My takeaway as well. At first I thought it was a one off like there was a joke or something that was cut... but nope shes like that the entire time. Nice.
To maximize my stay, I'm going to do at least 6 nights: 3 in beach villa and 3 in water villa. This gives me the chance to experience both sides on the property. It's also cheaper too. The beach villas are usually cheaper and can be booked with points. Going to do this for each property I go to. Unless, I don't like the beach villas for a particular propery, then I will do the full 6 nights in a water villa or vica versa.
From Singapore, it’s cheapest and quickest to book an early morning flight to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and then into Maldives. You can get there before hotel check in! I booked separate one-way tickets which was half the price of a direct flight, with a 2 hour gap between flights.
Thanks for your comment!! I love that tip!! A morning flight is the BEST way to maximize your time at the hotel in the maldives for SURE! Love that one way tickets too- in case you decide to stay longer, it's easier to change too ;)
Excellent. . What an informative video chocked full of all the stuff you should know before you go ! Like a roadmap for the Maldives! Thanks for all the info.
This is a very informative video of The Maldives. I have been to the Maldives 5 times and agreed with your points. In addition to what you said, some water villas in one resort will be cheaper than beach villas in another resort. The best weather is in February and March which is the high season but you can still get great deals in these months. Being a Muslim country, no alcohol and pork when you arrive at Male Airport. For people from the UK like I am, stopover either at Doha, Dubai, Istanbul or Abu Dhabi from London Heathrow, Birmingham or Manchester
Thank you so much for your comment and for the great information!!! This is super helpful, particularly for the UK folks looking for the best routes :). We're headed to the Maldives in September so stay tuned for more fun content!
@@VoyagerGuru In addition to that, the airport is on a separate island to Male city. I have booked my hotels either on Trivago, Booking,com and most times on Expedia. September is the wet season but it is cheaper and normally you would get enough sun. One thing that is advisable is getting some sun cream because the sun is strong there. I agree about Mozzie Sprays - I do urge UK travellers to purchase Jungle Formula one from Boots the Chemist - I've never been bitten once using this mozzie spray travelling to many tropical/sub tropical countries. Maldives is a conservative Muslim country for sure (I'm a Muslim born and bred in England) so in the past I have offered advice to Muslim travellers regarding Maldives from my own experiences there. Hope that helps.
For my trip back to Singapore, I chose to stay overnight near the airport first, as morning flights out of Male is much cheaper, and you get the opportunity to check out the capital.
awesome! that's a GREAT tip and we totally agree- if your flight is anytime AM through around 3-5pm, it's worth staying on Male the night before departure. There are some good options with free transfers to the airport
Hey guys, really love your videos. Been bing watching them for days now. In your opinion, which resort would you say had the nicest water surrounding the over water villas? I'm interested in making the 26 hour journey to Maldives this year and I'm looking for villas with beautiful calm shallow water. You've been to so many resorts, so I thought maybe a few stood out to you. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hey! Thanks so much for your comment! Gosh there’s a lot of amazing properties and they’re across all sorts of price ranges. Some of the best water surrounding water villas we have stayed at were Niyama, heritance (though could be rougher), residence, SAii lagoon (insane teal water), ozen Maadhoo…just to name a few :). Happy to help narrow it down if you shoot us an email or DM us on Instagram ! Team@voyagerguru.com xx, maren
Thanks 😊 so glad you found the video helpful! If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments, or message us on Instagram @voyagerguru!
Funny story - - I was looking up Qatar Qsuites and you guys popped up, so I watched. Then I start looking for vids about SAii Lagoon Maldives - - and there you guys are AGAIN - and I was like - HEY! It's the honeymoon couple!! They went to the resort I wanna go to!! 😆 (Turns out you went to more than a few of them. 😉Anyway, really enjoy your vids, they're very comprehensive and well put together and I really appreciate all the work you put in to them. I noticed another commenter mentioned talking about fams more - - which is ironic - - because I came on to ask if you could include us solo travelers as well. Not sure if either of you have traveled solo or not but don't forget about us. We're out here and HEADIN' TO THE MALDIVES. (Even tho I'm solo gal and you two are a couple - - I still like and subscribed because we have the same taste in travel destinations!! So cool! Happy travels and thanks again! 🙂
Hi Deanna! Thank you so much for your comment! Also LOL!! that's hilarious- I'm so glad you found us and said hi!!! Maldives is an amazing solo travel destination if you are looking for a wonderful, relaxing vacation in a super safe environment :). I will definitely keep solo travelers in mind from now on and make sure we consider which hotels are better for certain guest - if you ever have any questions or need any advice, let me know!! By the way, if you're looking at SAii, take a look at hard rock too- I love their balconies more than SAii and it's a super cool vibe at the hotel with lots of activities, things to do all day and you can still access the SAii amenities and marina
@@VoyagerGuru Thanks for the advice and offer to help! 😃Which place would you recommend for someone looking for peace and quiet, a gorgeous beach with clear water, eclectic beach villa with privacy and a great view, and good food? I typically spend the entire day on a beach lounge/swimming/walking along the beach. In the evening I love a place where I can work on my laptop with a breeze and the sound of the ocean. LOVE a great balcony or patio with a view! I'm not looking for activities or entertainment, but I would like a property that is large enough to walk around and explore a bit. I'm also looking for a place that includes an easy transfer from Male since I'll be on my own. Do you think SAii is a good fit or can you recommend another resort...? 🙂🙏🏻
@@deannaholt2851 Anytime!! Yea so that's a great question. SAii is a good choice if you want to have the small-hotel feel and still have access to a larger property with the marina and the hard rock. I think the hard rock villas are nicer and the service there was better, but SAii has quirky rooms with very interesting style. The villas at hard rock and saii both have great ocean views and access to the best beaches on the property so can't go wrong with either. Depending on your budget, I'd also take a look at oblu lobigili, it's a newer property that's adults only and very relaxing, i like the style. we stayed at their sister property, Ozen life maadhoo (which is also great) but could be what you're looking for in terms of the beach, food and access to malé being super easy. feel free to shoot me an email if you need any help or want some more recs!! team@voyagerguru.com
Impressive content! Your hotel reviews truly stand out to me. I appreciate how you provide detailed "reviews" rather than simply sharing videos or pictures of the resort. I'm curious to find out whether certain atolls have seaweed while others do not. If this holds true, could you please share information about which atolls are free from seaweed? Much thanks.
