The Ultimate Maldives Travel Guide – Jetset Christina (Updated 2023)

Planning a trip to the Maldives or a Maldives honeymoon? Here’s your ultimate Maldives travel guide for the best hotels in the Maldives, best places to see in the Maldives, things to do in the Maldives and all your Maldives travel questions, answered!

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THE MALDIVES.

Doesn’t just seeing its dreamy name give you the travel bug? I think the Maldives may be the buzziest destination around the world right now. And it’s not hard to see why. It’s a country that’s 99% water and only 1% land, made up of 1200 islands (only 200 of which are inhabited), and many thriving coral reefs. The ocean is a brighter turquoise blue than anywhere in the world, and the overwater resorts take luxury to a whole new level. While 10 or 20 years ago, only the elitest of the elite would have even heard about the Maldives, let alone gotten the chance to visit and see it in person, today we see pictures of this paradise flooding our Instagram feeds every single day, and every single photo makes you wonder – could this place really be on earth?

Well, I’m here to confirm that The Maldives DOES exist, it is EVEN more beautiful and breathtaking in person, and yes. It is in fact heaven on earth.

 

Planning a trip to the Maldives can be a little overwhelming at first. There are more than 200 resorts to choose from (!!!), and they all cater to a different traveler, with a different budget. Each resort has different things to offer (some are better for divers, some are better for surfers, some have better food, some have better overwater bungalows, etc, etc) and since very few of us have actually been to the Maldives, it’s hard to know where to start when it comes to planning. My main goal with traveling there this time was to make sure I could give you guys the best recommendations and info you need to plan your trip to this heavenly country.

I had a lot of questions about this mysterious, otherworldly paradise going into my first trip to the Maldives, and a lot of questions came up from you guys while I was there, so I thought it would be fun to structure this Ultimate Travel Guide to the Maldives as a Maldives FAQ! Let me know in the comments or shoot me a DM on instagram any other questions you may have and I’ll be sure to answer them!

What are the best resorts in the Maldives?

$$$$$ hotels:

Six Senses Laamu

Barefoot, eco-luxury. A stunning and wild paradise on earth.

If I wrote a blog post on the very best hotels in the world, there’s no doubt that Six Senses Laamu would be on my list. This perfect island paradise was a huge highlight of my trip to the Maldives. Everything is perfect about Six Senses, from the natural paradise vibe, to the world-class food (their dinners are great, but their over-the-top breakfast buffet and complimentary homemade ice cream bar were the best things ever), to the villas that make it hard to ever leave your room! (I highly recommend upgrading to a pool villa, if you’re like me and a sucker for dreamy infinity pools), to the adorable island bikes you use to get around (that are personalized with your initials if you’re a repeating guest!), to all of the incredible activities there are to do on the island, from snorkeling to sailing to surfing (the Six Senses’ type of surfing is often called “luxury surfing”, because they boast some of the best waves, but you’ll often be the only one surfing them, a luxury priceless to most surfers).

At Six Senses Laamu, you can do it all, and nothing at the same time. It’s the perfect place to strike the healthy vacation balance between the two. Your bike to breakfast and morning paddle board or surf session can balance out that insane breakfast buffet.  You can try a new yoga class while taking in views from the pavilion that are sunset-lounge-worthy, or dive into your new novel before diving into the sparkling turquoise sea. Your afternoon snorkels and manta ray dives are balanced with sunset champagne & canapes. You can enjoy the privacy of your overwater bungalow or walk over to get a pizza made in paradise and 2 for 1 margaritas at Sip Sip.  You can even get dropped off at a completely private sandbank for the day, complete with a set up umbrella, beach chairs, and cooler. A vacation at Six Senses is truly a choose-your-own adventure, and at the end of each fun-or-relaxation-filled day, you’ll melt into your mattress blissful, content, and maybe just a little bit sunburned.

