Going to maldives and have a few questions

davidlizard

When we have been, everyone on the island was AI so there was no need to tag everyone - Many of these resorts are on small islands (you can swim round them) and the resort is all there is on the island. It is worth finding out exactly what is included in the AI deal and what is not - e.g. watersports, sunbed hire, what drinks, bottled water and so on. Often cocktails are not included however, in many places you can order up the contents separately, then get the chap to mix them for you, especially if you tip from time to time!

Personally, I do not like wearing these tags, especially in warm sweaty climates and you can usually work them free with a bit of effort.

Some more general tips: Recommend taking along a small pocket book of tropical fish (the sea is more fish than water) and a small book with the star constellations in them (no light or atmospheric pollution means very clear skies). Also, the Maldives being a muslim country have some additional rules - one cannot take in any religious artefacts (e.g. a cross on a necklace) or alcohol, although the latter is freely available once in the resort.

llol_slim

davidlizard wrote: »

When we have been, everyone on the island was AI so there was no need to tag everyone - Many of these resorts are on small islands (you can swim round them) and the resort is all there is on the island. It is worth finding out exactly what is included in the AI deal and what is not - e.g. watersports, sunbed hire, what drinks, bottled water and so on. Often cocktails are not included however, in many places you can order up the contents separately, then get the chap to mix them for you, especially if you tip from time to time!

Personally, I do not like wearing these tags, especially in warm sweaty climates and you can usually work them free with a bit of effort.

Some more general tips: Recommend taking along a small pocket book of tropical fish (the sea is more fish than water) and a small book with the star constellations in them (no light or atmospheric pollution means very clear skies). Also, the Maldives being a muslim country have some additional rules - one cannot take in any religious artefacts (e.g. a cross on a necklace) or alcohol, although the latter is freely available once in the resort.

thanks, some really good tips there.Very nice tip about cocktails!
When I read tags i was thinking of those rubber wrist bands, but if its a tight tag, not so good!
We've been looking for a tropical fish book, I've read on the forum somewhere there are waterproof ones.

YET another question, probably dumb but hey .. Are there sockets in the rooms?! I guess there must be, I was just thinking I will need alot as I am a technology addict and will be taking things with me that need charging etc.

Ms_Chocaholic

Thanks for the idea of the waterproof tropical fish guide, we are going to the Maldives in early July and, on your suggestion, have just purchased one via a diving website.

Thanks.

llol_slim

oh cool, no problem, can you post a link to the diving site please? I would like to buy one as well!!
thanks

looneyleo

The best holiday ever. We went for our honeymoon in 1998 and then again 2 years later when a late great aunt INSISTED we spend her inheritance on a holiday!

A few things to consider: I know others have said this but...it is very hot!!! be very careful when snorkelling as time flies and before you know it you have burnt the backs of your legs/back. I would suggest you always wear a t-shirt when snorkelling and lits of good quality sun cream.

Don't touch any of the sealife. It's very tempting and the fish are beautiful, but there are lots of hidden dangers and you could get bitten/stung etc. DO NOT under any circumstances take food into the water. This causes the fish to school and this attracts sharks/predators that make take a fnacy to your legs!

The coral is very sharp! When you go snorkelling there is usually a "path" through the reef where the coral has been removed so you don't hurt yourself as you snorkel. Also, there will be an information point somewhere on the Island detailing any weather conditions or currents that snorkellors need to be made aware of.

Would strongly recommend wearing good quality footwear as you paddle. Sting rays are very good at hiding just below the surface of the sand in very shallow water. They are not aggressive but they will sting you if you tread on them which, as we know with the Croc Hunter...is not a good thing! Bless him!

Don't be scared if you see any sharks! They are facinating to watch and will not bother you!

The waiters/cleaner , love Manchester United so you could take a t-shirt etc as a tip and they will love that!

Have a great time...sorry if I've sounded a bit daunting but it's best know these things in advance!

llol_slim

looneyleo wrote: »

The best holiday ever. We went for our honeymoon in 1998 and then again 2 years later when a late great aunt INSISTED we spend her inheritance on a holiday!

A few things to consider: I know others have said this but...it is very hot!!! be very careful when snorkelling as time flies and before you know it you have burnt the backs of your legs/back. I would suggest you always wear a t-shirt when snorkelling and lits of good quality sun cream.

Don't touch any of the sealife. It's very tempting and the fish are beautiful, but there are lots of hidden dangers and you could get bitten/stung etc. DO NOT under any circumstances take food into the water. This causes the fish to school and this attracts sharks/predators that make take a fnacy to your legs!