Hey! Thank you so much ❤️❤️ that’s so nice of you to say. In terms of seaweed, that’s not really a big issue in the Maldives in general. There are resorts here and there that have sea grass growing on the sea floor like Lux South Ari, but even at lux, that’s only in one area of the island and not the majority so ultimately there’s not really a lot anywhere. seaweed doesn’t wash up on shore too much either. I hope this helps!!
Guys are too good. Thanks mates for sharing your thoughts and information with us. Just a quick question.... Is the water deep around the water villa's? Thanks
Thanks so much for your comment! That means a lot. So…the short answer is that it depends on the hotel. Some hotels have amazing swimmable water around the villas like Milaidhoo or emerald or ozen, while others are too shallow like ritz or hard rock or lux. It really really depends on location. If you need any help planning let me know!
Very informative videos and some excellent advice both here and in the individual resort reviews. I'm looking at them carefully to help understand what each resort offers so I can decide where to go next! The only thing I can think to add to your excellent presentation is for AI (all inclusive) dining packages, they are not all created equal either so your advice to check the small print and do research is spot on. Well done!
Hi John! Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment! Really appreciate it!!! If we can be of any assistance in your hotel search don’t hesitate to reach out :). We’re heading back to the Maldives in a few weeks and will have an additional 5 hotels reviews coming up as well as an experience review for a luxury live aboard so stay tuned :)
Love the video ❤. No complaints here. But I was wondering if there is any type of night life there. Like maybe a little bar or something to do at night. I plan on going next year and was just looking for as much information as possible.
Hey, so glad you enjoyed the video! The Maldives is a little different than most destinations, you really are quite isolated to the hotel and what facilities that specific hotel has. There are some hotels that are a little more nightlife focused, but it's certainly not a nightlife destination as a whole. If you're looking into hotels, we can help you plan, just email us at team@voyagerguru.com!
Nice comprehensive video. Would be nice to include tips when going with family and kids in terms of kids Friendly Islands, kids clubs, and what activities can be done with kids specially infants. Also would be nice to touch on drones and accessible house reefs saving costs for snorkelling trips
Hey Mohammed! Thanks so much for your comment - that is absolutely incredible feedback. We’re heading back in September and staying with some incredible hotels (soneva, hard rock, Anantara Kihavah, saii lagoon, emerald and more) so we’ll be sure to do a part two covering these topics!! Thanks so much for tuning in and safe travels!!
Just stumbled on this video while planning a surprise five year anniversary + late honeymoon trip. This video is SO informative/helpful. I felt a lot more confident planning and researching our trip now.
Aw thank you so much, Jonson! That means a lot to us. This is an amazing location for a five year anniversary- well done!! Let us know if you have any questions - and stay tuned, we have a LOT of Maldives videos coming out
Really informative video, and puts everything in a nutshell as it’s overwhelming how many hotels there are. Would you happen to know the underwater restaurant featured at 15:20 please?
Hi Charlotte! Thanks so much for the feedback! I totally get how overwhelming it can be to choose a property- don't hesitate to reach out if you need any help!! The restaurant is the Niyama resort underwater restaurant :)
Another great video!!! :-) I hear you are booked for Sepetember. What resorts are you goint to visit? I hope you have discovered Hurawalhi and Kudadoo? ;-) Kandolhu is a total gem too! We have booked Hurawalhi (4th visit) and Milaidhoo (2nd visit, thanks to you guys!) for February 2022.
Thank you so much, Linda! We are!! Very excited to go back- we have a lot of amazing hotels that we are looking forward to seeing 🙌🏼. We are not staying at hurawalhi or kudadoo this time - but hopefully in the future as they look sublime!! Kandholhu is also high on my list - maybe if they see this they’ll invite us 😉. Omg have a BLAST!!! I’m so glad you loved Milaidhoo as much as we did - can’t wait to hear about your next trip!!
I’m secretly planing a 10 years anniversary trip for me and my wife and I’ve watched sooooo many videos about the Maldives. Never have I seen a video like this one. So much useful information and now I’m sure I’m going to book a trip the coming days so I can surprise my wife. Great work you guys! Thanks so much for the inspiration. 🙏🏽👏🏽
Wow thank you so much for your comment, Andres!!! That’s so nice of you to say and means the world to us. We’re so glad it helps you in your planning process!!! Don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be of any extra guidance! - maren
@@VoyagerGuru how do we reach out? I'm in the Maldives around a week so far & here for a couple more weeks, haven't booked last week yet to keep open to who we meet, no plan great plan 🦅🧬☯️♾️⛵🧞🌏🐬🥰
Going to Hilton Amingiri for our 50th anniversary. Where do you get your visa? Are there any discounts on the price of transfers? We want to stop on our way home what do you suggest?
Hey there! Thanks for reaching out. Visas aren’t required for many countries like the US and EU so I would check with your consulate to be sure - but if you do need a visa you can usually get it on the Maldives government site. If you’re EU or US you don’t need to worry about it. For transfers, some hotels do include transfers in the price but Hilton usually doesn’t. My recommendation is to check the “offers” page on the website because sometimes they’ll have specials but expect to pay 400+ per person. US brands like Hilton and Marriott are known for charging the highest prices for food/beverage and transfers. For a layover, my favorite easy stops are Singapore and Dubai because emirates and Singapore have so many flights in and out of male so it’s easy to add a stopover :). Istanbul is another one but they have less flights in and out :). Let me know any other questions you have!
Thaanks for the great valuable tips👍🏼🙏🏼 Im traveling with my friend for my a birthday stay, what 5 stars resorts do u recommend fro us (reachable by speedboat)?
