The Ultimate Maldives Honeymoon Guide
Author: Hollie Bond
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The Maldives consistently tops the list of the most popular honeymoon destinations for British couples for very good reason – it’s as close as you’ll get to paradise on earth. And, the 1,190 coral islands that make up the Maldives couldn’t be more different to the UK, making them a very attractive and exotic escape for newlyweds.
This Indian Ocean country looks like a string of pearls dotted throughout the most inviting turquoise sea. It’s an incredible sight as you first come in to land in the capital Malé and the views only get better… thousands of white sand beaches, bath warm glittering lagoons and swaying palms. To top it off, the weather is pretty perfect nearly all year round. It’s the stuff honeymoon dreams are made of.
If you’ve always wanted to go on honeymoon in the Maldives then you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a nice healthy honeymoon budget to play with. While it is possible to visit this destination on a budget, the majority of resorts and islands are seriously luxurious and heavenly honeymoons in this part of the world don’t come cheap.
You’ll need to factor in the cost of the 13 hour flight too, as well as any boat or sea plane transfers and also bear in mind the fact that if you don’t opt for an all-inclusive island then food and drink will cost you on top. The good news is that a lot of tour operators will offer you brilliant Maldives honeymoon packages, where everything we’ve mentioned above is included, plus some romantic extras like sunset cruises or free upgrades.
Finally you’ll want to consider how much annual leave you’ve got to play with and whether or not you want to just head to the Maldives or opt for a multi-centre honeymoon trip. Classic combinations that work really well for honeymoons include Dubai and The Maldives, Sri Lanka and The Maldives, and
Lastly remember that the Maldives is famous for being the destination of ‘no news, no shoes’, meaning it really is a wonderful place to do nothing except relax and be pampered. If one or both of you isn’t very good at just chilling out on holiday you may want to look for larger islands with lots of activities and the chance to bike around and do lots of sports. The smallest islands can be so tiny you can walk around them in minutes, so make sure you’re both on board with the idea of seclusion before you jet off to a castaway island.
How Do You Get To The Maldives?
The Maldives is on average around a 13 hour flight to get to from London. Most flights have a stopover to connect in a city like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul or Singapore. However, British Airways does offer a daily non-stop flight from London to Malé that takes only 10 hours and 25 minutes.
So, if the price is right, this should be your flight of choice if you’re planning to only visit the Maldives on your honeymoon. The other airlines that fly to the Maldives are Etihad, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.
How Do You Travel Around The Maldives?
You’ll probably never set foot in a car once you get to the Maldives as roads are few and far between. The only way to travel between the islands that make up the Maldives is by boat or seaplane. To get to nearby islands quickly you’ll want a speed boat, but if you’ve got time and fancy a slightly more romantic form of transport, try the traditional Maldivian boat called a Dhoni.
If you want to visit multiple islands and move around several of the 26 atolls then you could opt to charter a yacht or catamaran and sail around, sleeping on the boat at night. There are also small cruises that go around the Maldives islands, with the only bigger ships tending to be those that are passing through on a longer round the world cruise.
When Is The Best Time To Visit The Maldives?
The best time of year to visit the Maldives in terms of the weather and climate is from November to April during the dry season. The wet, rainy season is from May to October. This change in season used to be set in stone and you could almost guarantee amazing weather during the dry months and slightly more temperamental weather in the wet season.
However, over the last decade, the weather in the Maldives has become a little more unpredictable. It is still one of the sunniest destinations for a honeymoon though and it’s likely that whatever time of year you visit you’ll enjoy a combination of bright, scorching sunshine and blue skies with the occasional tropical shower and storm.
The Best Resorts In The Maldives
Choosing the right Maldives island for your honeymoon is no mean feat. There are currently around 150 resorts and this number just keeps on growing each year. A good place to start when picking your island is the price, but you’ll also want to consider the size of the island, the location and also the vibe that the resort offers.
Below you’ll find some of our favourite islands by price from low to high (or perhaps we should say affordable luxury to uber opulence) to help you choose your perfect slice of paradise. We’ve rounded up some of the best islands, starting with the most affordable Maldives honeymoon hotels and ending with once-in-a-lifetime luxury resorts that will blow your mind as well as the budget!
Make sure to shop around once you’ve chosen your dream destination as many tour operators will have different Maldives honeymoon packages depending on the time of year.
Lily Beach Resort
You can find some incredible honeymoon deals at this all-inclusive island resort. As all-inclusive resorts go, Lily Beach is hard to beat, allowing honeymooners to relax and enjoy all the amenities, without worrying how big the final bill is going to be.
