Maldives Resorts Travel Guide: Is the Maldives Really Worth the Hype
- Ankitha
- Dec 20, 2020
- 10 min read
Updated: Sep 24
The Maldives often tops bucket lists as a dream destination, boasting crystal-clear waters, powdery white beaches, and luxurious overwater villas. But with its reputation as a high-end getaway, many travelers wonder: Is the Maldives really worth the hype, or is it just another Instagram-fueled trend? In this Maldives travel guide, we dive beyond the glossy photos to uncover whether the Maldives lives up to its legendary status. From exploring its pristine marine life to weighing the costs, activities, and overall experience, we’ll help you decide if this tropical paradise deserves a spot on your travel plans. Let’s find out if the Maldives truly lives up to its global acclaim!
If you know us at all, then you know we are NOT resort people. This was our first full board island stay. It is also not our style to stay in a bubble when we travel... but these five eventful days were the most wonderful days we could have hoped for in 2020. An oasis that came at the right time to save us from falling into an abyss.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Flights + Visa Maldives Resorts
We flew direct with Emirates. Most countries can get a visa on arrival free of charge in Male. The airport is small, and the immigration was a breeze—done in 15 minutes. No crowd, no fuss, no mess.
Safety
We landed at Male airport and found everyone was wearing a mask. That definitely put us at ease. Though no place is entirely safe, Maldives—or any island, for that matter—is probably one of the safest places to fly to this year because you can stay within a bubble for a few days. Again, this is not to say the worst can’t or won’t happen, but prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Best Time to Visit
There are pros and cons to visiting in every season. The islands are mostly warm year-round, but the best time to visit Maldives is from November to April. We went in December and had rain for a few hours on the day we landed, mostly due to the cyclone forming in the Indian Ocean earlier that week. Be prepared for mad humidity throughout the year!
Language
Dhivehi is the official language, but everyone is extremely friendly and fluent in English.
Travel Insurance + Currency
Travel insurance is always recommended. USD is accepted at all resorts.
How to Pick Your Resort
This can take months of research, especially for an obsessive planner like me. There is a Maldives resort for every budget and traveler. I found this to be the most challenging part of the trip.
So how did we land on Kanuhura? As non-alcohol drinkers, an all-inclusive package was automatically ruled out. We are also not great swimmers, so having a phenomenal reef was not a top priority. We were ideally looking for a private and luxurious resort without being OTT, and yes, great vegetarian food was a must. I loved that this resort had three islands instead of the usual two at most resorts—more places to explore.
Other options I considered were Taj Exotica, Hideaway Beach Resort, and Lily Beach—but the all-inclusive packages were limiting for us.
Kanuhura is an award-winning resort, managed by the Sun Resort group. They only have 80 luxury villas and had just reopened on November 15 after closing in April due to the pandemic. The resort underwent a full renovation in 2016, winning the award for best renovation. Fresh orchids in every villa were an elegant touch.
The chic furnishing felt posh without being overly pompous, with playful colors like blue and sunny yellow. It was luxurious but not stuffy—a perfect fit for our style..
How You Should Budget for Maldives
The Maldives can be expensive, as are most exotic isolated islands. The budget depends on your resort, duration, and package, but you can expect around $5,000 for two at a luxury resort for four nights and five days. I highly recommend booking at least a full board package, as each meal, with tips, can cost around $80–90.
Our room for four nights (two nights in a beach villa and two nights in a water villa) was $3,500 on a full board basis. This included lounge access at Male airport, seaplane transfer, three-course meals per person every day, use of game rooms and bikes on the property, snorkeling equipment, and island hopping with resort boats. Motorized water sports, spa, and sunset cruises were additional.
Disclaimer: note that this deal we were offered with Kanuhura was active when we traveled in 2020.
Planning a Maldives trip can feel overwhelming. Whether you're based in the UAE or India, I offer personalized assistance to help you craft the perfect Maldives vacation without breaking the bank. From finding budget-friendly resorts with stunning overwater villas to organizing flights and activities like snorkeling or island-hopping, I’ve got you covered
Vegan + Vegetarian Food
Kanuhura’s food and service made our trip go from wow to mind-blowing. From Indian to Italian to salads and burgers, the menu was extensive, even during COVID.