But, aside from being a such a fabulous world-class luxury five star resort, Six Senses is so much more. They are leaders and trailblazers in sustainability practices, and are setting the standard for eco-luxury for the entire hospitality industry worldwide, striving to be a completely sustainable resort. The resort’s mission and values focus on protecting paradise environment and benefitting the communities and ecosystems around them. Their sustainability manager, Megan, is wonderful and leads popular tours of the “back house” of the resort, where you can see everything from their desalination tanks that provide drinkable water derived from the sea for the entire island, to how the island creates its own energy to run the resort. She’ll tell you how all soaps, shampoos, etc, used at the resort meet the highest standards of biodegradability, and are all all-natural and non-toxic.  They are striving to be completely plastic-free by 2022, and use no plastic bags, straws, or even plastic toothbrushes, on their island, instead, they’ll find a sustainable way to do everything, such as creating bamboo straws and toothbrushes, and only using glass bottles throughout the resort (did you know that glass comes from sand, and thus can be recycled into sand infinity times?). They even their own gardens, filled with vegetables and herbs used in their restaurants, and have a food waste composter that uses the food waste from the resort to help fertilize said garden.

Every single thing the resort is doing is having as minimal of an impact as possible. It makes you start to wonder about all the other resorts you’ve ever stayed in, and it’s hard not to think about how many resorts aren’t thinking about their impact on the environment, and the incredible waste and toxicity they create.  I know that I noticed right away that a beach hotel I stayed at wasn’t offering reef-safe sunscreen in their store, a seemingly easy switch that every hotel on a reef should make!

You can feel good about vacationing at the Six Senses Laamu – their love for their island and our world is contagious and something you will take with you long after you’ve gone home.

For more on the Six Senses Laamu, check out my Six Senses Maldives Hotel Review here.

One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives

Paradise, perfected. Ultimate Maldives resort, transcends luxury.

On our most recent trip to The Maldives, we spent our first few days at the One&Only Reethi Rah resort. I had been eyeing this resort for years, and after the fantastic experiences I had at the One&Only Mandarina and Palmilla resorts, I knew I had to check this place out for you guys. This island is SO beautiful. We traveled with my parents and our baby boy, which was so much fun. It blew ALL of us away.  Luxury begins with the way that you arrive at the resort – by luxury yacht direct from Male. It’s so much easier and more luxurious to be able to board a yacht rather than having to hop on another flight from Male when you’re exhausted from all of the travel and ready to get to the resort! Once you are on the property, there are golf carts that can take you to and from your villa, the beach, or to any of the delicious restaurants (there are eight on the resort!!), etc. Our villa had a (HUGE) private plunge pool, comfortable lounge areas for basking in the sun, and all of the five-star amenities you can imagine, from a mini skincare fridge (yes, you heard that right) on the vanity, to a wine cellar fridge in the room, it was to die for. The One&Only also has a great house reef  – we saw SO many sharks here (all friendly!) and even had a family of nurse sharks in the water right outside our room!

A huge highlight of the resort was the food – we all loved the food SO much, and we all thought the breakfast buffet out of this world. They even have a kids’ buffet that is on kid-level, so your littles can grab their own food with ease. This speaks to just how family friendly the One&Only Maldives is – the kids club is UNREAL, and families are definitely abundant here.

But if you want to work off all of that amazing food (and beach club cocktails), have no fear because there are tennis courts, an amazing gym, pickle ball courts, and more.  And if relaxing is more your vibe, One&Only Reethi Rah has an award-winning spa, which you absolutely cannot miss. I went every day of our vacation and I have no regrets. It was my favorite spa ever. Even if you don’t do a treatment, you can explore the sauna & steam – which is amazing, and a highlight of our entire trip! The spa was named the Global Winner of Best Luxury Spa and made Condé Nast Traveler’s top 20 list!