Hi. I am overwhelmed at the choices of hotels. I would love to experience that beautiful crystal clear water stretched out as much as possible till your eyes could see, white powdery sand, maybe a sand bank and good food. Any recommendations please?
hey Jany! thanks so much for your comment! Yes, it can be SUPER overwhelming! there are so many amazing hotels based on your budget and what you're looking for. feel free to shoot me a DM on instagram @voyagerguru or email me at team@voyagerguru.com with your budget/dates if you have them and I can recommend some of my favorite options :) xx maren
@@MissRed92837 Totally agree- some islands have bad house reefs! The very general rule is to look for properties farther from Malé for the best reef systems - particularly in Baa Atoll
Hi You two. Really enjoying your reviews. Having trouble subscribing but will keep trying. Just a not on transfers. The Anantara Kihavah do not seem to include sea plane transfer. What do you recommend?
Hi Tony! Thank you so much for your comment! I'm sorry you're having trouble subscribing! Maybe try this link: ua-cam.com/users/voyagerguru Regarding the transfers- most hotels do not include the transfer in the base price of the room. SOME places like Luxury Escapes or deals that hotels are offering directly on their websites (usually under an "offers" tab) will include them. However, it's somewhat rare unfortunately. It is possible that if you contact the hotel directly, they may have an offer available that's not posted on their website. If you have a budget in mind that you're looking to not exceed, let me know and I can present some options to you!
Thank you so much, Ruth! That is a TOUGH question because honestly there are so many fantastic properties. I think in terms of overall quality if budget was unlimited: Milaidhoo, Anantara Kihavah and JA Manafaru. That being said, the best hotel is the one you can afford and there is something in every price point in the Maldives with a lot to offer :)
HEY GUYS 🤩 Alex Here! - I’m new to your channel, came across this video when I was setting up my Maldives Play list! It’s my dream to go ON MY OWN by the time I’m 50-52 ( I’m 41 at this time) - The question I have for you guys is: How accessible are the Resorts for wheelchair users as I’m one myself! I have Cerebral Palsy and use a small lightweight manual spots chair.. I have a strong upper body and can use my arms to move around small spaces when needed! Last year I did check up on this myself and I came across a website that caters for disabled Holiday makers to the Maldives! 🤷🏽♂️ but I wasn’t sure if it was legit🤷🏽♂️ - Hope this hasn’t given you a headache 🤣 I’d really like to hear back from you an what you think! You know your stuff🤩👊🏽
Hi Alexander! Thanks so much for reaching out!! What a fantastic trip that will be! Regarding accessibility at resorts, that's a great question. One thing I do like about the Maldives is a lot of the resorts are very personalized and many come with butlers and personal concierges, so there is a good opportunity to make sure you are never stuck without assistance or someone to help you out. One thing I would recommend is when you narrow down your list of favorite resorts, I would contact them directly and ask them about their facilities and services and how they can accommodate you. It's possible some are better suited than others to provide the best experience for you, in terms of property layout, getting around (compacted sand versus looser sand roads etc). If you want me to check out the company you found, let me know the name and I can do some digging :). Feel free to comment back here or shoot us an email at team@voyagerguru.com.
@@VoyagerGuru WOW‼️ Thanks Guys! That so cool that you hit me back so soon! Everything you said makes perfect sense to me! An I was wondering about the whole compacted sand versus looser sand myself and you brought it up.. that would be my only hurdle 🤩 but.. where there’s a WILL 😉‼️ This Whole interaction has been the PUSH I needed! - I’ve already set up my savings account , just before you replied! I’ve saved your email address too, I’ll stay in touch using that an here if that’s cool? And once I’m at the choosing stage, I’ll definitely drop you an email and get you to do some of that digging 💯😉‼️ Once again.. THANK YOU ever so much!! An I’ll check in with you guys soon!👊🏽
Hey griffin! Thanks so much for your comment :). Yes, all travelers are required to have a PCR test within 72 hours. Also, many hotels will test on arrival - that’s included in your room rate. If you need a test for your country or flight, you’ll have to pay for a PCR at the hotel (usually 120-150)
Thank you so much, Amanda! Regarding time of year and location, honestly it will be amazing either way. There’s no difference in the weather from the top of the country to the bottom. June is a great time to visit - hot and sunny!! If you are looking at hotels, the easiest to access from male will be in the middle of the country as flights will be shorter :). Let us know if you need any help!
Hi Don! Thanks for your comment. The short answer is it depends. Hotels have different rules with the seaplane companies so some are 20, some are 30-40. I would recommend contacting your hotel to confirm their specific regulations
Hi, my husband and I will like to travel to maldive from USA but we don’t know if tourist seat in the air plain will be comfortable for 19 hours flight. Cuz my husband is too big and first class is VERY EXPENSIVE! Any advice please
Hi there! Thanks for reaching out! So definitely look for airlines like Emirates or Qatar as they tend to have more generous room than US-based airlines like United. I would also encourage you to look at Premium Economy seats as they can be much more roomy in terms of width and footroom at usually a LOT cheaper than booking business class. For example, Singapore Airlines and Emirates have very nice PE seats that may be better for your husband :). When you are looking at airline tickets, look for the class of service that says "premium" or "premium economy" to find that class of service :). I hope this helps!
Hey Elena! Thanks so much for your comment - yea, this was one of our early early videos lol. We have upgraded our gear significantly since then, in large part thanks to all our viewers!! Hopefully you’ll find the audio in some of our newer content of higher quality 🙌🏽🙌🏽
Hi there! Thanks for your comment! It totally depends on your style of travel, but I would personally say 4 nights should be the minimum to really enjoy it and make the long journey worth it :)
Save yourself all this work and just use a good travel agent to find your flights, property, meal plans & transfers. The Travel Agent will cater to you and send you detailed information to guide you through this process. This way you can just be informed and enjoy your vacation minus the stress.
