They say that your wedding day is the biggest day of your life, and while that may be true, your honeymoon will probably be one of the most magical weeks of your life. A honeymoon is a well-deserved break after the mammoth task of planning and organizing a wedding, plus it’s a romantic time for you and your loved one to enjoy the first few weeks of married life together. Unsurprisingly, the Maldives are regularly voted as one of the top honeymoon hotspots in the world. If you’re still ‘umming and ahhing’ on whether to book your honeymoon in the Maldives, read on for 5 top reasons why it is the place to go.
Paradise Island Vibes
Let’s be real here, the number one reason why you should honeymoon in the Maldives is because it’s quite possibly the most beautiful destination in the world. From the sparkling crystal lagoons fringed by swaying palms, to the sugary soft sands and balmy year-round temperatures, you really can’t go wrong with a honeymoon here. Every morning you can wake up, pull back the blinds in your overwater villa, and look out to paradise.
Many Maldives resorts offer a ‘no news no shoes policy’, which means you can kick off you footwear as soon as you step off the seaplane, and don’t have to put them back on until you leave. So no need to worry about a pretentious and stuffy atmosphere, it’s this relaxed, island-life vibe that makes the Maldives like nowhere else on earth.
The Maldives inspire romance too. Perhaps it’s the seclusion of many resort villas, coupled with private dinners, and starry skies that makes this a perfect hotspot for loved-up newly weds. It truly is the closest place to Heaven on Earth.
Amazing Activities
The Maldives are famous for being a chill-out spot where you can kick back and relax. Days can be spent swinging on a hammock, reading a novel, and simply snuggling up with your loved one. However, if you’re more of an adventurous type, or if you’re looking for some more adrenaline-filled activities, the Maldives will also have activities and trips that cater for your needs.
One area where the Maldives excels is with its water-based activities including scuba diving, snorkelling as well as watersports. Most of the larger Maldives resorts have their own dive centre, where you can take diving lessons and head out into the deep blue to marvel at the underwater world which includes dolphins, turtles, and even some friendly sharks. If you’re lucky you may be in the Maldives during the whale shark season, where you get to view these huge majestic creatures swimming about in their natural habitat. If diving is not your thing then you can also try snorkelling. Many Maldives resorts also have a shallow house reef that located just within swimming distance of the sandy shores, see you can rent a snorkel and head out with your partner to view the marine life that way. There are also snorkelling day trips which take you out and about some the best hotspots in the area.
As for watersports, some resorts offer jet ski hire, as well as things like catamaran day trips, kayak hire, banana boat riding, and even SUP rental. Stand up paddle boards are a great way to stay fit on holiday while having a unique view of your tropical island from the glittering Indian Ocean.
And of course there are land-based activities to keep you entertained too. If you are a yoga-lover than almost all resorts offer daily yoga and meditation classes for all levels. You can also choose to hire the instructor for a private beach class for you and your partner.
Let’s not forget the spa. No honeymoon is complete without indulging in at least one in pampering massage. Most resorts offer special packages for two, which can include things like duo massages, flower baths, and facials.
Choose to stay at Soneva Jani Resort, and you can enjoy even more unusual offerings including a silent outdoor cinema, beautiful bars located at the end of a jetty out in the ocean, and even explore the stars in an observatory.
If you’re planning a Maldives honeymoon, it’s best to do a little research and choose your Maldives resort based around the kind of activities you want to enjoy. If you want lots of variety, then we can recommend going for the celeb-haven that is One and Only Reethi Rah, or if you’re more into that laid-back desert island vibe then go for Constance Moofushi.
Luxurious Resorts
Then there are the resorts….where do we even start? There are over 140 different Maldives resorts to choose from, with options for all tastes and budgets. If you’re looking for an affordable Maldives honeymoon then take a look at Meeru Island Resort which offers incredibly wallet-friendly packages. If you’re looking to go all out, and crave a glamorous getaway, then we can recommend Conrad Maldives, for outstanding luxury, excellent service, and some of the best food in the Maldives.
What makes honeymooning in the Maldives extra special is that these resorts are used to hosting newlywed guests, therefore they often have whole range of packages specially designed for honeymooners. These packages can include thoughtful touches that really can make your honeymoon. Think rose petal-lined beds for when you arrive, free glasses of bubbly, chocolate boxes, spa vouchers, and romantic hampers.
Another benefit of staying at a Maldives resort, is that many of them offer all-inclusive and half board packages. If you choose to go all-inclusive then all your breakfasts, lunches, dinners, drinks, snacks and sometimes even activities are included within the package price. This means you can relax on vacation and not have to worry about a hefty bill when it comes to check out. If you’re interested in booking an all-inclusive honeymoon, then check out this article which is all about our favourite honeymoon all-inclusive packages in the Maldives. If you’re booking a Maldives resort then always let the them know that you are heading there for your honeymoon, and they may throw in some extra freebies for you too.