All in all, One&Only Maldives is paradise, perfected. It’s a HUGE island compared to most in the Maldives, which means you will never get bored. It sits on six kilometers of some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the Maldives, and they have 12 pristine beaches and two pools (other than your private villa pool) for you to enjoy. If you’re feeling like relaxing, sip on a glass of rosé at the beach club, or head to the award-winning spa, and if you’re feeling adventurous, choose from the many, many activities they have on the island. Challenge your partner to pickle ball and ping pong, go jet-skiing, do some arts and crafts at their beachside pottery studio, or go diving or snorkeling along some incredible coral reefs which are home to over 2,000 species of fish. Whatever your ‘paradise’ is, trust me, O&O is it.

Check rates for your dates here

St. Regis Maldives

Ultra-luxurious, opulent, seven-star luxury and service.

There are two categories of villas: sunset-facing and island-facing. While the sunset-facing villas are a higher category of room, and make for some dreamy sunset views, there is no problem with the island-facing villas. The overwater villas here are a design-lover’s dream, and are designed to resemble manta rays, each giving you an incredible amount of privacy, which I love. If you’ve ever stayed at a St. Regis anywhere in the world, you know about their signature butler service, which usually includes complimentary coffee, pressing of your clothes, and a butler available to you whenever you need it, for whatever you need.

This dreamy private island resort is set on more than 22-acres, and has 77 beautiful villas scattered through the island – each with their own private pool and private entrance for an unparalleled degree of seclusion and privacy. The premium two- and three-bedroom villas – including the famed John Jacob Astor Estate, the largest overwater villa in the Maldives – are perfect for families and groups looking for a perfect escape.

Check rates for your dates here

 

It is worth noting that because the St. Regis is a seaplane away from the main Male airport, all guests have to pay $695 for the round-trip seaplane transfer. However, if you think of arriving to the St. Regis via a seaplane as its own excursion (sea plane rides in the Maldives are one of the best experiences you can have!!) It’s easier to justify the cost somewhat.

For more on the St. Regis – check my St. Regis Maldives vs. Six Senses post here.

Is the St. Regis Maldives popular with families?

Yes, the St. Regis is very popular with families and there is a kids club. I think honeymooners will still enjoy it and find quiet, but families will absolutely adore this resort.

Anantara Kihavah Villas

 

For the trip of a lifetime, the Anantara Kihavah is a great choice. It’s located in the Baa atoll, famous for its THRIVING marine life. It is only accessible by sea plane and the whole island is full of the whitest, powdery sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters that you traveled to the Maldives for! The remote location of Anantara Kihavah means endless horizon views and stunning starry night skies – best experienced atop the resort’s Sky Bar, where you can find the Maldives’ largest telescope!

The vibe at Anantara is low-key, barefoot luxury.

Check rates for your dates here.

Fairmont Maldives – Sirru Fen Fushi

I love that at the Fairmont Maldives, each of the 120 villas features a gorgeous private pool.  It’s located in the Shaviyani Atoll in North Maldives, and the island has a gorgeous nine kilometer-long house reef directly accessible from the beach. While the overwater bungalows exude modern classic luxury, the unique ultra-private safari-tented jungle villas offer a romantic castaway vibe. Guests of the resort have plenty of activities to choose from, such as glamping BBQs in the jungle or watching movies at the jungle cinema.

$$$$ hotels:

Gili Lankanfushi

Gili Lankanfushi is such a magical place, you guys. The overwater bungalows here give off a rustic chic, understated luxury vibe, and feel somewhere between a luxurious pirate ship and a floating treehouse. They’re gorgeous. You’ll want to spend all day laying out on your hammock over the water, and all night sleeping under the stunnnning stars (your butler – called your “Friday” can set it up for you!). Some of the villas – called the “cruisers” give you an even more unique experience as they are only accessible by boat (you can boat yourself during the day or there is always one on call for you!). And, if you want the best of the best, or have a big family, you can look into the biggest overwater bungalow in the Maldives, called “The Private Reserve”, which is complete with four bedrooms, its own infinity pool, its own private ISLAND, and a slide into the ocean.

