I’ve had so many questions about our time in the Maldives, so I wanted to share a full and honest review with you all – from where we stayed, how we booked it, what to pack and what we got up to!
THE BOOKING PROCESS
You can book through a travel agent, but we organised everything ourselves.
One important thing I learned: check the policies very carefully. We initially booked via BA Holidays and were told a week before that children under 14 weren’t allowed in overwater villas. Naturally, we panicked since our hearts were set on it, so I contacted the hotel directly and they confirmed they don’t have that policy.
We cancelled, received a refund and rebooked the flights and hotel separately. It did work out more expensive, but by that point we just wanted to stay where we had envisioned.
It was our first time in the Maldives and it taught me to always double-check policies before booking – especially if you are travelling with kids.
We flew out with British Airways and returned with Virgin Atlantic (both economy). Personally, I found Virgin slightly more comfortable in economy – but I’m sure if you’re flying business or first class it doesn’t make much difference.
ARRIVAL
We flew into Malé, and from there the hotel arranges your transfer.
You’re escorted to a seaplane which takes you directly to your island. Seeing the atolls from above is very special, endless shades of blue and tiny islands scattered across the water (there are over 1000 islands in the Maldives!) It feels seamless way to arrive.
WHERE WE STAYED
We stayed at The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives.
We booked about a month before travelling, so it was slightly last minute. We were set on an overwater villa, although the beach villas also looked beautiful!
The Maldives is never inexpensive, but this felt more accessible compared to Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, or Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa.
We chose an all-inclusive option, which meant we didn’t need to think too much about spending while we were there.
We stayed for a week and everything felt very easy. One thing I noticed almost immediately: no wasps, bees or mosquitos. There’s someone regularly walking around disinfecting the air, something I’ve never seen before, and it clearly makes a difference!
They also have a spa and a clinic. My daughter developed a small heat rash and they gave me everything I needed to treat it straight away, which was reassuring (and free of charge)!
EXCURSIONS
Excursions do come at an additional cost, although with the all-inclusive package you do get to choose one complimentary experience, either dolphin watching or sunset fishing. We found the extra excursions well worth it! We did:
- A manta ray swim
- Coral reef snorkelling
- Dolphin watching
- Turtle snorkelling
We rented the Insta360 Ace Pro Camera, which was brilliant for capturing underwater moments. I am even thinking of buying one myself. You can also check out my Instagram for video content we captured!
My son also completed his open water scuba license over three days (around $700). He can now dive anywhere without needing further lessons, which he was very proud of.
The marine life is extraordinary, and the water is exceptionally clear with stunning white sand. The sea is also very calm, which I appreciated as someone who can feel slightly anxious in open water.
The people are incredibly kind and welcoming. The local language is Dhivehi, (although most people spoke English) and everyone we met was warm and helpful.
I celebrated my birthday while we were there, and my husband made it feel incredibly thoughtful from start to finish. In the morning, the hotel organised a floating breakfast in our villa pool with the most beautiful fruit platter, such a simple idea, but it felt very special waking up to that. In the evening, he arranged a private dinner for us on the beach at sunset. A table in the sand, the sea completely calm, and the softest light as the sun went down. It wasn’t overdone, just quietly considered – one of those evenings I’ll always remember.
I put together a reel of some special moments from the day – you can take a look at it HERE!
FOOD
There are several restaurants as well as a buffet, so you have a bit of variety throughout the week. The food felt consistently fresh, especially the fish, which was a real highlight. There was always a beautiful selection, from simply grilled fillets to lighter, more traditional dishes with coconut and gentle spice. Nothing felt overly heavy, which I appreciated in the heat. It was the kind of food that suits island life – uncomplicated, fresh and easy to enjoy.
WHAT I WORE
Honestly, you don’t need much for daytime. I lived in swimwear and a sarong. For lunch, I would simply throw a sarong over my bathing suit and tie it around my neck as a dress.
You could pack shorts, but I barely reached for anything beyond swimwear during the day. It’s one of those places where simplicity feels right.
In the evenings, I packed a few light dresses – easy, breathable pieces that felt appropriate for the setting. Nothing overly structured or complicated, just simple silhouettes that moved with the air. After a day in swimwear, it was nice to change into something effortless for dinner as the sun went down. I posted a get ready with me with all the details – you can check it out HERE.
Mini dress (similar style in pale green – super gorgeous!)
And I will say, the natural light and a little sun does something lovely. Since coming home, I’ve worn far less makeup and feel much fresher.
You can find everything I packed HERE.
SUNCARE
Even if you rarely burn, wear SPF 50. The UV levels are high! My husband usually wears SPF 15 or 20 and wore SPF 50 every day and still got super burnt. Be diligent and reapply.
Also I would recommend stocking up on SPF as we ran out quite quickly and it is quite pricey buying it from the hotel.
It’s a peaceful, restorative place – very calm, very beautiful, and somewhere I’m grateful we experienced as a family. As always, if you have any other questions, message me.