And those amenities include two excursions, access to all the sports and water sports equipment, and a choice of gourmet dining options.
Kurumba
Kurumba has previously won an award for the best all-inclusive resort in the world, so you know that all-inclusive here doesn’t mean you’ll be missing out on any luxury.
This island is the nearest resort to the airport, meaning you can relax on perfect white sandy beaches within 10 minutes of touching down. Good value for money doesn’t mean a lack of choice here. There are eight restaurants, four bars, two pools, three shops…
LUX* South Ari Atoll
This honeymoon destination is the perfect place for couples who like to fill their days with fun and indulge in romantic experiences by night. There’s so much to do from culinary experiences and every water sport you can think of to marine conservation and romantic trips to an idyllic private island.
LUX also has eight restaurants to choose from and plenty of evening entertainment. There’s also the chance to go all-inclusive here, which makes for a relaxing honeymoon.
Top honeymooner tip – book the Romantic Pool Water Villa, which has its own chic hanging love nest.
Velassaru
It’s all about affordable luxury at this stunning North Malé Atoll resort. If you’re spa lovers you’ll be particularly taken with the beautiful overwater treatment rooms – although it’s quite hard to stay awake while being massaged to a soundtrack of the lapping lagoon.
Choose a water villa here too to continue the luxury lagoon experience or a beach villa if you prefer to sleep surrounded by swaying palm trees and pretty tropical flowers.
Mirihi
This tiny speck of sand combines the beauty of the Maldives with five-star service. Everything you need for a heavenly Maldives honeymoon is at Mirihi: stunning overwater villas, a gourmet restaurant and romantic activities (think sunset dolphin cruises and private beach dinners). And with only 38 villas, it’s rare to see another guest.
Dhigali
Dhigali is one of The Maldives’ newer island resorts and it has already made its mark as a stunning option for a Maldives honeymoon. There’s the option to do premium all-inclusive, which entitles you to everything the island has to offer without limits.
The island is pure Robinson Crusoe style joy – being in one of the remotest atolls and consisting of just a slender island surrounded by the most entrancing lagoon.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Foodies will be in absolute heaven at this gorgeous resort. Form lobster barbecues on the beach to a fine-dining Japanese tasting menu, the 12 restaurants and bars serve up a variety of culinary delights.
Accommodation and facilities meet the same sky-high standards, with beautiful villas, a stunning spa two glamorous pools and a range of activities available, including snorkelling with manta rays.
Kuramathi
From the moment you arrive, you’ll fall in love with the serene surroundings of this tranquil coral island. Toast to your future in the luxurious Champagne Loft, or indulge in a candlelit dinner on a secluded corner of the beach. We recommend booking a Deluxe Water Villa – they’re built on stilts close to the house reef and are the ultimate private getaway for couples who want to split their time between snorkelling and relaxing without venturing too far.
Coco Bodu Hithi
Bathtubs made for two, ocean-view plunge pools, and calming Maldivian-style interiors: everything about the villas on this teardrop-shaped island is made for romance.
It’s the commitment to ensuring guests have the holiday of a lifetime that is this resort’s USP though. For example it has created its own time zone (an hour ahead of the capital, Malé) so you can enjoy longer sun-soaked afternoons.
Baros
Seven-time winner of the world’s most romantic resort, Baros is a no-brainer for couples in search of sun, sea and privacy. The island’s house reef is particularly impressive, so underwater adventures are a must.
Baros is only 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé too, so you can land from your international flight and be in pure paradise before you know it.
If budget allows book one of the island’s overwater bungalows as they’re seriously stylish – with huge private decks and incredible interiors.
Constance Halaveli
If you’re looking for peace and tranquility alongside incredible five-star service on your Maldives honeymoon then Constance Halaveli should be top of your list.
This island resort has the most wonderful wide beaches as well as a stunning pool, although as all the villas come with their own private pool you probably won’t need to use it.
Niyama Private Islands
If being stuck on just one private island on your Maldives honeymoon doesn’t float your boat, how about having two private islands to enjoy depending on the mood you’re in.
That’s what is on offer at Niyama, with one island called ‘Chill’ and the other ‘Play’, so you can head to whichever island matches your desires for the day.
And that’s not all – there’s an incredible underwater bar called Subsix as well as an amazing treetop restaurant, where you can dine amongst the fragrant trees.
Six Senses Laamu
This exclusive Maldives island is the only private island resort in the remote Laamu Atoll and is the stuff honeymoon dreams are made of. You’ll feel a world away from anyone else with peace and seclusion guaranteed.
