Visiting Doha and the Maldives
Outrigger Maafushivaru, Sandies Bathala, Kandolhu and Kuramathi
I am recently back from my amazing familiarisation trip to the Maldive Islands. I had the pleasure of visiting four different islands, Outrigger Maafushivaru, Sandies Bathala, Kandolhu and Kuramathi and even had a stopover in Qatar which provided me with an opportunity to see Doha for a day.
Day One & Two
Flight to Doha and then Male
I arrived at London Heathrow, quite nervous as this was my first time in the airport, as well as meeting 10 new people. I stayed at the Renaissance Hotel the night before and got a taxi to Heathrow which was easy to arrange. The excitement was beginning to kick in - this was really happening and I was going to the Maldives! We got through check-in and security with no problems, grabbed a bite to eat and then it was time to board the plane. I flew with Qatar Airways and was extremely impressed with airline; the quality of food and staff were outstanding. We had a great opportunity to explore Doha for the day. We ventured out in to the city and saw what it had to offer, from the markets to the out-of-this-world hotels. The architecture within the city was incredible with fascinating hills that are manmade! There was even a massive toy shop that is built in the shape of a present. We had a tour and dined in the Banyan Tree Hotel. This hotel has a built-in shopping centre featuring lots of luxury brands. I thought this hotel could not get any better, however, I was taken aback to discover that they have their own indoor theme park as well. We dined in the Thai restaurant, Saffron, where my taste buds were indulged. After dinner we headed to the airport and got ready to fly to Male.
Day Three
After landing in the Male airport, customs was easy to get through. We gathered our cases and headed over to the desks, where different islands had their own desk with dedicated staff. Our first island was Outrigger Maafushivaru. Once our cases were weighed for the sea plane, off we went. My first time on the sea plane was exciting, surreal and loud. They do give you earplugs, so make sure you use them! The views when you are up are simply extraordinary. The contrast of the deep blue to the beautiful turquoise water dotted all around makes you feel like you are dreaming. 30 minutes later we got off the sea plane which drops you off just out of the way of the island. There, you jump on to a boat that takes you to the island. This is so that the noise of the sea plane does not disturb the guests while they are relaxing. My first thought was ‘wow, look at the water, look at the greenery!’ I could not believe it was real. The staff were ready and waiting to greet us with some cold face cloths which was needed after the flights and was so refreshing! We were shown to our rooms and I couldn’t believe that we had been allocated over-the-water villas! The room was a 1 Bedroom Sunset Over Water Villa with a Hot Tub. The views were incredible and again, so surreal. We freshened up and headed out for our island tour. This island has the capacity for 162 guests, 300 staff and they have 81 rooms. Children are welcome at this resort, though there weren’t any while I was there. There are 6 dining options, but I loved the Koffee n Chill, where each table had its own game. There is a mini golf course on the island too. The room options are wonderful and cater to fit everyone's needs and budget. I would highly recommend the 1 Bedroom Sunset Over Water Villa with a Hot Tub because it has plenty of room, and spectacular views. It was extremely clean and the bath, shower and hot tub were easy to operate. The view from the hot tub was like something you would see on television, with the picturesque sky and sparkling waters. With the first day done and a lot of jet lag later it was off to bed to be ready for the next day.
Day Four
We had the most delicious breakfast at the Cuisine Gallery where they served anything you can think of! There were even so many different types of honey - one for everyone's taste buds! We then headed off to Sandies Bathala which had such a different feel to it. You immediately wanted to take your shoes off and chill out. This island is complete relaxation with a fantastic house reef. We had our tour of the island which had very chilled out vibes. There was a gym, gift shop, bar and restaurant, the beach and water villas. The entertainment staff really got everyone involved in the evenings. It was great fun and encouraged everyone to join with the activities. The Piña Coladas were delicious!
Day Five
We departed Sandies Bathala and visited our next island, Kandolhu, which was very high-end luxury and the perfect place to completely zone out from reality. This is perfect for honeymooners and couples! I was lucky enough to go snorkelling here where I explored the gorgeous house reef and even seen some sharks. It felt like I was in a dream, the colours and all the sea life creatures are a memory I won't forget. We had dinner at The Market where I had the best filet migon. Food lovers, this is the island for you! The snorkelling team were so helpful. It was my first time going snorkelling and I was really nervous, but they set my worries aside and by the end it felt like a natural, 10/10 experience. We had a lovely evening and headed off to bed ready for the next day and our journey to Kuramathi.
Day Six
Our bags were already in our rooms on arrival and I stayed in a two-bedroom beach house where I could walk right on to the beach and into the blue waters. There are two sides to the island and buggies take you round the island - the best hop-on, hop-off service! They have a botanical walk as well which was so unique and truly something special. They have various different restaurants, bars and cafes to keep you going throughout your stay. I can personally recommend the Coco Choco from the island coffee shop. One word: delicious! There is an option for basic and premium all inclusive. I was on the basic and so much is included. It caters to every budget and preference. They have a kids club with a mini splash park and plenty to do for the kids. A bonus that I loved was that there was not a single electronic device in sight. They have life guards and staff are all first aid trained so you and your little ones can have a great time. We were lucky enough to go on a dolphin sunset cruise, searching for wild dolphins. This was the highlight of my time away it was so special and the perfect excursion to end the trip on a complete high.. The tour guides have tricks and tips to get the dolphins to come up and swim at the boat with you. This is an experience I will cherish forever. Sunsets, dolphins and a wee glass of bubbly in the Maldives - a picture perfect sky, clear water and no worries.
The thing that shocked me the most was the size of the bats. They were out in the day time which took me by surprise - have a look at the pictures to see the size of them!
After this visit, I can say I left a part of my heart in the Maldives and I would go back in a heartbeat. If you have it on your bucket list, get it ticked off! I met some amazing people and made friends for life. I will not forget this magical time away!
Links below to see the room types:
https://www.outrigger.com/maldives/maldives-maafushivaru-resort/rooms-suites/1-bdrm-sunset-over-water-villa-hot-tub
https://bathalamaldives.sandies-resorts.com/beach-water-bungalow/
https://www.kandolhu.com/villas/beach-villas.html
https://www.kuramathi.com/guest-villas/two-bedroom-beach-houses.html
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