Hi Lara, while I totally agree that a travel agent can be extremely useful, it's also worth noting that a lot of travel agents haven't actually ever been to the Maldives and don't know the ins and outs of various resorts and how it works with transfers etc. Every resort is very different from the next so finding the perfect hotel for your needs is not as easy as it is in some other destinations. I, myself, do book people's vacations and can personally attest that the perfect hotel for you may not be the perfect hotel for someone else so I always recommend people do some research and understand what they gravitate towards. Also, our content helps people set their expectations - no resort is perfect anywhere in the world. Knowing what you can expect at the hotel and in the Maldives in general is super helpful to get ready for the trip of a lifetime. I hope that helps!
Thanks so much for your comment! So sorry that it was hard to follow - there is an icon on the video on the right side to slow down the pace of the video, hopefully that helps!
Hey pat! That’s a tough question! There are so many amazing resorts - my favorites right now are Milaidhoo and Anantara on the high end luxury side and saii on the lower priced side. If you want some help picking feel free to email me your budget and dates and I’ll send you my favorite resorts :) team@voyagerguru.com - maren
Haha well 200 inhabited islands, but technically there are nearby 1200 islands in your beautiful country! And with land building happening, both of those numbers could go up!
Hi. I booked the north lux hotel for 3 weeks from now. I don’t see much mention about the hotel. Is it actually a good hotel as it seems? Are there any better alternatives? I also had a reservation for hurawalhi but cancelled it over the Lux north. Thanks for your time.
Hey Arya! Thanks for your comment - we haven’t been to lux north male yet so I can’t speak too much to how good it actually is. However, I do know it’s their flagship property in their portfolio and they’re really going for a high end feel. In terms of services and cost, lux south Ari did a lot of nickel and diming and I imagine it’ll be a little bit of the same here, but the rooms looks massive and private. You can’t really go wrong in the Maldives- I love the location of lux north male because it’s accessible to the airport and the property is super new. Depending on your booking package, I would just be aware that there will be some costs if you want to do activities etc :) let us know what other questions you haven
Hey Josh, interesting feedback. We’ve actually thought about this a lot and most best practices we’ve found say otherwise, in a 2 person presentation. Happy to understand why you think the former might be better though.
Hey Rahul! Thanks for your feedback- this was one of our early videos and we hadn’t yet perfected the mic situation. Hopefully you still found the content helpful :).
Hello Josh, thank you for your feedback. I’m so sorry to hear you didn’t like the quality of our video. I hope you find something more insightful and helpful out there that is more to your liking. Based on you apparent expertise, I’m certainly looking forward to seeing videos from your travels around the world. Have a great day!
Who scripts & edits your videos?Beautiful Can't see the trivago link in description I also use Google maps I'm in Kaashidhoo (north of Male) atm 🦅🧬☯️♾️🧞🌏🐬🥰
Hi there! Thanks so much for your comment! We do all our own video content, from filming to editing :). Sorry for missing the link - I've updated the description. Also check it out here: trivago.com/ You can basically compare the best prices here. I tend to ignore anything that looks "too good to be true" when looking at options. That's great you use Google Maps!! I love google maps for finding hotels! Enjoy the maldives :)
Off the topic. The way she looks at you while you talk, she's a keeper man. I mean, like , wow.
Aww thank you so much! I do love him just a little bit 🙃
My takeaway as well. At first I thought it was a one off like there was a joke or something that was cut... but nope shes like that the entire time. Nice.
I've looked at a lot of Maldives videos this week. This one is the best by a mile. Essential viewing for anyone planning a trip to Maldives.
Thank you so much, Bill! That means a lot to us!!
🎉🎉🎉
Maldives ❌👎 Lakshadweep (India) ✅✅
To maximize my stay, I'm going to do at least 6 nights: 3 in beach villa and 3 in water villa. This gives me the chance to experience both sides on the property. It's also cheaper too. The beach villas are usually cheaper and can be booked with points. Going to do this for each property I go to. Unless, I don't like the beach villas for a particular propery, then I will do the full 6 nights in a water villa or vica versa.
Love that idea!! It’s a great way to experience both without totally breaking the bank. Great advice!
From Singapore, it’s cheapest and quickest to book an early morning flight to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and then into Maldives. You can get there before hotel check in! I booked separate one-way tickets which was half the price of a direct flight, with a 2 hour gap between flights.
Thanks for your comment!! I love that tip!! A morning flight is the BEST way to maximize your time at the hotel in the maldives for SURE! Love that one way tickets too- in case you decide to stay longer, it's easier to change too ;)
Thought this is really a great informational video, many thanks to both of you!
Thanks so much, so glad you found it useful!
Excellent. . What an informative video chocked full of all the stuff you should know before you go ! Like a roadmap for the Maldives! Thanks for all the info.
Thank you so much for your comment!!! We are so glad you like it :) we were very excited to produce this video
This was super helpful ❤
Thanks so much for your comment! I’m so glad to hear it was helpful!!
Very useful information 👌 basically you answered all my questions. Thanks a lot!
Hey Leslie! Thanks for your comment! I'm so glad it was helpful!! Don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything :)
Super helpful!! Thank you
Thank you so much!! So glad it was helpful :) xx, maren
This is a very informative video of The Maldives. I have been to the Maldives 5 times and agreed with your points. In addition to what you said, some water villas in one resort will be cheaper than beach villas in another resort. The best weather is in February and March which is the high season but you can still get great deals in these months. Being a Muslim country, no alcohol and pork when you arrive at Male Airport.
For people from the UK like I am, stopover either at Doha, Dubai, Istanbul or Abu Dhabi from London Heathrow, Birmingham or Manchester
Thank you so much for your comment and for the great information!!! This is super helpful, particularly for the UK folks looking for the best routes :). We're headed to the Maldives in September so stay tuned for more fun content!
