The Maldives honeymoon recommended by Luigi and Fiorella: sun, sea and love
This time I am announcing the opening of a second new category (the blog is growing), a collection of ideas for your honeymoon. The first trip that “opens the dance” and inaugurates this new section of the blog is by Luigi, one of the founding members of Given2. But I don’t want to say any more: I will leave it to him to tell the story of this fantastic honeymoon in the Maldives, enjoy the story!
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The choice of destination
It was difficult to convince my future wife to book a holiday of total relaxation. We have always preferred “adventurous” holidays: buy a plane ticket and go, and what happens will happen. Like our last trip to Cuba, in the continuous search for private houses. This time, however, I wanted to try something different, and so after plenty of research and discussion, we opted for a honeymoon to the Maldives.
With hindsight, I feel I should advise all engaged couples to consider the “honeymoon” as something UNIQUE, to be distinguished from all other holidays. Indeed, for our parents, going to Venice was enough for THE holiday, but our generation, on the other hand, is more used to travel, and therefore you need to know how to organise something different so that this remains imprinted in your memory!
I confess that for us, luck played its part: the tour operator gave us an upgrade to first class for the flight, as well as champagne upon arrival and a presidential suite of 100 sq.m. and a private beach ;-D… but this was only because a rich Chinese couple had cancelled their booking the same day and thus we were lucky enough to enjoy a Pashà holiday for less than €4,000.
Honeymoon list
Unlike many other young couples, we have never lived together – a complete leap of faith! It was only when we got married that we left the house of Mum and Dad! Therefore, with a whole new house to fill, our wedding list is based mainly on items with which to furnish it and “equip it”, leaving the honeymoon in second place.
Normally it is friends who prefer to gift money towards the honeymoon, while (close) relatives appreciate and prefer to gift whole items, something that will last. However, I advise those who live together and already own everything to insert a few “treats” for the home to receive as gifts – today you can find plenty…
When to honeymoon in the Maldives
The Maldives are characterised by a very unstable climate, and because of this there is always a chance of temperature changes or sudden rain. The best period for honeymooning in the Maldives is the dry season, which runs from January to April, during which periods of 50 days of sun have historically been registered. Obviously this also corresponds to the peak season, and is thus more expensive.
We trusted to fate and went in October, right in the middle of low season, and were especially lucky, experiencing almost exclusively sunny days. You can find out more about the climate of the Maldives here: www.mondomaldive.com
Where to book your Maldives honeymoon
Obviously the holiday search was based 100% online, among forums and specialised websites (primarily TripAdvisor). Then, finally, after having identified the destination online, we found an agency in Rome that took care of the booking of our honeymoon, and we went directly to their shop.
Maldives Honeymoon – Transport
Moving between the various islands of the Maldives, especially outside of traditional tourist routes, can be quite complicated. If you are determined and organise your travel independently, you should request a special visa (different to the “normal” tourist visa): the Inter-Atoll Permit, which is released exclusively by the Ministry for the Administration of Atolls to those who have received an invitation from a person who resides on the island that you wish to visit.
Once you have obtained this permit, it’s up to you to choose how to get about: seaplanes, internal flights, boats… For the biggest cities on the largest atolls, you can get about on foot, so as not to miss any aspects of the city. Or you can hire a scooter to get from one point of interest to another: these are much more comfortable and are used more frequently than cars.
There are also numerous taxis available with fixed tariffs of 25 MVR on the routes through the city.
Maldives Honeymoon – Where to sleep
Malè is the most populous island of the Maldives, and also the capital. Here, you can find all kinds of accommodation, from cheaper prices to 5-star hotels and resorts. These are truly magnificent, and in the majority of cases, consist of houses on the water that are exceptionally luxurious and simultaneously traditional. Remember to book in advance to save a lot of money on your booking!
Maldives Honeymoon – What to see
- Spend a few hours in the capital, Malè. Stroll to the sea, refresh yourself with a coconut in one of the small pop-up bars along the coast, observe the silence of the mosque on Fridays, and get an idea of the size of the city by visiting one of the most exclusive terraces such as that of the Traders Hotel.
- Sample the local cuisine: the local culture is clearly influenced by nearby countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Arabia, Persia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Africa. For this reason, the cuisine recalls a good Indian curry with a slightly sweeter flavour, provided by the coconut. If there is a dish that is typical of the Maldives, it is the Mashuni salad. A delicious mixture of tuna, coconut, chili pepper, lemon and onion served with traditional bread, the roshi, a version of the Indian or Sri Lankan roti. A good milkshake or a black tea from nearby Ceylon will take care of the rest.
- Explore the most beautiful seabeds in the world: scuba diving or snorkelling? Both are great! Turtles, sharks, rays, manatees and even the spectacular whale shark will invite you to dive into the waters of the Maldives. The seabed of the islands is completely coral. If your budget allows, set sail for a few days on a cruise to enjoy diving and navigating the ocean, devoting yourself entirely to diving in some of the most beautiful waters of the world.
- Enjoy the landscapes: the Maldives posses the record for the flattest country in the world. Nothing can hinder the view of sunset over the sea, one of the most magical moments after a day of sun.
- Sleep beneath the stars: just 203 of the almost 1,200 islands of the Republic of the Maldives are inhabited. This means that you can spend a night contemplating the starry sky with your partner from your bed. If you see the water sparkle at a certain point, don’t worry – nothing strange is happening. In the Maldives, a unique phenomenon takes place: the bioluminescent phytoplankton of the sea produces a fluorescent light when it is disturbed, which is perfectly visible in the dark. A spectacle for the eyes! Wake up with the sunlight and a stroll on the beach.
Maldives Honeymoon – a few photos
Our honeymoon in the Maldives was truly unique, both for the magical situation in which we found ourselves – newly married with our sparkling wedding rings, happy as two children – and also for the upgrade we received. What will remain imprinted in our memory are the simplest things: strolls at sunset on a deserted beach, hand in hand…happy to be together.
Now it’s time to get back to “adventure” trips, but I would advise everyone to go to the Maldives at least once…but only with the right person! 😀