The WTA Guide To Choosing The Right Island In The Maldives
We visited the Maldives and found it almost overwhelming try to pin point an island to visit (what an overwhelming problem to have!). With around 164 islands to choose from how do you choose between them? Find our low down below on how to choose the right island in the Maldives below…
Kandolhu, Maldives
BUDGET
For the boring part be sure to know your budget before you start, if you don’t have a budget then even better! We had a budget ourselves but we definitely explored options outside of our price range before coming back to reality. Prices to the Maldives can rack up pretty quickly, therefore starting with a budget or guide will make your planning a little easier and more efficient.
TRANSFERS
Once you arrive at Malé Airport, you’ll need to transfer to your island resort, which will either be via a speedboat or a seaplane - some islands may require both. Sea planes usually fit approx 15 people and will have a weight restriction so be sure to check this out before you travel. They are very noisy and very hot but the views are truly magical. If you get the chance to experience this then it is absolutely worth doing!
It is worth noting that sea planes can only fly in daylight. If your flight lands of an evening then you may have to wait until the following day to transfer to your island, something to check out with the resort before you book.
Once the seaplane is loaded with passengers and luggage the pilots will carry out a balance check. For us the plane had an imbalance which meant passengers had to swap seats to level it out - better to be safe than sorry!
TRANSFER TIME
Transfer time is something to consider when choosing an island. A boat transfer will be quicker and easier, but some of the nearer islands will have a view of Male City. You’ll need to decide whether you want a more secluded island feel or if the site of civilisation doesn’t bother you. If you want a more secluded island then pick an island with a longer transfer time and take the seaplane.
Male City, Maldives
RESEARCH
It might seem obvious but research is key when choosing the right island in the Maldives. Instagram and Tok Tok are great for this. If you’re anything like us you’ll have a long list of islands saved in your notes from various sources which you keep meaning to research. Be sure to check the tagged photos of the islands to get an authentic feel for the place. Professional pictures can sometimes be deceiving! As well as using holiday booking sites be sure to look at the islands own website to see their pictures.
TRAVEL AGENT
Nowadays travel agents aren’t as widely used as they used to be, however, if you are looking for the perfect escape then who better to help you than an expert in the field. We booked through Kuoni and could not recommend the service enough, the advice and recommendations we received were second to none.
ISLAND SIZE
It’s important to consider the size of the island when planning your stay. Larger islands often require bikes or buggies to get around, while on smaller islands, it may only take 10 minutes to walk from one end to the other. The bigger the island, the more people it usually accommodates. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.
We knew we didn't want a large, busy island where you had to use a bike to get around. We ended up staying on a tiny island with only 30 villas - heaven!
Kandolhu, Maldives
ENTERTAINMENT
Night-time entertainment wasn’t something high on our priority list, in fact it was on our avoid list. This helped to narrow islands down quickly. If you’re looking for evening entertainment then be sure to look for this when booking as you can’t walk to the pub next-door!
ACTIVITIES
Many people think they might get bored in the Maldives, but there’s actually a surprising amount to do and your days will pass quickly!
If you’re interested in snorkelling it may be worth researching into the reefs of the islands. Some islands have great house reefs and others you may need to take a boat to reach the reef.
Many islands offer a range of activities such as diving, kayaking, paddle boarding, and catamaran trips. For evening adventures, you might enjoy fishing, sunset boat trips, or even a day at a sandbank with a picnic—dreamy! If you’re the activity type then be sure to check what the island offers as all islands will be different!
Kandolhu, Maldives
FOOD
Food varies massively across the islands, some islands offer fine dining and tasting menus, others provide all-inclusive buffets, and others have a variety of a la carte restaurants.
For us food was high on our priority list, so we opted for an island with a choice of a la carte restaurants. Some restaurants only had 2 chairs - our idea of perfect! As you’re staying on an island you can’t wander off to a local shop - in fact this island didn’t even have a food shop, just a gift shop!
Price of food is also substantial as a lot of produce has to be imported, something else to think about when deciding whether or not to ago all inclusive or not. All inclusive doesn’t always mean buffet food. In fact we went all inclusive and the only buffet on this island was fruit and pastries of a morning, breakfast a la carte was also available. Not forgetting the champagne for breakfast too!
Service charge of 10% and GST of 16% is mandatory and added to every bill so be sure to remember this when looking at island menus!
WATER VILLA OR BEACH VILLA
Most islands typically offer both villa options: on the water and on the beach. Beach villas are special because you can walk straight out onto the sand, while water villas provide stunning views and a unique experience.
A great way to enjoy both is to split your stay between the two. We did 8 nights in a beach villa and 4 nights in a ocean villa, the perfect way to experience the best of both worlds! Something worth checking is an aerial view of the ocean villas to check the privacy before you book as some will overlook!
SEASON
As well as choosing the perfect island you’re going to want to make sure you choose the right season for you. Typically Maldives season is December-March, for those sunny days with lesser rainfall. Though it is still a tropical country so rain showers will also hit in peak season, we had rain most days and visited in December! Don’t let this put you off though - it doesn’t usually last very long. Choosing to go to the Maldives out of season will also reduce the price significantly so it’s worth thinking about this option.
POOL
Many of the larger islands in the Maldives will have a large communal pool like most hotels. Generally, the larger the pool, the more people there will be on the island. For us, we opted for an island without a pool but chose villas with a pool, being honest we just didn’t want to have to leave the beautiful villas in the daytime and really wanted to soak up the villa space!
WELLNESS
Although the island we stayed at had a gym and a spa these amenities were quite basic. However, this wasn’t something which we were too fussed about and we knew before we went. A lot of islands will offer yoga on the beach or have great spas be sure to check this out if you are looking for the ultimate luxury retreat!
