Indulge myself into another lifestyle of different culture, settings, norms and beliefs. I want to learn more about the Maldivian way of life and participate in their environment.
All pictures from Google Image unless noted
BEACHES! The number one reason why the Maldives was my choice for my dream vacation, purely from the initial reaction to the beaches on the islands.
This trip is an once in a life time expense! I would need to budget beforehand to save enough money to finance this trip. It is also somewhere where it is worth dishing out the money for the experience, as it will probably be the first and last time I visit the Maldivies ... unless my boyfriend or I become millionaires.
On this trip, there is no itinerary or schedule- there are no deadlines and no RUSHING!
We need to allocate some of our spending money to transportation fees and tips for the drivers.
Transportation:
Okay, so obviously car taxis like the ones in Toronto or London, are not the primary mode of inter-island transportation in the Maldives (except on the main island, where the capital city, Male, is located). The Maldives does offer an inter-island "taxi" transport system of small seaplanes, and helicopters. There are also ferries, which are a cheaper means of travel and the preferable method of transport we would use. Getting a time schedule of the ferry's route (at the airport) is crucial to make sure we can get to and from different locations if we plan to explore without a tour guide.
Excursions are a must to keep the vacation exciting. Since the vacation is two weeks, I want to enjoy some of the local activities that would help me experience the Maldives to the fullest. I am not a dare devil, so I would deviate towards excursions with minimal "danger" risks and minus any carnivore wild animals running around nearby.
REEF SNORKELING:
two hour activity: included in vacation package with hotel at no extra fee!
get to submerge into the ocean with some fishes and explore the beauty of nature's coral reef
I love swimming in the ocean, so this would be a MUST DO activity (note: must purchase an underwater camera!)
Snorkeling in the coral reef
SUNSET FISHING:
$20 US additional fee per person, needs a minimum of eight people per trip
my family would always make a day of fishing at my cottage every summer, so the idea of somewhat reliving this experience is a wonderful opportunity
at the end of the fishing trip, you can you cook up the fish you caught on the boat, and have a romantic dinner while on the ocean
note: pack Gravol (I have been known to get sea-sick)
ISLAND HOPPING:
a day trip, included in the hotel services at no extra fee
a way to experience almost every island in the Maldives with a tour guide who is also familiar with the local language and traditions
experience the different beaches within the Maldives
note: collect something like a shell from each part of the Maldives for a collectible/souvenir
experience the locals of the Maldives in more populated areas
Island Hopping!
CATAMARAN:
included in hotel services at no extra fee
able to go offshore and view the island and hotel from a far (the big picture)
appreciate your vacation even more
a slower ride than a motorized boat, you are literally a foot from the water- can feel the ocean as you sit back and take in the scenery
organized and stressful--> book through Expedia.ca to earn savings by booking the flight and hotel together- avoid confusion of days spent traveling in the air to Maldives and dates to book for hotel
prefer structure --> not an independent traveler and not willing to go into unknown territory-- booking a vacation package and consultation with a travel agent will reassure me transportation to and from the hotel and airport will be provided
... above reasons are WHY I need this vacation
DO NOT WANT TO STRESS ON THIS TRIP!
Budget: Total for Two Weeks= $13, 000 for two people Hotel and Flight= $12, 496.08 Spending Money= around $500 total Local Currency=Rufiyaa (1 rufiyaa equivalent to 0.08 US dollars)- US Dollars and Credit Cards are also accepted and encouraged
Flight and Hotel: SHERATON MALDIVES FULL MOON RESORT AND SPA
There are no direct flights to Maldives from Toronto because of the long distance and airline regulations of pilots flying for a certain amount of hours per day. Two stop-offs are the only available option on the way there, losing 2 days in the air, and one day on the way back, hence why this vacation is two weeks to make the whole vacation worthwhile.
Before booking any hotels though, I would check online through tripadvisor.com for past tourists' experiences. This will give me an idea of what other people thought, good and bad, about the hotel choice. I try to match travelers my age and expectations of a vacation according to their brief description, to weigh heavier on their say compared to other people.
So these reviews are VERY reassuring of an excellent vacation...
Who: My boyfriend and Me When: Two weeks in April Where: Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa What: dream vacation in the next five to ten years Why: some R&R, total seclusion and BEACHES!
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa
My idea of travel is solely based on beaches and hot weather. The Maldives is where I would want to spend two weeks with my boyfriend, as aromantic getaway but also as an exit to the busy world of jobs and stress, and to the total seclusion to an exotic HOT island. The best months to visit the Maldives are from December to April, where it is in the "dry" season, avoiding the other months which are characterized with monsoons and other weather most beach seeking tourists want to avoid.
The Maldives are also a different beach experience from other islands that I have been to in the Caribbean (Trinidad &Tobago, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba). The Maldives for me hold this identity of untouched tourist grounds, which makes it that much more attractive for me to vacation there.
The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort is located on Furanafushi Island, north of Male International Airport.
