 | Maldives Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 334 |  |
The water bungalows at Kuramathi Blue Lagoon are a great place to stay - especially if you love to swim.
Blue Lagoon is located at the top end of Kuramathi Tourist Island in the Maldives. Transfer to the island is via speedboat launch (90 minutes) or seaplane (15 minutes - additional cost applies) but it is worth knowing that the speedboat launch departs from the jetty immediately outside the airport arrivals terminal whilst the seaplane departs from another area of Hulhule island (where the main airport is situated) and requires a taxi to that area, the seaplane transfer itself and then another transfer by boat to Kuramathi.
The island itself hosts three resorts : Village, Cottage and Blue Lagoon and yet keeps a feel of intimacy and is certainly not a 'busy' island.
At Kuramathi Blue Lagoon you will find inclusive meals served in the main restaurant but there is also the choice to take meals at Laguna Cafe or Laguna Grill (these are at additional cost but 20% food discount is given where it replaces an inclusive meal). Each resort hosts its own bar and television lounge (no TVs in rooms) and the island has its own spa, water sports centre, medical centre and dive school. Uniquely, the island also has its own Bio Station with Marine Biologist in attendance and available each evening to answer your questions and help you identify the fish that you have spotted during your day's snorkelling.
The water bungalows have great views over the lagoon interior of Rasdhoo atoll with views stretching across to Veligandu Resort Island, just visible on the horizon. The water bungalow comprises room with king size bed and sitting area opening onto over-water deck, shower room with direct access to the deck, deck area with steps giving direct access to the sea. So why not start your day with a refreshing swim before stepping directly back into your shower? Theme: OtherPrice: US$180 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Kuramathi Tourist Island, MaldivesPhone: +960 666 0527Directions: Get off your plane, head out of the arrivals area and you will find kiosks for each of the tour operators and resorts or staff from the resorts with sign boards. Simply approach the staff/kiosk and they will take you to your transfer.Website: http://www.kuramathi.com/bluelagoon/index.html Other Contact: Fax: +960 666 0556
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FIHALHOHI ..... This island turned out to be the very right choice from the very first moment - for us.
Room rates differ depending on period of year. Most expensive time is Jan. to March. November/December (besides Christmas and New Year time!) is a lot cheaper. On Fihalhohi we payed 80€/pers. in Feb 03 and are going to pay approx. 45€ in December 04 for the same category , i.e. "comfort" bungalow (each time full board instead of half board as we booked very early, i.e. approx. 4 months before)!
We were picked up by a speed boat directly after we had left the airport area (and the transfer was just for us two!) and the transfer by this boat was a real lovely experience already! It took us about 45 Min. to reach Fihalhohi (Fiha). On arrival they gave us a very warm welcome (even in German Language :-) ) and this stayed like this the whole time. Friendly and helpful service, good food, relaxing atmosphere, very nice rooms and the super snorkeling/diving facilities at the house reef just a few steps ahead. GREAT! I would recommend this island to anyone!
Rooms are in bungalows of 2 or 4, each bungalow not more than 20m to approx. 40m away from the beach and with view towards the sea/beach. We had booked a Deluxe Room (now called "Comfort") and very much enjoyed this. Other types of rooms (standard, classic looked good, though, too. All are spacey and nicely furnished. I understand, the standard category has no A/C and only cold water. Classic cat. offers hot water, A/C on request and at an extra charge, Comfort cat. includes hot water, A/C, a nice bathroom. (for the fairly new water bungalows look next tip below)
Payments: credit card at end of your stay. For tips to service staff, remember to take a few one-dollar-notes with you!
For each room there are 2 sun beds available with the room numbers written on them - which guaranties that there are no "fights" for sun beds to be expected... ;-)
Prices for drinks and food are much higher than in Sri Lanka , Thailand, Malaysia or Bali, but compared to other Maldives 3star islands, they are very reasonable. i.g. 1liter-bottle of mineral water approx. 3€ , a beer approx. 3,50/4€. Of course, the more stars a hotel-island has, the more expensive drinks and food are! A couple we met in Sri Lanka and who was returning from Maldives stayed on a 5star island had payed approx. 10€ for one beer (well, that's what they told us)!
Fazit: Congratulations to anyone (and I envy him already) who decides for this island when going for a holiday on Maldives!!! Theme: HotelPrice: US$40-80 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Fihalhohi IslandDirections: South Male-Atoll. Approx. 28 kms from Male Island.
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Here you can find all the comfort that you need, for a few day:
- comfortable double bed
- clean bed-linens
- a big wardrobe
- TV
- telephone
- shower
Wonderful, elegant, and comfortable double rooms, direct on the beach.
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 View from the deck of our
lagoon villa by LisaMJ
We were on the boat, sipping ice cold water, & patting our faces with lemon scented flannels within 20 mins of arrival. 10 mins later we were at the hotel.
Khalis from Front Desk showed us round the hotel, an orientation tour. It didn't take long! The island is 770 yds long & 30 yds wide. He showed us to our room, Lagoon Villa no. 125. So after landing at 9am, we were in our room admiring the view by 10am.
The picture depicts the view from our spacious deck, which had 2 sunbeds, dining tables & 2 chairs, & of course an infinite view of the lagoon. Steps lead down to a smaller deck, & then a ladder into the water.