The head chef, Mr. Shakti, took care of us like family. The resort has four restaurants—Amano, the Veli, Botega, and the Cowry Bar. Every meal was a treat. Our top picks: Maldivian Pumpkin Curry at Veli, homemade raspberry + coconut sorbet at Amano, gnocchi at Botega, and grilled mango with dark chocolate ice cream at Veli.
Beach Villas vs Water Villas
Kanuhura is set on a long fish-shaped island and is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. The resort’s gypset vibes matched the pristine blue waters perfectly. With just 80 villas, it maintained charm, luxury, and exclusivity.
We started in the beach villa—spacious, elegant, and steps from the shore. The bathrooms were GOALS.
The water villa, of course, is the main event in Maldives resorts. Spacious with incredible views, we could swim alongside the marine life right below our villa. A plunge pool wasn’t necessary for us, but it could be for others.
Tip: while the water villa experience is one that should not be missed, you might have seen a lot of villas with plunge pools, we did not upgrade to one because honestly we are really not water people.. after 4 days of snorkeling, we had had enough. So choose wisely!
What to Pack
Beachwear, fedoras, slippers or Crocs, swimsuits, and sunscreen are musts. You’ll get tanned anyway!
Seaplanes
To reach islands from Male, you have two options: seaplane or speedboat. Seaplanes are quicker and offer unreal aerial views of the atolls. Speedboats are slower but cheaper. The farther the resort, the more expensive the seaplane.
Highlights
Kanuhura’s meet and greet was flawless, with a lounge at the seaplane airport. Our sea plane ride was 45 blissful minutes to paradise.
Fun fact: islands far from Male often have an unofficial time zone, usually 1–2 hours behind the city, so guests can enjoy meals while watching the sun.
The beach villas faced the sunrise, perfect for morning snorkeling. The resort has three islands, including a neighboring uninhabited one called Jehnuhura—ideal for a picnic or dip in the ocean.
Yoga-lates classes, lush greenery, and breathtaking sunsets made every day magical.
Water villas offered direct access to reefs, calm nights with the sound of waves, and mesmerizing marine life. Every evening, we found new spots for sunset views—Maldives sunsets are an event on their own. Day-by-Day Highlights
Day 1: Arrival, sea plane ride, check-in, and sunset at the main reception.
Day 2: Sunrise at the beach villa, snorkeling, biking around the property, island hopping, yoga-lates, and sunset at Veli restaurant.
The sunrise happens at around 7 ish.. and what a view it was.
The beach villas face the sun, so the views were way better here than at the water villa. Mornings are also the best time to go out snorkeling.. it is when the marine life come out to eat and be merry.
After a good few hours snorkeling, we worked up an appetite. The rest of the morning was spent biking around the lush green tropical property. Lush green island postcards on every corner!
Post lunch, we finally explored one of the neighboring island of the resort. As I mentioned, Kanuhura is one of the larger islands in Maldives with three islands.
Just a few minutes away by speedboat lie two other uninhabited incredible islands. Deserted, pure and touched. Jehnuhura is the perfect place to enjoy a light picnic or a dip in the ocean. This is true solitude. This is life.
We even found a sandback.. yay!
Back in time for my free yoga-lates class at 6.. don't miss out on this experience. Quite blissful to practice your zen-ness out in the open.
Thanks to the heat, we were pretty exhausted by the time sunset rolled around but no trip to Maldives is complete without gushing over breathtaking sunsets.
We waited for the evenings impatiently.. still counting our stars for great weather. One day the clouds would be reflecting on the ocean, on another day the sky would be fiery pink that will set your soul on fire. Today we stayed close to the main reception area.. I don't think I need to say anything more!
Dinner was at the Veli restaurant - asian fusion. That is a wrap of day two.
Day 3: Snorkeling, exploring the orchid and chef’s gardens, moving into the water villa, sunset at Iru Beach.
Lot more snorkeling and a delicious breakfast.