@@VoyagerGuru In addition to that, the airport is on a separate island to Male city. I have booked my hotels either on Trivago, Booking,com and most times on Expedia. September is the wet season but it is cheaper and normally you would get enough sun. One thing that is advisable is getting some sun cream because the sun is strong there. I agree about Mozzie Sprays - I do urge UK travellers to purchase Jungle Formula one from Boots the Chemist - I've never been bitten once using this mozzie spray travelling to many tropical/sub tropical countries. Maldives is a conservative Muslim country for sure (I'm a Muslim born and bred in England) so in the past I have offered advice to Muslim travellers regarding Maldives from my own experiences there. Hope that helps.
GREAT call in that bug spray- they can be gnarly, particularly at new resorts!
Thank you both ever so much. What a great video! it's very helpful 😊
Thank you so much, Roxanne!! I'm so glad this video was helpful!! Let us know if you have any questions or need anything :)
I love how very detail you guys are in this video. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you so much, Michelle!! So glad it was helpful!
For my trip back to Singapore, I chose to stay overnight near the airport first, as morning flights out of Male is much cheaper, and you get the opportunity to check out the capital.
awesome! that's a GREAT tip and we totally agree- if your flight is anytime AM through around 3-5pm, it's worth staying on Male the night before departure. There are some good options with free transfers to the airport
Really detailed video, definitely will help me to choose the best option for me 👍🏼
Thank you so much! That means so much to us ❤️ happy travels!
Love this video. Great information
Thank you so much, Ruth! We really appreciate it
very useful info. thank you.
Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!
Hey guys, really love your videos. Been bing watching them for days now. In your opinion, which resort would you say had the nicest water surrounding the over water villas? I'm interested in making the 26 hour journey to Maldives this year and I'm looking for villas with beautiful calm shallow water. You've been to so many resorts, so I thought maybe a few stood out to you. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hey! Thanks so much for your comment! Gosh there’s a lot of amazing properties and they’re across all sorts of price ranges. Some of the best water surrounding water villas we have stayed at were Niyama, heritance (though could be rougher), residence, SAii lagoon (insane teal water), ozen Maadhoo…just to name a few :). Happy to help narrow it down if you shoot us an email or DM us on Instagram ! Team@voyagerguru.com xx, maren
Thank you really helped how can we ask questions
Thanks 😊 so glad you found the video helpful! If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments, or message us on Instagram @voyagerguru!
Funny story - - I was looking up Qatar Qsuites and you guys popped up, so I watched. Then I start looking for vids about SAii Lagoon Maldives - - and there you guys are AGAIN - and I was like - HEY! It's the honeymoon couple!! They went to the resort I wanna go to!! 😆 (Turns out you went to more than a few of them. 😉Anyway, really enjoy your vids, they're very comprehensive and well put together and I really appreciate all the work you put in to them. I noticed another commenter mentioned talking about fams more - - which is ironic - - because I came on to ask if you could include us solo travelers as well. Not sure if either of you have traveled solo or not but don't forget about us. We're out here and HEADIN' TO THE MALDIVES. (Even tho I'm solo gal and you two are a couple - - I still like and subscribed because we have the same taste in travel destinations!! So cool! Happy travels and thanks again! 🙂
Hi Deanna! Thank you so much for your comment! Also LOL!! that's hilarious- I'm so glad you found us and said hi!!! Maldives is an amazing solo travel destination if you are looking for a wonderful, relaxing vacation in a super safe environment :). I will definitely keep solo travelers in mind from now on and make sure we consider which hotels are better for certain guest - if you ever have any questions or need any advice, let me know!! By the way, if you're looking at SAii, take a look at hard rock too- I love their balconies more than SAii and it's a super cool vibe at the hotel with lots of activities, things to do all day and you can still access the SAii amenities and marina
@@VoyagerGuru Thanks for the advice and offer to help! 😃Which place would you recommend for someone looking for peace and quiet, a gorgeous beach with clear water, eclectic beach villa with privacy and a great view, and good food? I typically spend the entire day on a beach lounge/swimming/walking along the beach. In the evening I love a place where I can work on my laptop with a breeze and the sound of the ocean. LOVE a great balcony or patio with a view! I'm not looking for activities or entertainment, but I would like a property that is large enough to walk around and explore a bit. I'm also looking for a place that includes an easy transfer from Male since I'll be on my own. Do you think SAii is a good fit or can you recommend another resort...? 🙂🙏🏻
@@deannaholt2851 Anytime!! Yea so that's a great question. SAii is a good choice if you want to have the small-hotel feel and still have access to a larger property with the marina and the hard rock. I think the hard rock villas are nicer and the service there was better, but SAii has quirky rooms with very interesting style. The villas at hard rock and saii both have great ocean views and access to the best beaches on the property so can't go wrong with either. Depending on your budget, I'd also take a look at oblu lobigili, it's a newer property that's adults only and very relaxing, i like the style. we stayed at their sister property, Ozen life maadhoo (which is also great) but could be what you're looking for in terms of the beach, food and access to malé being super easy. feel free to shoot me an email if you need any help or want some more recs!! team@voyagerguru.com
Impressive content! Your hotel reviews truly stand out to me. I appreciate how you provide detailed "reviews" rather than simply sharing videos or pictures of the resort. I'm curious to find out whether certain atolls have seaweed while others do not. If this holds true, could you please share information about which atolls are free from seaweed? Much thanks.
Hey! Thank you so much ❤️❤️ that’s so nice of you to say. In terms of seaweed, that’s not really a big issue in the Maldives in general. There are resorts here and there that have sea grass growing on the sea floor like Lux South Ari, but even at lux, that’s only in one area of the island and not the majority so ultimately there’s not really a lot anywhere. seaweed doesn’t wash up on shore too much either. I hope this helps!!
@@VoyagerGuru Thank you.
Guys are too good.
Thanks mates for sharing your thoughts and information with us.
Just a quick question....
Is the water deep around the water villa's?
Thanks
Thanks so much for your comment! That means a lot. So…the short answer is that it depends on the hotel. Some hotels have amazing swimmable water around the villas like Milaidhoo or emerald or ozen, while others are too shallow like ritz or hard rock or lux. It really really depends on location. If you need any help planning let me know!