Incredible Food
Foodies rejoice! The Maldives are home to some of the very best food in the world. From enormous all-you-can-eat buffets breakfasts filled with fresh exotic fruits, egg stations, smoothies and baked treats, to Mexican, Italian and Japanese fare – the Maldives has it all.
If you’re a vegan, vegetarian or raw foodie, you’ll be pleased to hear that many resorts in the Maldives have upped their veg game, and now offer a huge selection of veg-friendly dishes. There is even a restaurant at Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives that is strictly veg-only, and it’s regularly winning awards for it’s plant-based offerings. On top of this, many resorts are now making a commitment to growing their own food, and importing goods locally wherever possible. Some resorts, such as Soneva Jani even host garden tours and allow you to smell, pick and taste your ingredients before you eat them.
And as it’s your honeymoon, you will want to indulge in some fine-dining experiences on your vacation. Top resorts such as One and Only Reethi Rah and Centara Grand host private island dining packages. This is where they will set up the candlelit dinners for two on a private island or deserted sandback. They can create a customized menu that is tailored to you and your loved ones tastes, plus a private butler will also be on hand to deliver bubbly, and tend to your needs as you dine underneath a starlit sky.
Some of the newer Maldives resorts are continuously upgrading their food offerings and creating some rather unusual experiences that you can enjoy. For example, Soneva Jani has chocolate, ice cream and cheese rooms. Here you can head to an ice cream parlour and sample over 60 different varieties of the most delicious ice cream around. There are also delectable delights on offer like freshly made chocolates, and French macarons for you to feast on throughout the day. The cheese room includes a huge selection of international fromages, and you will also have a sommelier who can advise you on the best wine pairing for your cheese choices.
And if you get a little hungry in between meals, than these resorts also have a range of snacking options available. Some offer pizza kitchens, panini bars, and poolside snack stops for you to refuel at throughout the day. Some rooms will also come with fully stocked mini bar complete with your favourite international snacks. Soneva Jani even goes as far as to ask for your favourite foods and will stock up your private pantry with all your most-loved goodies before you arrive.
Affordable Flights
Once the Maldives for a very expensive resort to fly to. Luckily, in recent years things have changed drastically, and you can now score some incredibly cheap flights to the Maldives. This is thanks to a number of low-cost airlines choosing to fly here, as well as big named airlines lowering their rates because of all the competition.
Singapore’s premier budget airline, Scoot, have just opened a number of flights direct from Singapore to Male International Airport with flights from as little as $100 per way. Singapore is also an international hub, so you can pick up some cheap flights there from almost any major cities throughout Europe or the United States.
One of the best ways to find cheap flights this to use comparison websites such as Skyscanner. You can put in your departure location, and then be taken to a month-long fare finder where you can view the cheapest fares over a month period. Skyscanner also allows you to put in your email address so you can be alerted when fares drop.
You can save even more off your flights to the Maldives by choosing to redeem some of your airmiles or other points towards your flight, or even by using them to upgrade to business or first class so you can truly fly in style on your honeymoon. There are also cashback sites such as Quidco and TopCashback, which will pay back a percentage of your flight cost directly to your account. This is normally the money that would go to the advertisers, but instead you get paid between 1% to 5% of your total flight cost back. This may not seem like a lot, but it does add up and the service is free to use so there’s absolutely nothing to lose.
Finally, the Maldives are also a great destination for a honeymoon, because you can choose to split up your romantic getaway into a multi-stop vacation. This allows you to enjoy both the tropical beach life that the Maldives does offer, as well as incorporate another style of holiday such as a city break. Some honeymooners choose to stay for a few nights in Dubai, India, Singapore, Thailand, and even Bali which are all easily accessible from the Maldives. Your stopover destination should depend on where you are departing from and how long you have for your honeymoon period – again you can you use the Skyscanner comparison option to easily search for stop over hotspots along the way.
Are you sold on a Maldives honeymoon? If so, you may need a little extra help booking your dream Maldives getaway. We have a whole host of articles to help you to choose and book the best Maldives resorts for your needs. Check out this article which lists some of our favorite resorts in the Maldives, as well as our review of Conrad Maldives has the first underwater suite in the Maldives! We also have articles offering advice on what to pack, as well as everything you need to go before you go. Happy travels!
Have you honeymooned in the Maldives before? Let us know your tips and favourite Maldives resorts in the comment section below.