Gili Lankanfushi was started by the same owners as Six Senses, so many of the sustainability principles, philosophies, vibe and decor remain similar between both properties. What’s nice about Gili Lankanfushi is that it’s only a boat ride away from the airport, so you won’t need another domestic flight or a seaplane to get to it, making it a popular vacation choice for Americans and Maldives honeymooners who want to make the most of one week in the Maldives. It is definitely nice to be able to get straight there from the airport! I highly recommend this spot if you’re looking to avoid an extra flight!!! (and the extra cost that comes with it!)

Some big highlights of this resort were the destination dining options (you can dine privately in gorgeous settings all over the island), the sunset Dhoani cruise (a traditional 2-person Maldivian sailboat that cruises around the lagoons at sunset with a bottle of champagne – so romantic for honeymooners!) and the dinners at the resort!! Gili does an incredible asian street market buffet every Tuesday, and a to-die-for Mediterranean market buffet on Fridays, on all other days they have multiple restaurants open, including a fresh sushi restaurant called By the Sea. I also definitely recommend going to their beautiful spa and getting a massage! Their massage tables look over glass-bottom floors so you can watch the fish swim while you’re getting massaged!

 

Conrad Maldives

Famous for having the first underwater restaurant to ever exist in the world, Ithaa Restaurant, and its 2 award-winning spas, this gorgeous Maldives property is consistently one of the most popular.

The super-spacious overwater bungalows stretch up to 500m into the Indian Ocean, and feature floor-to-ceiling windows and beautiful sea views. It takes a 30-minute scenic seaplane transfer from Male International Airport to get to Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, which is about the same as Kandolhu.

 

$$$ Luxury budget hotels in the Maldives

No matter what resort you stay in in the Maldives, the beaches and water is all the same, and you’re going to have a fabulous experience. I asked some local experts on what resorts were good at a lower budget and were the best value hotels in the Maldives, and they gave me these two hotels, where you can still have the overwater bungalow experience, but at a rate much more affordable than the more expensive resorts.

Summer Island

I was told that Summer Island has one of the very best beaches in the Maldives! It’s a great option for a luxurious but still budget resort in the Maldives. The resort features an infinity pool, an overwater spa and fitness center, watersports, volleyball, a dive center and gorgeous views all around the island. Definitely go for a water villa and ask for a sunset view 🙂 It’s only 20km from the airport and the boat shuttle is included in the rate, which is a big win!

Oblu at Helengeli

I was told that Halengeli has outstanding food and a beautiful setting, but is a bit further away, which makes it a bit more expensive for the 50 minute speedboat from the airport. But, it’s still a fabulous value hotel in the Maldives. It has a beautiful spa, an outdoor pool with gorgeous views, and a paradise bar.

Should I stay in more than one resort in the Maldives?

It depends on how long you have in the islands. If you have a week to 9 days, probably not. While there are tons of stunning hotels and resorts, making it tempting to want to split your time among two or three, the Maldivian islands are veryyyyy spread out from one another. Many resorts are only accessible via seaplane or domestic flights, and you don’t want to spend your relaxing vacation in paradise packing, unpacking, and dealing with airports and flying. On top of that, many of the resorts are similar to one another, so it’s better to get the FULL experience of one, than two half experiences at two.

However, if you have more than 9 days or two weeks or more, it can definitely be fun to explore two different resorts! Just make sure you pick two very different resorts rather than 2 that might be too similar.

What’s the food like in the Maldives?

Do I have to eat at the resort? Do the resorts include food in the Maldives?

The food is SO GOOD IN THE MALDIVES!!!! Of course it depends on the resort you choose, but if you choose a luxury resort, you can rest assured you’re going to get some great food during your trip. Whenever possible in the Maldives, you’re getting incredible local cuisine (read: coconut, tuna and other underwater delicacies), and when it’s not possible to grow or fish something locally, the best of the best is imported to the resorts, such as European charcuterie, german sausages, French cheeses and Swiss chocolate.

