The Maldives... a single woman traveller review (Maldives)

Member Name: snootybutnice

Product:	Maldives
Date:	24/01/09 (270 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful, idyllic, relaxing, turquoise water, 100% de-stress

Disadvantages: Expensive food/drink on islands + boringly few things to do

OK I've probably given the Maldives one of the worst reviews compared to others - but why is that?

Is it not a beautiful place? Are the waters not turquoise and warm like bath water? Are the corals and fish not pretty enough? Are the islands not small enough? or relaxing enough? or the food not nice enough? or the people not friendly enough?....well - yes they are as a matter of fact.

This place is so perfect in terms of tranquility, relaxation and beauty (although the coral-sand was a tad coarse underfoot if you want to be peevish about it!) - that I promised myself the next time I felt in need of total relaxation and was heading towards a nervous breakdown, the Maldives would be my number 1 spot to visit!! No really...it would be.

The island I stayed at (I forget which one - which shows how inspired I was) was beautiful, quite small and probably had only 40 couples on it - so it was quiet. I know there are other islands which are busier. There were 3 large restaurants all with different foods, a coca-cola cost about £5(!) so it was very expensive, it also had several swimming pools and you could walk from one end to other within 20 minutes. Added to this, you could take a short trip to the mainland and see other sights...but...when all's said and done, despite the beauty and gorgeous sunshine...

sigh (!)... I admit that after 2 days I was bored crazy. Not just a little bored...I was B O R E D!!! I don't do lying on the beach all day, every day. I like the beach and then out and about, seeing & doing then back to the beach in between sightseeing trips. I like to swim and snorkle but I don't fancy scuba diving all day/every day. I like to read/catch up but 1 day of 10 hours reading/sleeping/swimming is enough to give me a crick in the neck.

I had already spent 10 days wonderful days travelling around Sri Lanka and the 5 days in the Maldives was supposed to round off my beautiful Kuoni inspired two centre holiday ...but at the end of the second day I phoned and arranged another tour guide in Sri Lanka to meet me so I could go travelling around Sri Lanka again.
I'm a skin flint - I don't change travel plans if its going to cost me loads of money so that should tell you how bored I was. Although in fairness I was a single women there - and most people were honeymoon couples - but I wasn't the only single.

Don't get me wrong - if you want to de-stress this is 100% the place to do it - but if you have energy and aren't 100% a "on the beach all day" person then the beautiful Maldives are not the place for you.

Having said that they are supposed to disappear soon so perhaps you should just visit to see for yourself. Sorry for the bad review.

Summary: Go if heading for a mental breakdown/ need to de-stress OR want to visit before they disappear