Good on you 👍🏼
Very informative videos and some excellent advice both here and in the individual resort reviews. I'm looking at them carefully to help understand what each resort offers so I can decide where to go next! The only thing I can think to add to your excellent presentation is for AI (all inclusive) dining packages, they are not all created equal either so your advice to check the small print and do research is spot on. Well done!
Hi John! Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment! Really appreciate it!!! If we can be of any assistance in your hotel search don’t hesitate to reach out :). We’re heading back to the Maldives in a few weeks and will have an additional 5 hotels reviews coming up as well as an experience review for a luxury live aboard so stay tuned :)
Amazing review/guide!!! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Fatimah! That means a lot :)
Thanks for sharing, my friends! LIKE 51
Thank you so much, Henri!!
My fiancé and I are looking into hotels atm and this video helped tons . Thank you
Thanks so much!! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Love the video ❤. No complaints here. But I was wondering if there is any type of night life there. Like maybe a little bar or something to do at night. I plan on going next year and was just looking for as much information as possible.
Hey, so glad you enjoyed the video! The Maldives is a little different than most destinations, you really are quite isolated to the hotel and what facilities that specific hotel has. There are some hotels that are a little more nightlife focused, but it's certainly not a nightlife destination as a whole. If you're looking into hotels, we can help you plan, just email us at team@voyagerguru.com!
@@VoyagerGuru thank you so much!! I will definitely be in touch
Awesome video!
Thank you so much!!
Thank you. Very helpful, again.
Thank you for your comment, Larry! We appreciate the feedback :). Safe travels!
Nice comprehensive video. Would be nice to include tips when going with family and kids in terms of kids Friendly Islands, kids clubs, and what activities can be done with kids specially infants. Also would be nice to touch on drones and accessible house reefs saving costs for snorkelling trips
Hey Mohammed! Thanks so much for your comment - that is absolutely incredible feedback. We’re heading back in September and staying with some incredible hotels (soneva, hard rock, Anantara Kihavah, saii lagoon, emerald and more) so we’ll be sure to do a part two covering these topics!! Thanks so much for tuning in and safe travels!!
Just stumbled on this video while planning a surprise five year anniversary + late honeymoon trip. This video is SO informative/helpful. I felt a lot more confident planning and researching our trip now.
Aw thank you so much, Jonson! That means a lot to us. This is an amazing location for a five year anniversary- well done!! Let us know if you have any questions - and stay tuned, we have a LOT of Maldives videos coming out
You can plan your Honeymoon in the beautiful Lakshadweep (India) instead ✅
Really informative video, and puts everything in a nutshell as it’s overwhelming how many hotels there are. Would you happen to know the underwater restaurant featured at 15:20 please?
Hi Charlotte! Thanks so much for the feedback! I totally get how overwhelming it can be to choose a property- don't hesitate to reach out if you need any help!! The restaurant is the Niyama resort underwater restaurant :)
Another great video!!! :-) I hear you are booked for Sepetember. What resorts are you goint to visit? I hope you have discovered Hurawalhi and Kudadoo? ;-) Kandolhu is a total gem too!
We have booked Hurawalhi (4th visit) and Milaidhoo (2nd visit, thanks to you guys!) for February 2022.
Thank you so much, Linda! We are!! Very excited to go back- we have a lot of amazing hotels that we are looking forward to seeing 🙌🏼. We are not staying at hurawalhi or kudadoo this time - but hopefully in the future as they look sublime!! Kandholhu is also high on my list - maybe if they see this they’ll invite us 😉. Omg have a BLAST!!! I’m so glad you loved Milaidhoo as much as we did - can’t wait to hear about your next trip!!
This is awesome
Thank you so much, Olakunle! Glad it was helpful :)
I’m secretly planing a 10 years anniversary trip for me and my wife and I’ve watched sooooo many videos about the Maldives. Never have I seen a video like this one. So much useful information and now I’m sure I’m going to book a trip the coming days so I can surprise my wife. Great work you guys! Thanks so much for the inspiration. 🙏🏽👏🏽
Wow thank you so much for your comment, Andres!!! That’s so nice of you to say and means the world to us. We’re so glad it helps you in your planning process!!! Don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be of any extra guidance! - maren
@@VoyagerGuru how do we reach out? I'm in the Maldives around a week so far & here for a couple more weeks, haven't booked last week yet to keep open to who we meet, no plan great plan 🦅🧬☯️♾️⛵🧞🌏🐬🥰
@LovingLife Noww Hey! that's awesome! happy to provide ideas. We use a texting tool called FIVE, which helps support this channel! five.me/voyagerguru
Going to Hilton Amingiri for our 50th anniversary. Where do you get your visa? Are there any discounts on the price of transfers? We want to stop on our way home what do you suggest?
Hey there! Thanks for reaching out. Visas aren’t required for many countries like the US and EU so I would check with your consulate to be sure - but if you do need a visa you can usually get it on the Maldives government site. If you’re EU or US you don’t need to worry about it. For transfers, some hotels do include transfers in the price but Hilton usually doesn’t. My recommendation is to check the “offers” page on the website because sometimes they’ll have specials but expect to pay 400+ per person. US brands like Hilton and Marriott are known for charging the highest prices for food/beverage and transfers. For a layover, my favorite easy stops are Singapore and Dubai because emirates and Singapore have so many flights in and out of male so it’s easy to add a stopover :). Istanbul is another one but they have less flights in and out :). Let me know any other questions you have!
Amazing tips 😃 very informational video
Thank you so much!!!
Thaanks for the great valuable tips👍🏼🙏🏼
Im traveling with my friend for my a birthday stay, what 5 stars resorts do u recommend fro us (reachable by speedboat)?
Hi Reema! Thanks for your comment! What’s your nightly approximate budget? Happy to recommend some great options!
