Vilamendhoo -Heaven On Earth (Vilamendhoo)

Member Name: Machair1

Product:	Vilamendhoo
Date:	06/10/08 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stunningly beautiful, Amazing Fish, A Romantic Haven

Disadvantages: Table Sharing,Some Insects

This was the place we went to for our silver wedding and I can't say anything which is less than superb.
Having landed in Male the capital of the Maldives the journey begins to paradise.
The island is reached by sea plane from Male and this journey itself is a lifetime experience. Flown by sea plane with a bare footed pilot in control over a turquoise ocean jewelled with a myriad of tiny islands. You land near to a small jetty and are transferred by boat to the island which appears before you, beckoning you to step ashore. When you do so you are met by the staff and given a lovely drink served in a coconut and then shown to your room.
After this what can I say?- the food is superb, there is everything you could want. The sand is like icing sugar and the rooms are so near to the sea you can walk barefoot to them. The interior of the island has walkways which go through coconut trees and are well lit. Umbrellas are provided in the rooms incase you are caught in a rain shower which can be anytime of the year, though less common in December to May.
With global warming we were told their dry season which used to be between Christmas and May is now sometimes affected by rain, but still less frequently than other times. If you want to lessen the risk of rain you should choose those months but they are more expensive. However it is around 30c all year rain or shine, and even rainy days often have sun between the showers.

The sea is amazing. There is every kind of tropical fish in beautiful colours near to the shore so you can paddle with them if you are not a swimmer. The house reef which runs round the island has easy access points and here you can snorkel for hours. After meals many would walk to the pier where the fish are so dense there is hardly a space in the water. For those experienced in scuba diving the school here is second to none and they run courses for beginners too.

On the last night of the holiday the staff decorate the table with red flowers. We walked back to our room after dinner and looked up to the sky where a shooting star was just flashing in front of us. Then we opened our bedroom door to find the bed adorned in red petals. This really was the perfect silver wedding. If you are looking for a honeymoon or special wedding celebration look no further because this is what you are looking for.

ONLY NEGATIVE POINTS AND SOME HELPFUL TIPS

The only thing which is negative is that in many resorts the staff like to encourage you to share your table with another couple. If you do not want this then go to reception before your first meal, as this is so much easier to stop before it starts.

The island does have some biting insects but Jungle Formula is pretty good. If you wear long linen/cotton trousers for dinner it offers protection as they are most active at dusk. The staff do go round spraying with a smoke machine each evening to keep the numbers down.

Finally bear in mind this is a very hot place. The sunscreen you take is important. We buy a product called Sunsense which is Australian and you can get it from Pharmacies in the UK it is very good.
If you go All Inclusive they provide you with water each day- make sure you drink at least 1.5 litres each day of this on top of other drinks as it is easy to get dehydrated especially after the flight.
Pack an old t shirt for swimming in as this will protect your back when in the water. We did see some people with burns to their back.
They provide sunloungers with your room number on them and sunbeds too so you have your own allocated to you.
Entertainment is low key but there is some if you enjoy that.
Finally I would say I took many books but you know I never read any of them.
The place is somewhere if you only go once it will give you a lifetime of memories. I just sat and stared and it was like a moment in time which will stay in my heart forever.

Yes it is for tourists but no nothing has been damaged or spoilt. There is no news, no shoes there -just nature as it is-there for you to enjoy.
A final word if you can get up early, the sunrise is amazing and you can experience it alone and in peace with only a heron for company.

Summary: A Place Where Nature Is Allowed To Be Preserved