Maldives Holidays

Holidays

The incredible beaches, vast marine life, easily accessible snorkeling and laid back island environment make the Maldives an ideal location for an unforgettable holiday. The climate is ideal too. The temperature is fairly consistent between 26 and 32 degrees with a similar water temperature. Do as little or as much as you like. Relax in your hammock with a book; indulge in a Spa treatment or experience the amazing sunsets whilst sipping a cocktail. Alternatively, go diving, snorkeling, catamaran sailing; or take an excursion to a nearby inhabited island or deserted island where you can snorkel and enjoy a BBQ. Whatever you choose, island life is generally low key and laid back, hence the ‘No News No Shoes’ philosophy.  If you are looking for the ultimate ‘away from it all’ holiday, you have found the answer.

We believe the Maldives are a perfect destination for Families with young children.  Kids will love the fabulous beaches right on their doorstep, the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the safe island interior, ideal for exploring and collecting coconuts! All of which means parents are more relaxed and able to enjoy a stress free holiday.  The fabulous marine life found around the easily accessible house reefs is also a real bonus for children.  We have been snorkelling with our children in the Maldives since they were 4 years old.  Introductory dive courses are available on some islands for children aged 8 upwards and we can help advise on this.

The Maldives are the ideal destination for Honeymoon couples. The tropical paradise environment is perfect for relaxing together or sharing activities such as snorkeling, diving or sailing.  There are few locations in the world that are as idyllic and romantic as the Maldives and we can help advise on the perfect island for your special occasion.  Most resorts offer special extras for Honeymoon couples such as a romantic candlelit dinner on the beach or a bottle of champagne on arrival.  It is not possible to have a legally binding wedding ceremony in the Maldives but it is possible to have a wedding celebration or renewal of vows ceremony.

Because we have actually stayed at the featured resorts with our own family, we can offer the personal experience and expertise that others may lack. We can advise you on the resort that is most appropriate to your requirements. There is a saying that ‘The Maldives has a dream holiday waiting for you. Choose the wrong island however and you may have made a costly mistake’. No News No Shoes will help you find your dream holiday.

The Maldives are our passion and this is reflected in our high quality customer service.

Resorts

We are able to organise holidays to most resorts in the Maldives – below are a few of our favourites.
If you have already chosen your resort and it isn’t listed below, please ask for a quote: chris@nonewsnoshoes.co.uk

North Male Atoll

Banyan Tree Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is a gorgeous island with fantastic beaches, great snorkelling, luxurious accommodation and exceptional food. But what makes this resort unique is the island’s marine centre which raises baby green sea turtles in an effort to protect this much loved but endangered species.	Luxury
Baros Accommodation is of a high standard but retains an element of natural style and dining is pure delight in magical settings. Baros is a place for couples to relax, enjoy some of life’s luxuries and explore the marine life on the fabulous house reef.	Deluxe
Coco Palm Bodu Hithi A gorgeous island with a young, upmarket vibe. Luxurious accommodation includes a private pool with every room, a choice of eight eating and drinking venues and good snorkelling on the house reef. Excellent value for such a high quality resort and particularly good choice for Honeymooners.	Luxury
Helengeli This is how the Maldives used to be 20 years ago: simple and beautiful with stunning underwater life.	Good Value
One & Only Reethi Rah Regarded by many as the supreme luxury Maldives resort, One & Only Reethi Rah cannot fail to impress. It delivers on every level from the extravagantly indulgent villas to the sensational cuisine and impeccable service. Of particular note is the dedicated kids centre which is by far the best I have ever seen and ‘Club One’, an activity area on the beach for teenagers, ensuring that all members of the family are kept entertained. You might even spot a celebrity!	Luxury
Soneva Gili Soneva Gili is a small island where all guest accommodation is in a collection of breathtakingly beautiful water villas dotted within the azure lagoon. If you are looking for a Maldivian island of pure natural perfection to simply chill and be pampered, look no further. Soneva Gili will deliver everything you dream of, and more.	Luxury

Faafu Atoll

Filitheyo This is a large island with a jungle-like interior. It has great beaches and the underwater life is very accessible from the beach.