Hi. I am overwhelmed at the choices of hotels. I would love to experience that beautiful crystal clear water stretched out as much as possible till your eyes could see, white powdery sand, maybe a sand bank and good food. Any recommendations please?
hey Jany! thanks so much for your comment! Yes, it can be SUPER overwhelming! there are so many amazing hotels based on your budget and what you're looking for. feel free to shoot me a DM on instagram @voyagerguru or email me at team@voyagerguru.com with your budget/dates if you have them and I can recommend some of my favorite options :) xx maren
If you like to snorkel, search for islands with good house riffs who have a lot of fish life.
@@MissRed92837 Totally agree- some islands have bad house reefs! The very general rule is to look for properties farther from Malé for the best reef systems - particularly in Baa Atoll
Sun Siyam Iru Veli
JOALI
Niyama
COCO bodhi
Are some of my fav
Hi You two. Really enjoying your reviews. Having trouble subscribing but will keep trying.
Just a not on transfers. The Anantara Kihavah do not seem to include sea plane transfer.
What do you recommend?
Hi Tony! Thank you so much for your comment! I'm sorry you're having trouble subscribing! Maybe try this link: ua-cam.com/users/voyagerguru
Regarding the transfers- most hotels do not include the transfer in the base price of the room. SOME places like Luxury Escapes or deals that hotels are offering directly on their websites (usually under an "offers" tab) will include them. However, it's somewhat rare unfortunately. It is possible that if you contact the hotel directly, they may have an offer available that's not posted on their website. If you have a budget in mind that you're looking to not exceed, let me know and I can present some options to you!
Great video. What is your favorite resort in the Maldives
Thank you so much, Ruth! That is a TOUGH question because honestly there are so many fantastic properties. I think in terms of overall quality if budget was unlimited: Milaidhoo, Anantara Kihavah and JA Manafaru. That being said, the best hotel is the one you can afford and there is something in every price point in the Maldives with a lot to offer :)
HEY GUYS 🤩 Alex Here! - I’m new to your channel, came across this video when I was setting up my Maldives Play list!
It’s my dream to go ON MY OWN by the time I’m 50-52 ( I’m 41 at this time) - The question I have for you guys is: How accessible are the Resorts for wheelchair users as I’m one myself! I have Cerebral Palsy and use a small lightweight manual spots chair.. I have a strong upper body and can use my arms to move around small spaces when needed!
Last year I did check up on this myself and I came across a website that caters for disabled Holiday makers to the Maldives! 🤷🏽♂️ but I wasn’t sure if it was legit🤷🏽♂️ - Hope this hasn’t given you a headache 🤣 I’d really like to hear back from you an what you think! You know your stuff🤩👊🏽
Hi Alexander! Thanks so much for reaching out!! What a fantastic trip that will be! Regarding accessibility at resorts, that's a great question. One thing I do like about the Maldives is a lot of the resorts are very personalized and many come with butlers and personal concierges, so there is a good opportunity to make sure you are never stuck without assistance or someone to help you out. One thing I would recommend is when you narrow down your list of favorite resorts, I would contact them directly and ask them about their facilities and services and how they can accommodate you. It's possible some are better suited than others to provide the best experience for you, in terms of property layout, getting around (compacted sand versus looser sand roads etc). If you want me to check out the company you found, let me know the name and I can do some digging :). Feel free to comment back here or shoot us an email at team@voyagerguru.com.
@@VoyagerGuru WOW‼️ Thanks Guys! That so cool that you hit me back so soon! Everything you said makes perfect sense to me! An I was wondering about the whole compacted sand versus looser sand myself and you brought it up.. that would be my only hurdle 🤩 but.. where there’s a WILL 😉‼️
This Whole interaction has been the PUSH I needed! - I’ve already set up my savings account , just before you replied!
I’ve saved your email address too, I’ll stay in touch using that an here if that’s cool? And once I’m at the choosing stage, I’ll definitely drop you an email and get you to do some of that digging 💯😉‼️
Once again.. THANK YOU ever so much!! An I’ll check in with you guys soon!👊🏽
@@alexanderwayne6763 Anytime!! It's our pleasure!! Definitely reach out when you need some guidance :) we are here for you!! Have a great weekend!!
@@VoyagerGuru You Too! ✌🏽
Super detailed video. Very helpful, thank you. Any Covid restrictions while traveling there?
Hey griffin! Thanks so much for your comment :). Yes, all travelers are required to have a PCR test within 72 hours. Also, many hotels will test on arrival - that’s included in your room rate. If you need a test for your country or flight, you’ll have to pay for a PCR at the hotel (usually 120-150)
In may 21 i am going to maldives😊
Woohoo!! That sounds amazing!! Where are you going?
Great video! :) Thank you very much!
For travelling in June in terms of weather do you recommend the North or South islands?
Thank you so much, Amanda! Regarding time of year and location, honestly it will be amazing either way. There’s no difference in the weather from the top of the country to the bottom. June is a great time to visit - hot and sunny!! If you are looking at hotels, the easiest to access from male will be in the middle of the country as flights will be shorter :). Let us know if you need any help!
@@VoyagerGuru thank you so much for the information!! It is very helpful! :)
My husband and I find your UA-cam videos inspiring! Thanks again!
Aww thank you!!! We appreciate it so much. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions anytime
hi,is it true that if on a sea plane transfer you are limited to 20kg baggage pp,don.
Hi Don! Thanks for your comment. The short answer is it depends. Hotels have different rules with the seaplane companies so some are 20, some are 30-40. I would recommend contacting your hotel to confirm their specific regulations
Hi, my husband and I will like to travel to maldive from USA but we don’t know if tourist seat in the air plain will be comfortable for 19 hours flight. Cuz my husband is too big and first class is VERY EXPENSIVE! Any advice please
Hi there! Thanks for reaching out! So definitely look for airlines like Emirates or Qatar as they tend to have more generous room than US-based airlines like United. I would also encourage you to look at Premium Economy seats as they can be much more roomy in terms of width and footroom at usually a LOT cheaper than booking business class. For example, Singapore Airlines and Emirates have very nice PE seats that may be better for your husband :). When you are looking at airline tickets, look for the class of service that says "premium" or "premium economy" to find that class of service :). I hope this helps!