We had tried to book a deluxe beach villa w/plunge pool, & were very disappointed when told that ALL the beach villas were booked. We then considered the deluxe lagoon villas, which although a little but more expensive, were marginally smaller, so we decided against these, (although they are detatched) I imagined arriving and being envious of the other 2 rooms types, but I have to stay if I went again tomorrow, I would again ask for lagoon villa number 125. It's in the centre of the island; the very last lagoon villa and very private. So to the right of the villa was only greenery, & it's far from the 'traffic' going to Front Desk, bar & main restaurant.
2 points:
The convenience of being a 10mins from the airport is great, but use your head, this means you are close to Male. At night you can see the twinkling lights of Male in the distance (unless you are in a deluxe lagoon villa on right hand side). We thought this was pretty cool to watch, but someone expecting isolation be warned. Also, being close to the airport, common sense tells you that you will hear planes. It wasn't obtrusive, & fun to watch, but others may be different. I mention these points because I read a review where someone took exception to these facts, but research is the key!
These things are a drop in the ocean compared to the overall quality of Taj Exotica.
This hotel is an asset to the Taj name, and truly deserves it's 5* deluxe rating. We researched intensely before this trip, as we do with all our holidays, so we could gauge a pretty good idea of what to expect.
The service. Second to none, in friendliness and efficiency. Enough said.
I would recommend the hotel in an instant, and will be begging you to take me with you.
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 Taj Mandara Spa, Maldives by LisaMJ
You enter the reception villa, with calm surroundings, and incense burning. If you are having a massage, they approach you with 4 oils, for you to choose which one you want. You are then brought cold face towels and ginger tea.
You exit the back of the reception villa. It is a courtyard setting, with central water feature, and spa villas to your left, right and straight ahead.
The larger '2 person' spa villas are big and have a toilet, double shower, windows seats, 2 massage beds, and round jacuzzi, and door opening out onto a deck with sunloungers, which is on stilts over the ocean. Even the single spa villas are similar, just smaller.
Agung, the Spa Manager is a lovely, humble man, and will take good care of you.
We had a 'Harmony' Package together. If you are female you get some most attractive paper pants - they leave the villa while you change always. Men having a body scrub will also wear the paper pants, but are given cotton boxers for other treatments.
It started with a footsoak, then I had a Javanese lulur scrub, and my husband had a coffee scrub. We showered the 'gunk' off, and then had a lavender body wash. After, we were given privacy and enjoyed the jacuzzi for 20 mins or so, while we were served cookies with the juice revitalising drinks we had optionally ordered before. After this, we had a Balinese massage.
This package last 1.5 hours and cost $125 each I believe. Throughout the stay, we also had Indian Head Massages, which included an upper body massage, $60 each. My husband had their Signature Mandara massage, 2 therapists working in harmony for maximum results, I believe this was $90. As a treat I had pedicure, which included foot scrub and massage for $30. Theme: Hotel
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 Safari boat by BarbaraForza
In Male there are many agencies that offer this service, just check once you are there or at your local travel agency for availability.
Food and water are provided, you'll have three meals on board. Theme: OtherAddress: In the middle of the sea!Directions: Starting from Male, you can choose which atoll you would like to sea.
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 Over water fitness centre, Taj
Exotica, Maldives by LisaMJ
It it set over the water, with floor to ceiling windows all round, There are fans, but I still had to open all the doors to let the sea breeze go through.
It was always empty, which I can understand as there are better things to do! But the guilt of eating and drinking so much got hold of me so I visited the gym a few times. But still, having a run with an infinite view of the ocean ahead helped!
There are 2 treadmills, free weights, stomach cruncher, and 4 type weight station. There was a stero and Cd's, always bottles of water , and apples.
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 by bijo69
The food is excellent and the staff is nice.
As all the cheap places were full when we arrived, we got an upgrade to a waterbungalow. Very nice of course, but wouldn't pay 70US$/night more for the luxury of having a small glass floor. Theme: HotelPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Velidhu Island, Ari Atoll
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 the resort from the air by willy_wonka
the rooms were a decent size, well maintained and super clean, with all amenities one would expect from a resort of this style. the facilities outside the room were great too. all sports activities had excellent equipment, and were readily available.
the best thing about this sort of resort is ALL INCLUSIVE. you pretty much dont need to pay for anything, apart from extra spa treatments etc. non stop food and drink throughout the day, all activities etc are included. each morning you could look at the activity board, and see that like a volleyball match was set for 2pm at such and such a beach, or a pingpong tournament would be held at 4pm. this was great, as you could plan your day if you felt active, or of course, not do any of it and just sit on a quiet part of the island and rest.
the whole concept of an 'organised all inclusive' resort kind of freaked me out a bit first. like i said, i wasnt sure what to expect, i didnt know if it would be very 'structured', which is not my style, but i had no problems AT ALL. you could eat, drink, play, rest and do what you pleased.
PERFECT!!!
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 Sunrise at the Maldives by sahlenare
Just at the beach, rewarded for their excellent food for 4 years... Theme: HotelPrice: US$180 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: HuvahendhooDirections: Lily Beach Resort is the island - Huvahendhoo at the South East Ari-Atoll.Website: http://lilybeachmaldives.com
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