Advantages: perfect weather, glorious beaches, lots of history, lovely people
Disadvantages: long aeroplane flight!!

...i had always wanted to go to the maldives - it was my idea of paradise so when my then boyfriend proposed we decided that our honeymoon would be the perfect oppertunity to have a holiday there. (once in a lifetime thing!) we then decided that as neither of us are into big fancy white weddings, we would get married abroad, the problem being that we couldn't actually get married in the Maldives. I then saw in may brochures these twin centre holidays where you can spend a week or two in sri lanka, get married there and then fly off to the maldives for the honeymoon... perfect. this was the only initial reason i choose to go to sri lanka 1. it was near the maldives for our honeymoon and 2. it was nice and cheap so didn't add too much cost to our holiday. although i was looking forward to our wedding, i must admit, i wasn't really... Read review

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Advantages: The dive sites are never overcrowded
Disadvantages: none

...The House Reef is only a few feet from the beach so shore diving is great if you are not to happy with Boat dives. Saying that all the boat dives we went on were no more than 40 minutes away from the Island. Five Star PADI IDC Diving School - "Jurgen Schaegger's Diving World", was excellent, first class branded equipment for hire. 10-dive package was about $420,with all equipment. You have to pay $10 extra for a boat dive, but that included the staff carrying your tanks onto the boat, so no heavy lugging involved. The best thing about diving in the Maldives is that the dives are never overcrowded; there were no more than 10 people on any boat dive. The sea is crystal clear and the Marine life is fantastic, every dive is a new experience. You have to dive with a computer in the Maldives, but personally I would not dive without one anyway... Read review

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Advantages: quiet, naturistic
Disadvantages: maybee too quiet for some

...Five years ago I got married and for our honeymoon we went to the Maldives to a small island called Kerudu. I have never felt so relaxed in my entire life. As I'm sure many of you will agree planning a wedding takes a long time and a lot of energy so imagine how it felt after two six hour flights and one hour on a helicopter to land in the middle of the Indian ocean a matter of a few miles away from the equator in paradise. We were welcomed with singing and free drinks and ten wisked of to see our beach huts. We had no hot or fresh water and all the floors of the two resturants and the bars were covered in sand so you could walk aroun with bear feet the whole time. We were litterally inches away from the sea in our hut and never more than staggering distance from a bar on an island which only takes 20 mins to stroll around... Read review

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Advantages: This is my favourite Island so Far
Disadvantages: None what so ever

...the clear warm sea and fantastic marine life is what many of us visit here for and you will not be disappointed, this is not to mention the diving, if you are thinking of learning to dive, I suggest that you complete your open water diver course at home then visit the Maldives. Many rays visit the lagoon at night; I think they still feed the rays at night, a great experience to be had by all. One of the best things about the Maldives is the fact you can relax on the beach and no one will bother you, unlike the beach vendors of other countries. Baros is one of the middle price range islands, and it is never discounted because of its high rate of return guests. If you can afford a little extra Baros would be one of my Top recommendation.... Read review

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Advantages: Knowlegde of the islands before booking
Disadvantages: none

...One of the most beautiful books to read and look at..... I had previously done a review on the 2nd edition book, but being new to ciao then, I put it in the wrong category. So here goes with the latest 3rd edition book. The Author Adrian Neville is a dedicated and pasionate maldive expert and has been blessed to be able to travel to the Maldives, visit and stay on the resort islands. This has to be my dream job.... His reviews in my opinion are excellent, we have visited several islands now and we do agree with his reports of them. Many islands have been refurbished with have added rooms and water bungalows and spa facilities. Some have even changed their names since the last book was published. So this was a welcomed and well awaited update. The photographs and page layout are fantastic. Aerial views of the islands, beaches, rooms... Read review

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Advantages: everything
Disadvantages: nothing

...Unlike any other holiday destinations, The Maldives comprises more than 1,000 coral islands and islets,grouped into shallow-water atolls some 600kms south-west of Sri Lanka. Like emerald gemstones set in a sea of turquoise, most of the islands have just one hotel, and you can walk barefoot around the perimeter, in the warm, clear water or on the white powdery sand, in less than half an hour! It is fair to say that you can expect a beach and clear, clean waters teeming with tropical marine life at each of the islands, as well as great opportunities for snorkeling, diving and water sports. The whole place itself is wonderfull,as you lie sunbathing on the beach, all around you can sea the other small tropical islands just like the one you are on. It pretty obvious that you can go all inclusive hotels as there are no supermarkets near by...