Middle Market

Ari Atoll

Angaga A small beautiful island with wonderful beaches, great snorkelling and a natural, rustic charm.	Middle Market
Madoogali Located in North Ari Atoll, Madoogali is a real gem of a resort which is relatively undiscovered by the UK market.	Middle Market
Mirihi A perfect small island where the food, service, beaches and snorkelling are  all of a very high standard.	Deluxe
TClub Vakarufalhi Vakarufalhi has a lot to offer – great beaches, excellent snorkelling on the house reef just off the beach, spacious rooms and a natural, lush interior.	Middle Market

Baa Atoll

Reethi Beach An island for those who need a little more going on. As well as good beaches and snorkelling it has a sports centre and a number of restaurants.	Good Value
Soneva Fushi If you want the ultimate “Robinson Crusoe” experience combined with a beautiful island and laid back luxury, go to Soneva Fushi.	Luxury

South Nilandhe Atoll (Dhaal Atoll)

Angsana Velavaru A relatively remote island with a pristine natural environment. A first in the Maldives is the exclusive standalone collection of In Ocean Villas located one kilometre away from the island. Perched on the edge of the deep blue next to the coral reef, they enjoy considerate touches set amidst contemporary comforts in this stylish getaway.	Deluxe
Vilu Reef Vilu Reef is a very welcoming resort. It is clear that the management pay special attention to customer care and thoughtful touches are in evidence all over the island. Unusual beach villas shaped like a Nautilus shell and a large number of Water Villas.  Great beaches and snorkelling.	Middle Market

Haa Atoll

Island Hideaway Island Hideaway provides a haven of natural luxury in a remote part of the Maldives, well away from other resort islands. A particularly good choice for families with small children and also for divers.

Luxury

Lhaviyani Atoll

Komandoo A small, idyllic island with lovely beaches,  great snorkelling and beautiful coral gardens. Komandoo is a resort for adults, no children under the age of 12 are allowed on the island.  It is a peaceful resort with a very laid back ambience, natural Maldivian character and excellent food.

Deluxe

Prices

All our holidays are bespoke, tailored to your requirements. Because of this we operate a “price on application” system. However, this page will give you an indication of the cost of your holiday.

Guide Prices for 2 Weeks, 2 People, Half Board, Including flights from the UK and seaplane transfers:

High season: Early Jan – End April (prices are higher again over Christmas and the New Year)
Low season: May – Mid July

Examples of Resorts in each category featured on our website:

Please note that we also sell holidays to other resorts or combinations of resorts. We also specialise in holidays involving both South India and Maldives.

Coral Islands

The Maldives are situated in the Indian Ocean about 600km south-west of Sri Lanka. Flying time is around 11 hours from the UK and the time difference is +5 hours.The Maldives consist of a chain of around 1,192 small, low lying coral islands grouped in clusters, or atolls. None of the islands are more than a couple of km across. There are 26 atolls stretched across the equator with a total land area of only 298 sq km. Local people inhabit 202 of these islands. In addition, around 97 islands have been developed into resorts, each following the same concept of one resort to one island.



The coral reefs surrounding the islands are home to a vast array of marine life including turtles, rays, octopus, dolphins and most tropical marine fish. Infact, over three-quarters of the world’s reef-fish species can be found in the Maldives. In many resorts, the ‘house’ reef is just a short distance from the beach, making snorkelling safe for children. For divers, the options are even greater and all resorts have a professional dive school.

The beaches are true picture postcard. White talcum powder sand and turqouise lagoons with palm trees and tropical vegetation forming the backdrop. On land, a variety of wildlife can be found including the perpetually fascinating hermit crabs and numerous fruit bats.

