The next stop up for John and Sandy’s around the world trip was the Maldives known for its deep blue seas, turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches, and palm trees. It is the perfect place to sit on a beach and watch a sunset with a cocktail balanced in your hand. While the more adventurous of you can see thousands of fish swimming around the vivid corals just a few feet away.
Maldives consists of 1,192 islands in the Indian Ocean and is the lowest country in the world. More than 80 percent of the country’s land is composed of coral islands less than three feet above sea level. The Maldives remained largely unknown to tourists until the early 1970s. The emergence of tourism in 1972 transformed the economy, moving rapidly from dependence on fisheries to tourism. Now there are over 105 resort islands and over 170 resort hotels.
Most visitors arrive at Malé International Airport on Hulhulé Island. It is its own island reclaimed from the sea and a boat ride away from the capital Malé. Typically, guests are greeted at the airport by their resort and then transported to the resort island by boat or seaplane.
Since we arrived early in the morning our room was not ready for check-in so the hotel treated us to a complimentary breakfast buffet.
Our bath and outside shower.
As you could see from the aerial shot of the resort, the snorkeling is amazing!The luxurious rooms and villas feature private terraces with beach views. Each room has a cable/satellite TV, Chinese cable channels, a safe and a work desk. A fridge and tea/coffee-making facilities are also provided. Private bathrooms come with a bathtub and shower. Extras include a beach bag, slippers and an electric kettle.
When evening came, we had a difficult time choosing where to eat, as all five of the Kurumba Resort’s restaurants looked fantastic! Kurumba’s restaurants boast an impressive variety of cuisines, including Japanese, Indian, and Lebanese choices. Fez lounge features a wide selection of shisha, cocktails, and snacks, Athiri bar is the best spot for gorgeous sunset views and Kandu bar offers live music.
Our conclusion: there are more luxury hotels in the Maldives than one could ever imagine. They range from small resorts to many hundreds of rooms suited for large conventions, from budget to luxury, from beach villas to over the water bungalows, and from close by the airport to hundreds of miles distance and time away, from boat transfer, to seaplane, or small airplane transfer.
We chose the Kurumba Resort because it was only 10 minutes away by boat and had won the 2013 Traveller’s Choice Award. It was convenient and as well as having a remote feeling. Currently, the Kurumba Resort is ranked #11 of luxury hotels by Trip Advisor which shows its commitment to renovation to keep it a 5 Star resort over the last 40 years. The 450 staff members were all very friendly and always provided excellent service.
Check prices at Kurumba Resort!
The resort has 2 outdoor freshwater pools, 3 tennis courts, and a fitness center. Offering a wide range of treatments, Veli Spa proposes the unique Dhivehi Beys treatments, as well as both modern and traditional treatments. Island-hopping tours and fishing trips are available, as well as customized excursions.
Next stop:
