With more than 130 picture-perfect resorts competing for Instagram attention with their brilliant white sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, swaying palms and coral reefs – choosing where to stay on a magical Maldives getaway can be tricky.

While each of the Maldives’ 1000+ islands look equally alluring, whether you’re looking for a romantic escape, a ‘flop and drop’ break, a family vacation or an action-packed adventure exploring the island’s marine life, surf breaks and local culture can determine the best place to stay.

When to go?
Despite the weather being warm  all year round, November to April is peak season when it is dry and calm. The humidity is higher from June until August, and rain is more likely in September and October. 

Getting there
Flights to the capital Malé are available from Australia via Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Middle East (amongst others), however, the location of your resort will determine whether  you then need to board a speedboat, seaplane, domestic flight – or a combination.

If you find you need to spend a night or two in Malé  because of flight schedules, take the time to explore the city for an insight into the Maldivian way of life. From the 13th century mosques, to lively fish markets and myriad of eateries dishing up fresh seafood, spicy curries and traditional roshi bread, Malé offers an alternative view of life in the Maldives. 

Where to stay?
The Maldives offers four different types of accommodation:

• Resorts: One of the only places in the world that can host one resort per island. These luxurious retreats offer relaxation, adventure, private beaches and incredible cuisine all in one spot. The Maldives has 140 resorts to choose from – with new properties opening all the time.
• Hotels: On the more affordable side are the 12 hotels on offer, which cater to business travellers and those wanting to have easy access to different parts of the Maldives. 
• Liveaboards: For the seafarers and thrill seekers, there are over a 150 liveaboards to sail away on. Guests can learn how to dive and surf – as well as be wined and dined – all from the comfort of their own private or semi-private vessel.  
• Guest houses: Nested amongst the Maldives’ most welcoming of local communities lies over 500 guest houses, where travellers can experience traditional Maldivian culture and cuisine. 

Minimal travel – more time
For those keen to get to the cocktails and pools as soon as possible, there are a number of resorts within a half-hour boat ride from Malé’s international airport. Some of the closest resorts to Malé include: Huvafen Fushi (15-minute seaplane ride); Jumeirah Vittaveli (20-minute speedboat trip); Kurumba Maldives (10-minute speedboat ride); and LUX* North Malé Atoll (15-minute seaplane).

 Activities galore – for those who want to keep busy
It pays to do your research if you fancy combining your R&R with an appetite for activity and adventure. Consider whether you want a resort with a gym, tennis courts, evening entertainment, water sports or a choice of restaurants and bars – or whether a bed, a beach and a book are all you need.

Resorts offering numerous activities ranging from wakeboarding and jet-skiing to parasailing, golf, tennis, cycling, wreck diving and more include Amilla Fushi (10-minute speedboat from the airport);One and Only Reethi Rah (45-minute speedboat from Malè); and Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa(domestic flight from Malè followed by 5-minute speedboat).

Magnificent marine life – best resorts for snorkelling and diving
Whilst every Maldives resort will have access to magical marine life via its own lagoon and/or reef, there are a few standout regions when it comes to proximity to shipwreck dive sites, manta rays, or swimming with whale sharks. 

 Ari Atoll and Vaavu Atoll (especially Alimatha Island) are popular with divers, Banana Reef is terrific for snorkelling, and the South Ari Atoll (try Mirihi Island Resort) is the prime spot to snorkel with whale sharks all year round. To meet the Maldives’ famous manta rays, head to the UNESCO-protected Hanifaru Bay – Milaidhoo Island Maldives is just 10-minutes away, making it the ideal place to stay. 

Other resorts renowned for their excellent locations for snorkelling and diving include Finolhu (Baa Atoll), Six Senses Laamu (Laamu Atoll), Baros Maldives (North Malè Atoll) and Fushifaru Maldives(Lhaviyani Atoll).

For serious surfers
Famous for its spectacular surfing, there’s a break for the bold throughout most of the year in the Maldives. From March to October the action is on the Malè Atolls; between May and August there’s sublime surfing on the Central Atolls; while the Outer Atolls boast two separate surf seasons, from February to April, and again from August to October. Resorts offering surf trip packages – and in great surfing locations – include Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi and Movenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives.  There are also plenty of liveaboard boat charters for those preferring to keep the action on the water 24/7 such as Carpe Diem and Scubaspa Ying.

For party people
For a vibe that’s more ‘Mykonos meets the Maldives’ than ‘Castaway’ – think international DJs, pool parties, underwater nightclubs, sports simulators, 3D outdoor cinemas, waterfront discos and a glam, festive vibe – choose W Retreat & Spa Maldives (25-minute seaplane), LUX* South Ari Atoll (25-minute seaplane) or Huvafen Fushi Resort & Spa (35-minute speedboat). 

Explore the local life
In recent years, a number of the Maldives’ inhabited islands have begun opening guest house style accommodation for travellers looking for an alternative to the typical ‘one island, one resort’ experience. Browse markets for handicrafts, play chess with locals in the street or take a dip at a local beach – just remember to do so in clothing not swimmers, just like the locals do.

 Another option is to take a day trip to a local island, either from Malè or from select island resorts. Maafushi is just half an hour from the airport and home to a population of 4000, while Thulaadhoo is renowned for its lacquered wooden handicrafts, and is accessible by speedboat or the local ferry from Male.

Family-friendly favourites
Not just a destination for honeymooners, the Maldives is also home to a growing number of family-friendly resorts offering activities and accommodation options to suit all ages. Popular choices include JA Managaru (75-minutes by seaplane from Male); Kanuhura Resort & Spa (40-minute seaplane); Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives (20-minute seaplane); The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives (45-minute seaplane); and Lily Beach Resort & Spa (25-minute seaplane). Activities range from table tennis and extreme water sports to outdoor movie nights, marine biology talks, teen clubs, dedicated kids’ pools and more.

