Kuredu - A lively(ish) paradise! (Kuredu Island Resort)

Member Name: newholgate

Product:	Kuredu Island Resort
Date:	12/10/04 (2436 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stunning scenery, Enough going on to keep you busy, Fabulous beaches

Disadvantages: Doesn't provide a complete "away from it all" feel, Expensive for food and drinks if you aren't All Inclusive

Kuredu is situated on the northern reef of the Lhaviyani Atoll. It lies around 80 miles north of the international Airport and the capital of Maldives, Male. The transfer time from the airport is about 40 minutes by seaplane or 4 hours by speedboat. The seaplane transfer is generally an optional extra at around £120 but it is well worth the cost. It is worth noting that if you take the sea plane transfer, your luggage will probably be sent on the speed boat, so its worth taking a change of clothes with you in your hand luggage, as you may have a long wait for your suitcase.

Kuredu is one of the largest tourist islands in the Maldives. Its fabulous white beaches total around 3km in length. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean surround the island, with a lagoon to one side and the reef to the other side. The reef is fantastic for snorkelling or diving. There is a vast array of exotic fish, reef sharks, stingrays, etc. There is a dive centre on the island giving full instruction and providing hire of equipment. If you don't have a PADI certificate, you could actually do a course while in Kuredu and come home certified!

Accommodation on Kuredu ranges from very basic bungalows that offer nothing more than a place to sleep with a fantastic view to luxury water villas and Jacuzzi beach villas. The bulk of the accommodation is in the main part of the resort and consists of beach bungalows and slightly more upmarket beach villas. To one end of the island is the Sangu Resort, which comprises of Jacuzzi Beach Villas (similar to the normal beach villas, but with there own private garden containing a double Jacuzzi) and water villas that are built on stilts over the lagoon. They have their own outdoor sun terrace with steps leading directly down into the sea. Guests staying in the Sangu accommodation have their own reception, restaurant and bar, which are not available to guests staying on the rest of the island. However, Sangu guests have use of all the other restaurants, bars and other facilities throughout the island.

It's worth upgrading your package to All Inclusive, as the Maldives is one of the most expensive places to buy food and drink. Let's face it, a restaurant on a tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean doesn't really have that much competition so they can charge what they like (and they do). You will save money in the long run by upgrading to All Inclusive either before you leave home or as soon as you arrive in Kuredu.

Kuredu has plenty of facilities, including several bars and restaurants, a spa, a lovely swimming pool, a gift shop, a jewellery shop, a one-hour photo processing shop, a dive and snorkel equipment shop and a Golf Pro shop. There is also a sports centre with facilities for badminton, tennis, football, darts and table tennis. There is a 6-hole pitch and put golf course, a full-length driving range and a gym/fitness centre.

Watersports in Kuredu include single and double canoes, windsurfing, water skiing, kite boarding, catamaran and dinghy sailing, banana-boat rides, blasts and ring's.

If you want to explore further afield, there are plenty of trips from Kuredu, including, island hopping to inhabited, deserted and resort islands, a luxury sailing cruise, big game fishing, Maldivian fishing, night fishing, a sunset cruise and a Robinson Crusoe trip to an uninhabited island, where you get to stay for 24 hours.

Kuredu is much more lively (we are not talking Mediterranean lively here) than many other Maldivian islands. This gives guests to sample Maldivian life without getting too bored. However, if your idea of the Maldives is complete "get away from it all" then Kuredu probably won't suit you.

If you are not sure, try it. I'm sure you will love it - it's paradise!

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