Business class is cheaper than first class and has much more space than economy class.
good job
Thank you so much!
Great advices guys, thank you!
But do improve your microphone or voice recording 😉
Hey Elena! Thanks so much for your comment - yea, this was one of our early early videos lol. We have upgraded our gear significantly since then, in large part thanks to all our viewers!! Hopefully you’ll find the audio in some of our newer content of higher quality 🙌🏽🙌🏽
How many nights would you consider enough for a honeymoon?
Hi there! Thanks for your comment! It totally depends on your style of travel, but I would personally say 4 nights should be the minimum to really enjoy it and make the long journey worth it :)
Save yourself all this work and just use a good travel agent to find your flights, property, meal plans & transfers. The Travel Agent will cater to you and send you detailed information to guide you through this process. This way you can just be informed and enjoy your vacation minus the stress.
Hi Lara, while I totally agree that a travel agent can be extremely useful, it's also worth noting that a lot of travel agents haven't actually ever been to the Maldives and don't know the ins and outs of various resorts and how it works with transfers etc. Every resort is very different from the next so finding the perfect hotel for your needs is not as easy as it is in some other destinations. I, myself, do book people's vacations and can personally attest that the perfect hotel for you may not be the perfect hotel for someone else so I always recommend people do some research and understand what they gravitate towards. Also, our content helps people set their expectations - no resort is perfect anywhere in the world. Knowing what you can expect at the hotel and in the Maldives in general is super helpful to get ready for the trip of a lifetime. I hope that helps!
This is an amazing video.Will dedicate you my honeymoon stay in maldive
Thank you so much!! That is such a nice comment :) We hope you have a wonderful honeymoon!
hey can you guys please 🥺 ❤️ slow down a little bit when talking on your next videos ,I hardly catch-up your both two fast
Thanks so much for your comment! So sorry that it was hard to follow - there is an icon on the video on the right side to slow down the pace of the video, hopefully that helps!
Which hotel is that at 12:38 ?
Hi Kanaka, that is Heritance Aarah - the presidential suite. Its one of the many new all inclusive resorts in the Maldives
@@VoyagerGuru Just saw two videos from you and i subscribed. Good informative stuff and thanks for the pro-active help 👍
Thank you so much! That means a lot to us!! reach out anytime if you need anything ❤️
What are your top resorts so far? I’m having a hard time figuring out where to book.
Hey pat! That’s a tough question! There are so many amazing resorts - my favorites right now are Milaidhoo and Anantara on the high end luxury side and saii on the lower priced side. If you want some help picking feel free to email me your budget and dates and I’ll send you my favorite resorts :) team@voyagerguru.com - maren
I love Soneva Fushi. 😉
Her: Maldives is a country with a thousand islands!
Me: who's from Maldives & it has only 200 - 250 islands! 😑
Haha well 200 inhabited islands, but technically there are nearby 1200 islands in your beautiful country! And with land building happening, both of those numbers could go up!
@@VoyagerGuru tnx for the update!
Seems you educated yourself more than most locals ❤️
What questions do you have about the Maldives? Let us know!
Hi. I booked the north lux hotel for 3 weeks from now.
I don’t see much mention about the hotel. Is it actually a good hotel as it seems?
Are there any better alternatives?
I also had a reservation for hurawalhi but cancelled it over the Lux north.
Thanks for your time.
Hey Arya! Thanks for your comment - we haven’t been to lux north male yet so I can’t speak too much to how good it actually is. However, I do know it’s their flagship property in their portfolio and they’re really going for a high end feel. In terms of services and cost, lux south Ari did a lot of nickel and diming and I imagine it’ll be a little bit of the same here, but the rooms looks massive and private. You can’t really go wrong in the Maldives- I love the location of lux north male because it’s accessible to the airport and the property is super new. Depending on your booking package, I would just be aware that there will be some costs if you want to do activities etc :) let us know what other questions you haven
I'm not hitting the like button because you keep saying it
Omg thank you- a comment’s even better for the algorithm, thanks bro!!! 🤣😉
I will now like it for your Circasm 🤣
That's it liked 👍
🤣🤣🤣 thank you, Sean!! Have a great day!
Whoever edits your videos, please sort out the constant cutting, it’s so annoying
Hello, thank you for your comment- we edit our own videos. If you don't like it, feel free to watch something else :). Have a nice day!
Can you speak faster???????
Try setting the playback speed to 75%, or speed it up, what ever works for you!
Look at the camera, not at him while he is talking.
Hey Josh, interesting feedback. We’ve actually thought about this a lot and most best practices we’ve found say otherwise, in a 2 person presentation. Happy to understand why you think the former might be better though.
Terrible sound quality
Hey Rahul! Thanks for your feedback- this was one of our early videos and we hadn’t yet perfected the mic situation. Hopefully you still found the content helpful :).
It’s almost awkward to watch this lady staring intensely at her man every time he’s talking.
See pinned comment ❤️
Oh, one more thing: the audio is horrible. Invest in a professional mic., or do the audio track later in a studio environment.
Hello Josh, thank you for your feedback. I’m so sorry to hear you didn’t like the quality of our video. I hope you find something more insightful and helpful out there that is more to your liking.
Based on you apparent expertise, I’m certainly looking forward to seeing videos from your travels around the world. Have a great day!
Who scripts & edits your videos?Beautiful
Can't see the trivago link in description
I also use Google maps
I'm in Kaashidhoo (north of Male) atm 🦅🧬☯️♾️🧞🌏🐬🥰
Hi there! Thanks so much for your comment! We do all our own video content, from filming to editing :).
Sorry for missing the link - I've updated the description. Also check it out here: trivago.com/ You can basically compare the best prices here. I tend to ignore anything that looks "too good to be true" when looking at options. That's great you use Google Maps!! I love google maps for finding hotels!
Enjoy the maldives :)