Maldives

Ahh I went on holiday there with Kuoni, it was expensive but really really nice. Best island I've been on I'd say. I do know that there were cheaper islands as well which were just as beautiful but I don't know who they booked through

Which island did you go for? The one I liked came in at 8k for 2 weeks all inclusive in a water villa so would be amazing! This wedding malarkey ain't cheap!

Hi, I went a few years ago. I stayed on Medhufushi island. I booked through The Coop. If Im honest The Maldives just arnt for me though, if you like lots of things to do make sure you pick an Island that has a bit more on it and stuff to do. Medhufushi has water sports (obviously ha) and a few trips like a dolphin watch boat trip but once youve done all them thats it. The first week they had a few things on like crab racing (yes really) but they did exactly the same things the second week. But if you want a good rest and piece and quiet then its perfect. It probably didnt help that I went with my Ex to 2 weeks on a small island with him made me want to kill him. But if your loved up I can imagine it would be great ha.

Enjoy xx

I went years ago to Fihalhoui (can't remember how to spell it properly!) with first choice and it was lovely. Might not be as luxury as some airlines or other resorts but for the price we paid we were more than happy.

If you go with kuoni, try and book with blue bay travel, they sell kuoni, but sometimes do special discounts on them. I booked mine this week and saved about £500 rather than going direct to Kuoni.

Also you can try cheaper options like Thomson, first choice that have some lovely options as well.

Thanks! We don't mind that there's not much to do, we have an 8 year old so every holiday we go on I never get a minute to just lie and relax! My family are taking him away on a holiday while we are on honeymoon so we can do something different, we think maybe doing 10 days might be enough rather than 2 weeks.

We stayed at Diamond Arthuruga resort in Maldives which was truly amazing. Wanted to cry when we left.

We booked with Kouni, but yes, is really expensive. We did 10 days instead of 14 as we couldn't have stretched to 14!

Thanks for that! You said you stayed 10 days, would you have wanted to stay 14 if you could? Some people say there's not enough to do and it might get boring after a while.

also has anyone been on any activities? What kind of things can you do? And is it best to go all inclusive, I've heard drinks and food can be expensive?

sorry for all the questions!

We went for the half board option that was basically breakfast and evening meal. It was a big buffet but the food was really nice. We bought bar snacks for lunch but as its so hot etc that was enough. May be worth asking what drinks are included as the island we were on had 1 bar so it wasnt like you had any choice to shop about. If you are in to water sports they do things like diving courses and trips, fishing trips and stuff like kite surfing and water skiing. Do you snorkle? maybe see what sort of reef your selected island is near as i hear some are better than others.

I stayed in both a beach Villa and a water villa, both are nice, beach was nice as it had an outside shower (private of cause) and the water ones were good as you can swim to your back door. Check what time of year you are going with the weather as they have tropical storms - not that this matters too much as when i was there it was just a big shower at 4pm every day for an hour - then sun again.

Also see how you get to your chosen island, mine you had to use one of those teeny tiny planes which for some people is amazing but for some terrifying ha x

Yes, I would have wanted to stay longer, whcih surprised me. I normally get a bit bored and home sick after 7/8 days somewhere, but didn't in the Maldives.

We didn't do any activities, so was complete relaxation, but did things like kayaked around the island and stuff, which was lovely, and loads of snorkelling etc.

We went all inclusive. Our resort was one of the best all inclusives so loads of cocktails etc. Didn't eat lunch really, as would have late big breaksfast and then 3 courses in the evening, with canapes usually. Was wonderful.

Hey

Maldives is amazing! We went for 7 days and that was enough for us totally relaxing but any longer and I would have been bored.

We had 2 days of overcast weather and showers so that even ruled out the option of sunbathing for a couple of days!

ETA I always find Kuoni to be a few hundred £ more expensive then other agents offering the same holiday.... Check out Hayes and Jarvis they often have deal on for Maldives.

We went to Kuramathi in 2011 for a week, after a week travelling round Sri Lanki, both with Kuoni.

Loved every minute of it. 7 nights definitely not enough!!!

https://www.photobox.co.uk/creation/831166989

We stayed in a standard beach villa (a LOT cheaper than the water villas) and it was perfect. We also had Select All Inclusive so 5 restaurants and 7 bars to choose from as well as the allocated restaurant. Free snorkelling gear, a free sunset cruise and the softest sand and clearest water you could want!

ETA: we booked our Kuoni trip through Blue Bay Travel - they were £500 cheaper than Kuoni direct.

This is where we have booked our honeymoon for!! :-D

RE Kuoni - try Travel Desingers. We saved over £1,000 going through them, your contract etc is still with Kuoni.

If your looking for somewhere cheaper try looking at Reethi Beach Resort. We went here this year and its amazing. Go B&B as their is two restaurants to pick from in the evening, both cheap enough, and lots of choice. Their restaurant in the evening looked a bit too busy for us.

oooh how exciting! when are you going? It was wonderful.

Clarehj - we go the day after our wedding, 4th August. We have booked the Water Villa, 10 nights. Can't wait!

We are doing similar to what Mrs C did - a week in Sri Lanka and then a week in Kuramathi. We booked through Kuoni. We couldn't have afforded 14 days in Maldives and I was worried we might get a bit bored being in one place so we decided a week of sight-seeing etc in Sri Lanka first and then a week in the Maldvives was best for us

Thanks everyone! I'll get looking, we are hoping to go the day after on the 4th August haha if we end up at the same place I'm not stalking you!

Haha!! Stalker!! :-)

Have a think about what you want. For us, after Reethi another relaxed, small, barefoot island was important.

Complete relaxation - we were both a bit apprehensive about getting bored etc but honestly, never been so relaxed in our lives!

It was like we were on another planet for 10 days and now we truly believe you can't top the maldives or that feeling!

oooh so jealous. We splashed out on tbe water villa and loved it. Try and get one Try and ask for one where the outside faces the sunset. Loved sitting on the decking bit and wwatching the sunset. We would always go to the restaurant as well before dinner, sit on the sofas, watching the stars and drinking cocktails.

Hi! We were thinking of Maldives too, it looks so relaxing! can I ask those who have been, ive read a couple of times that May is not a good time to go. Is this correct? Thanks!

Love your pics!! Ours is a Sunset Villa It worked out cheaper to get the Sunset Villa because they put extra honeymoon discount on it! Would of been £200 more for the normal Villa! When did you go?

ahh great. We also got a bottle of bubbly on our first night, which was fab. We went april 22nd, day after our honeymoon. We had a terrible storm in the middle of the first night but then after that the weather was fab, apart from couple of thunderstorms, which were amazing to just watch on the beach with a cocktail in hand. Ha word of warning, no conistency with the cocktails - you could order the same each night but would be different each time, but all very nice thoiugh!

Thanks Clare! Thats OK for me as I'm not a big drinker - I'll let OH know! He's concerned about the choice of beer / larger I think, you know how some AI places only offer... well, hardly any choice! I'm concerned about whether they do milkshakes on AI or not! Haha!

We went to Meedhupparu (something like that!) for 2 weeks in Feb (not a honeymoon, we're getting married next year)...absolutely amazing!! I was a bit concerned about having nothing to do as I always have to be doing something but absolutely loved it!! 2 weeks all inclusive and I Bly put on 3lbs, miracle!! We booked with Thomsons and highly recommend it. Make sure you go on a seaplane x