Activities

Snorkelling: We think this is the highlight of the Maldives. Snorkelling here has to be experienced to be believed. The number of fish to be seen is amazing in itself but it is the ease of observing them that is the real surprise. Swim just a few strokes from the shore and the most fantastic underwater aquarium opens up beneath your eyes. You will hear squeals of delight from your children as they watch octopus changing colour and schools of powderblue surgeon fish, or as a turtle or ray glides by. Yes IT IS as simple as that. For families, the Maldives opens up a truly amazing underwater life in a safe, simple and fun environment.

Diving: For those who wish to venture further afield, every resort has its own professionally run dive school. All equipment is available for hire and a variety of courses or dive plans can be organised. Subject to numbers, two dive boats per day are generally organised to areas of special interest such as manta ray points or cave dives. In addition, some resorts offer more specialised options such as nitrox courses, night dives or dive photography courses. Introductory dives for children can be organised from age 8 in some resorts. For beginners interested in becoming qualified divers, it is possible to complete a PADI or equivalent course during your stay

Excursions: All resorts will offer a programme of excursions which will normally include the following:

• Night Fishing
• Island Hopping
• Visit to a Local Inhabited Island
• Trip to a Deserted Island
• Snorkel Safaris
• Deep Sea Fishing
• Sunset Cruise

Water Sports: Resorts will usually have a watersports centre offering windsurfing, catamaran sailing, canoeing, etc.

Spa: More and more resorts are now offering a range of spa therapies. Depending on the resort, these can be very luxurious. Individual massages can be booked or alternatively, a range of pamper packages are available for the ultimate in holiday relaxation and rejuvenation.

Climate

The year consists of two seasons – the north-east monsoon or iruvai which runs from around November to April which are the drier months; and the south-west monsoon or hulhangu which runs from around May to November, which are wetter months with more storms and strong winds. The transitional periods in April and November are supposed to be calm with particularly clear water. However, the only thing that can really be said with any accuracy is that the weather is unpredictable.

We have experienced two weeks in August with no rain whilst on another occasion, April was a little stormy. It is worth noting however that the weather rarely seems to hinder the enjoyment of peoples’ holiday. The water remains warm and you will still find people snorkelling and swimming in a tropical downpour. The average maximum temperature is consistently around 31 degrees celsius, falling to around 25 degrees at night. Sea temperatures also remain fairly constant at around 27 degrees celsius. Continual sea breezes make island life quite comfortable.

People

The original settlers in the Maldives are thought to have come from south India and Ceylon. However, there has since been a great deal of intermarriage with Arabian and African people. Maldivians practice a liberal form of Islamic religion and they belong to the Sunni sect of Muslims. As such, it is important to respect religious beliefs by not bringing alcohol into the country. Please don’t try – it will be found and will be confiscated. The language is unique to the Maldives and is known as Divehi or Dhivehi. Its origins are in Sinhala, a Sri Lankan language but with some Arabic, Hindi and English influence. A smile, accompanied with ‘asalam alekum’ (hello) will usually bring a warm response.

The population of the Maldives is around 350,000 of which about 75,000 live in Male, the capital. Male itself is an interesting place, a maze of small streets with numerous shops, markets and mosques. The hustle and bustle of this city life is far removed from the tranquility of island life. Tourism and fishing contribute most to the country’s economy and consequently many Maldivians are involved in some way with these activities. The people are warm and friendly by nature.

Food

In the Maldives, just about everything apart from coconuts and fish is imported. Despite this, the food in resorts is generally of a high standard. Most meals are buffet style offering a wide selection of dishes so you can choose what and how much you eat. Pasta is usually available which seems to keep children happy. Local Maldivian fish curries are becoming more apparent in resorts which is encouraging. Most resorts will also organise a number of theme nights such as a BBQ on the beach or international buffet. For a romantic evening, a candle lit dinner on the beach with a choice of menu can usually be arranged.

Alcohol is available in resorts but be aware that it can be expensive. Sunset cocktails are popular and provide the perfect partner to some spectacular sunsets.

Most resorts have a small shop where snacks can be purchased in addition to souvenirs.