Magical Maldives

"Welcome to the Maldives, where the sands are white as smiles of the locals, where fish swim happily in the waters of the Indian Ocean, where the weather is a dream and the deep rays of the sun wait to engulf you in their arms"

I visited the Maldives in the month of November. This is the tail end of the wet season. We had a few showers on our 14-night holiday but nothing that interfered with us enjoying this paradise. We landed in Male, which is an experience in itself, as you fly over the natural atolls the views are amazing and you can see the beauty that awaits. Once we landed and collected our luggage, it was an amazing short walk to catch our 20-minute speed boat transfer to Bandos Island Resort & Spa, home for the next 2 weeks.

Bandos offers a wide selection of activities for all the family, with a popular pool area and kids club. The Sand Bar is the centre of entertainment, with late night karaoke and live music. It’s called the sand bar for good reason; the floor is sand, definitely no high heels needed in this resort. The Sand Bar was a favourite of mine with a spectacular cocktail menu.

The snorkelling and diving at Bandos are second to none. What you can see just off the beach with a snorkel is an underwater oasis, truly remarkable marine life. Dive Bandos is the regions longest established dive centre and the house reef is considered one of the best in the North Male atoll. Definitely try the diving school and explore a variety of sites you can also gain PADI qualifications. Paradise Club is Bandos' sports complex. Use the gym, enjoy a spin class or badminton, beach volleyball or tennis.

There is a great spa and a wide selection of water sports including windsurfing, cat sailing, kayaking, parasailing and more.

Bandos had the right mix for us offering a tranquil paradise with plenty of water sports, amazing snorkelling and a nice atmosphere in the evenings. The a la carte dining was a magical experience, candlelit dinner out on a pier with the sand beneath your feet and the waves either side of you.

We did a few excursions whilst we were here (though it was hard to leave the beach!) We went to Male for the day and toured then local markets and sights. We took a sunset cruise and saw genuinely hundreds of wild dolphins enjoying the ocean at sunset. There was also the opportunity to island hop and visit a few other resorts via speed boat which was a great day out and a good opportunity to see other islands.

The locals are genuinely so friendly, happy and welcoming the staff and everyone we met couldn't have been nicer.

The Maldives is a destination that really gives you the WOW factor. I often sat on the beach in awe of the natural beauty the surrounded me. The Maldives should definitely be on everyone's bucket list. Ultimate paradise.