Winter 2019 -2020 Travel Guide: The Maldives

For those of you looking to swap your winter blues for blue seas and skies, The Maldives could be your perfect destination, with an average of 8 hours of sunshine everyday it’s a great place to escape the short, dark, cold winter days. Temperatures stay a warm 25-30°C all year round however tourists tend to consider December as the best month to travel as there is a minimal chance of rainfall and tends to be the cheapest time of year to go.

 

Where to stay:

 

With over 1,192 coral islands spread across 35 miles of Indian Ocean you are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing where to stay in The Maldives, all resorts are set within their own private island, generally the resorts with less rooms tend to be more expensive, below are our top picks:

Four Seasons Resort, Kuda Huraa:

 

Top of our list is the Four Seasons Resort, 2019’s Travellers Choice Winner, it is one of the Maldives rarest gems, there are a range of activities to choose from, ranging from surfing, turtle and coral conservation, to yoga making the resort suitable for a range of guests.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort:

The resort is nestled on the coral island of Baa Atool, which is a designated UNESCO Biosphere site, it consists of 70 villas, 41 on island and 29 over the water, with a spa, fitness centre and a kids club the resort is family friendly.

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa:

Surrounded by tropical landscaping and turquoise lagoons, the resort is situated on its own private island with a choice of beautiful infinity pools, conveniently located just a 20 minute boat taxi ride from Velena International airport.

Things to do:

There are a whole range of activities to choose from, for example a sunset cruise where you can enjoy sipping a glass of champagne whilst watching the sun go down, keeping an eye out for dolphins. If you’re looking for culture why not take a day trip to Malé where you can experience the capitals colourful markets. If diving and snorkelling’s your thing then The Maldives is considered one of the best places on earth to do so, with warm water temperatures and excellent visibility sometimes exceeding 50 metres. Top dive sites include Lankanfinokhu (‘Manta Point’) to see manta rays being cleaned by local colonies of cleaner fish and the Hanifaru lagoon in the Baa Atoll, which is one of the best places to spot whale sharks and manta rays.

Food & Drink:

Service and standards are known for being exceptionally high in The Maldives, and the food and drink is no exception to this. Top of the menu is fresh seafood dishes locally sourced although you will find flavours from all over the world. A must while you’re in the Maldvies is to dine at Ithaa on the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island as it is home to the iconic underwater restaurant, located 16 feet below the ocean’s surface, and of that’s not your thing at Niyama Private Islands you can venture 6 metres high and dine in the treetops at Nest.