The coral is very sharp! When you go snorkelling there is usually a "path" through the reef where the coral has been removed so you don't hurt yourself as you snorkel. Also, there will be an information point somewhere on the Island detailing any weather conditions or currents that snorkellors need to be made aware of.

Would strongly recommend wearing good quality footwear as you paddle. Sting rays are very good at hiding just below the surface of the sand in very shallow water. They are not aggressive but they will sting you if you tread on them which, as we know with the Croc Hunter...is not a good thing! Bless him!

Don't be scared if you see any sharks! They are facinating to watch and will not bother you!

The waiters/cleaner , love Manchester United so you could take a t-shirt etc as a tip and they will love that!

Have a great time...sorry if I've sounded a bit daunting but it's best know these things in advance!

wow, thanks for that, not daunting, LOADS of good insider info, as with the other people here
I was going to take some pairs of flip flops, but do you think something like these might be better for in the sea?

Thanks

looneyleo

So nice to see you're so excited about this! I've got two young'uns now so a return to the Maldives is looking like a 25 wedding anniverary present - if we get that far and if global warming hasn't sunk the lot of them!!!

Anyway, I would say no to flip-flops definately. The sandles are good, but would suggest you get as much protection around the foot as possible. Hubby and I were divers so used to wear our wetsuit boots/shoes whenever we walked along the shore. Obviously if you are just dipping your toes in for a cool off then bare foot is fine as long as you have a good look first! you can get wetsuit boots/shoes very cheaply off ebay. Not the most fashionable I know, but it is very expensive to be lifted off an Island back to the capital for treatment!

Even though we are (WERE - not anymore thanks to rug-rats!!!) divers, snorkelling is just as good in the Maldives as diving. We spent a whole week snorkelling and saw Turtles (within touching distance) Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, White Tip Reef Sharks, Moray Eels, Octopus, Lobster and more scenes from "Finding Nemo" than you can imagine! Great fun and you'll be running back to your guide book after each dive trying to find the name of each fish you just saw!!! Might be worth taking a disposable underwater camera with you for a few piccies. Don't get anything expensive, you'll see loads of fish at just 1 metre deep.

Would definately suggest you also go fishing which will probably be an excursion on the Island. Even if it isn't your thing...it's a nice trip around the paradise island at sunset and it's great to watch the others catch the fabulous fish. Usually they take the fish back to the island and cook it for dinner that night!

Back to practicalities, (must stop reminiscing!) obviously, it is a tropical environment so you need to be very aware that you are dehydrating. With all the fab cocktails as well, it makes the risk of dehydration worse. Make sure you drink loads and loads and loads of bottled water...

You won't get bored there, it really is paradise, but one thing my hubby and I did do is wander around the Island taking close-up photos of all the beautiful flowers, insects, hermit crabs, lizards, fruitbats, etc! It passed an afternoon by very peacefully and romantically and everyone loved the photos when we got back.

If I think of anything else...I'll come back to you! Thanks for giving me a chance to reminice! Hope you have as many fond memories of the Islands as I do!

llol_slim

looneyleo wrote: »

you can get wetsuit boots/shoes very cheaply off ebay. Not the most fashionable I know, but it is very expensive to be lifted off an Island back to the capital for treatment!

We are surfers, so we have wetsuit boots, so thats cool
=edit= Also, being a bit of a technoholic, I plan on buying us waterproof cameras (£30ish ones) has we can also use these for surfing, and we will also be both taking our digital cameras.

We both just wanted to say thanks to everyone so far for all the great information and stories about how nice our holiday will be. Its so nice reading about how much people enjoy going to the maldives. It really does seem everyone who has been wants to share just how amazing it was for them and is going to be for us.
We feel SO lucky to be going and reading the replies in this forum makes us feel even more so, especially reading that for most people it is saved up for special occasions which says something about just how amazing it must be.

Ms_Chocaholic

llol_slim wrote: »

oh cool, no problem, can you post a link to the diving site please? I would like to buy one as well!!
thanks

I bought the Indian Ocean fish ID card from https://www.dive-logs.com

It cost £5.95 and P&P was free and it arrived very quickly (I received it today). The card has pictures and names of fish on both sides of the card, there are about 60 fish on the card, just with their names. I don't know much about fish so that's as comprehensive as I need.

Ms C

Ms_Chocaholic

Thanks for everyones tips, particularly the shoes, i've had a look on Ebay and the wetsuit shoes are reasonably priced.

I do have a pair of Crocs though and wondered if these would protect my feet just as well.

Thanks

Ms C x