IMy husband Chris and I (and Charlie the Shih Tzu) now reside in Port Macquarie NSW.
IMy husband Chris and I (and Charlie the Shih Tzu) now reside in Port Macquarie NSW.
Member since:31.08.2004
Reviews:6
Members who trust:6
When and How?
Having always wanted to go out to the Maldives but never having the "right" person to go with - Mr. Right came along in August 2003 and a last minute trip was put together in June 2004.
It really was last minute, about a week before we had booked time off work. We were amazed at the prices and thought that it was possibly due to the fact we could only take a week instead of what seems the more usual two weeks. We managed to secure a week via internet booking, on Half Board basis for under £500 each. But there were a few things we learned along the way which will influence how and when we book next time around.
June is part of one of the two monsoon seasons, the best time to go being between November and May really - not June. Having said that the waters were as calm as millponds on most days, the sun shone every day except one, and the storms that had been forecast never materialised EXCEPT on the very first night. The first night blew a howling gale and brought down coconuts and palm leaves all over our island resort. We were oblivious to it, still recovering from jet lag and too many bottles of wine on the plane. The next morning saw a whole team of local workers sweeping paths and picking up the debris and detritus. Within a few hours it was as though nothing had happened.
Our last minute deal was with Airtours, booked through latedeals.com. This meant the flight out of Manchester was withy Monarch airlines! Hmmmm. Not being used to tour operator charters (scheduled is the usual method of flying) we were a little amazed at how many people can actually be squeezed into an Airbus A320! Leg room is none existent and very cramped. I have NEVER before suffered from swollen ankles as a result of a flight, but on this trip in both directions that’s exactly what I had. The return journey had me wandering up and down the aisles but it didn’t seem to matter much – they still swelled up in little puffy balloons. Not a nice feeling especially with the thought of DVT ! But it could be said “you get what you pay for” so at £490 each we shouldn’t have been complaining should we really.
On arrival at Male airport, which is on a separate island to
the capital itself, we were transferred to a Speedboat for a 2.5 hour transfer. For anyone with any form of back or lumbar problem – so NOT take such a journey. It’s a bit like all the rides at Alton Towers rolled into one. Massively exhilarating but plays havoc with your spine. The same would be true for a pregnant lady! There was a transfer by Seaplane on offer when we booked but we chose the cheap / free option being skinflints and thinking – hmm more money for the scuba diving – don’t do it. As luck would have it everyone else on our island for the return leg had either had previous experience of the speedboat, or basically had more sense and had already pre-booked the plane – so we were the only ones scheduled for the speedboat so it was cancelled and we got a free trip in the seaplane anyway – but I wouldn’t risk that for the sake of £85.00 each.
White Sands Resort.
REMEMBER: Everything you buy / drink / purchase in bars or shops goes onto your room bill which you settle at the END of your stay! You will only need to take about $20 (dollars) for tipping for your entire stay.
The resort is one of the most southern in South Ari Atoll, very close to the Sun Island resort. The beauty of being so far south is that we got to fly over so many beautiful islands that the scenery was breath taking. Transfer by seaplane this far south takes 35 minutes – compared to the 2.5 hours by speedboat.
The island itself is much more traditional and is one of the oldest resorts to be set up for tourism. Its character and charm reflect its age. The facilities I’m sure are not 100% ultra modern or with full on facilities but all that is down to personal taste after all. The island has water bungalows out into the lagoon, which cost double the beach bungalows. The difference is that the beds are a variation on four – posters and there is a TV in each room and some of them have a glass table, which gives a view of the lagoons stingray population.
The beach bungalows are MORE than adequate if simplicity is your requirement. Ours was no more than 20 paces from the beach, had sun loungers and table and chairs on its own porch. The room was fully air-conditioned AND there was a ceiling fan. There was a mini bar in the room and lots and lots of furniture. The shower room was actually in an enclosed courtyard at the back of the bungalow overlooked by palm trees and a very high wall. The water is hot for a shower, and is desalinated as is the tap water so be sure to use bottled water when cleaning your teeth. There was also a huge sunken concrete bathtub, but with a moderately low-pressure water supply it would have taken the whole week to fill it! In the evenings the little lizard residents came into the toilet area for shelter I think – they were very cute and completely frightened when approached – but this is the middle of a paradise island after all.
Our food basis was half board and everything was via a series of buffet tables. For breakfast there was very streaky bacon, scrambled eggs and a variety of cereals, cold buffet meats and cheeses and bowls and bowls of fresh fruit. The evening meals always consisted of a local fish dish which was to die for, and either stir fry’s or curries, or fried chicken and the like. We could eat as much as we liked and still keep going back for more. We found that it would be so easy to put on weight so we always looked out for the healthy options of which there was a good selection.