Since you’ll be on a private island, the only option is to eat at the resort. As far as what’s included in your rate, it depends on the resort, but many offer you the option to go “half board” (meaning breakfast and dinner is included) or “full board” (meaning breakfast, lunch and dinner is included). In my experience in the Maldives, I have never felt the need for full board, as we would fill up on the amazing breakfast buffets, and be full until dinner time.

How long should I spend in the Maldives?

In my opinion, you want minimum of 5 nights at a resort, anything less than that you won’t get the full Maldives experience! After all, part of the experience of these resorts is taking your shoes off, putting your wallet and phone away, and enjoying the private island life to the fullest. You want to give yourself time to experience all that your island has to offer. Around 7 nights would be ideal, in my opinion, or more time if you’re going to more than one resort.

Will I get bored in the Maldives?

No!!! I think this is one of the biggest misconceptions about the Maldives. People worry about getting “island fever” and not having enough to do for a week on an island. If you’re staying at one of the resorts I recommended, trust me, you are going to have ENDLESS activities to do and keep you busy (if you want to!). From snorkeling and diving, to paddleboarding and sailing and all the watersports, to biking, tennis,  movie nights, cooking classes, wine tastings, and sunset dolphin cruises. I was having so much fun doing everything on the islands that I didn’t even have a chance to touch my book that I bought for the trip!!!

Is The Maldives only for honeymooners and couples?

What about families? Are there resorts that cater to solo travelers in the Maldives?

When I started dreaming of traveling to the Maldives, I was convinced that it was the most romantic place on earth – the perfect place for a honeymoon. While it definitely is that, what I realized when I got there was that the Maldives actually caters to all types of travelers – from couples, to families with young or older children, to groups of friends (the Six Senses had awesome 2-bedroom villas connected by a pool that are perfect for two couples, and Gili Lankanfushi has 2 bedroom overwater villas that would be so fun for a family), to full-blown 30th birthday parties (the yacht we cruised for a few days on, Searex, recently had a US-based group on it to celebrate one of the friends’ 30th birthdays), to royals with their entourages (Yes, the prince of Morocco was actually staying at the Six Senses when we were there), to solo travelers looking to get away from it all and do a digital detox in the Maldives. It wasn’t all that surprising to learn that certain properties, like Gili Lankanfushi, see quite a few solo travelers, because I can totally see the appeal to a hard-working person looking to go off the map for a week, but not so off the map that they don’t have a little bit of resort society and people around. It wouldn’t have felt weird at all to be at one of their restaurants or beaches alone, but rather relaxing. The Maldives seemed to me like the perfect place to turn your phone on airplane mode, and embrace full relaxation, whether that be by yourself, with friends, family, or with loved ones.

Is flying across the world to the Maldives worth the flight?

YES. Definitely!!! But, if you’re flying from the United States or Europe, you should allot yourself enough time for your vacation. I think anywhere from 6-9 days is the perfect time to spend in the Maldives. You’re going to be exhausted after a 20-30 hour flight, and you’re not going to want to spend your whole vacation jet-lagged.

What time of year is best to visit the Maldives?

The Maldives is famous for being “80/80/80” year-round, meaning it’s 80 degrees, 80% humidity, and 80 degree ocean water the whole year. The driest season runs from November-May, but this is also peak season for tourists, meaning not only are the resorts usually at 100% capacity, but the prices are twice as high than the rest of the year. And, since The Maldives is super popular during the high season, make sure you are booking well in advance if you’re traveling then. I think a lot of people are scared away from the Maldives’ “wet” season, but, after experiencing 10 straight days of sunshine, and two partly cloudy days with the occasional rain squall blowing through, and talking to lots of people working at the resorts about the different seasons, it seems like no matter what time of year you visit the Maldives, you could get incredible weather, or rain, it’s kind of random! They see plenty of rainy days during the dry season, and plenty of gorgeous days during the “wet” season! My advice is book your trip when it works for you, and hope for the best! Also, rain in the Maldives is NOT the worst thing in the world. The resorts have plenty of things to do if it rains, from wine tastings and cooking classes, to games and movies, and lotssss of good food. The sun is so intense in these islands you may be wishing for a rainstorm for an excuse to hang inside after a few days outside here! 🙂

What does a honeymoon to the Maldives cost?

