Snorkeling is a must. Its just too got to miss it when its close.
I like the idea of a smaller island and would like a 4* i think. The idea of being deserted on it certainly makes a nice appeal. any suggestions? I have decided to sell some junk on ebay (antique junk anyhow) so £2500 is now my budget.
Whats the policy on island hopping? Is that allowed? I presume there something available excursion wise too.
And finally... it says on thomsons brochures that transfers can be by sea plane. How do you book this? I'd love to have a trip on one of them things!
Mr P,
Ok smaller islands with AI within £2500
Definitely Lily beach, Maayaafushi, Biyadhoo and Vilamendhoo (they all have good snorkelling - Lily is famed for having one of the best house reefs in the maldives within 30 feet of the beach on one side of the island).
White Sands and should also be available within your price range as should Sun Island and Kuredu (although the last two are the two biggest islands in the maldives).
You might get Veligandu at a push (although I believe it is closing from may 07 for a 6 month refurbishment). You could also try Koomandoo which has a no under 12's policy - you might be lucky and get it within your budget.
Some of the other smaller islands that are lovely don't do all inclusive which would really push your budget us when soft drinks are $4, beers are $5-6 and cocktails $8-10 a time.
If you choose an island that is far enough from Male then the seaplane transfer is usually already included but it depends of access to the island. Some companies do charge extra for it (so you could upgrade one way if you wanted) but my trips with hayes and jarvis has always had it included.
Island hopping is not something you can do by yourself obvously - the islands usually run 1/2 day trips to neighbouring islands which they charge anything from $15-35 for .
Hope this helps
Ok smaller islands with AI within £2500
Definitely Lily beach, Maayaafushi, Biyadhoo and Vilamendhoo (they all have good snorkelling - Lily is famed for having one of the best house reefs in the maldives within 30 feet of the beach on one side of the island).
White Sands and should also be available within your price range as should Sun Island and Kuredu (although the last two are the two biggest islands in the maldives).
You might get Veligandu at a push (although I believe it is closing from may 07 for a 6 month refurbishment). You could also try Koomandoo which has a no under 12's policy - you might be lucky and get it within your budget.
Some of the other smaller islands that are lovely don't do all inclusive which would really push your budget us when soft drinks are $4, beers are $5-6 and cocktails $8-10 a time.
If you choose an island that is far enough from Male then the seaplane transfer is usually already included but it depends of access to the island. Some companies do charge extra for it (so you could upgrade one way if you wanted) but my trips with hayes and jarvis has always had it included.
Island hopping is not something you can do by yourself obvously - the islands usually run 1/2 day trips to neighbouring islands which they charge anything from $15-35 for .
Hope this helps
Great stuff Cynical. You've been very helpful!
During my research on trip advisor and suchlike. Many people have commented that they have had to pay to use the pool at the hotel?! and that the all inclusive isnt what we would notmally concider all inclusive.
The last thing I wan it to turn up and then have a load of other charges to pay. do you have any experience of this?
Lee
During my research on trip advisor and suchlike. Many people have commented that they have had to pay to use the pool at the hotel?! and that the all inclusive isnt what we would notmally concider all inclusive.
The last thing I wan it to turn up and then have a load of other charges to pay. do you have any experience of this?
Lee
I've never ever heard of paying to use a pool so cetainly never experienced it.
As for the all inclusive - yes it certainly not as good as say the caribbean AI deals as cocktails are usually excluded. However I'm more than happy to drink my weight in beer, barcardi and diet coke and the occasional smirnoff with bitter lemon so I'm set - Lily Beach do include 2 cocktails a day in the all inclusive but you'll find that liquers such as baileys are chargeable wherever you go.
Our last holiday bill was about $170 (£90) we had 3 special meals on the beach (fillet steak etc) and a bottle of decent red wine on each occasion plus the occasional baileys - no trips this time included in that though.
As for the all inclusive - yes it certainly not as good as say the caribbean AI deals as cocktails are usually excluded. However I'm more than happy to drink my weight in beer, barcardi and diet coke and the occasional smirnoff with bitter lemon so I'm set - Lily Beach do include 2 cocktails a day in the all inclusive but you'll find that liquers such as baileys are chargeable wherever you go.
Our last holiday bill was about $170 (£90) we had 3 special meals on the beach (fillet steak etc) and a bottle of decent red wine on each occasion plus the occasional baileys - no trips this time included in that though.
Thats not bad.
One big thing i forgot about was that my lady is a Vegiterian. Is this easily catered for?
One big thing i forgot about was that my lady is a Vegiterian. Is this easily catered for?
No problem as the chefs are all from goa or sri lanka where a lot of people are veggies so they made some great veggies dishes on a daily basis included some great curries which I much prefered to the meat versions.
All your suggestions look great and are pretty much all possiuble on the ones I found.
Which one would you chose? I need help deciding hehe.
Which one would you chose? I need help deciding hehe.