Water is supplied by the bottle at the table but it is NOT free. Alcohol is also freely available and equals the British mainland prices. But as everything that is purchased is simply signed for it is very easy to loose track of exactly WHAT has been spent. So it is worth a daily check at reception to see exactly how much is outstanding on the bill.
Entertainment – What entertainment?
Well this is NOT mainland Spain. This is paradise. This is for people who want to run away from the stress of work and everyday life and recharge their batteries. Of for the very select few who spend all year recharging their batteries, this is a real chill-out resort. The bungalows are older and blend in more with the island than some of the newer resorts, but Club Med this is NOT. The island hosts try their very best to offer something different each evening in one of the 3 bars. One night we had a talk and video presentation from the island Dive School (Euro-Divers), another night was a Queen video tribute night. A couple of islanders provide nightly duo-singing band style and they were very good but I would imagine a little monotonous after two weeks of them! Then there was the CRAB racing. Ah yes; now you’ve never lived unless you have done some crab racing (and that’s all I’m going to tell you on crab racing if you want to know more then you’ll have to visit yourself!).
With pool and table football in the bar there is not a lot else to do during the evening unless you are booked on a night dive. During the day there is walking around the island, which is a mile in total length and 200 yards at its widest point. So that’s not a major hiking expedition. There are 3 gift shops in the resort, one of which sells expensive but very unusual jewellery. BUT, they only seem to sell the pendant bits for necklaces! Take it from us – DON’T buy the neck chains to go with them at MALE airport – wait until you go through either DUBAI or BAHRAIN duty free – it is OH SO CHEAP for white and yellow gold.
So what else to do during the day? Well there are a few small sailing boats for lessons. Wind surfing, pedallos, snorkelling lessons, beach volleyball, tenniscourts and well – that’s IT apart from lots and lots of sun loungers and lots and lots of variations on a theme of fruit cocktails. There are NO TVs in the beach rooms (as if you’ll miss that anyway!) – but the scuba diving is to DIE for.
We have little PADI experience before going out there and booked on try dive sessions, and are we HOOKED now. The waters are warm and the fish are awesome. The coral is recovering from coral bleach caused a few years ago by El Nino but it’s getting there. WILD!
We started off by snorkelling on the house reef and the first thing we saw when we jumped in the waters were White Tipped Reef Sharks – AWESOME! The house reef is really great and the trips out there everyday at 5.00pm are free. There are also full day snorkelling safaris – highly recommended.
For scuba, there are lessons on everything and for all levels of ability. ALL equipment can be supplied including computers and at the end of the try it out sessions we got our own Euro-divers log books and neat zipper wallets to keep them in and a 15% discount card which is good for any Euro-diver centre worldwide! AWESOME.
For our try dive sessions we saw turtles and lots and lots of fish. It was literally like swimming in a tropical fish tank and it felt so safe with all the qualified divers and support boat on hand.
A group of Japanese divers spent one morning swimming with whale sharks, and on one snorkel session that we were out on we got to swim with MANTA RAYS!
I cannot explain in simple English how fantastic this experience was – and I am a true experience JUNKIE! There is SO much to tell you and not enough time ………
BUT – although there were about 2 families on the island when we were there – which made up a 5th of the total tourist population on the island at the time (yes 7 people in 2 families out of a total of no more than 40 tourists in total!!!!!!) – there was very little for them to do. The island has no swimming pool – except for the completely safe lagoon. But even the lagoon gets a little deep in places which is wonderful for practicing snorkelling but when there are stingrays swimming around, which is a wonderful experience in itself, it might frighten the younger ones. There are no children’s clubs etc. So unless the little ones enjoy crayoning or reading Harry Potter sand castles are about as exciting as it will get for them I’m afraid. What this means however is that families are more likely to go for a more family orientated resort. Not that I have anything against children – I’ve got a 19 year old of my own – but this is definitely more of a couples resort than a family resort.
I am about to go to the same hotel this week and found this truthful, informative insight very helpful and exciting!!
star333 08.12.2004 23:22
Congrats on the diamond, great review well deserved x
MALDIVEDIVER 28.11.2004 20:42
VERY GOOD REVIEW..We have always thought about this island but there are not many reviews, yours is very informative, let me know where you go next time...and you like me once you have been to the maldives you are HOOKED...we are off to Kuramathi next sunday....( thought I might get that one in..lol.) cheers
Mary
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