How did we get there?

If you’ve never heard of The Maldives, it’s most likely because it is practically on the other side of the world. It takes many hours to get there, so if you don’t like long flights, this probably wouldn’t be your destination. We splurged and upgraded to business-class seats and scored a fantastic deal. This upgrade made traveling and adjusting to the time difference much more manageable and comfortable. We booked the flight from Dulles International Airport to Male, with a layover in Doha on Qatar Airways.

Upon location our Q-suite, the flight attendants came around to offer a beverage and introduce themselves. The first leg of the trip was around 13 hours to Doha. When we were ready to sleep for the night, the flight attendant would make up the bed and provide you complementary pajamas. Once we arrived at the Hamad International Airport, we pre-booked a lounge since we had a 9-hour layover. The lounge allowed us to eat, shower, and relax before our next flight at 2 am local time. The second flight to Male was around 5 hours, and I slept most of the flight.

Once we landed in Male, we were greeted by someone who worked for the resort at baggage claim. They took us to an exclusive lounge to wait for our domestic flight transfer. Some resorts use speed boats and seaplanes, but since our island was much further south, a domestic flight transfer on Maldivian Airways was required. This step is pre-arranged by the resort when you book your reservation. The transfer flight was around an hour. 

From the Kooddoo airport, a different resort staff greeted us to hop on our last leg of the trip, a boat ride to the island. It was around 30-minutes because the waters were choppy. Once we arrived at the resort dock, the staff chauffeured us in a golf cart to the check-in desk. The trip to get there is long; you travel more than 24 hours, so splurging on business class seats was the best decision we could’ve made for the trip.

Where did we stay?

We booked The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah. The unique component of this resort is its two islands combined into one resort. The Residence at Dhigurah and The Residence at Falhumaafushi are connected by a one-kilometer bridge, the longest in the Maldives. We stayed in an overwater bungalow and upgraded to the sunset villa from the sunrise villa. Our research suggested the sunset villas were the most beautiful on the property, so we decided it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

How did we locate the resort?

My husband and I were looking for honeymoon destinations, but we couldn’t decide between Bali, Maldives, and Bora Bora. All these destinations are on our bucket list, so we felt we couldn’t go wrong with any choice.

After much research factoring in the time of year we’d go (November), we decided the Maldives was the best option. The high season runs from December to April, and the low typically May to November. We were staying seven nights, from November 3rd to the 10th.

We found the perfect Travelzoo voucher for this resort during the peak of COVID-19. We booked in July 2021 and had until December 2022 to redeem, which provided the flexibility we needed. The deal we purchased was a 7-night all-inclusive package which included all meals, transfers, alcohol, rental of non-motorized water sports equipment, a high tea for two, and a sunrise villa overwater bungalow. It had everything we wanted besides the paid excursions, villa upgrade and spa treatments.

I highly recommend using Travelzoo to find a good deal. Their section, called “Top 20,” can offer some good deals to places worldwide. Some have more flexibility than others so read the fine print for the limitations, restrictions, and cancellation policy.

What was the room like?

We stayed in bungalow 849 at Dhigurah, equipped with many beautiful and thoughtful touches. The bedroom faced two large sliding doors that provided an unobstructed view of the water and private pool. The pool had two private loungers and a ladder to go out in the water from the bungalow. The view was incredible, and the pictures didn’t do it justice.

The bathroom area was well-designed. It had a huge double vanity, a large porcelain tub, and an indoor and outdoor shower. The size was equivalent to the main bedroom, so you have ample space to spread out and store your luggage.

A mini fridge was available in each room that was replenished daily. Anything in the refrigerator was complimentary, but the staff only stocked it once daily, or else it was an extra cost. There was a selection of water, soda, and beer.

Each bungalow has a rack with two bikes by the bungalow entrance, which is your primary form of transportation around the island. You can call a “buggy,” a golf cart, to pick you up and take you anywhere on either of the islands, but riding is much more efficient. We almost always opted for the bikes because the scenery was so beautiful. The only time we used the buggy was for inclement weather.