I am biased as we've been to Lily beach 3 times - and are going again in May. It is a lovely island - the staff are fantastic, the food great and it is one of the better all inclusive islands in terms of what is included - and it is very reasonably priced.
The snorkelling is fantastic with a miriad of fish plus rays and the occasional shark to be seen. They have a turtle nursery on the island where they raise baby turtles born in the area untill they are old enough to be released - because of that there are always turtles who used to live at Lily beach around - in fact they come back 3 times a day for a free meal !!
They also do large fish feeding on the pier at 9pm every night so fro about 6.30 onwards huge rays, moray eels and even lobsters start to gather in order to get their free meal.
We love it - our favourite place in the world.
It will also come with guaranteed sea plane transfers if that interests you.
The snorkelling is fantastic with a miriad of fish plus rays and the occasional shark to be seen. They have a turtle nursery on the island where they raise baby turtles born in the area untill they are old enough to be released - because of that there are always turtles who used to live at Lily beach around - in fact they come back 3 times a day for a free meal !!
They also do large fish feeding on the pier at 9pm every night so fro about 6.30 onwards huge rays, moray eels and even lobsters start to gather in order to get their free meal.
We love it - our favourite place in the world.
It will also come with guaranteed sea plane transfers if that interests you.
Woh. I can get that for less than £2200! thats a bonus.
Thats become even more appealing now....
Just going back to your post about drink, are the brands like smirnoff free? YOu mentioned baileys was chargable so is it international brands like Jack Daniles and smirnoff thats available across a lot of countries?
Thats become even more appealing now....
Just going back to your post about drink, are the brands like smirnoff free? YOu mentioned baileys was chargable so is it international brands like Jack Daniles and smirnoff thats available across a lot of countries?
-
Edited by
Mr Parsons
2007-01-30 14:00:48
It is good value.
If you're interested there is a 14 page discussion of Lily beach on page 3 of this forum.
When we went last May we paid the same price as we did the previous year to go to Cuba so you definitely can get good Maldives deals.
If you're interested there is a 14 page discussion of Lily beach on page 3 of this forum.
When we went last May we paid the same price as we did the previous year to go to Cuba so you definitely can get good Maldives deals.
Sorry, just edited my previous post instead of posting again.
I presume you prefer the Maldives to Cuba?
I presume you prefer the Maldives to Cuba?
Gosh yes - problem is, once you've been to the Maldives everywhere else seems really crappy!!
Drinks are branded like smirnoff, Bacardi, Johnnie Walker etc. A bourbon like JD is not included in the all inclusive - but to be honest I doubt it would be anywhere is the maldives.
Drinks are branded like smirnoff, Bacardi, Johnnie Walker etc. A bourbon like JD is not included in the all inclusive - but to be honest I doubt it would be anywhere is the maldives.
Sorry, probably a bad example. I just didnt want to go somewhere like Egypt where its all really bad local produce.
Weather in June is pretty wet isnt it? Wondering if i should advance it to May.
Weather in June is pretty wet isnt it? Wondering if i should advance it to May.
Hehe. i think so although found some interesting reading:
http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Maldives/Climate/
Might see you out there!
Thanks for all your help.
Lee
http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Maldives/Climate/
Might see you out there!
Thanks for all your help.
Lee
All I know is in 2006 May was resonably Ok - we lost two half days to rain plus there were a number of storms at night but June and July was pretty much a washout. A lot of bad weather around even in November and December - hope that means their summer season is starting late as that means it should still be ok in May !
Hope to see you there - I'm sure you'll recognise me - I'll be 25 weeks pregnant by then !
Hope to see you there - I'm sure you'll recognise me - I'll be 25 weeks pregnant by then !
hehe... and the rate i'm going i'll look the same! Yes, i know its not possible for amle to get pregnat hehe.
Haha.
Just so you know - it is very quiet in the evenings Entertainment twice a week (sometimes 3 times) rest of the time it is pretty low key - just chatting and rinking in the bars - mind you I can spend all evening on the bar decking over the water just watching the wildlife (fruit bats, the crabs that come and patrol the beach in the evening, the odd ray or puffer fish swimming by and watching the resident herons fishing off the sea wall - it truly is magical stuff.
Tracy
Just so you know - it is very quiet in the evenings Entertainment twice a week (sometimes 3 times) rest of the time it is pretty low key - just chatting and rinking in the bars - mind you I can spend all evening on the bar decking over the water just watching the wildlife (fruit bats, the crabs that come and patrol the beach in the evening, the odd ray or puffer fish swimming by and watching the resident herons fishing off the sea wall - it truly is magical stuff.
Tracy
I've been looking at websites and they say that may has the heaviest rainfall yet june is a fair bit lower?
Last think I want to do is go and it be a washout.
Last think I want to do is go and it be a washout.
Don't think you can really be guaranteed anything at that time of year. As I said before in 2006, May was OK but june was awful - you just can't predict anything in the Maldives dueing our summer months. If you want virtually guaranteed sunshine in May/ June you're better off going to the caribbean - won't be as good as the Maldives though !!
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
Similar Topics