite island if I'm honest. Have been to (and dived at) Lily Beach, Kuredu, Meeru, Bandos and Paradise. I prefer the islands further away from Male - you can see Male itself (and watch the aircraft take off and land) from Paradise which IMHO ruins the tropical island feel you are looking for in the Maldives.However it is handy for transfers...................

The best house reef of the islands I've visited is easily Bandos (who also have an excellent set up dive operation -wise, easy nitrox fills etc) best overall diving a toss up between Meeru (best operator), Lily Beach (more relaxed, some fab thila dives for photography, permitting lots of customer input to choice of sites and a fair housereef if the current isn't running so fast you fly it in twelve minutes!) and Kuredu (who offer speedboat trips to further sites and also overnight Safaris). We were at Paradise prior the tsunami (our room was one of those actually washed away a few months later!) and the place tended to have the feel of a conference centre with a beach, rooms unspectacular (assumedly now rectified), diving OK but were not great fans of the company running the diving at the time (Delphis) as they were decidedly un customer-focussed!!! The food was however possibly the best of everywhere we visited as they did some spectacular theme nights on the beach. They also have a fair few day visitors (for conferences and to join cruise/safari boats) but that has the upside of the island being quieter in the evening. Nice pool too.

If I was to go back to any of them it would probably be Lily Beach for it's intimacy - but then they always say you fall most in love with the first Island you visit............................................

I've been for 3 nights, and it was a pretty island, lovely beach, decent rooms, all you would seem to expect. It was a while ago, so I remember a fair few Russian Guests - and being charged £16 for a rum & coke from the mini-bar

All else would be as you expect though.

Hey!

In my opinion Maldives are the most desired holiday destination these days. I would recommend you to rent one of the
luxury houses in one of the little islands instead of hotel cause it would make the experience even more surreal - straight from
the city to live literally above the Ocean! Please make the most of of your luxury holidays!

Best,

Ida