‍

What was the weather like?

Since November is considered low season, the weather wasn’t as ideal as it could’ve been. We did get primarily sunny days, minus one evening of storms, but it was extremely windy. Next time, I’d be more prepared not to bring dresses that would blow in the wind and more clips to style my hair up and out of the way. The temperatures were warm, usually around the low 80s. The water was also a comfortable temperature to snorkel. I’d be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen since the UV index is high. I was close to getting sun poisoning at the end of the week due to the hours we spent outside, even after several sunscreen applications.

What activities were available?

The resort provided complimentary snorkeling gear throughout our stay. The staff recommended several great spots to snorkel. We mainly snorkeled by the bridge between the two islands and saw everything from fish to reef sharks. It is a popular place to see sea turtles, but unfortunately, we weren't lucky. There was also a large reef off the dock of Dhigurah. We only were able to snorkel once because the water wasn't clear enough after storms that came through.

Each island offered a pool with loungers, and you could go to either. Dhigurah offered a sizeable Olympic-style pool with great water views and little cabanas that are perfect for taking a nap or reading. The pool on Falhumaafushi was smaller but offered a swim-up bar and a couple of cabanas in the shallow pool waters. A lunch restaurant and bar were on site at both, so it was the perfect place to relax for a day.

The Spa by Clarins was a treat. I booked a one-hour massage, the best I have ever had. I regret not doing another one as they were highly relaxing, and the service was very reasonable. The massage took place in an overwater bungalow, and you can relax on the balcony overlooking the water after the service. It was complete with a whole showering area to conclude the spa.

A fitness center is available on the Dhigurah side, and we went almost daily. It was close to the spa and had everything from cardio machines to free weights. Each time we went, it was never busy.  

The resort offers various paid excursions. I'd recommend booking in advance next time. We opted for the sunset Dolphin cruise, where we got lucky and spotted a pod of nearly a dozen dolphins. They swam beside the boat and stayed with us for quite a while. It was such a neat experience. The other activity we were interested in was a boat ride to a remote island for a few hours, where you could enjoy lunch and the beach. Unfortunately, it required a minimum of four people, and no one else signed up. Some others required certifications or were unavailable due to the high winds, so we enjoyed relaxing on the islands. 

What cuisine was available?

There were more dining options to choose from than we anticipated. The two fancy fine dining dinner options require reservations in advance, so book those before your trip as they fill up very quickly. The Falhumaa was over the water and served French style food and Long Island offered Italian cuisine. We ate at the French restaurant twice and Italian once, and both were remarkable. A daily buffet-style restaurant was available on the days we didn't have reservations. 

The complimentary breakfast was buffet style, with one on each island. We ate at both, but they mostly offered the same items. They serve various cuisines, so there should be something for everyone. We ended up eating lunch by the pool and enjoyed the variety both restaurants offered. The menu changed daily so never got tired of the selection.

How did we get around the islands?

The best way to get around is by bike, but if you're predominately staying on one island, it is also easily walkable. If the weather is terrible or you are in a rush, call a buggy ahead of time from your room. Any place you go can call one for you as well! It was super easy to get around.

Were there any language barriers?

No, everyone on the island spoke excellent English, so there was no communication barrier. We loved that we didn't have to stress about not speaking the language!

What was local on the island?

Our island had an abundance of coconut trees. I am not usually a fan of pina coladas, but I couldn’t get enough. The workers would go up into the trees and pick them daily, so you knew they were always fresh. In addition to their coconut production they have crops to harvest mango, papaya and bananas. Almost all items are imported, so meals, drinks, and commodities are generally expensive.

A local animal that surprised us were fruit bats. We had no idea they were local to the island and we were a bit freaked out the first time we encountered one. They are harmless to humans and usually don’t bother you, but we were not expecting them!