Kurumathi Blue Lagoon, Maldives

The Maldives are a truly spectacular destination - while it's a holiday location not exactly ideal for the highly budget conscious, a variety of different star resorts do offer most travellers a chance to taste its delights.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding on a Maldives resort:

Determine what your budget is - this will immediately narrow your list of potential resorts.

Decide what you're likely to be interested in. For instance, the Maldives is a great place for diving - if you're going to be spending a lot of time diving then you must be aware that different resorts have different standards in their diving facilities. Some resorts are also naturally better for divers than others. You'll want to choose a package that's best for diving (it's possible to get diving packages so you don't have to spend a fortune on additional diving expenses on a daily basis). Further, some resorts offer a wealth of activities and entertainment - others are very chilled and offer fewer activities (perfect if you just wish to laze by the sand gazing at the crystal blue waters).



Decide what type of package would be the best for you - most resorts are quite pricey when it comes to food and drink so while a bed & breakfast package (room & breakfast only) may at first appear cheaper, after paying for all food and drink it may in fact be more expensive than an all inclusive package.

Full board may be a good choice in many cases as all meals are provided, although the guest still has to pay for drinks (a good choice for those who do not drink too much alcohol). If on the other hand you enjoy a tipple or five then the All Inclusive option may well be the optimum package for you as drinks can be sinfully expensive at most resorts.

Some resorts may cater to specific nationalities - for example predominantly Italian, German or Japanese clientele. This may be a problem if you like to mingle but are unable to speak the dominant language.

Most resorts offer a wide range of accommodation types - decide which of these is best for you. For example, a standard beach villa would be typically a few metres from the sea while a water villa is located in the waters itself. Water villas can be beautiful and offer the chance to see the marine life swim by while looking from the window - but they are considerably more pricey.

Travellers with children should try and choose a resort with a kids club if possible - there is a world of difference between resorts when it comes to providing facilities that keep the kids entertained.

If you do wish to spend a day exploring the capital Male as an excursion then you may not want to choose a resort that's not too far away - some resorts do not offer this as a day trip so you may want to check this prior to booking.

You may also want to consider when during the year you wish to go - the optimum time with regards to weather are between December and April when there is the most sunshine and least rain. At these months, there's no surprise to learn that the prices tend to be far higher.

Some resorts (even the pricey ones at times) may not offer a personal TV in the rooms - this is usually intentional to promote the "no news, no shoes" feel of the island. Few people come to the Maldives to watch TV but if this is a comfort that you simply cannot live without then check with your travel agent before booking to see if your chosen resort offers one.

If the look, feel and architecture of your lodging is important to you then you will want to research and find the best resort for you - some can be more modern, almost like a standard hotel room while others are traditionally built with thatched roofs and even a partially open-air bathroom.

Romantics and honeymooners may find that some of the smaller islands are more cosy, intimate & quiet while the larger ones may have more of a party feel to it and be more crowded.