For luxury and lovers 
The Maldives’ resorts epitomise laidback luxe. From overwater bungalows with glass floors to underwater restaurants, personal butlers, decadent spa treatments and private dining, there’s plenty of ways to indulge yourself – and the one you love.

Ravishing resorts acclaimed for their exclusivity, ultra-attentive service, five-star cuisine, spacious suites and spectacular style include: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island; St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort; The Residence Maldives; Joali Maldives; Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa; COMO Maalifushi and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.

For the budget-conscious
Located just 25 minutes from the airport by seaplane, Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa features iconic overwater accommodation at an affordable price. With several bars and dining options, water sports, a wellness spa and fitness centre, games room and more, this is the spot for the ultimate Maldives retreat, without the over-the-top price tag.

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Contact Leesa from itravel on the Sunshine Coast on [email protected] OR on 07 3556 7659 to book your Maldives holiday!

If you’re thinking there aren’t many things to do in the Maldives aside from swimming, snorkelling and diving, think again. Here are the top eight unique experiences for the ultimate Maldivian holiday:

Dine under the sea!
If there is one gastronomic experience you will not want to miss, it is the chance to dine under the sea surrounded by the archipelago’s magnificent marine life. Voted “the most beautiful restaurant in the world” in 2014 by the New York Daily News, the trailblazing Ithaa Undersea Restaurant in the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island lets guests dine five metres below the ocean surface. Imagine feasting on mouth-watering fusion cuisine and savouring some of the finest wines in the world while manta rays, sharks and multi-coloured fish swim all around you. The restaurant seats only 14 though so you better book your lunch or dinner in advance!

Catch a movie OUTSIDE!
Most people don’t know this, but the Maldives has some of the coolest outdoor cinemas on the planet. Lie back in a cushioned lounger cocktail in hand and enjoy a classic film on the sand and under the stars in Soneva Fushi’s open-air Cinema Paradiso. There’s complimentary popcorn of course, but you’ll want to do this with ice cream instead. Did we say there are over 60 ice cream flavours to choose from? If you fancy something a bit different though, like lying on a net stretched over the sea and hearing the waves while rediscovering some old Hollywood favourite, head to its sister resort Soneva Jani’s open-air overwater theatre, the first of its kind in the Maldives.

Witness one of the Maldives’ glow-in-the-dark beaches.
The magic of Maldivian beaches does not end when the sun sets, and for those travellers who seek the unique, the Maldives holds something really extraordinary to witness. Ostracod crustaceans and bioluminescent planktons turn the Maldives’ shining white sand stretches into glow-in-the-dark beaches at night. From a distance, it looks as though strings of Christmas lights are scattered at the beach, but come closer and walk on the sand when this natural phenomenon happens and the experience becomes a lot like strolling through a field of stars!

Swim with giant manta rays
Snorkelling and seeing manta rays from a distance is cool, but getting up close and personal with these giants is a sublime experience you will never forget! Diving with these majestic creatures can be daunting, however there’s nothing to worry about. Manta rays do not have venomous spines in their tails and they can be quite friendly. There are even stories of mantas hiding other marine animals from predators. 

Enter the British Loyalty wreck.
Wreck divers, the Maldives is one huge playground for you! It is home to a lot of fantastic shipwrecks perfect for beginners and professional divers, and with the warm waters, chances are a wetsuit won’t even be necessary a lot of times. One of the most popular shipwrecks is the British Loyalty, a 140-metre long oil tanker torpedoed twice during the Second World War and which now rests in its watery grave 33 metres below the surface southeast of Hithadhoo Island in Addu Atoll. Divers enter and explore the vessel through the big hole made by the torpedo, and since the area escaped the coral bleaching caused by El Niño, excellent coral growth cover most of the ship including its propeller.

Watch dolphins in the wild.
It is one thing to see dolphins at marine centres and quite another to encounter them in the wild. The Maldives is one of the top five best places in the world for dolphin watching and out of all the many species that call the archipelago home, it is the Spinner Dolphin that hogs the spotlight. Aside from the fact that Spinner Dolphins are the most common species, they also follow a regular routine that makes it easy to know when and where they will appear. Many resorts in the Maldives accordingly arrange dolphin watching excursions and cruises. Spinner Dolphins are also known to be acrobatic and friendly, swimming beside boats and playfully jumping out of the water. They also occur in large numbers so if you happen to chance upon a pod, you’re in for an awesome sight!

Set sail into the sunset on a Maldivian dhoni.
It is nice to watch the sunset from the beach or your own villa, but for a unique and traditional twist, see it from aboard a local dhoni on a sunset cruise. The Maldivian sunset just seems lovelier when seen while lazing on a boat swayed by gentle waters that reflect crimson burst of the setting sun. Sunset cruises are quite popular so you won’t be hard-pressed to find a resort offering one.

Dive UNDER an island.
Diving around an island sure is an exciting thing to do and there’s definitely no shortage of stunning islands with impressive marine life in the Maldives, but how about UNDER an island? Most islands broaden the deeper they go, but some taper instead. Ellaidhoo Island located North East of Ari Atoll is one good example. Its concave structure lets you explore what’s underneath the island, so if you’ve never tried to scuba dive before, here’s one tempting reason to give it a shot.

If this has you tempted to start organising a holiday to the Maldives, contact Leesa from itravel on the Sunshine Coast on [email protected] OR on 07 3556 7659 to find out what packages are available.