You can expect to spend anywhere from $10,000 – $30,000 on just your room rate alone for a one week stay in the Maldives.

This means a room rate of around ~ $1000-$3000 per night plus taxes, depending on caliber of resort, the level of room you choose (is a beach villa or an overwater bungalow more your style?) and the season you’re traveling in (the dry season is the high season in the Maldives, and it runs from November-March) You’ll find much less expensive rates in the off season (like half off!!)

You can then expect to spend about 250 per person per day in the Maldives, whether you are on a full-board meal plan or if you are paying a la carte. Most resorts in the Maldives offer a half-board or full-board meal option. At a resort like Six Senses, full board includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and costs $222 per adult and $111 per child, and the half board meal plan includes just breakfast and dinner, and is $148 per adult, $74 per child.

For more information of costs of a honeymoon in the Maldives, read this post : The Actual Cost of Honeymooning in the Maldives

What do you tip a butler in the Maldives?

It’s recommended to tip at least $15 per day for your butler in the Maldives. It’s up to you! We tipped our butler at each hotel around $25 a day – all paid to them in USD cash at the end of the stay. We then gave an extra tip of about $15-20 a day to the front desk at check out for housekeeping and other services.

What should I pack for the Maldives?

I have a whole post on What to Pack for the Maldives, so check that one out too, but I’ll summarize it here!

Sunscreen. Lotsssss of sunscreen.

The sun is very intense in the Maldives (The islands straddle the equator), and you’ll feel it as soon as you arrive. Make sure to avoid that first-day-of-vacay lobster burn, and stock up on some sunscreens before you leave.  And please make it reef-safe sunscreen! Most of our sunscreens we use are toxic to the reefs we swim over after we put it on.  Help practice sustainability on your travels and buy some reef-safe sunscreen for your trip.

An Underwater Camera or Gopro!

If you’ve been thinking of a perfect excuse to invest in a GoPro, this trip is it. There are so many beautiful tropical fish everywhere you look in the Maldives! And some awesome turtles, sharks, and manta rays too! I highly recommend bringing a GoPro (I use this one) with you for your trip so you can capture the incredible marine life!

A camera

I love my camera so much, and can’t imagine traveling without it – here are all the details on all the camera equipment I use on my trips!

Do you need a power converter for the Maldives?

If you’re from the UK, then nope! But if you’re from the US, you will. While some of the resorts may have US plugs available in the rooms, I always make sure to buy a power converter and adapter before a trip to be safe (I like this one by Travel Smart by Conair because it also works for all my hair tools, and is a power converter and adapter in one… plus it comes with plugs for use all over the world, so you won’t have to buy a new one for your next vacay!)

Leave (most of) your shoes at home!

Ask your resort ahead of time to be sure, but many of the resorts have a “barefoot luxury” vibe, and encourage you to ditch your shoes the second you arrive. It’s an awesome feeling not to wear shoes for a whole week, and to be eating dinners with your toes in the sand rather than squished into uncomfy heels! I brought one pair of tennis shoes for the resort gyms, but found out that some resorts actually have shoes you can borrow for that reason! You really only need one pair of shoes for the airplane.

Some resorts you will want shoes for dining, etc. so it depends where you are! But either way, you don’t need too many shoes.

Lots of swimwear & cute cover ups!