We took every opportunity we got to explore this resort.
So many fun and free activities you can do apart from snorkeling.. like a visit to the divine smelling orchid garden and a chef's garden!
By noon our water villa was ready to be moved into. We were so excited to move in, we skipped our plan to explore the other island. We rode our way to the stunning bungalows we had been staring at for the last two days...
Like I said, these villas are a must-do if you visit Maldives. We could not get enough of these views or this villa. Water villas are basically villas built over the ocean and reefs supported by stilts.
A little peek down from the villa gives you magical views of an unbelievable life underwater you cannot fathom - most villas have stairs that lead you to the bottom of the reef. You can spend your days snorkeling, sun bathing or just lounging on the beach chairs.
Sleep to the calming sound of waves. Count the fish. Watch the stars. After this year, not a minute can be taken for granted. Make every second count!
I was too comfortable in the hammock to leave but if you thought I was just going to stop with one evening of sunset spam, you underestimate how many pictures I take on a trip!!
Maldivian sunsets are an event on its own. This evening was one of my absolute favorites from the trip. This place takes the prize for the best sunset we have ever seen during all our travels.
Every evening we went to a new spot at the resort... today we were at the other end, called the Iru Beach. The sky was a different color today. No matter where you are in the island, the sunsets in Maldives are worth capturing a million times over.
The sky was on fire, the ocean was warm and this moment was so magical I shed a few happy tears. That is a wrap of day three.
Day 4: Best snorkeling with turtles, stingrays, and hundreds of fish. Chill time and last sunset.
To top it off, this was also the BEST morning we had had for snorkeling - we saw a turtle right below our water villa and dove right in to swim along side it.
It was such an unbelievable experience for us.. wish we had a go-pro to capture the moment.. we got real lucky, that is all that matters. Later we also saw couple stingray and hundreds of fish!
More chill time after breakfast.. because who can have enough of these island views?
The last sunset wasn't as dramatic as the other ones but still a memorable last evening..
Day 5: Morning at the resort, spa visit at Kokaa, sea plane transfer back, and farewell ice cream.
I was sure to spent some time at the award-winning Kokaa spa. The masseuse was a superstar.. highly recommend you give the spa a try.
As you can probably tell, I didn't want to leave the resort.. it was the most amazing five days we could have imagined in this situation.
Our sea plane was ready for us at 4 p.m. with a heavy heart we bid adieu to this heavenly island.. but not before grabbing one final ice cream - did I mention how incredible their vanilla ice cream tastes?
Final Thoughts
"Tan lines will fade, but the memories will last forever."
For two people who don’t frequent islands, the Maldives exceeded our expectations. Is it safe? That depends on your circumstances. Research, prepare, and stick to the rules.
The most frequently asked question on my IG page about this trip - is it safe to travel for leisure? In all honesty, this is a decision only you can make for yourself. Consider where you are traveling from, where you are traveling to, the rules there and what you intend to do once you are there. Weigh the pros and cons. Yes, there is a risk - I will not deny that. PREPARE. RESEARCH. STICK TO THE RULES. Don't worry about whether others are wearing a mask or washing their hands or socially distancing. You should do it anyway. Reduce your own risk and be smart. Don't get carried away just because you are on vacation. The pandemic is no hoax but life has to go on, albeit in a new way that is starting to feel normal.
Spend no more than 4–5 days; longer may feel slow. Switch between beach and water villas rather than resorts for variety.
Another question I was asked often is about switching resorts.
Don't underestimate the cost of shifting on an island. Unless you have genuine reason to switch, try to avoid the added risk of doing so during the pandemic. I also don't think your experience at a new resort will be any different - unless you feel the diving scene is better some place else. To keep things interesting, I would recommend switching between the beach and water villas.
Is the Maldives worth the hype? HELL YEAH! It’s a true paradise with white sand, blue skies, clear oceans, kind staff, refreshing spas, and brilliant restaurants.
We would travel back in a heartbeat to lie under palm trees, swim with marine life, and count the million stars above.
Drop your comments below and show some love. Feel free to shoot me an email with your feedback.
Cheers,
Anki
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