It’s the ideal setting for the Six Senses brand which is known for its amazing spas. This resort is no exception so make sure to book in lots of treatments. Book an Ocean Water Villa for the luxury of having your very own infinity pool.
Milaidhoo Island Maldives
This small, but perfectly-formed boutique beauty is one of the newer resorts in the Maldives. It’s Maldivian-owned and they have come up with a whole host of activities designed to immerse you into the laid-back island lifestyle that the Maldives is famous for.
The area the island is situated in, Baa Atoll, is known for its huge buzzing-with-sea-life reefs – so if you’re divers be prepared to be spoilt for life. Honeymooners will love the fact that each thatched-roof villa comes with a private pool, plus there are three top-class restaurants to dine in.
There’s also the chance to spend the night on your own private sandbank, sleeping in a four poster under the stars.
Soneva Fushi
Sunrise or sunset villa? Your choice will decide the side of the island you stay on at this Indian Ocean hideaway, yet both sides have the Maldives’ signature white sandy beaches and azure seas.
You’re encouraged to leave your shoes at the jetty for toes-in-the-sand tranquility, then after a day on the beach there are showings at the open-air theatre, and Attenborough-worthy snorkelling – plus kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, and catamaran sailing are all complimentary, so you can explore every inch of this tropical island.
Gili Lankanfushi
If pure unadulterated Maldives luxury is what you’re searching for then Gili Lankanfushi won’t disappoint. This resort has won best hotel in the world before and is also home to one of The Maldives’ largest and most spectacular lagoons.
The rooms are all water villas and they will take your breath away. All water villas have huge private outside areas as well as super cool roof decks. Some rooms can only be reached by boat too, but you won’t have to lift a finger once you’re there with a personal butler on hand to cater to your every whim.
What Do You Need To Pack For The Maldives?
As it is situated on the equator, the climate and temperature in The Maldives is pretty consistent. Endless stunning summer days await honeymooners who come to these coral islands, so you can be very confident packing very light clothes with perhaps a thin layer or two for evenings if it’s a little breezy.
In the resorts it is completely acceptable to wear bikinis and swim shorts on the beaches and then a summery cover up for the restaurants. However, as The Maldives is a muslim country, if you’re planning on venturing into the capital or onto any of the residential islands you’ll want to make sure you pack something to cover your skin as much as possible to respect the religion.
Make sure you don’t pack many shoes. Nearly every resort operates a policy where you’re encourage to leave your shoes on the jetty and enjoy the freedom of walking about in the talcum powder sand from dawn until dusk.
The sun is very strong here too, so be sure to pack a high SPF, a good hat and some sunglasses too. Finally, if you’re planning on lots of water sports, you might want to pack any of your own specialist equipment like an underwater camera or flippers and a snorkel mask.
Best Couples Activities In The Maldives
As The Maldives is known first and foremost as a honeymoon destination you’ll find an absolute plethora of romantic activities to choose from as honeymooners.
All the resorts will have their own list of ideas, but generally activities include:
- Private dinners in over-water bungalows
- Sunset dolphin cruises
- Secluded picnics on a sandbank
- Night diving
- Night fishing
- Couples massages
- Cinema under the stars
- Sleeping under the stars
- Cooking classes
- Getting involved in marine conservation together
Best Restaurants In The Maldives
You’ll spend most of your time dining at the restaurants in your chosen resort on a honeymoon in The Maldives, however if you’re real foodies you may want to travel around a bit so you can discover some other culinary delights in other resorts.
The most notable restaurants for romance, wow-factor settings and amazing food in The Maldives are:
- The Lighthouse Restaurant at Baros
- Reethi at One & Only Reethi Rah
- Ithaa Restaurant at Conrad Rangali Island
- Manta Ray Treehouse at Joali
- Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc Randheli
There are some more traditional and independent restaurants on the main island of Malé including:
- Newport
- Royal Garden Cafe
- Sala Thai
- Bombay Darbar
- Seagull Cafe House
Best Nightlife Spots In The Maldives
A Maldives honeymoon is not really one where you’ll be clubbing or dancing all night. You’re much more likely to have sundowner as you watch the sunset over the azure sea followed by a gourmet meal.
That said, some resorts suit partygoers better than others. Finolhu has a reputation for being a party-lovers playground with regular poolside parties and celebrities visiting to enjoy the ritzy vibe, while W Maldives has its own night club.
At Niyama Private Islands you can dance the night away at the underwater bar, and Huvafen Fushi often has resident DJs flown in from around the world.
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