You’re going to be in the water every day of your trip – so pack your bikinis and swimwear accordingly! Also, keep in mind you’ll probably be keeping pretty active in the ocean – from surfing to snorkeling to jumping off your villa, so you’re going to want to not only pack some chic swimwear to lounge on your overwater bungalow in, but make sure you pack some sporty, supportive bikinis you can actually swim in, too! (Like this one)

 

 

 

 

 

 

And these are some of my other favorites I wore in the Maldives:  *affiliate links, click on each photo to shop*

 

 

 

Sun hats

Do not underestimate the Maldivian sun. Having a couple chic sun hats with you to protect your face (and neck) is so important! Not to mention they look chic in all those vacation photos you’re about to take. Click on the photos below to shop the hats that I brought on my vacation!

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Swimwear

*affiliate links, click to shop

 

 

Cute cover ups and beach dresses!

Click the photo to shop

 

 

 

 

Can you bring wine to the Maldives?

Ugh. No. and it sucks. I was actually flying to the Maldives from the Amalfi Coast, and was SO excited to pack at least 5 bottles of delicious Italian wine in my suitcase, but I’m so glad I googled bringing wine in the Maldives before I bought them! The Maldives is a muslim country, and as such, alcohol is not allowed in the country. If you try to sneak it in your suitcase they will find it, and you can get fined, or worse, thrown in jail. Sooooo not worth it. The good news is an exception to this rule has been made for the private islands that the resorts live on! (yay!) which is why they’re allowed to sell you alcohol and you’re allowed to drink your sunny days away with poolside pina coladas and champagne sunset cruises. Alcohol at the nice resorts in the Maldives is more expensive than bringing your own, but I was actually shocked that the booze was less expensive than resorts I had been to in French Polynesia and Bora Bora and bottles of wines at restaurants in the Maldives were less than in restaurants in Bali, so that was a big win!

Most of the nice resorts feature in-house sommeliers, as well, and I was very impressed by the somms at Six Senses and Gili Lankanfushi, who both picked out outstanding bottles of wine to pair with every dish! I was very impressed, and being a Napa Valley girl, that’s hard to do!

Should we honeymoon in Bora Bora or the Maldives?

Oh man, I have gotten this question a lot! Since both paradises are known for their overwater bungalows, beautiful resorts, and sparkling blue waters, it’s hard not to compare the two. But, when it comes to honeymooning in Bora Bora versus a honeymoon in the Maldives, it completely depends on the couple! I found both places to be absolutely unreal vacation destinations. The water is so beautiful in both, and both boast some seriously incredible aquatic life. While I absolutely loved both, I personally found Bora Bora to be a little more “resortey” and the Maldives to be a little more private, evoking a feeling like you are in a paradise in the middle of the Indian Ocean (I also found this at Cambodia’s ultra-private Song Saa Private Island!) I think Bora Bora’s much-easier flight path from the states make it a great and easier option for couples who may not be able to take as much time off for their wedding and honeymoon, but the Maldives’ mystery and allure make it that much cooler for the couple that want to go where none of their friends have gone before.

Do you need a travel agent for the Maldives?

No! You definitely don’t need a travel agent for a trip to the Maldives! I always book myself, and it’s super easy. I like going through this site to find the best deals. If you book direct with the resort, be sure to tell them that Jetset Christina sent you! Also I always appreciate if you book through the links in my site as I receive a small commission that helps me keep running the blog!!

PS – have more questions on the Maldives, or any other destination? Join the JETSETTERS secret facebook group to get & give travel recs to our Jetset Christina community and connect with other #JSCJetsetters!

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*Please note that this post contains affiliate links to some hotels! If you choose to book one of the hotels I recommended, I would so appreciate you using these links to do so! An affiliate link basically just means that at no cost to you at all, I get a small kickback from the booking site for bringing them your business! I never recommend any hotels that I don’t 100% LOVE & think you will, too! If you have any questions at all, please see my advertiser & affiliate policy page here.

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